Building the Party

Report given at the National Board meeting

Yesterday we had an excellent discussion on how to give renewed attention to the building and rebuilding of the Party clubs. We see the discussion as a first brainstorming session, and didn't try to come up with too many proposals out of it, though we agreed to send my opening to the Party, and to take the discussion to the Org. Dept. and then figure out how to bring it to the NC in February.

In the course of that discussion, the subject of Party building, recruiting, came up, from a number of different angles, which brings me to my main point.

We want to propose that we organize some special efforts to grow the Party, starting right away, and throughout this year.

In the recent period, we have made some important adjustments in our emphasis, our approach, to the question of how to build the Party. We've said that there are no magic solutions or quick fixes to the problem of small size and minimal growth. We've said that Party growth can't and shouldn't be separated from the growth and development of the mass movements, in which we should be immersed and playing a special role.

We've said that Party building doesn't take place in the abstract, in a general way, disconnected from participation in struggle. We've also stopped talking about quickly recruiting tens of thousands of new members, which I think was a necessary and important adjustment to reality. I know I think, and I've said, that our main aim and attention shouldn't be placed on building the Party "for its own sake," but rather should be on building the fight against the right, the labor-people's coalitions, being part of the key class struggle battles. I still think that is correct.

But, I think we need to make another adjustment, or perhaps the right word is take the next step, and that is, to give some specific attention to bringing new members into our Party. IT was correct to put our emphasis on deepening ties and connectedness

So, we've been putting a lot of emphasis on Party building in the course of participation in the mass movements of struggle against the ultra right danger, in all its manifestations. It's time to try to test those waters in an organized way. From the 2000 elections to the struggles of the past months against the war and the looming economic crisis, the Party has been involved in all kinds of movements, and has been tackling the challenge of working in coalitions and struggling for broader approaches.

And I think that is all true, but I also think that if we don't grow the Party, our ability to impact on these battles, to contribute the important things we do to the mass movements, will not just be limited, it could become insignificant.

By any measure, the Party is smaller than it needs to be. It does not count in its ranks many of those who are probably ready to be brought in.

The Party is small enough that our future is in jeopardy.

We The idea is to try a "pilot project" involving only two districts, Illinois and Southern California. Even with limited time, we thought it was important to make some organized efforts to invite people we've been working with to join the Party.

While we've said there aren't "quick fixes" to the problem of our small size and slow recruitment, we think the time is right to take concrete steps to bring people into our ranks -- there is such tremendous potential, and Communists play a unique role in these complicated and challenging times. There's too much to do -- and it would be irresponsible at such a dangerous and challenging moment not to take steps to bring new people into our ranks.

Rather than call for a full blown recruiting drive that, given our limited resources, we aren't yet in a position to carry out, we thought we'd try the idea of a more limited project. The proposal is to organize some events and individual meetings in January, bring the experience to the Party throughout that month using the web page and other means, discuss it at the February National Committee meeting, and then organize a second round, possibly involving 4-5 districts.

Although the project is only for two cities, we hope to involve all of you in the discussion on the very important questions of HOW to do it -- how to recruit activists from the movements we are involved in. An important part of this discussion should be about recruiting workers and trade unionists. We have also said that we want to focus on key communities (Harlem, South Chicago, East LA) for Party building in this coming year.

So, we invite you to participate in the thinking on some of the issues: how do we convince people who are already very active that joining the Party is something they should do -- what do they get from it? Where do we put such new members -- in many places there are problems of club functioning and style of club meetings. What are the obstacles -- political and organizational -- within the Party to bringing in new members?

We are planning to produce two new pieces of literature: one, a "why you should join the Party now" piece, on the current political situation and what the Party brings to the struggle, and a Spanish translation of the piece on the Party by Rick Nagin.

In Illinois, the district has had a number of discussions on recruitment, and is planning several events, including public forums and club-sponsored recruiting meetings. Clubs have begun to review lists of people they work with, and prepare for the events. We are also considering organizing meetings specifically for trade unionists, or peace activists, perhaps even with individuals or small groups.

We hope that each district will include ideas on Party building in its discussions on plans for the coming year. Who should we be aiming to bring in to the Party? Are they reading the People's Weekly World and Political Affairs? Are they on the district mailing list? How would we have to change to incorporate new members into our organization? What educational events could be planned?