Officer Job Descriptions

Chair

Job Description

The role of Chair is loosely defined in the Saint Paul DFL Constitution. To provide a fuller picture of the responsibilities, the current chair added the responsibilities she had and estimated hours. Please keep in mind that each elected executive committee member is encouraged to make the role his or her own and find the best work strategy for their team.

Constitutional Description: The Saint Paul DFL Chair shall be the chief organizer and coordinator of all City DFL activities in Saint Paul. The Chair shall convene and conduct meetings of the Saint Paul DFL Executive and Central Committees. The Saint Paul DFL Chair shall supervise the implementation of all policies adopted by the Saint Paul City Convention and the Saint Paul DFL Central and Executive Committees.

Responsibilities:

  • Act as spokesperson and point of contact for the Saint Paul DFL. Respond to media and public inquiries. Connect candidates, campaigns, DFLers and the public with appropriate information and resources.
  • Plan endorsing conventions. Work with Ward Chairs to plan caucuses, ward conventions and the city convention. This includes providing proper notice, securing space, materials, and volunteers and working to increase participation.
  • Work with treasurer and fundraising chair to raise the requisite funds to support Saint Paul DFL activities. Helping organize fundraisers, working with key funders, making fundraising asks. (The role of fundraising chair is not in the constitution. The 2016-2018 Executive Committee found it helpful to elect an at-large director to that role.)
  • Direct the work of the Executive Committee. The 2016-2018 Committee started with a retreat designed to create a work plan. The chair ensuring that work is on track and that committee members have the information and tools to do their work.
  • Work with endorsed candidates to secure victory in the general election. In 2015 this included hiring and managing staff, overseeing a campaign plan, and working with key stakeholders.

Time Commitment: During election year — 20hours/week, off-year- 10 hours/month

Questions? Reach out to current Chair, Dieu Do at dieu.d29@gmail.com. 

Vice Chair 

Job Description

The role of Vice Chair is very loosely defined in the Saint Paul DFL Constitution. To provide a fuller picture of the responsibilities, the current vice chair added the responsibilities he had and estimated hours. Please keep in mind that each elected executive committee member is encouraged to make the role his or her own and find the best work strategy for their team.

Constitutional Description: The Saint Paul DFL Vice Chair shall be the second ranking Saint Paul DFL officer and shall perform all the duties of the Chair in the Chair’s absence. The Chair and Vice Chair must be of opposite genders.

Chair: The Saint Paul DFL Chair shall be the chief organizer and coordinator of all City DFL activities in Saint Paul. The Chair shall convene and conduct meetings of the Saint Paul DFL Executive and Central Committees. The Saint Paul DFL Chair shall supervise the implementation of all policies adopted by the Saint Paul City Convention and the Saint Paul DFL Central and Executive Committees.

Thus, the role of Vice Chair is very much dependent on the Chair and their role. You must compliment and support the chair in their work, have a strong grasp of the work of all the executive officers, and work to fill in holes where ever they appear.

Vice Chair Responsibilities

  • Provide Constitutional and procedural oversight. The Vice Chair offers technical support to the chair and other executive members. That requires understanding the State DFL Call, Party Rules and Procedures, and the Saint Paul DFL Constitution.
  • Represent the Saint Paul DFL. Along with the Chair, you are a defacto member of the CD 4 DFL Central committee. It is helpful to have coordination and cooperation between even year elections and municipal election leadership. You have the opportunity to provide reports at the regular CD 4 meetings.
  • Support and Develop Party Infrastructure. The municipal party is only as strong as the infrastructure and the people it has in place. A Vice Chair should assist the Chair in recruiting, developing and supporting strong ward leadership.
  • Manage relationships with partners. The Saint Paul DFL is proud to work closely with progressive allies in the community and in labor. These relationships need to be fostered and managed.
  • Sounding Board/Partner to the Chair. Every chair needs a partner to split their work, to discuss strategy and plans with, and to share in managing the organization. A Vice Chair should offer emotional support, technical expertise, constructive criticism, affirmation, accountability and friendship for the Chair throughout their joint terms.

Time Commitment: During election year — 10 hours/week, off-year- 10 hours/month

Outreach Director 

Job Description

The local party unit Outreach Officer ensures all constituents are treated equally, based on the Minnesota DFL principles of inclusion. The Outreach Officer leads the local unit’s efforts toward inclusive political participation, and strives to achieve DFL diversity in perspective and representation. The Outreach Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of the unit’s outreach and inclusion plan, designed to establish relationships with groups or individuals residing within the unit’s boundaries, who may be underrepresented and/or not yet active in the Party.

