[Peace] Fwd: ICPJ Conference April 4-5
Brussel Morton K.
mkbrussel at comcast.net
Sat Mar 22 11:00:01 CDT 2008
Useful reminders for members of AWARE from ICPJ. See, especially, the
list of recommendations (after the introduction).
I pass this along from Jan K, who has been our formal contact with
ICPJ. The Kruses will not be with us Sunday.
--mkb
Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: admin at ilcpj.org
>> Date: March 12, 2008 5:17:54 PM CDT
>> To: admin at ilcpj.org
>> Subject: Message from the Outreach Committee and Copy of
>> "Involving Our Less Active Members"
>>
>> Greetings:
>>
>> A message has been sent from an administrator on ICPJ.
>>
>> The details are as follows:
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ------
>>
>> FROM: Beverley Walter of Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice
>>
>> MESSAGE: To All ICPJ Admins,
>>
>>
>>
>> Congratulations and thanks to all of you and to your groups
>> for your hard work and achievements in promoting peace and
>> alternatives to war and conflict. While it has not been an easy
>> year for many of us, we do have many victories to celebrate.
>>
>>
>>
>> The Outreach Committee has assembled as a special project a
>> handout called "Involving Our Less Active Members" and we are
>> forwarding it to you at this time. This is an issue we have often
>> faced withing our own groups and we thought it would be worthwhile
>> to tackle the challenge head on. We welcome your input.
>>
>>
>>
>> As you know, the best outreach is the outreach each of our
>> member groups does in spreading the word about ICPJ and its goals,
>> so please continue to inform any Illinois peace and justice groups
>> you know of about ICPJ.
>>
>>
>>
>> We look forward to seeing you and members of your group at
>> the 2008 Annual ICPJ Conference (yes, our third!) at Loyola
>> University, Chicago, April 4-5. Registration and Schedule
>> information is posted on the Homepage of the ICPJ website:
>
>> www.ilcpj.org
>>
>>
>>
>> In peace and friendship,
>>
>>
>>
>> The ICPJ Outreach Committee
>>
>> 3-12-2008
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Involving Our Less Active Members:
>>
>> Ideas for Peace and Progressive Groups
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> BACKGROUND: As organizers and activists of peace and progressive
>> groups we have probably all encountered the old problem: how to
>> keep the group together. After a time, some members often become
>> less active and then fade away. That leaves fewer people to do
>> the work and ultimately results in burnout and discouragement.
>>
>>
>>
>> What can we do about the problem? How can we keep our less active
>> members involved? Here are some ideas, many of which has proved
>> themselves in the trenches, many of which were evolved as a
>> response to an immediate need.
>>
>>
>>
>> We invite you to try out these tactics and to come up with your own.
>>
>>
>>
>> BASIC PRINCIPLES:
>>
>> 1. BE AWARE OF AND ACCEPT THE BASIC PRINCIPLE: YOUR EFFORT IS
>> NOT ON EVERYBODY?S FRONT BURNER: You will not be able to talk
>> your way into making that so, and if you try, you will probably
>> alienate the person you would like to come on board. Accept where
>> people are and love them anyway. Stay polite and leave it open.
>>
>>
>>
>> 2. RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE - AND THE TIMES - CHANGE: The person
>> who is not interested in your effort today, may be interested next
>> month, or next year. Keep the lines open.
>>
>>
>>
>> 3. LISTEN! Take and make note of what people say, specifically
>> what they are interested in. Chances are there is some component
>> of your effort that will touch their deep core of values. (Good
>> resource to consult: George Lakoff?s ?Thinking Points?)
>>
>>
>>
>> 4. BE FLEXIBLE. If a person cannot - or will not - participate
>> in a particular project or a particular aspect of a project, maybe
>> there will be a different project or a different task they would
>> be willing to participate in, now or in the future. They may not
>> be able to attend a meeting, or an event, but they may be willing
>> to sign or distribute a petition, for example. Listen to the
>> person and be open to finding a task they WOULD LIKE TO DO.
>>
>>
>>
>> 5. STAY CALM, REFUSE TO ARGUE: The most difficult for many of us
>> - and one of the most important guidelines. As an activist and as
>> a contact person, you will represent for many people the peace or
>> progressive movement, at least at that moment. How do you want to
>> present yourself and the movement? If all else fails (and some
>> people may do their utmost to provoke you), there is the tried and
>> true response, ?Thank you so much for your time. I need to make
>> some more calls now.? You might want to have at the ready a
>> number of variations on this theme.
>>
>>
>>
>> 6. KNOW YOUR PROJECT. Be able to explain the entire project in a
>> single, clear sentence and at the same time, be able to answer a
>> variety of potential questions: Why is the group doing this
>> project? Why is it important? How could I help? Who has the
>> materials, etc I need? Etc.
>>
>>
>>
>> 7. STAY POSITIVE: Some people are, consciously or
>> unconsciously, nearly professional nay-sayers. This attitude may
>> give them a sense of power or intellectual superiority. No amount
>> of arguments will convince someone who does not want to be
>> convinced. Offer options and opportunities, stay polite and move on.
