Strategy Workshop

Questionnaire for Progressive Activists

DRAFT: Second Questionnaire for Progressive Activists

Introduction

This questionnaire, which is for members and former members of formal and informal groups that push directly for progressive changes in public or corporate policy, draws from the 40 responses to the first Questionnaire for Progressive Activists, which asked respondents to identify strengths and weaknesses in their groups.

The focus of this questionnaire is: To what degree do characteristics identified in the first survey apply to your group?

As currently planned, a future questionnaire will ask respondents to suggest methods that activists could use to improve their effectiveness. And a subsequent questionnaire will ask respondents to rate those suggested methods.

Along the way, we’ll circulate summary reports, ask respondents to suggest questions, and invite them to co-author the next questionnaire and/or discuss the issues that emerge. It is our hope that activists will then use this information to strengthen their projects.

If you aren’t currently a member of any such group but recently were, please complete the survey anyway. More than one member of each group is welcome to submit responses. Individuals who’ve been active in more than one group can submit additional responses by asking for an email survey from Wade Hudson at wadehudson0726 AT gmail DOT com.

With this project, the Strategy Workshop continues its exploration of how the progressive movement might become a more effective instrument for social change. If you have any questions, be in touch.

We encourage you to tell others about this survey and thank you for your participation. Click Next to begin.

To what degree do the following apply to your group?

_____We are committed, persist, and are consistently active.
_____We understand new technologies, the Internet, and social networking.
_____We have a clear, effective mission statement.

_____We have strong connections with and coordinate well with other allied groups.
_____We have strong contacts with local and state elected officials.
_____We have strong contacts with federal elected officials.
_____We know how to approach elected officials.

_____We have a good place to meet.
_____We have a clear, effective strategy and are able to identify important issues.
_____We are able to energize our base, act quickly, and mobilize adequate numbers of supporters.
_____We are pragmatic and flexible.
_____We are able to win clear victories.
_____We are able to get good media coverage.
_____We are diverse and have an ease that allows for people from many walks of life.
_____We are cohesive, united, trust each other, cooperate well, are tightly integrated, experience solidarity, and act together harmoniously.
_____We communicate well with one another.
_____We generally have a positive, vibrant attitude.
_____We make decisions democratically and our leaders are accountable to the membership.
_____We nourish ourselves with regular spiritual or faith-based practice.

_____We have too much internal strife and bad tempers.
_____Our members have too many emotional problems.
_____We aren’t open-minded enough.
_____We need to work more on cross-race, cross-class, and immigrant organizing.
_____We have too much jealousy among our members.
_____Our leaders are too cliquish, exclusive, and/or secretive.
_____We need to develop more “people-persons” with good social skills.
_____We need to be more patient.

_____We have a clear understanding of the roots of oppression.
_____We have trouble educating potential members about the value of our ideas.

_____We enable new members to get involved quickly.
_____We use volunteers effectively.
_____We are smart.
_____We are angry.
_____We are creative.

_____We find strong outside support from our immediate community.
_____We have trouble communicating with others outside our group.
_____We don’t rely on others for financial support.
_____We need more money.
_____We need more paid staff.
_____We are affiliated with a political party.
_____We have integrity because we are honest and stick to our principles.
_____We quickly and effectively train others to use our methods.

_____We need to recruit more members.
_____We are spread too thin.
_____Our financial records and reporting are inadequate.
_____We aren’t strong enough organizationally to be effective.
_____We have problems with disinterest due to disenfranchisement.
_____We need to be more active and more focused on direct social change outcomes.
_____We don’t have enough time to achieve our goals.
_____Our leader has bigger fish to fry than us small fry.
_____Our activities require too much time commitment for many people.
_____We rely too much on one or two individuals.
_____Some of our members need to be more educated.
_____We need more support from the Democratic Party.
_____Our members have too many other interests.