[statecom] GRP Strategic Planning Session -- this Sunday (5/6) !

[Eli Beckerman]

AN INVITATION . . .

Strategic Planning Meeting for the Green-Rainbow Party
Towards a GRP Strategy for 2007-2009
Sunday, May 6, 2007 * 1:45-5:15 P.M.
Worcester Public Library * Saxe Room * 3 Salem Square, Worcester

The political winds are changing, yet the Green-Rainbow Party has
struggled to provide a strong, visible alternative to the people of
Massachusetts. Now is the time to make YOUR voice heard about the
purpose of the GRP, the direction it should take, and the priorities
it should focus on over the next few years that will help build the
Party into a vibrant force for making the 10 Key Values a reality.

You are invited to participate in a Green-Rainbow Party strategic
planning session on Sunday, May 6, to help the GRP Strategic Plan
Working Group develop the strategy that will move the Party forward in
the next three years.

This is your chance to turn those burning criticisms and lingering
hopes for the GRP into strategic actions and messages for the Party to
take up. The results of this meeting will be used to help the GRP
Strategic Plan Working Group produce the best possible plan for the
Party's future, so please come and share your thoughts, concerns, and
ideas.

If you can cannot attend, or wish to supplement your remarks, please
send your written comments to elibeck at gmail.com, or mail them to
the Strategic Plan Working Group, c/o John Andrews, 22 Kendall Road,
Lexington, MA 02421.

For more information please call Eli Beckerman at (617) 821-1453 or visit:
http://www.green-rainbow.org/Committees/Strategic_Planning

Childcare and snacks will be provided, but please give us advance
notice if you will need childcare.

The meeting will allow each person a fixed amount of time
(approximately 5 minutes) to speak
about whatever they feel will help our strategic planning.  There will
be some time to respond to
presented testimony near the end of the meeting.  Members of the
Strategic Plan Working Group
will be present to record the proceedings.

 -------------------   FOCUS QUESTIONS  -----------------

To get people thinking about strategy, the Strategic Plan Working
Group developed the following set of focus questions. If these
questions inspire any ideas, write them down so you can share them! We
will welcome handouts along with verbal presentations, and if you
cannot attend, send us your comments following the instructions above.

1)  What should the GRP do to be helpful and relevant to the problems
with which you and your
community are struggling?

2)  What have you seen the Green Party, Rainbow Coalition Party, or
Green-Rainbow Party do over  the past six years that is an example of
why you feel the Party is making a valuable
contribution?

3)  What do you think the GRP should have accomplished six years from
now to justify our
commitment to it?  Try to identify some specific goals in terms of
electoral success,  shaping public
opinion, empowering people working for justice, sustainability,
democracy, building a green movement, etc..

4)  What can the GRP bring to advancing solutions to important
problems that cannot be better
accomplished by nonpartisan issue-related movements?

5)  What kinds of problems or opportunities do you think should be
receiving our attention? Why?  Have we been neglecting any problems or
opportunities that we should have been addressing?

6)  Can the GRP be successful working in coalition with non-partisan
issue-oriented groups?  How?

7)  What types of electoral work do you want to see the GRP involved
in over the next six years?
What offices and what types of campaigns should we focus upon?  How
should we approach
campaigns (in terms of positioning, strategy, etc.)?

8)  What tactics, actions, or initiatives should be used to ensure
success over the next six
years? Are there any tactics, actions, or initiatives that you think
are unproductive or
counterproductive, and should be avoided?

9)  What makes people get involved and volunteer to help the GRP? What
causes people to
back away and not make a commitment?

10)  Is there anything about the GRP organizational structure, bylaws,
or processes that
should be changed to make the Party more effective?

Are there any other questions that we need to be asking?

-------------------------------------------------

 Directions to Worcester Public Library, Salem Street, Worcester:
(For map, see http://www.worcpublib.org/about/main.html)

Interstate 290 from the East: Exit 16, bear right at light at end of off-ramp.
Interstate 290 from the West: Exit 16. Turn left at light.

Proceed through intersection at Summer Street (Post Office will be on
your left.)

After passing under the bridge, turn left on Major Taylor Boulevard
(DCU Center will now be on your right. Hospital will be on your left.)

Proceed to next intersection (Worcester Common Outlets will be in
front of you.) Turn left (Parking garage will now be on your right.)

Continue through intersection at Franklin Street. There will be a
brick wall on your right. At end of wall, turn right on YWCA Way. Turn
left into municipal parking lot. Library is adjacent to parking lot.