>>
>>
>>
>> 8. REDUCE FRICTION: See Scott Ritter?s ?Waging Peace? for a
>> discussion of this principle. Basically you don?t want to create
>> unnecessary complications or barriers to your project. Think
>> ahead. What is the background, the essential facts that you need
>> to be aware of? How can you present your project so that it meets
>> the least resistance? What arguments to the contrary can you
>> anticipate and what is the most effective response?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> INVOLVING LESS ACTIVE MEMBERS: THE TOOLKIT
>>
>> 1. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS/FRIENDS - WELCOME PAST MEMBERS/FRIENDS -
>> WELCOME CURRENT MEMBERS/FRIENDS: So basic, and yet, we often get
>> so busy, so tired, and so focused on a particular item that we
>> overlook how essential this principle is. We are all human
>> beings, not machines. We respond to sincere warmth. We are more
>> willing to participate if we feel comfortable and more likely to
>> make meaningful contribution if we feel valued. And then, even
>> machines need to be oiled.
>>
>>
>>
>> 2. BE ORGANIZED: Have well organized meetings and actions. One
>> of the things that drives people away is a perception that the
>> meeting or action was badly organized and a waste of their time.
>> Have an agenda and move it along, politely but firmly.
>>
>>
>>
>> 3. OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD: At a meeting make sure everyone has
>> an opportunity to be heard. On the other hand, if one individual
>> dominates a lot of time or takes the discussion off track, you can
>> still bring the meeting back on track, if necessary just saying, ?
>> Thank you. We?d better move on now. We have a lot to cover.? In
>> some cases when this happens frequently, you might arrange to have
>> two facilitators share this responsibility.
>>
>>
>>
>> 4. INVITE PARTICIPATION: At a meeting not everyone will speak up
>> on their own. Sometimes it is useful to do a go-round or
>> specifically address someone who has not spoken before. They may
>> have something very valuable to contribute. If they don?t choose
>> to make a comment, respect that.
>>
>>
>>
>> 5. ASK: Another principle so basic it is taken for granted and
>> then often overlooked. Asking is not just about sending out an
>> email, however. It implies a personalized request. It needs to
>> be for a specific, and meaningful task that the specific
>> individual might be likely to be interested in. And, as always,
>> if the answer is, ?No.? then be OK with that. They have their
>> reasons and you need to respect that.
>>
>>
>>
>> Note: This might apply at times even to the more active members.
>> A special email appeal to a selection of the membership list for
>> help will often bring in the needed resources.
>>
>>
>>
>> 6. MEMBERSHIP LIST: Your fundamental tool. Use it, Have it
>> handy. Update it periodically and as you receive the revised
>> information.
>>
>>
>>
>> 7. CALL PEOPLE: You may think that people don?t want to be
>> bothered. That may be true in some cases with some people all the
>> time and with particular individuals at a particular time. In
>> that case, respect their needs and their wishes. Make note of it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Generally, however, you will find that people respond well to
>> being reminded of events. Our society is so busy that people
>> often forget legitimately. Generally, also, people like to have
>> been thought of, included, and reminded.
>>
>>
>>
>> 8, KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED: Probably your group has its own list
>> serve. There is, of course, a balance between inundating people
>> with emails and keeping them informed of meetings, events, and
>> actions.
>>
>>
>>
>> One approach with emails is to include as much information in the
>> email heading as possible, so the person knows right away the
>> information needed, or knows whether or not they want to open the
>> email for more information. For example, a heading might be:
>> REMINDER- Talk by _________ 2-8-2008 Main Library. DON?T MISS
>>
>>
>>
>> 9. DEVELOP, USE, AND STORE FORMS: You don?t need to keep
>> reinventing the wheel. If you develop a form for scheduling
>> events, copy it, store in on your computer, and reuse it. Chances
>> are you will refine it over time.
>>
>>
>>
>> Another advantage of forms, is that people become used to using
>> them, and it takes less time and energy to get the job
>> accomplished. Less friction. (See, Scott Ritter?s ?Waging Peace.?)
>>
>>
>>
>> 10. PROJECTS THAT INVOLVE MANY PEOPLE: Some projects, such as
>> letter-writing campaigns, demonstrations, vigils, etc. inherently
>> are suitable to involving a lot of people. Try to include
>> projects like this. For example, a bus caravan to a large march
>> may involve young people and help bring new young blood into the
>> movement.
>>
>>
>>
>> 11. DELEGATE: Try to involve as many people as workable. This
>> helps to teach others the skills, makes it more enjoyable, and
>> reduces fatigue on the organizers. Try people out on small tasks
>> first and don?t be afraid to REMIND people of deadlines. It can
>> be done without offense and is often the difference between a good
>> and a poor effort.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please send us your comments and suggestions. For contact
>> information, see below.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> This is a project of the Outreach Cmte of the Illinois Coalition
>> for Peace and Justice See: www.ilcpj.org Contact at: info at ilcpj.org
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ------
>>
>> To reply this message, please log on to ICPJ and click the
>> "Message Center" link.
>>
>>
>>
>
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