[statecom-discuss] Part-time work to build GRP local chapters using WSGRP model

[Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com]

(JOkay - so you're imagining paying yourself?   But there is not a designated (B
(Jregion or regional sponsor (GRP local?) - so you are suggesting whoever is (B
(Jhired organize in their own region?(B
(JIn a message dated 2/6/07 9:51:47 PM, ronwf777 at yahoo.com writes:(B


(J> Great Questions Grace...(B
(J> (B
(J> I was not at statecom but I read the minutes and I don't think that this (B
(J> proposal or anything resembling it was made.(B
(J> (B
(J> The answers to your most of your questions follow from the model (see below) (B
(J> but I'm happy to answer the questions and it might also help other people (B
(J> too (to hear the answers), so thanks for responding....(B
(J> (B
(J> The main sponsor in the WSGRP model is the local anchor, (who is given a (B
(J> loan initially and then subsequently raises the money from the locally organized (B
(J> people and repays the loan). In West Somerville I gave myself the loan and (B
(J> the WSGRP repaid me willlingly.  I'll do the same (give a loan to any (B
(J> willing anchor), in other areas, who is willing to go through the sixth month (B
(J> process, and said anchor will repay the lender.(B
(J> (B
(J> So an anchor must be located,.... but the only requirement is that the (B
(J> person be willing to shephard 3 or 4 meetings (preferably first one at their own (B
(J> house) starting at about three months from now. (Part of the work by the (B
(J> part-time staff could be help locate an anchor although I was mainly planning on (B
(J> doing that myself or having someone else who is familiar with the model be (B
(J> involved in locating anchor)(B
(J> (B
(J> All of these things are in the notes for the model although the amount paid (B
(J> I think could be between $150 and $200.(B
(J> (B
(J> I already have two people interested in doing the work but I will announce (B
(J> that there are 5 days left to apply and make decisions early next week. So if (B
(J> you know people who are interested then please have them apply in the next 4 (B
(J> or 5 days.(B
(J> (B
(J> The anchor can work from anywhere. (Michelle operated from Shrewsbury and (B
(J> did the West Somerville work)(B
(J> (B
(J> (Initially the part-time staff person would have to work with me for an hour (B
(J> or so over the phone or in person, in order that they understand the model. (B
(J> (I will also volunteer time, as I did in West Somerville, to help guide the (B
(J> anchor's work although Michelle did the work in West Somerville with only a (B
(J> little bit of guidance....)(B
(J> (B
(J> Hope that helps...(B
(J> (B
(J> Also note that the person would probably work in a given State Rep district (B
(J> as this idea can parallel (in terms of geographic structuring) the Local (B
(J> Ballot 2008 proposal I have recently posted. In fact it might be worth a trial (B
(J> run to try to execute the model with a particular issue chosen to organize (B
(J> around (rather than the survey used in West Somerville)(B
(J> (B
(J> Ron(B
(J> 617 230-2835(B
(J> (B
(J> Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com wrote: Ron - is this based on one of the proposals we (B
(J> missed at Statecom?(B
(J> (B
(J> Who is sponsoring this? Do you know where this person would be working? (B
(J> I(B
(J> assume you raised the $ for this?(B
(J> (B
(J> A few of these details, I'll see if any of the younger folks from my (B
(J> campaign(B
(J> are interested - thanks, grace(B
(J> In a message dated 2/6/07 12:07:19 PM, ronwf777 at yahoo.com writes:(B
(J> (B
(J> (B
(J> > Dear GRP folks,(B
(J> >(B
(J> > If anyone knows someone who would be interested in part-time work over the(B
(J> > next half a year ($12) to kickstart, or start anew, Green-Rainbow chapters (B
(J> by(B
(J> > doing phonecalling work, mailings, some door to door work and other types (B
(J> of(B
(J> > outreach work (see below), then please let me know.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > The work would be for 12 +/- 2 hours and would take place over the next(B
(J> > month and a half.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > The person should have good positive energy about organizing, be (B
(J> organized,(B
(J> > be committed to GRP values, and be comfortable on the phone and in (B
(J> reporting(B
(J> > progress on a regular basis.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > The person would look to replicate the steps indicated below (See WSGRP(B
(J> > outreach model including student intern comments on improving the model), (B
(J> or a(B
(J> > very similar set of steps.$(D*$(J Included in this email are two of the flyers (B
(J> used(B
(J> > to do some of the WSGRP mailing effort from Dec 2005 WEst Somerville (B
(J> outreach(B
(J> > effort culminating in a kick-off meeting of 13 people and two subsequent(B
(J> > meetings of 10 people each.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > The outreach work would culminate in three to four meetings beginning (B
(J> three(B
(J> > to four months from now in a given community for which an "anchor" can be(B
(J> > established.$(D*$(J If the work goes well then further part-time work is (B
