South Dakota Democracy In Action is a nonpartisan, grassroots movement of women working for progressive change — meeting in circle, deciding by consensus, and turning kitchen-table conversation into public action.
Democracy In Action (DIA) began as a handful of women who decided South Dakota politics deserved more than complaining about it. Today it runs as two connected bodies — one that educates, one that acts.
South Dakota Democracy In Action is a nonprofit registered with the state. It is not a 501(c)(3), so gifts to SDDIA aren't tax-deductible. It holds weekly meetings, hosts speakers and discussion, and recommends campaign donations and political activity to the PAC.
The Political Action Committee meets monthly, tracks legislation, and briefs members on bills that matter. It weighs SDDIA's recommendations, endorses progressive candidates, hosts public forums, and publishes voter guides.
Donate to DIA PACAll SDDIA meetings fall on Mondays. A fifth Monday, when the month has one, is set aside for a social gathering rather than business.
First Interstate Bank Building
333 West Blvd, Rapid City, SD
Zoom meetings use a link sent with the prior week's minutes.
An SDDIA facilitator and recorder volunteer the week before — any member can step up. DIA PAC meetings are led by elected officers, chosen at the annual meeting each June.
There are no dues. Showing up to a meeting is what makes you a member.
Since 2004, DIA has conducted business sitting in circle. The idea: there is a leader in every chair, every voice is heard, and agreement is reached together — not counted by vote.
No side conversations — including the chat window on Zoom. Raise a hand to be recognized.
Members signal agree, stand aside, or oppose. Full unanimity isn't required to move forward.
What's said in the circle stays in the circle, unless a member says otherwise.
Meetings open with a go-around of names, and close the same way.
When disagreement runs deep, the group tables the topic for the following week's agenda.
Requesting a specific guest speaker works best with two weeks' notice, to allow time to schedule.
Opens the meeting, keeps the agenda, closes with a final go-around, and lines up next week's facilitator and recorder.
Takes minutes, sends them to the facilitator for review, then passes corrected minutes to Communications.
Collects new-member contacts, sends minutes and action alerts, and fields inquiries from email and Facebook.
Keeps financial records, receives donations, writes checks by consensus approval, and reports monthly.
Runs PAC meetings and keeps to established protocol.
Records PAC minutes and follows protocol.
Maintains PAC finances, writes checks by consensus, and keeps the PAC in good standing with the state.
Karen Miller, Karen McGregor, and Nadine Thomas decided to act on South Dakota politics rather than just discuss them. Within months, the group had grown to a dozen.
The Democracy In Action Political Action Committee registers with the State of South Dakota and holds its first public forum, on food tax and poverty in Western South Dakota.
The group adopts the dragonfly as its symbol and chooses to run every meeting in circle — consensus over voting, every chair a seat of leadership.
Members create an educational arm, South Dakota Democracy In Action, to run nonpartisan forums, education, and community support alongside the PAC's political work.
Many founding members have passed or stepped back, but the spirit of cooperation they started still shapes every meeting.
There's no membership fee or application. Attending a meeting — in person or by Zoom — makes you part of DIA.
The group decides together whether to invite a guest. Give two weeks' notice so it can be scheduled onto an agenda.
A basket at in-person events supports SDDIA's costs. To direct a gift to DIA PAC instead, note it with your name and address — PAC donations are reported to the state.
Citizens are facing urgent issues in women's and rural health, childcare, water, voter restrictions, SNAP cuts, child marriage, and the actions of ICE, to name a few. Change is built with people like you.
Thus far in 2026, we have helped sponsor nonpartisan public forums and explored a range of important community issues, including the Libertyland TIF, ICE, data centers, and child marriage, through presentations by knowledgeable guest speakers. Members also attended legislative sessions in Pierre to advocate for or oppose proposed legislation, participated in local, state, and national demonstrations, and engaged in candidate vetting and collaboration with other progressive organizations.
Our window of opportunity to elect better leadership in November is now.
Your donation will:
Your prompt response will help these candidates and our ongoing advocacy. Thank you for joining in this effort.
For contributions of $250 or more, use the DIA ActBlue account. No fee is charged if funds are taken directly from your checking account rather than a credit card.
Donate to DIA PACDemocracy in Action — PAC
P.O. Box 123
Rapid City, SD 57709