Constitutional Description: 

The Saint Paul DFL Outreach Officer shall maintain and develop the Saint Paul DFL Outreach plan in compliance with Article I of this Constitution, monitor Saint Paul DFL’s compliance, recommend corrections to remedy non-compliance, and fulfill additional duties as prescribed by the State DFL Constitution.

The Outreach Officer should:  

  • Work with community members and members of the Saint Paul DFL Central Committee to draft, implement, report on, and recommend any necessary amendments to the outreach and inclusion plan  
  • Monitor compliance with the Party’s policies relating to outreach and inclusion, and recommend a remedy for any noncompliance  
  • Represent the unit on its Congressional District’s outreach and inclusion committee

Important duties:  

  • Accommodations at meetings and events: Work with Ward Chairs and other executive committee members to ensure that meetings and events are held in locations that are handicap accessible and have adequate numbers of handicap parking spaces
  • Advocate and arrange for interpreters for party meetings and events as requested or deemed appropriate
  • Ensure that documents are made available in all relevant languages
  • Outreach to underrepresented communities:
  • Attend various community meetings and events to connect with people and discover what issues and interests have brought them together
  • Listen to understand the issues that are most important to each community
  • Establish relationships and provide information on how the local party unit can help them achieve their various goals
  • Educate and recruit individuals who may want to become involved in the local party unit and inform them about voter registration, caucuses, conventions, campaigns and other local party unit meetings, events and activities

 Time commitment: 5 to 10 hours per week during city election year, 5 to 10 hours per month during off year.

Treasurer

Job Description

Constitutional Definition: 

The Saint Paul DFL Treasurer shall maintain the Saint Paul DFL’s bank account, shall prepare checks for payment, shall maintain all Saint Paul DFL’s financial records, shall file all financial forms and reports as required by law, such reports to be presented to the Saint Paul DFL Executive Committee, shall prepare a written financial report and summary for each Saint Paul DFL Central Committee meeting, and shall account for all money collected for the City Precinct Caucuses, Ward Conventions, and/or City Conventions.

Roles and Goals as Treasurer of St Paul DFL

  • Actively support endorsed ward, city, county, state, and national DFL candidates and officeholders as well as the party. Remain publicly impartial in ward and city races prior to endorsing conventions.
  • Work to make caucuses and conventions productive and streamlined with an emphasis on making new attendees feel welcomed and valued.
  • Attend and participate in meetings and other activities conducted by the St Paul DFL.
  • Prudently deposit and safeguard the St Paul DFL’s funds and otherwise manage its finances including budget projections made in collaboration with the Budgeting and Party Operations Committee.
  • Make no disbursement without authority or ratification by the Executive Committee or Chair of the St Paul DFL, according to its Constitution and Bylaws
  • Report to each meeting of the St Paul DFL central and executive committees on the state of the party’s finances
  • Prepare and submit timely reports to the MN Campaign Finance Board and Ramsey County Elections .
  • Issue receipts and maintain records related to the Political Contribution Refund program.
  • In the absence of a Fundraising Coordinator, undertake that role in collaboration with other members of the Fund Raising Committee: soliciting donations from past and other likely donors; ensuring that “the hat” is passed at Meetings, Caucuses, and Conventions; and planning and conducting fundraisers.

Time commitment: 5 to 10 hours per week during city election year, 5 to 10 hours per month during off year

Questions? Reach out to current Treasurer, Rick Varco at rvarco@hotmail.com. 

Secretary 

Job Description

The secretary must preserve the minutes and attendance records of all proceedings of the executive and central committees. The secretary also notifies members of all meetings and other logistical support for meetings and party unit activities.

Additionally, as an executive officer, the secretary must help guide the policy, decision making and culture of the Saint Paul DFL.

Constitutional Definition:

The Saint Paul DFL Secretary shall keep all records of the Saint Paul DFL, shall record the minutes of the Saint Paul DFL Central and Executive Committees, and shall ensure that a single, revision-controlled master copy of this constitution is maintained.

Director 

Job Description

The 10 gender-balanced directors will perform duties assigned to them by the chair and vice chair. Each will be tasked with a specific role and be expected to attend meetings, endorsing conventions, voter outreach events, and fundraisers.

Time Commitment: 2 hours per week during city election year, 10 hours per year during off year