(J> possible.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > Persons of color and people from other oppressed backgrounds are (B
(J> encouraged(B
(J> > to apply.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > If you know someone who is interested, then please forward them this email(B
(J> > and ask them to send a brief cover letter explaining (1 paragraph each (B
(J> please)(B
(J> >(B
(J> > 1) why she/he$(D*$(J would be good for this position(B
(J> > 2) what her or his commitment is for GRP values.(B
(J> > 3) experience doing local municipal level organizing(B
(J> >(B
(J> > for more info call(B
(J> > Ron Francis(B
(J> > 617 230-2835(B
(J> >(B
(J> > background:(B
(J> >(B
(J> > Various Chapter-building modalities have been tried by the GRP including (B
(J> the(B
(J> > West Somerville Model summarized below:(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J This work was done by a student for a Service Learning(B
(J> > $(D*$(J Project at Shrewsbury High School to rejuvenate the Somerville GRP(B
(J> > chapter.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > The student wrote this report in concluding the work.(B
(J> >(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J A) Time spent:$(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J The total time for outreach was 9 hours.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J To put stamps on 230 (B
(J> envelopes:(B
(J> > < 1 hr. Return labels on 460 envelopes (230 being the recipient envelopes) (B
(J> &(B
(J> > stuffing the 230 into the bigger envelopes: 2 hrs. Put name labels on 230(B
(J> > envelopes: < 1 hr. Stuffing envelopes three times (three separate pieces (B
(J> of(B
(J> > paper): 1 hr.15. 130 initial phone calls: < 2 hrs. Second, third round of (B
(J> phone(B
(J> > calls: 30 minutes. Additional time spent counting/recounting, reworking (B
(J> Excel(B
(J> > database, adding additional columns to database, and driving.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J The (B
(J> process(B
(J> > in its entirety of reaching 230 people by mail and 37 people by phone took(B
(J> > about 8 hours for me, plus about an hour or so from Ron Francis helping (B
(J> with(B
(J> > flyers and a few calls and emails. Total 9 hours.$(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(J B) Money Spent$(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J Total money spent was $172 dollars. I spent $12.58 on a box of 500 no. (B
(J> 6(B
(J> > envelopes, even though I only used 230, and I am returning the remainder. (B
(J> I(B
(J> > spent $85.47 on 230 stamps. I spent $73.66 at Staples for the three pieces (B
(J> of(B
(J> > paper included in the envelopes to be copied and folded.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J The grand (B
(J> total is(B
(J> > $171.71. (Note: In order to raise money, perhaps at the meetings for each(B
(J> > chapter, they could pass a hat around to collect donations. Or maybe the (B
(J> me(B
(J> > mbership committee would cover some of these one-time costs, if this (B
(J> method proves(B
(J> > workable for jump-starting other chapters)$(D*$(J This cost of 172 was offset (B
(J> by$(D*$(B
(J> > $90 raised by the group at the meeting in small donations.$(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J C) The mailing.$(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J There were 543 names of Green-Rainbow Party Somerville residents. 130 (B
(J> had(B
(J> > phone numbers, while 413 did not. Of the 413, I sent out 100 of the flyers (B
(J> to(B
(J> > random residents in the 02144 area code (close to meeting location). In(B
(J> > total 230 pieces of mail were sent out. (It will be interesting to see if (B
(J> there(B
(J> > is any difference in the turnout between those who received phone calls (B
(J> and(B
(J> > those who did not. At the meeting we will ask how people heard about the(B
(J> > meeting)$(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J D) The phone calling$(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J Of the 130 with numbers, I tried 115 of them, while Ron Francis tried (B
(J> 15.(B
(J> > Our results were:$(D*$(J $(D*$(J 93 whose phone numbers were disconnected, not in (B
(J> service,(B
(J> > had moved, were a wrong number, etc.,$(D*$(J $(D*$(J 8 who clearly stated they were (B
(J> not(B
(J> > interested,$(D*$(J $(D*$(J 15 who clearly stated they were interested, 5 of whom said (B
(J> they(B
(J> > were planning on attending the meeting,$(D*$(J $(D*$(J And 14 who did not return the (B
(J> phone(B
(J> > messages.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J A day before the meeting I reminded all 15 interested, and (B
(J> all(B
(J> > 14 in their messages, to come to teh meeting. and return the survey. The(B
(J> > number of these returned surveys is yet to be determined.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Numerous (B
(J> phone calls(B
(J> > revealed that some people had misplaced or not seriously looked at the (B
(J> flyer(B
(J> > they received, and a few said they had not received it at all. The 93 (B
(J> whose(B
(J> > numbers were not good will serve the same purpose as the additional 100 in (B
(J> the(B
(J> > random sample to see who shows up at the meeting without having been (B
(J> reached(B
