NEW YORK--The Young Socialists are kicking off a national fund drive May 6 to ensure that the YS can be an independent, self-financing, revolutionary youth organization. The eight-week drive will conclude July 1.
YS members in nine cities have already taken goals in the drive toward the national goal of $2,400. Chapters or members in Chicago; Los Angeles; New York; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Tucson, Arizona; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Twin Cities, Minnesota; and Seattle have set local fund-raising goals that add up to more than $2,000.
The money will be raised through the weekly political activity of the YS and is used to pay the operating expenses of the organization, including for a national office in New York City and the day-to-day political functioning of the YS on an international scale.
In meetings over the past several weeks, YS chapters discussed the fund drive, set plans on how to raise funds, and decided on a local goal. Roberto Guerrero, a leader of the YS in New York, said the chapter plans to raise its goal of $700 "by first of all winning new members to the YS who want to be a part of a revolutionary youth organization." He added, "We will raise the funds through the political work we carry out, such as defending the Cuban Revolution, discussing world politics from a working-class point of view with young workers and students, and by reaching out to working-class resistance. By doing this we will meet youth who will be convinced of why they too should help finance and join the YS." The New York chapter plans to have a kickoff dinner, as well as classes, raffles, used book sales, political film showings, and a social as part of their fund-raising efforts.
In Los Angeles, the YS has set a goal of $450. One idea they came up with is to make political T-shirts with a photo of Malcolm X and Fidel Castro at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem, taken when Castro came to speak before the United Nations in 1960. On the back, a quote by Malcolm X says: "The young generation of whites, Blacks, browns--you're living at a time of revolution, a time when there's got to be a change. People in power have misused it, and now there has to be a change and a better world has to be built."
In Chicago, a fund-raising event is already planned by the YS with help from the local Socialist Workers Party branch to help get the drive off to a good start. A YS member will speak at the event and give a fund pitch.
Over the next eight weeks there will be regular coverage of the fund drive, including a chart listing where we stand in each city and nationally. Articles by YS members in the "YS Around the World" column in the Militant about the campaign to reach the $2,400 goal are welcome.
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the YS can send checks to: Young Socialists, Times Square Post Office, PO Box 33, New York, N.Y. 10108. For questions or comments about the YS fund drive call Jason Alessio at (212) 695-1809 or write to youngsocialists@attglobal.net.