Constitutional definition of role:
(i) To be the first spokesperson for the organisation.
(ii) To keep a record of all national correspondence.
(iii) To produce the Internal Bulletin.
(iv) To place a report in each IB.
WSM Constitution section 10c
Spokesperson:
The National Secretary has responsibility, in the first instance
unless another member has been delegated by the organisation, for
issuing press statements and representing the WSM to the media.
Correspondence:
Copies of all correspondence sent and received must be retained on
file in folders, one per year. Correspondence should be dealt with as
soon as possible, and always within two weeks.
Contact with other Irish anarchist groups:
Contact will be maintained with other Irish anarchist groups, through
meetings and correspondence.
IB report
Each IB must contain a report listing correspondence received and
sent, coverage in the Irish media, relations with other organisations
in Ireland. The National Secretary will also ensure that members
active in particular areas (trade unions and campaigns) submit
reports.
Report to conference
A report must be prepared and submitted to the pre-conference IB.
This will include a section on action taken to implement decisions
made at the preceding conference.
Conference report
Within one month of each conference a report containing a record of
attendance, reports given to conference, copies of motions and
documents passed, a list of people elected (or ratified) to the
various posts, and details of votes shall be produced as a supplement
to accompany the Internal Bulletin. This supplement shall also be
available, upon request, to candidate members and others. The
National Secretary shall be responsible for seeing this is done.
Following the National Conference, the National Secretary will ensure that a short news report on the Conference is produced which will be posted on our web page, on Anarkismo, and on any other relevant pages.
Constitutional definition of role:
(i) To establish and maintain contact with similar organisations abroad, and to send them our publications and news of our activities.
(ii) To organise the translation of articles from foreign papers, and to be responsible for the writing of articles when requested by contacts abroad.
(iii) To place a report in each IB.
WSM Constitution section 10c
Making contacts:
The International Secretary will seek to establish contact with
organisations which seem to be close to our position (e.g. FdCA in
Italy), or containing tendencies which may be moving close to our
position, or are important libertarian forces within their own
countries (e.g. the CGT of Spain or the SAC of Sweden).
The purpose of this contact is to share news, inform them about our politics, learn of their positions & activities, and to work towards short term co-operation on specific issues and long term co-operation on the basis of political agreement.
Where an organisation comes to our notice which appears to meet one or more of the above criteria contact is generally established, in the first instance, by writing with a short explanation of our politics and activities. Copies of Workers Solidarity are also sent along with pamphlets (where it is felt worthwhile). A list of our 'position papers' is also included with an offer of copies of any or all of the documents they are interested in seeing. Rather than send our position papers on first contact it is better to wait for them to request a copy as this indicates some level of serious interest in our politics.
Correspondence:
Copies of all correspondence sent and received must be retained
on file. Correspondence should be dealt with as soon as possible, and
always within four weeks.
Retaining and developing existing contacts:
This is done through regular correspondence which seeks to find
out more about their activities and policies on specific issues such
as activity within the trade unions, attitude towards syndicalism,
position on the role of revolutionary organisations, etc.
Exchange copies of WSM publications:
A list of organisations/papers with whom we have agreed to
exchange publications will be maintained and updated as necessary by
the International Secretary.
Anarchist archives:
In the case of pamphlets or books produced by the WSM it is the
job of the International Secretary (not the Bookservice Organiser) to
send copies to those anarchist archives we supply with our
publications.
Files:
All correspondence (and replies) is kept on file in folders, one
per year. At the end of each year correspondence with the different
organisations is collected together in chronological order.
Also filed are publications of other organisations, information about them, and collections of addresses of anarchist organisations around the world. The latter can be used to request information about events in particular countries (e.g. when writing an article for Workers Solidarity).
Criteria for filing material:
We receive a large number of newspapers and journals, including
some unsolicited rubbish. It would not be worthwhile or valuable to
retain everything we receive. It would also entail renting a small
warehouse!
Sorting the wheat from the chaff involves picking out
IB report:
Each IB must contain a report listing correspondence received and
sent, conferences attended, publications received, brief news items
about anarchists abroad.
Report to conference:
A report must be prepared and submitted to the pre-conference IB.
(i) To keep a record of all funds and financial transactions at national level.
(ii) To place in each IB a financial statement.
WSM Constitution section 10c
Bookkeeping:
The National Treasurer keeps a record of all income and expenditure
(at a national level) in an account book. This will include members
subscriptions, donations, spending on printing of Workers Solidarity,
officers out-of-pocket expenses, etc.
Bank Account:
The National Treasurer will be one of the signatories for any and all
WSM national bank accounts. All monies must be banked with two weeks
of receiving same.
IB report:
Each IB must contain a summary of income and expenditure.
Report to conference:
A report must be prepared and submitted to the pre-conference IB.
Stock:
To purchase books and pamphlets for the Bookservice. Consultation
with other members is advised as to titles before stock is bought.
Sales:
To deal with all orders. To arrange bookstalls at meetings and
events.
Advertising:
To place advertisements in suitable publications for both the
Bookservice and for specific WSM publications, including Workers
Solidarity.
Pamphlets:
A copy of all books and pamphlets published by the WSM shall be
submitted to the National Library, the Trinity College Library and
the Linenhall Library.
Bank Account:
The Bookservice Organiser will be one of the signatories for the
Bookservice bank accounts.
Report to conference:
A report detailing sales, advertising undertaken, value of stock,
and balance in bank account must be prepared and submitted to the
pre-conference IB.
Branch Meetings:
To minute proceedings, recording decisions taken and progress on
implementing them. To present minutes to the following meeting. To
prepare a draft agenda for meetings.
Contacts:
To maintain and develop contact, by letter and meetings, with
people who show an interest in our politics.
Correspondence:
All correspondence relating to the branch should be dealt with as
soon as possible, and always within two weeks.
IB report
Each IB must contain a report listing correspondence received and
sent, decisions made and branch activity, coverage in the local
media, relations with other organisations in the locality.
Education
The Branch secretaries should co-ordinate the implementation of
our Education document
Report to conference
A report on the activity of the branch must be prepared and submitted
to the pre-conference IB.
Address lists
That copies of all address lists (contacts, Workers Solidarity
subscribers and stockists, international mailing list, bookservice
customers) be made by the person responsible for each area and given
to another officer. This will mean that in case of fire, flood or
other disaster a copy will remain within the organisation. All lists
and back-up copies should be updated prior to each conference.
(i) To collect dues from branch members, and forward half of those dues to the National Treasurer
(ii) To keep a record of all funds and financial transactions at branch level
Bookkeeping
The Branch Treasurer keeps a record of all income and expenditure
(at branch level) in an account book. This includes members
subscriptions, money sent to National Treasurer, spending on printing
of leaflets etc.
Bank account
The Branch Treasurer will maintain an account for the branch, and
will be one of the signatories of that account.
IB Report
Each IB must contain a summary of branch income and expenditure.
Report to Conference
A report must be submitted to the preconference IB.
Members Subscriptions=
Half of all members subscriptions shall be sent to the National
Treasurer to pay for national expenses (printing of paper etc). The
other half shall be retained to pay branch expenses.
The Dublin Branches will pay half the rent of the office.
A donation will be sought from all non-WSM organisations which may be allowed to use the meeting room in the WSM office.
Updated Oct 2005