(J> > via the phone.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Of the 8 who said they were no longer(B
(J> > interested, the responses were: two because of a change of party, one (B
(J> woman(B
(J> > changing to democrat, two because their English was not very good, one(B
(J> > because she was finishing grad school, one because she had just had a (B
(J> baby, one(B
(J> > because he was too busy, and one because she thought the use of the (B
(J> mailing list(B
(J> > would go better to saving a tree instead of being sent to her.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Of (B
(J> those(B
(J> > who were interested but could not come, most reasons were because of a (B
(J> conflict(B
(J> > in date or because they were generally interested but didn$(D+$"o(Jt feel like(B
(J> > putting in the specific effort for this event.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J The general response I (B
(J> received(B
(J> > was uncertainty in the strength of the party. One particular initial (B
(J> response(B
(J> > I got was $(D+$)M(JI got no money.$(D+$$B".(J People seem to feel as if the party is (B
(J> always(B
(J> > asking for money, and in that sense, most people don$(D+$"o(Jt seem very (B
(J> optimistic(B
(J> > about giving. Another man said how he preferred to give money to the local(B
(J> > chapter instead of Green Party USA . One person asked why the(B
(J> > Green-Rainbow Party didn$(D+$"o(Jt join the Progressive Democrats to double the(B
(J> > strength into one party. Another man said how he found that many advocates (B
(J> for(B
(J> > the environment were then guilty of not recycling, etc. themselves. He (B
(J> thought(B
(J> > that the party should concentrate on the environment more.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J One woman(B
(J> > mentioned how she used to receive the Green-Rainbow Party e-mails until (B
(J> she blocked(B
(J> > them.$(D*$(J She found them very irritating because they often only stated a(B
(J> > reminder that she was a member, and she recalls that they never really (B
(J> included(B
(J> > very important information. One man found the survey to be very rigid and(B
(J> > formulated, so he didn$(D+$"o(Jt fill it out. He is however coming to the (B
(J> meeting, so we(B
(J> > will definitely be able to hear his two cents.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J One man is disabled, (B
(J> and(B
(J> > rarely leaves the house. He was not sure if he would come or not, (B
(J> especially due(B
(J> > to his low energy and low capability to take in a lot of information. He (B
(J> said(B
(J> > he thought he could be helpful with phone calls, if we needed.(B
(J> > He has a big problem with the government, social security, the court (B
(J> system,(B
(J> > and the way it is run, and said if anyone had a problem with the court(B
(J> > system, he would be on the front line to help them. He also had strong (B
(J> interests(B
(J> > in animal rights, including cats, dogs, and other animals, such as (B
(J> raccoons,(B
(J> > the environment, and the education system. He works in an after school (B
(J> program(B
(J> > a few days a week. One man was concerned about the dinner being a (B
(J> vegetarian(B
(J> > meal, which of course, it was.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Two people we called said that they (B
(J> would(B
(J> > not respond to telephone calls, and one at the meeting said the same, and (B
(J> that(B
(J> > he$(D+$"o(Jd prefer to be contacted via mail or email.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J My feeling is this: (B
(J> Of all(B
(J> > these various and specific concerns comes a party with a lot of potential, (B
(J> if(B
(J> > only it could encourage its members via some tangible evidence. I told all(B
(J> > of those willing to listen about the win in the Cambridge school (B
(J> committee,(B
(J> > and the ballot question win in Waltham about land development.(B
(J> > Many people were excited and interested, but those were the people who (B
(J> were(B
(J> > already interested.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J However, beginning with GRP members gaining (B
(J> recognition(B
(J> > in other committees and winning election questions / candidacies, perhaps(B
(J> > real change can begin to occur, eventually having with low-income families(B
(J> > beginning to speak out in favor of the GRP.$(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(J E) What could be done better:$(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J Phone numbers: We will need to try the phone book more often in order (B
(J> to(B
(J> > get more phone numbers. (It will be interesting to see if using(B
(J> > peoplepages.com will yield more correct phone numbers than the ones (B
(J> provided by Dan through(B
(J> > that phone service.)$(D*$(J $(D*$(J I think that sending members a copy of the GRP(B
(J> > newspaper would encourage them more, sending those on the borderline of (B
(J> interest(B
(J> > over to the side of interest. (Ron was supposed to do this but he got busy (B
(J> and(B
(J> > didn't)$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Other than that, I don$(D+$"o(Jt know how much you can improve(B
(J> > communications with each member without having their telephone number. The (B
