YDS NATIONAL CONFERENCE & ACTIVIST RETREAT
Building The Next Left
August 12-14 weekend
Ossining, NY (30 min. to NYC)

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You won't want to miss the annual YDS national conference and activist retreat. This year we will be meeting at a small castle surrounded by forest and ponds, conveniently located in Ossining, NY (only 30 minutes north of New York City). [mapquest.com]

POLITICAL CONTEXT
We come together at a time when Bush and the Republicans are on a rampage and greedy corporations are more powerful than ever.  The right wing in the United States controls all three branches of government and is pushing forward a regressive agenda of tax cuts for the rich and attacks on unions, women, people of color, the LGBT community and our social programs.  The labor movement, often the right wing's most formidable opponent, is at a weak point and is internally divided.  Abroad, the violence in Iraq continues to escalate, destroying countless lives and draining billions of dollars from the public coffers.  As young people, we see tuition costs and personal debt spiraling out of control and an uncertain future with fewer decent job prospects amidst the expanding low-wage economy.
   
And yet, despite all these distressing realities, there are signs of hope.  Bush's popularity ratings are at an all-time low.  His administration faces considerable resistance to its domestic privatization schemes and its militaristic foreign-policy.  Progressive activists in and outside the Democratic Party are working to fight mostly defensive battles while also crafting a long-term strategy to advance our own agenda of social and economic justice.  Internationally, the wave of opposition to capitalist globalization continues to grow as popular social movements and left-wing electoral victories spread, particularly across Latin America.  The time to build a stronger democratic Left in the United States is now.  Join us from August 12-14 as we work together to prove that a better world is possible.    

WHAT TO EXPECT
Our conference, entitled "Building the Next Left," is a unique opportunity for YDS members and activists to get away from it all, to remember why we do what we do and to learn how to do it better.  There will be workshops and discussions on organizing strategies, the history of the left, contemporary social movements, mapping out political priorities for youth and students organizers, building a stronger progressive presence in mainstream US politics and more.  Come to the castle to meet young and veteran activists from around the country in an affordable retreat setting. There will also be partying, video screenings, and plenty of out-door fun in between workshops and trainings. Most importantly, this is a great way to wrap up the summer, make new (and sometimes life-long) friends, and get ready for a fall of campus and community activism.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: CHRISTIAN PARENTI
YDS is proud to announce that Christian Parenti will be joining us at our conference retreat.  Parenti is the author of The Freedom: Shadows and Hallucinations in Occupied Iraq (New Press) and a visiting fellow at CUNY's Center for Place, Culture and Politics.  His articles and ground-breaking reporting regularly appear in The Nation magazine and in several other progressive publications.  Parenti is the author of numerous other books including, The Soft Cage: Surveillance in America from Slavery to the War on Terror and Lockdown America: Police and Prisons in the Age of Crisis. Parenti will be speaking about the realities on the ground in Iraq in addition to presenting on the Left, social movements and political upheavals in Latin America.

ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSIONS
What is Means to be on the Left Today * The Democratic Left and Electoral Organizing in the United States * Confronting Corporate Globalization * Union Organizing and the Labor Movement * Socialism - Past, Present and Future * Queer Rights and Feminist Organizing * Political Theory for Progressives * Challenging Racism in America * History of the American Left * How to Argue With the Right * Fighting for Education & Campus Democracy * and more...

SCHEDULE
There will be YDSers at the Lamont Castle early on Friday, August 12th.  Conference-goers are welcome to join us for preparation, games, barbecuing and getting to know other activists.  The official opening session will begin Friday evening at 6pm, followed by a video screening and partying.  Saturday morning sessions will begin at 10am after breakfast.  The conference ends Sunday afternoon at 4pm.  If you wish to hang out with other YDSers at the Castle or in New York City before or after the retreat, please let us know and we can make arrangements.  If possible, also let us know when you are scheduled to arrive at the conference and when you will be leaving.

