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

BillCunningham etwee at earthlink.net
Wed Feb 7 08:04:58 EST 2007 

What makes a local part of GRP if it may or may not be involved with State activity?

-----Original Message-----
>From: Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
>Sent: Feb 6, 2007 11:02 PM
>To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>Subject: Re: [statecom-discuss] Part-time work to build GRP local chapters	using WSGRP model
>
>so, the answer to my question is: that whoever signs up can do it in any area 
>of the state they want to?   Grace
>In a message dated 2/6/07 10:51:08 PM, ronwf777 at yahoo.com writes:
>
>
>> Dear All,
>> 
>> The West Somerville Model has three players in it, in order to make it work.
>> 
>> The three players are the Anchor, the Lender and the Organizer.
>> 
>> Each of the 3 players gets her or his needs met and that's why the model 
>> works.
>> 
>> There is the Anchor. (See previous email and notes on the model to 
>> understand anchor's role)
>> 
>> There is the Lender. (see notes on model). In West Somerville I was the 
>> Lender and am willing to be the Lender again for other communities. The lender 
>> gets repaid the $150 dollars after about 6 months or so.
>> 
>> The is the Organizer (see previous email to understand role of the 
>> organizer)
>> 
>> This effort is locally-oriented, decentralized and does not involve the 
>> State Party, any Statecom committees or any regional entities except to note that 
>> the local entity that gets formed may or may not choose to be involved with 
>> State or regional-level activity.
>> 
>> Hope that helps...
>> 
>> Ron
>> 617 230-2835
>> 
>> Melissa Harrell <lissagrp at gmail.com> wrote: Hi Ron,
>> 
>> Can you clarify for me who would be making this loan? Is there a local or
>> WSGP making this loan? Is the State Party expected to do this?
>> 
>> ~Melissa
>> 
>> On 2/6/07, Ron Francis wrote:
>> >
>> > Great Questions Grace...
>> >
>> > I was not at statecom but I read the minutes and I don't think that this
>> 
>> > proposal or anything resembling it was made.
>> >
>> > The answers to your most of your questions follow from the model (see
>> > below) but I'm happy to answer the questions and it might also help other
>> > people too (to hear the answers), so thanks for responding....
>> >
>> > The main sponsor in the WSGRP model is the local anchor, (who is given a
>> > loan initially and then subsequently raises the money from the locally
>> > organized people and repays the loan). In West Somerville I gave myself 
>> the
>> > loan and the WSGRP repaid me willlingly.  I'll do the same (give a loan 
>> to
>> > any willing anchor), in other areas, who is willing to go through the 
>> sixth
>> > month process, and said anchor will repay the lender.
>> >
>> > So an anchor must be located,.... but the only requirement is that the
>> > person be willing to shephard 3 or 4 meetings (preferably first one at 
>> their
>> > own house) starting at about three months from now. (Part of the work by
>> > the part-time staff could be help locate an anchor although I was mainly
>> > planning on doing that myself or having someone else who is familiar with
>> > the model be involved in locating anchor)
>> >
>> > All of these things are in the notes for the model although the amount
>> > paid I think could be between $150 and $200.
>> >
>> > I already have two people interested in doing the work but I will announce
>> > that there are 5 days left to apply and make decisions early next week. So
>> > if you know people who are interested then please have them apply in the
>> > next 4 or 5 days.
>> >
>> > The anchor can work from anywhere. (Michelle operated from Shrewsbury and
>> > did the West Somerville work)
>> >
>> > (Initially the part-time staff person would have to work with me for an
>> > hour or so over the phone or in person, in order that they understand the
>> > model. (I will also volunteer time, as I did in West Somerville, to help
>> > guide the anchor's work although Michelle did the work in West Somerville
>> > with only a little bit of guidance....)
>> >
>> > Hope that helps...
>> >
>> > Also note that the person would probably work in a given State Rep
>> > district as this idea can parallel (in terms of geographic structuring) 
>> the
>> > Local Ballot 2008 proposal I have recently posted. In fact it might be
>> > worth a trial run to try to execute the model with a particular issue 
>> chosen
>> > to organize around (rather than the survey used in West Somerville)
>> >
>> > Ron
>> > 617 230-2835
>> >
>> > Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com wrote: Ron - is this based on one of the proposals we
>> > missed at Statecom?
>> >
>> > Who is sponsoring this? Do you know where this person would be
>> > working? I
>> > assume you raised the $ for this?
