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

[Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com]

(Jso, the answer to my question is: that whoever signs up can do it in any area (B
(Jof the state they want to?   Grace(B
(JIn a message dated 2/6/07 10:51:08 PM, ronwf777 at yahoo.com writes:(B


(J> Dear All,(B
(J> (B
(J> The West Somerville Model has three players in it, in order to make it work.(B
(J> (B
(J> The three players are the Anchor, the Lender and the Organizer.(B
(J> (B
(J> Each of the 3 players gets her or his needs met and that's why the model (B
(J> works.(B
(J> (B
(J> There is the Anchor. (See previous email and notes on the model to (B
(J> understand anchor's role)(B
(J> (B
(J> There is the Lender. (see notes on model). In West Somerville I was the (B
(J> Lender and am willing to be the Lender again for other communities. The lender (B
(J> gets repaid the $150 dollars after about 6 months or so.(B
(J> (B
(J> The is the Organizer (see previous email to understand role of the (B
(J> organizer)(B
(J> (B
(J> This effort is locally-oriented, decentralized and does not involve the (B
(J> State Party, any Statecom committees or any regional entities except to note that (B
(J> the local entity that gets formed may or may not choose to be involved with (B
(J> State or regional-level activity.(B
(J> (B
(J> Hope that helps...(B
(J> (B
(J> Ron(B
(J> 617 230-2835(B
(J> (B
(J> Melissa Harrell <lissagrp at gmail.com> wrote: Hi Ron,(B
(J> (B
(J> Can you clarify for me who would be making this loan? Is there a local or(B
(J> WSGP making this loan? Is the State Party expected to do this?(B
(J> (B
(J> (B~(JMelissa(B
(J> (B
(J> On 2/6/07, Ron Francis wrote:(B
(J> >(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> (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(B
(J> > below) but I'm happy to answer the questions and it might also help other(B
(J> > people 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(B
(J> > organized people and repays the loan). In West Somerville I gave myself (B
(J> the(B
(J> > loan and the WSGRP repaid me willlingly.  I'll do the same (give a loan (B
(J> to(B
(J> > any willing anchor), in other areas, who is willing to go through the (B
(J> sixth(B
(J> > month 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 (B
(J> their(B
(J> > own house) starting at about three months from now. (Part of the work by(B
(J> > the part-time staff could be help locate an anchor although I was mainly(B
(J> > planning on doing that myself or having someone else who is familiar with(B
(J> > the model be involved in locating anchor)(B
(J> >(B
(J> > All of these things are in the notes for the model although the amount(B
(J> > paid 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(B
(J> > if you know people who are interested then please have them apply in the(B
(J> > next 4 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(B
(J> > hour or so over the phone or in person, in order that they understand the(B
(J> > model. (I will also volunteer time, as I did in West Somerville, to help(B
(J> > guide the anchor's work although Michelle did the work in West Somerville(B
(J> > with only a 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(B
(J> > district as this idea can parallel (in terms of geographic structuring) (B
(J> the(B
(J> > Local Ballot 2008 proposal I have recently posted. In fact it might be(B
(J> > worth a trial run to try to execute the model with a particular issue (B
(J> chosen(B
(J> > to organize 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(B
(J> > working? 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(B
(J> > the(B
(J> > > next half a year ($12) to kickstart, or start anew, Green-Rainbow(B
(J> > chapters by(B
(J> > > doing phonecalling work, mailings, some door to door work and other(B
(J> > types of(B
(J> > > outreach work (see below), then please let me know.(B
(J> > >(B
(J> > > The work would be for 12 +/- 2 hours and would take place over the next(B
(J> > > month and a half.(B
(J> > >(B
(J> > > The person should have good positive energy about organizing, be(B
(J> > organized,(B
(J> > > be committed to GRP values, and be comfortable on the phone and in(B
(J> > reporting(B
(J> > > progress on a regular basis.(B
(J> > >(B
(J> > > The person would look to replicate the steps indicated below (See WSGRP(B
(J> > > outreach model including student intern comments on improving the(B
(J> > model), or a(B
(J> > > very similar set of steps.$(D**(J Included in this email are two of the(B
(J> > flyers 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(B
(J> > be(B
(J> > > established.$(D**(J If the work goes well then further part-time work is(B
(J> > possible.(B
(J> > >(B
(J> > > Persons of color and people from other oppressed backgrounds are(B
(J> > encouraged(B
(J> > > to apply.(B
(J> > >(B
(J> > > If you know someone who is interested, then please forward them this(B
(J> > email(B
(J> > > and ask them to send a brief cover letter explaining (1 paragraph each(B
(J> > please)(B
(J> > >(B
(J> > > 1) why she/he$(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 $(D**(J To put stamps on 230(B
(J> > envelopes:(B
(J> > > < 1 hr. Return labels on 460 envelopes (230 being the recipient(B
(J> > envelopes) &(B
(J> > > stuffing the 230 into the bigger envelopes: 2 hrs. Put name labels on(B