(J> success of(B
(J> > solely sending mail will be proved at the meeting.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Perhaps (B
(J> door-to-door(B
(J> > contact would be the next step.$(D*$(J Also, at the door, there should be a (B
(J> sign-in(B
(J> > sheet, along with a list of members who do not have phone numbers, so (B
(J> those who(B
(J> > attend the meeting can look over the list for people they know whose (B
(J> numbers(B
(J> > they could give us.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J The only other way to get the numbers of(B
(J> > those who do not attend the meeting would be to specifically send them(B
(J> > letters asking$(D*$(J for their numbers, and wait for responses.$(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(J F) Overall results of the outreach part of experiment:$(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J Out of 37 people contacted by phone numbers, 5 people said that they (B
(J> would(B
(J> > show up at the meeting, although typically only 50% will actually come so(B
(J> > that may be 2 people but perhaps those 2 will bring others. Still these 5 (B
(J> could(B
(J> > be counted as being interested and may come to future meetings.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Of the (B
(J> 10(B
(J> > who said that they were interested but could not come, perhaps some will (B
(J> show(B
(J> > up in the future. It may also be that some folks bring other folks (some(B
(J> > said that they know people who may be interested)$(D*$(J $(D*$(J It is encouraging (B
(J> that 15(B
(J> > out of 37 people that I talked to were interested. If we can figure out a (B
(J> way(B
(J> > to turn that interest into participation then that would be very good. (B
(J> There(B
(J> > are already some active GRP people in Somerville who may bring some people (B
(J> to(B
(J> > the meeting. Ron said that his friend Bob Cable from Somerville Divestment(B
(J> > Project is coming (didn$(D+$"o(Jt come but called and was very interested and (B
(J> even(B
(J> > upset that he couldn$(D+$"o(Jt make it) and Jamie did some outreach as well.(B
(J> > $(D*$(J Other cities may not have as many active GRP$(D+$"o(Js, proportionately to (B
(J> their(B
(J> > size, although they might, so this should be factored in determining the (B
(J> net(B
(J> > effect of this experiment. It was cold and snowy on Sunday so that might (B
(J> have(B
(J> > affected the meeting results. The meeting is being held at a place that (B
(J> has(B
(J> > public transportation so that is another variable.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J Personally I would (B
(J> like(B
(J> > to stay involved with the party, and maybe other students could be (B
(J> encouraged(B
(J> > to take on such a project in another city.$(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(J G) Results of the Meeting:(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(J Eleven people were there, 5 women and 6 men. (plus jamie's little (B
(J> son)$(D*$(B
(J> > Of seven people (including Ron and me) who said they would come, five (B
(J> showed(B
(J> > up, so the additional six who came had not been contacted via the (B
(J> telephone.(B
(J> > They told us they had heard about the meeting via e-mail, or had gotten (B
(J> the(B
(J> > mailing (I think 3 and 3). The total cost for the meeting was $170, but we(B
(J> > raised $90 by passing a cup around.$(D*$(J Surprisingly every member at the (B
(J> meeting(B
(J> > said they would show up for the next meeting January 15th.$(D*$(J Everyone (B
(J> agreed to(B
(J> > take a look at the phone list and identify people that they knew and could(B
(J> > contact by phone (since many numbers were missing).$(D*$(J One man agreed to (B
(J> get(B
(J> > information about energy usage issues in Somerville . Another man agreed (B
(J> to get(B
(J> > information about military recruiting. Two people volunteered to organize (B
(J> an(B
(J> > activity for youth interested in GRP to make events more family (B
(J> friendly.$(D*$(B
(J> > Others seemed generally willing to participate. Lot of discussion(B
(J> > about climate /$(D*$(J traffic and how that is interconnected to need for oil(B
(J> > based foreign policy.$(D*$(J For about 90 minutes the group discussed issues (B
(J> important(B
(J> > to members and how to go about them.$(D*$(J $(D*$(J There is a copy of the minutes (B
(J> from(B
(J> > the meeting listed below, which gives some detail about every issue (B
(J> discussed.(B
(J> > $(D*$(J $(D*$(B
(J> >(B
(J> >(B
(J> >(B
(J> >(B
(J> > $(D*$(B
(J> >(B
(J> > _______________________________________________(B
(J> > statecom-discuss mailing list(B
(J> > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org(B
(J> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss(B
(J> >(B
(J> >(B
(J> (B
(J> _______________________________________________(B
(J> statecom-discuss mailing list(B
(J> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org(B
(J> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss(B
(J> (B
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(J> statecom-discuss mailing list(B
(J> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org(B
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