>> >
>> > A few of these details, I'll see if any of the younger folks from my
>> > campaign
>> > are interested - thanks, grace
>> > In a message dated 2/6/07 12:07:19 PM, ronwf777 at yahoo.com writes:
>> >
>> >
>> > > Dear GRP folks,
>> > >
>> > > If anyone knows someone who would be interested in part-time work over
>> > the
>> > > next half a year ($12) to kickstart, or start anew, Green-Rainbow
>> > chapters by
>> > > doing phonecalling work, mailings, some door to door work and other
>> > types of
>> > > outreach work (see below), then please let me know.
>> > >
>> > > The work would be for 12 +/- 2 hours and would take place over the next
>> > > month and a half.
>> > >
>> > > The person should have good positive energy about organizing, be
>> > organized,
>> > > be committed to GRP values, and be comfortable on the phone and in
>> > reporting
>> > > progress on a regular basis.
>> > >
>> > > The person would look to replicate the steps indicated below (See WSGRP
>> > > outreach model including student intern comments on improving the
>> > model), or a
>> > > very similar set of steps.�D** Included in this email are two of the
>> > flyers used
>> > > to do some of the WSGRP mailing effort from Dec 2005 WEst Somerville
>> > outreach
>> > > effort culminating in a kick-off meeting of 13 people and two subsequent
>> > > meetings of 10 people each.
>> > >
>> > > The outreach work would culminate in three to four meetings beginning
>> > three
>> > > to four months from now in a given community for which an "anchor" can
>> > be
>> > > established.�D** If the work goes well then further part-time work is
>> > possible.
>> > >
>> > > Persons of color and people from other oppressed backgrounds are
>> > encouraged
>> > > to apply.
>> > >
>> > > If you know someone who is interested, then please forward them this
>> > email
>> > > and ask them to send a brief cover letter explaining (1 paragraph each
>> > please)
>> > >
>> > > 1) why she/he�D** would be good for this position
>> > > 2) what her or his commitment is for GRP values.
>> > > 3) experience doing local municipal level organizing
>> > >
>> > > for more info call
>> > > Ron Francis
>> > > 617 230-2835
>> > >
>> > > background:
>> > >
>> > > Various Chapter-building modalities have been tried by the GRP including
>> > the
>> > > West Somerville Model summarized below:
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** This work was done by a student for a Service Learning
>> > > �D** Project at Shrewsbury High School to rejuvenate the Somerville GRP
>> > > chapter.
>> > >
>> > > The student wrote this report in concluding the work.
>> > >
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** A) Time spent:�D**
>> > > �D** The total time for outreach was 9 hours.�D** �D** To put stamps on 230
>> > envelopes:
>> > > < 1 hr. Return labels on 460 envelopes (230 being the recipient
>> > envelopes) &
>> > > stuffing the 230 into the bigger envelopes: 2 hrs. Put name labels on
>> > 230
>> > > envelopes: < 1 hr. Stuffing envelopes three times (three separate pieces
>> > of
>> > > paper): 1 hr.15. 130 initial phone calls: < 2 hrs. Second, third round
>> > of phone
>> > > calls: 30 minutes. Additional time spent counting/recounting, reworking
>> > Excel
>> > > database, adding additional columns to database, and driving.�D** �D** The
>> > process
>> > > in its entirety of reaching 230 people by mail and 37 people by phone
>> > took
>> > > about 8 hours for me, plus about an hour or so from Ron Francis helping
>> > with
>> > > flyers and a few calls and emails. Total 9 hours.�D**
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** �D** B) Money Spent�D**
>> > > �D** Total money spent was $172 dollars. I spent $12.58 on a box of 500
>> > no. 6
>> > > envelopes, even though I only used 230, and I am returning the
>> > remainder. I
>> > > spent $85.47 on 230 stamps. I spent $73.66 at Staples for the three
>> > pieces of
>> > > paper included in the envelopes to be copied and folded.�D** �D** The 
>> grand
>> > total is
>> > > $171.71. (Note: In order to raise money, perhaps at the meetings for
>> > each
>> > > chapter, they could pass a hat around to collect donations. Or maybe the
>> > me
>> > > mbership committee would cover some of these one-time costs, if this
>> > method proves
>> > > workable for jump-starting other chapters)�D** This cost of 172 was 
>> offset
>> > by�D**
>> > > $90 raised by the group at the meeting in small donations.�D** �D**
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** C) The mailing.�D** �D**
>> > > �D** There were 543 names of Green-Rainbow Party Somerville residents. 
>> 130
>> > had
>> > > phone numbers, while 413 did not. Of the 413, I sent out 100 of the
>> > flyers to
>> > > random residents in the 02144 area code (close to meeting location). In
>> > > total 230 pieces of mail were sent out. (It will be interesting to see
>> > if there
>> > > is any difference in the turnout between those who received phone calls
>> > and
>> > > those who did not. At the meeting we will ask how people heard about the
>> > > meeting)�D** �D**
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** D) The phone calling�D** �D**
>> > > �D** Of the 130 with numbers, I tried 115 of them, while Ron Francis 
>> tried
>> > 15.