(J> > 230(B
(J> > > envelopes: < 1 hr. Stuffing envelopes three times (three separate pieces(B
(J> > of(B
(J> > > paper): 1 hr.15. 130 initial phone calls: < 2 hrs. Second, third round(B
(J> > of phone(B
(J> > > calls: 30 minutes. Additional time spent counting/recounting, reworking(B
(J> > Excel(B
(J> > > database, adding additional columns to database, and driving.$(D**(J $(D**(J The(B
(J> > process(B
(J> > > in its entirety of reaching 230 people by mail and 37 people by phone(B
(J> > took(B
(J> > > about 8 hours for me, plus about an hour or so from Ron Francis helping(B
(J> > with(B
(J> > > flyers and a few calls and emails. Total 9 hours.$(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(B
(J> > no. 6(B
(J> > > envelopes, even though I only used 230, and I am returning the(B
(J> > remainder. I(B
(J> > > spent $85.47 on 230 stamps. I spent $73.66 at Staples for the three(B
(J> > pieces of(B
(J> > > paper included in the envelopes to be copied and folded.$(D**(J $(D**(J The (B
(J> grand(B
(J> > total is(B
(J> > > $171.71. (Note: In order to raise money, perhaps at the meetings for(B
(J> > each(B
(J> > > chapter, they could pass a hat around to collect donations. Or maybe the(B
(J> > me(B
(J> > > mbership committee would cover some of these one-time costs, if this(B
(J> > method proves(B
(J> > > workable for jump-starting other chapters)$(D**(J This cost of 172 was (B
(J> 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> > > $(D**(J There were 543 names of Green-Rainbow Party Somerville residents. (B
(J> 130(B
(J> > had(B
(J> > > phone numbers, while 413 did not. Of the 413, I sent out 100 of the(B
(J> > flyers to(B
(J> > > random residents in the 02144 area code (close to meeting location). In(B
(J> > > total 230 pieces of mail were sent out. (It will be interesting to see(B
(J> > if there(B
(J> > > is any difference in the turnout between those who received phone calls(B
(J> > and(B
(J> > > those who did not. At the meeting we will ask how people heard about the(B
(J> > > meeting)$(D**(J $(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J $(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J D) The phone calling$(D**(J $(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J Of the 130 with numbers, I tried 115 of them, while Ron Francis (B
(J> tried(B
(J> > 15.(B
(J> > > Our results were:$(D**(J $(D**(J 93 whose phone numbers were disconnected, not (B
(J> in(B
(J> > service,(B
(J> > > had moved, were a wrong number, etc.,$(D**(J $(D**(J 8 who clearly stated they (B
(J> were(B
(J> > not(B
(J> > > interested,$(D**(J $(D**(J 15 who clearly stated they were interested, 5 of whom(B
(J> > said they(B
(J> > > were planning on attending the meeting,$(D**(J $(D**(J And 14 who did not return(B
(J> > the phone(B
(J> > > messages.$(D**(J $(D**(J A day before the meeting I reminded all 15 interested, (B
(J> and(B
(J> > all(B
(J> > > 14 in their messages, to come to teh meeting. and return the survey. The(B
(J> > > number of these returned surveys is yet to be determined.$(D**(J $(D**(J (B
(J> Numerous(B
(J> > phone calls(B
(J> > > revealed that some people had misplaced or not seriously looked at the(B
(J> > flyer(B
(J> > > they received, and a few said they had not received it at all. The 93(B
(J> > whose(B
(J> > > numbers were not good will serve the same purpose as the additional 100(B
(J> > in the(B
(J> > > random sample to see who shows up at the meeting without having been(B
(J> > reached(B
(J> > > via the phone.$(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**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt (B
(J> feel like(B
(J> > > putting in the specific effort for this event.$(D**(J $(D**(J The general (B
(J> response(B
(J> > I received(B
(J> > > was uncertainty in the strength of the party. One particular initial(B
(J> > response(B
(J> > > I got was $(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D*)$B!H(JI got no money.$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D*$$B".(J People seem to feel as if the (B
(J> party is(B
(J> > always(B
(J> > > asking for money, and in that sense, most people don$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt seem very(B
(J> > optimistic(B
(J> > > about giving. Another man said how he preferred to give money to the(B
(J> > local(B
(J> > > chapter instead of Green Party USA . One person asked why the(B
(J> > > Green-Rainbow Party didn$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt join the Progressive Democrats to (B
(J> double(B
(J> > the(B
(J> > > strength into one party. Another man said how he found that many(B
(J> > advocates for(B
(J> > > the environment were then guilty of not recycling, etc. themselves. He(B
(J> > thought(B
(J> > > that the party should concentrate on the environment more.$(D**(J $(D**(J One (B
(J> woman(B
(J> > > mentioned how she used to receive the Green-Rainbow Party e-mails until(B
(J> > she blocked(B
(J> > > them.$(D**(J She found them very irritating because they often only stated a(B
(J> > > reminder that she was a member, and she recalls that they never really(B
(J> > included(B
(J> > > very important information. One man found the survey to be very rigid(B
(J> > and(B
(J> > > formulated, so he didn$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt fill it out. He is however coming to (B
(J> the(B
(J> > meeting, so we(B
