Standing Committees
The Engine of the Party
Standing Committees Stand Strong All Year Long
The nine Standing Committees are the engine that drives the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. While elections are important, there is work that needs to be done all year long to strengthen our communities, train organizers, hold legislators accountable, and support other organizations that represent Democratic values. Read about the committees below to see what kind of work they do for the WCDP and if you would be interested in donating your time and skills to support one or multiple committees.
When you are ready, sign up to volunteer! You’ll be contacted by the Membership Committee. If you have questions about the committees, feel free to email the committee vice-chairs.
Support Committees
Administrative Affairs Committee
The Administrative Affairs Committee oversees and runs the office, managing both its resources and staffing. They ensure that the office is available to the WCDP and partner organizations for work and community. Volunteers in this committee are good at managing physical spaces, scheduling events, answering questions, and facilitating resources.
Volunteer Traits: Organized, congenial, group-oriented.
Time Investment: Low to moderate. Ramps up before elections.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.1 Administrative Affairs Committee – The Administrative Affairs Committee shall be responsible for administrative oversight of WCDP affairs and shall have oversight over WCDP’s physical offices.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee creates and coordinates internal and external communications for the WCDP. It is responsible for editorial content on the website, the newsletter, press releases, social media, and public relations. Volunteers in this committee are highly skilled at writing, graphics design, and digital communication.
Volunteer Traits: Technical skills in web and graphics design, able to work independently, attention to detail in visual and written communication.
Time Investment: Moderate to high. Consistent throughout the year.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.2 Communications Committee – The Communications Committee shall be responsible for the editorial content of the website, email communications with members and supporters, the newsletter, social media, press releases, public relations, and branding.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee has two major roles: Increase the number of official members in the WCDP and maintain a database of volunteers and supporters. The Membership database is important for credentialing members, targeting volunteers for specific tasks, and effective fundraising strategies. This committee also orients new members to the party and connects them with the right people. Volunteers in the committee typically have a good mix of organizational and instructional skills.
Volunteer Traits: Problem solving skills, good at data management, instructional experience, “people skills.”
Time Investment: Moderate throughout the year.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.5 Membership Committee – The Membership Committee shall be responsible for recruiting new members; encouraging membership renewals in the MDP within the County; recording and maintaining attendance records for meetings, programs, and functions of the WCDP; issuing credentials for meetings and 9 of 12 conventions where voting will occur; and maintaining a database of members, volunteers, and supporters.
Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee is responsible for raising the funds that pay for all of the things the other committees are doing in addition to the bills associated with the WCDP office. This team works to incorporate fundraising into everything the WCDP does through messaging, leveraging legislative outcomes, and targeting specific groups and people.
Volunteer Traits: Interpersonal communication, skilled at organizing events, thinks outside the box, highly assertive, good at networking.
Time Investment: Low with several intense fundraising events throughout the year.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.4 Fundraising Committee – The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for raising funds to support the efforts of the WCDP.
Outreach Committees
Events Committee
Volunteer Traits: Energetic, highly sociable, creative, good time management.
Time Investment: Moderate throughout the year with a few moderately high spikes for several major events.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.3 Events Committee – The Events Committee shall be responsible for building camaraderie and group identification among WCDP members by creating, scheduling, and organizing four to six social events annually that are affordable and accessible to members living in different areas of the county. The Events Committee shall also, when requested, provide advice and technical support for events developed by other committees (for instance Fundraising or Precinct Organizing), and shall maintain a schedule of all WCDP social events to ensure they are well-spaced and complementary.
Precinct Organizing Committee
The Precinct Organizing Committee recruits and trains organizers to network in their own neighborhoods or anywhere in the county to improve voter engagement, registration, and turnout in every election. Volunteers have a wide range of roles with varying degrees of commitment and expertise, from knocking on doors to recruiting and training Precinct Delegates. Volunteers in leadership positions tend to have extensive experience with election organizing and continue to plan throughout the year. Many volunteers are “borrowed” from other committees to do specialized work. The majority of volunteers help “get out the vote” during the crucial weeks leading up to an election.
Volunteer Traits: Tireless, highly organized, effective communication skills, passionate about politics and government.
Time Investment: Low following an election, crescendoing to insanity leading up to an election.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.7 Precinct Organizing Committee – The Precinct Organizing Committee shall be responsible for voter registration; voter identification and persuasion; get out the vote efforts; Precinct Delegate, poll challenger, and poll greeter recruiting, training, and organizing; and voter education as it relates to these activities.
Visiblity Committee
Volunteer Traits: Energetic, highly sociable, creative, good time management.
Time Investment: Moderate throughout the year with a few moderately high spikes for several major events.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.9 Visibility – The Visibiity Committee shall be responsible for spreading awareness of WCDP’s existence and mission by securing and staffing tables and booths at events and farmer’s markets, rally and parade participation, and distribution and sale of physical WCDP promotional materials such as brochures, buttons, and t-shirts.
Outreach & Community Engagement Committee
Volunteer Traits: Energetic, highly sociable, creative, good time management.
Time Investment: Moderate throughout the year with a few moderately high spikes for several major events.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.6 Outreach and Community Engagement – The Outreach and Community Engagement Committee shall be responsible for broadening participation in WCDP, increasing the presence and engagement of diverse community members and groups, and spearheading selected “Dems Care” service projects.
Programs Committee
The Programs Committee is tasked with offering quality and timely programs related to issue advocacy, voter education, candidate forums, and social events. The monthly General Membership meeting and presidential debate watch parties are two examples of programs organized by this committee. This committee is distinct from the VOICE Committee in that it creates original WCDP programing instead of contributing to or participating in other organizations’ events. Volunteers in this committee have strong connections to the community and its leaders.
Volunteer Traits: Organized, resourceful, involved in multiple organizations across Washtenaw County.
Time Investment: Variable, from intense annual events to low-stakes monthly programs.
Bylaws Description:
7.2.8 Programs Committee – The Programs Committee shall be responsible for general membership meetings, voter education events, town halls, and candidate forums.