>> > > Our results were:�D** �D** 93 whose phone numbers were disconnected, not 
>> in
>> > service,
>> > > had moved, were a wrong number, etc.,�D** �D** 8 who clearly stated they 
>> were
>> > not
>> > > interested,�D** �D** 15 who clearly stated they were interested, 5 of whom
>> > said they
>> > > were planning on attending the meeting,�D** �D** And 14 who did not return
>> > the phone
>> > > messages.�D** �D** A day before the meeting I reminded all 15 interested, 
>> and
>> > all
>> > > 14 in their messages, to come to teh meeting. and return the survey. The
>> > > number of these returned surveys is yet to be determined.�D** �D** 
>> Numerous
>> > phone calls
>> > > revealed that some people had misplaced or not seriously looked at the
>> > flyer
>> > > they received, and a few said they had not received it at all. The 93
>> > whose
>> > > numbers were not good will serve the same purpose as the additional 100
>> > in the
>> > > random sample to see who shows up at the meeting without having been
>> > reached
>> > > via the phone.�D** �D** Of the 8 who said they were no longer
>> > > interested, the responses were: two because of a change of party, one
>> > woman
>> > > changing to democrat, two because their English was not very good, one
>> > > because she was finishing grad school, one because she had just had a
>> > baby, one
>> > > because he was too busy, and one because she thought the use of the
>> > mailing list
>
>> > > would go better to saving a tree instead of being sent to her.�D** �D** Of
>> > those
>> > > who were interested but could not come, most reasons were because of a
>> > conflict
>> > > in date or because they were generally interested but didn�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t 
>> feel like
>> > > putting in the specific effort for this event.�D** �D** The general 
>> response
>> > I received
>> > > was uncertainty in the strength of the party. One particular initial
>> > response
>> > > I got was �D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�暢�ぢ“I got no money.�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�暢�ぢ〓 People seem to feel as if the 
>> party is
>> > always
>> > > asking for money, and in that sense, most people don�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t seem very
>> > optimistic
>> > > about giving. Another man said how he preferred to give money to the
>> > local
>> > > chapter instead of Green Party USA . One person asked why the
>> > > Green-Rainbow Party didn�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t join the Progressive Democrats to 
>> double
>> > the
>> > > strength into one party. Another man said how he found that many
>> > advocates for
>> > > the environment were then guilty of not recycling, etc. themselves. He
>> > thought
>> > > that the party should concentrate on the environment more.�D** �D** One 
>> woman
>> > > mentioned how she used to receive the Green-Rainbow Party e-mails until
>> > she blocked
>> > > them.�D** She found them very irritating because they often only stated a
>> > > reminder that she was a member, and she recalls that they never really
>> > included
>> > > very important information. One man found the survey to be very rigid
>> > and
>> > > formulated, so he didn�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t fill it out. He is however coming to 
>> the
>> > meeting, so we
>> > > will definitely be able to hear his two cents.�D** �D** One man is 
>> disabled,
>> > and
>> > > rarely leaves the house. He was not sure if he would come or not,
>> > especially due
>> > > to his low energy and low capability to take in a lot of information. He
>> > said
>> > > he thought he could be helpful with phone calls, if we needed.
>> > > He has a big problem with the government, social security, the court
>> > system,
>> > > and the way it is run, and said if anyone had a problem with the court
>> > > system, he would be on the front line to help them. He also had strong
>> > interests
>> > > in animal rights, including cats, dogs, and other animals, such as
>> > raccoons,
>> > > the environment, and the education system. He works in an after school
>> > program
>> > > a few days a week. One man was concerned about the dinner being a
>> > vegetarian
>> > > meal, which of course, it was.�D** �D** Two people we called said that 
>> they
>> > would
>> > > not respond to telephone calls, and one at the meeting said the same,
>> > and that
>> > > he�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢d prefer to be contacted via mail or email.�D** �D** My feeling 
>> is this:
>> > Of all
>> > > these various and specific concerns comes a party with a lot of
>> > potential, if
>> > > only it could encourage its members via some tangible evidence. I told
>> > all
>> > > of those willing to listen about the win in the Cambridge school
>> > committee,
>> > > and the ballot question win in Waltham about land development.