(J> > > will definitely be able to hear his two cents.$(D**(J $(D**(J One man is (B
(J> disabled,(B
(J> > and(B
(J> > > rarely leaves the house. He was not sure if he would come or not,(B
(J> > especially due(B
(J> > > to his low energy and low capability to take in a lot of information. He(B
(J> > said(B
(J> > > he thought he could be helpful with phone calls, if we needed.(B
(J> > > He has a big problem with the government, social security, the court(B
(J> > system,(B
(J> > > and the way it is run, and said if anyone had a problem with the court(B
(J> > > system, he would be on the front line to help them. He also had strong(B
(J> > interests(B
(J> > > in animal rights, including cats, dogs, and other animals, such as(B
(J> > raccoons,(B
(J> > > the environment, and the education system. He works in an after school(B
(J> > program(B
(J> > > a few days a week. One man was concerned about the dinner being a(B
(J> > vegetarian(B
(J> > > meal, which of course, it was.$(D**(J $(D**(J Two people we called said that (B
(J> they(B
(J> > would(B
(J> > > not respond to telephone calls, and one at the meeting said the same,(B
(J> > and that(B
(J> > > he$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jd prefer to be contacted via mail or email.$(D**(J $(D**(J My feeling (B
(J> is this:(B
(J> > Of all(B
(J> > > these various and specific concerns comes a party with a lot of(B
(J> > potential, if(B
(J> > > only it could encourage its members via some tangible evidence. I told(B
(J> > all(B
(J> > > of those willing to listen about the win in the Cambridge school(B
(J> > committee,(B
(J> > > and the ballot question win in Waltham about land development.(B
(J> > > Many people were excited and interested, but those were the people who(B
(J> > were(B
(J> > > already interested.$(D**(J $(D**(J However, beginning with GRP members gaining(B
(J> > recognition(B
(J> > > in other committees and winning election questions / candidacies,(B
(J> > perhaps(B
(J> > > real change can begin to occur, eventually having with low-income(B
(J> > families(B
(J> > > beginning to speak out in favor of the GRP.$(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J $(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J $(D**(J E) What could be done better:$(D**(J $(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J Phone numbers: We will need to try the phone book more often in (B
(J> order(B
(J> > to(B
(J> > > get more phone numbers. (It will be interesting to see if using(B
(J> > > peoplepages.com will yield more correct phone numbers than the ones(B
(J> > provided by Dan through(B
(J> > > that phone service.)$(D**(J $(D**(J I think that sending members a copy of the (B
(J> GRP(B
(J> > > newspaper would encourage them more, sending those on the borderline of(B
(J> > interest(B
(J> > > over to the side of interest. (Ron was supposed to do this but he got(B
(J> > busy and(B
(J> > > didn't)$(D**(J $(D**(J Other than that, I don$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt know how much you can (B
(J> improve(B
(J> > > communications with each member without having their telephone number.(B
(J> > The 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(B
(J> > so(B
(J> > > that may be 2 people but perhaps those 2 will bring others. Still these(B
(J> > 5 could(B
(J> > > be counted as being interested and may come to future meetings.$(D**(J $(D**(J (B
(J> Of(B
(J> > the 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 (B
(J> encouraging(B
(J> > that 15(B
(J> > > out of 37 people that I talked to were interested. If we can figure out(B
(J> > a 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(B
(J> > people to(B
(J> > > the meeting. Ron said that his friend Bob Cable from Somerville(B
(J> > Divestment(B
(J> > > Project is coming (didn$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt come but called and was very (B
(J> interested and(B
(J> > even(B
(J> > > upset that he couldn$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Jt make it) and Jamie did some outreach as (B
(J> well.(B
(J> > > $(D**(J Other cities may not have as many active GRP$(D**$B!q$(D+$$B"L$(D+$$B!q(Js, (B
(J> 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 $(D**(J Personally I(B
(J> > would like(B
(J> > > to stay involved with the party, and maybe other students could be(B
(J> > encouraged(B
(J> > > to take on such a project in another city.$(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J $(D**(B
(J> > > $(D**(J $(D**(J G) Results of the Meeting:(B
(J> > > $(D**(J $(D**(J Eleven people were there, 5 women and 6 men. (plus jamie's (B
(J> little(B
(J> > son)$(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(B
(J> > 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.$(D**(J Everyone(B
(J> > agreed to(B
(J> > > take a look at the phone list and identify people that they knew and(B
(J> > could(B
(J> > > contact by phone (since many numbers were missing).$(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(B
(J> > organize 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 (B
(J> 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 (B
(J> 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
(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> 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> 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