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PDA Chapters

PDA Chapters: A PDA Chapter is an autonomous local organizing unit that works collectively with other Chapters across the country so that we may speak as a unified progressive voice. It is PDA's goal to support the creation of at least one PDA Chapter in each of our 435 congressional districts.

PDA encourages groups to organize specifically as PDA Chapters, or...

Already existing groups -- such as Democratic Clubs, peace groups, Meet-Ups, Young Democrats, senior citizens groups or other special interest groups -- can become a PDA Chapter while maintaining their original identity.

It is through Chapters, that PDA provides the organizational structure for a unified national grassroots progressive voice both inside and outside the Democratic Party. By organizing local Chapters, local participants who are members of the Democratic Party can become politically active within their local and state Democratic Parties and work to renew and rebuild the party and to elect more progressive Democrats. Through local Chapters, local participants who are not members of the Democratic Party can become politically active with progressive allies and partners to promote a national progressive agenda. Using this organizational structure, local members become part of a national network of progressives who can be mobilized by Congressional District for national legislative action and federal elections.

Benefits to becoming a PDA Chapter include:

• Affiliation with the fastest growing politically progressive movement in the country! Since our launch in Boston in July 2004, PDA has taken the lead in pulling the Democratic Party back toward the left -- reminding the party to respond to its base outside of the Beltway -- on issues like the war, the Downing Street Memo, the bankruptcy bill scam, the importance of universal single-payer health care and the defeat of CAFTA. We're working to strengthen the progressive wing of the Democratic Party through our inside/outside strategy which provides a place for everyone at the table.
• Organizational support — Our Field Department offers constant organizational and networking support.
  • With organizational tools such as our "How to Start a Chapter" booklet, we're available to support you in initial Chapter organization.
  • When you plan your first meetings, we will send an announcement to everyone on PDA's database in your town, city, county, state and/or region letting them know about it!
  • As your group grows, we will add your events to PDA's web site "Events Calendar"!
  • We'll keep you up-to-date with our weekly staff reports.
  • We'll give you first-hand briefings with PDA national leadership on fast-breaking news from inside-the-beltway.
  • Our "Field Correspondent" will be available to help you tell your story through press releases, articles and stories.
  • We'll provide Regional Trainings including fundraising, speakers' training and grassroots political organizing.
  • And we can even help you line-up nationally known speakers for your major events and fundraisers.
• Political support -- PDA will offer support in candidate recruitment and support, leveraging progressive power within the Democratic Party and developing and networking national political action.

Chapter Relationships

PDA Chapters will establish an organizational name independent of PDA, such as "Progressive Democrats of Pima County" or "Progressive Democrats of East Peoria," but will have authorization to include the PDA name and logo (along with a statement that the Chapter is affiliated with PDA) on their web pages, press releases and other identifying documents.

An individual PDA Chapter will at no time speak for other PDA Chapters or for PDA. Endorsements that include PDA's name will be made on behalf of duly recognized individual Chapters only. PDA will nationally endorse a candidate or initiative when every official PDA Chapter within the geographic area related to that candidate or initiative agrees to the endorsement.

PDA reserves the right to withdraw Chapter status and/or its links if PDA is misrepresented in any way, or if mismanagement, discrimination, illegal activity, or patterns of unethical behavior occur.

Click here to find your nearest Chapter.