>> > > Many people were excited and interested, but those were the people who
>> > were
>> > > already interested.�D** �D** However, beginning with GRP members gaining
>> > recognition
>> > > in other committees and winning election questions / candidacies,
>> > perhaps
>> > > real change can begin to occur, eventually having with low-income
>> > families
>> > > beginning to speak out in favor of the GRP.�D**
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** �D** E) What could be done better:�D** �D**
>> > > �D** Phone numbers: We will need to try the phone book more often in 
>> order
>> > to
>> > > get more phone numbers. (It will be interesting to see if using
>> > > peoplepages.com will yield more correct phone numbers than the ones
>> > provided by Dan through
>> > > that phone service.)�D** �D** I think that sending members a copy of the 
>> GRP
>> > > newspaper would encourage them more, sending those on the borderline of
>> > interest
>> > > over to the side of interest. (Ron was supposed to do this but he got
>> > busy and
>> > > didn't)�D** �D** Other than that, I don�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t know how much you can 
>> improve
>> > > communications with each member without having their telephone number.
>> > The success of
>> > > solely sending mail will be proved at the meeting.�D** �D** Perhaps
>> > door-to-door
>> > > contact would be the next step.�D** Also, at the door, there should be a
>> > sign-in
>> > > sheet, along with a list of members who do not have phone numbers, so
>> > those who
>> > > attend the meeting can look over the list for people they know whose
>> > numbers
>> > > they could give us.�D** �D** The only other way to get the numbers of
>> > > those who do not attend the meeting would be to specifically send them
>> > > letters asking�D** for their numbers, and wait for responses.�D**
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** �D** F) Overall results of the outreach part of experiment:�D** �D**
>> > > �D** Out of 37 people contacted by phone numbers, 5 people said that they
>> > would
>> > > show up at the meeting, although typically only 50% will actually come
>> > so
>> > > that may be 2 people but perhaps those 2 will bring others. Still these
>> > 5 could
>> > > be counted as being interested and may come to future meetings.�D** �D** 
>> Of
>> > the 10
>> > > who said that they were interested but could not come, perhaps some will
>> > show
>> > > up in the future. It may also be that some folks bring other folks (some
>> > > said that they know people who may be interested)�D** �D** It is 
>> encouraging
>> > that 15
>> > > out of 37 people that I talked to were interested. If we can figure out
>> > a way
>> > > to turn that interest into participation then that would be very good.
>> > There
>> > > are already some active GRP people in Somerville who may bring some
>> > people to
>> > > the meeting. Ron said that his friend Bob Cable from Somerville
>> > Divestment
>> > > Project is coming (didn�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t come but called and was very 
>> interested and
>> > even
>> > > upset that he couldn�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢t make it) and Jamie did some outreach as 
>> well.
>> > > �D** Other cities may not have as many active GRP�D**¢�朝�ぢ¬�朝�ぢ¢s, 
>> proportionately to
>> > their
>> > > size, although they might, so this should be factored in determining the
>> > net
>> > > effect of this experiment. It was cold and snowy on Sunday so that might
>> > have
>> > > affected the meeting results. The meeting is being held at a place that
>> > has
>> > > public transportation so that is another variable.�D** �D** Personally I
>> > would like
>> > > to stay involved with the party, and maybe other students could be
>> > encouraged
>> > > to take on such a project in another city.�D**
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > > �D** �D** G) Results of the Meeting:
>> > > �D** �D** Eleven people were there, 5 women and 6 men. (plus jamie's 
>> little
>> > son)�D**
>> > > Of seven people (including Ron and me) who said they would come, five
>> > showed
>> > > up, so the additional six who came had not been contacted via the
>> > telephone.
>> > > They told us they had heard about the meeting via e-mail, or had gotten
>> > the
>> > > mailing (I think 3 and 3). The total cost for the meeting was $170, but
>> > we
>> > > raised $90 by passing a cup around.�D** Surprisingly every member at the
>> > meeting
>> > > said they would show up for the next meeting January 15th.�D** Everyone
>> > agreed to
>> > > take a look at the phone list and identify people that they knew and
>> > could
>> > > contact by phone (since many numbers were missing).�D** One man agreed to
>> > get
>> > > information about energy usage issues in Somerville . Another man agreed
>> > to get
>> > > information about military recruiting. Two people volunteered to
>> > organize an
>> > > activity for youth interested in GRP to make events more family
>> > friendly.�D**
>> > > Others seemed generally willing to participate. Lot of discussion
>> > > about climate /�D** traffic and how that is interconnected to need for 
>> oil
>> > > based foreign policy.�D** For about 90 minutes the group discussed issues
>> > important
>> > > to members and how to go about them.�D** �D** There is a copy of the 
>> minutes
>> > from
>> > > the meeting listed below, which gives some detail about every issue
>> > discussed.
>> > > �D** �D**
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > �D**
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > statecom-discuss mailing list
>> > > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>> > > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > statecom-discuss mailing list
>> > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > statecom-discuss mailing list
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>> >
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Bill Cunningham

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