GETTING TO THE CONFERENCE
The conference is conveniently located at a small castle in Ossining, NY (only 30 minutes drive north of New York City [mapquest.com]).  The exact address is 249 Croton Dam Road (also known as Route 134) off the intersection of Route 9A.

If you are taking a plane to get to the conference, the closest airport is the Westchester County Airport (only 20 minutes from the castle). You can also fly into the John F. Kennedy, Laguardia and Newark, New Jersey airports.  The Metro North train leaves regularly from Grand Central Station in NYC stopping nearby the conference location.  Get off at the train at the Ossining or Croton-Harmon stop (they are equidistant to the Castle) and their will be individuals you can pick you up from the station and drive you to the conference location.  If you are coming from out of town and are in need of a ride, let us know and we can check to see if others planning to attend in your area can offer you one.  If you are driving, you will be able to park your car at the Castle.  Please let us know if you can offer a ride to others.

FUNDRAISING AND OTHER TRAVEL TIPS
There are great last minute tips at the website below on travel planning, economizing and fundraising, from getting cheap plane tickets, hosting events to raise money, to hitting up your student government for funds.  Please remember to book your travel early!  Plane tickets tend to be more expensive the longer you wait.  Keep this list of fundraising tips handy.  It can come in use in the future:
http://www.phrusa.org/students/conference_2005/funding.php

TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS
We're committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to come is able to attend. We're offering limited travel scholarships for out-of-towners. Please consider fundraising to help cover costs (ask us for tips on how to do this).  YDS has a limited budget to help subsidize travel costs. Preference is given to YDS members and those wanting to start YDS chapters. If you request a travel scholarship, please fill out the appropriate information on the registration form. We will contact you promptly to let you know if your scholarship request has been granted and how much financial assistance YDS can provide.

COST
Conference registration costs include housing accommodations, all meals, parties and extensive resource materials.
$50 special pre-registration rate (payment must be made on-line or postmarked by Friday, July 22th)
$75 regular registration rate
$100 solidarity rate (extra funds will go towards travel scholarships for low-income individuals)
$150 bonus solidarity rate (like the solidarity rate, only you get a free t-shirt or poster for your extra financial support) 
Please let us know if you have special financial circumstances and need help with the costs.
 
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS
Housing accommodations will be provided at the castle for Friday and Saturday night. Please notify us if you also need housing for Thursday and/or Sunday night. 
Conference goers are encouraged to bring their own:
-Sheets, pillows and/or sleeping bags (there are several dozen mattresses available at the Castle).
-Towels, toiletries and other items (like flashlights, sunscreen, etc.) to make your stay comfortable.
For those of you who prefer to stay in a nearby motel, we will provide you with information about less rustic accommodations if you check the box appropriate box in the on-line registration form. 

Click here for more information and to register on-line.
(Contact us if you have any trouble registering).


COORDINATING COMMITTEE
Every year YDS democratically elects a new Coordinating Committee (CC) which helps provide political leadership and organizing support to the Young Democratic Socialists.  All YDS members can run for these positions (including those who renew their membership or officially join YDS for the first time).  Please let us know if you intend to run for the CC at the conference or in absentia.  This is a great opportunity to help organize left-wing students and youth on a national scale.  You can find out more what Coordinating Committee members do and about YDS' constitution here: www.ydsusa.org/constitution.html

ACTIVIST AGENDA
We will be adopting a new 2005-2006 Activist Agenda the YDS conference and retreat.  We would like input from you about what should be YDS' campaign and organizing priorities for the coming academic calendar year.  You can take a look at the Activist Agenda we passed last year to get a sense of ideas for the coming conference: www.ydsusa.org/aboutyds.html#do

Please plan ahead, help us spread the word to activists in your area, and see about bringing other committed organizers to our conference at the castle!  Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have at 212-727-8610 ext. 24 or at yds@dsausa.org.

[Download PDF flyer]

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