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Final Questionnaire

1 How can we recruit more members?

Go to other organizations especially places where folks underrepresented in your group congregate. Listen to what their concerns are and figure out how your group could be helpful to them. Then recruit. Ask to get time on their agenda. 9.08
Use email as a proactive method for building a community of interest, especially by emailing everyone in your area who has signed up with your national organization. 8.77
Take contact information wherever you go. Network! 8.62
Be active in campaigns. Look for activists who might become organizers. 8.62
Train all members in doing "one-on-one" outreach to likely members. 8.33
No more house parties. Hosts get uncomfortable and nervous doing house parties and youth are less likely to show up. 4.62

2 How can we better nourish ourselves personally?

3 How can we raise more money?

On the Internet, ask members for very little money ($3 or $5) and explain how it will be used. 8.8
Be upfront about the fact that you're trying to raise money. 8.6
Engage in more collaborative or joint fundraising. 8.4
Ask for it. 8.4
Take workshops on grant writing. 8.4

4 How can we rely less on one or two individuals?

Use individual talents and connections to their fullest. Find or create important roles for other participants (even if smaller than some others), so we are relying on one another. This reliance requires reliability -- trust and trustworthiness -- which in turn rests on the development of strong and multidimensional relationships among us. 9.2
Establish teams who are empowered to make decisions to take on individual tasks, such as recruiting, media, etc. 9.2
Assign tasks at general membership meetings. 8.8
It is not enough to hold meetings and have people sit there and discuss issues. We must do a better job of teaching people how to be more effective through direct action. 8.6
Make sure new members have a “buddy” to work with. 8.0
Use shared desktop programs such as Google apps. 8.0

5 How can we develop stronger contacts with FEDERAL elected officials?

Keep an open mind. 9.4
A small group cultivates an ongoing relationship as a group with a legislative office (specific staffers) thru periodic meetings -- not only for pressing an agenda but also for mutual education and exploration. Get to know staff persons and go to lunch once in a while. 8.8
When meeting with staff persons, make an appointment with the elected officials when they are home, especially during their recesses. 8.6
If you have helpful contacts, offer them to the official. 8.6
Volunteer to help at their office and at events. 8.4

6 How can groups that are mostly white and/or middle class work more effectively on cross-race, cross-class, and/or immigrant organizing?

Use the knowledge of individual cultures. Deep knowledge will produce great results. 9.56
Get to know people on their turf. Find out what they want. Ask them what you could do to help. Listen. 9.4
Recognize that most people want the same things in life: equal rights. 9.11
Creation of action to address issues of the moment. 9.11
Make a friend in a desired group. Ask your friend to take you where the group is relaxed and friendly. 8.89

7 How can we get better media coverage?

Don't propagandize reporters. 9.33
If you have a website &/or blog, keep it up to date. 9.33
Respect the need for news value. 9.11
Forget all the dumb verbiage & clichés in meeting announcements & press releases. Be specific & concrete, using terms your target group will understand. 8.89
Coordinate actions statewide! Harder to ignore when the same action is going on in 15 cities throughout the state. 8.75

8 How can we find stronger support from our immediate outside community?

Establish relationships with other groups and organizations: support their issues, become allies, be active in those organizations on behalf of shared interests. 9.4
Use word-of-mouth. Too often we don't express our views or tell of activities outside the people we directly organize with. 8.8
Engage in specific concrete tasks, such as the presidential election. 8.8
Educate people via house parties, Internet, discussions. 8.8
Join up with national groups like Moveon, DFA... 8.6
Find out what they want. Do things with said community to help them get what they want. Publicize what they say about what y’all did together. 8.6

9 How can we better energize our base to act quickly and effectively?

Evaluate and keep doing it. 9.78
Only ask for quick action when it's urgent, then say why specifically. 9.33
Set up phone/email trees, email lists, & car pools before they're needed. 9.2
Provide concrete things to do, for example specific talking points with which to call elected officials. 8.8
Stress action groups that work on issues of importance to the members. 8.8
Personal contact. 8.8

10 How can we make more effective use of our time?

11 How can we develop more “people-persons” with good social skills?

Treat individuals from other groups with respect. 9.6
Remind yourself to be a good listener. Step outside of your personal issues and listen objectively. Advise or respond as you would to a friend. Try to see that many people have many different perspectives and validate their thoughts. 9.56
Team up people with limited social skills with more socially skilled folks who don't mind presenting what needs to be presented. 9.2
Team up people with limited social skills with more socially skilled folks who don't mind presenting what needs to be presented. 9.2
Develop compassionate listening [http://www.compassionatelistening.org/]. 9.11

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Page last modified on April 03, 2009, at 03:42 PM