A process based on respect
“Measure
your cloth nine times before you cut it.”
We want to construct a national organization (NO) in a way
that insures that process is respected and inclusion really
does happen. The construction of the NO requires developing
a widely accepted system of “checks and
balances” defining
relations between the national leadership and the grassroots
activism. To this end, we urge caution and careful work. The
rush to producing a permanent governing body should be stayed,
while several projects with time frames of their own, that are
pieces of this whole construction, should move forward.
TIME FRAME 1
[all deliberate speed]: Construct a DC Office
Project, with Board of Directors, bylaws, and so forth.
With a mission statement that places it as a portion of the
NO organizing process — independent in the short run,
subordinate to it in the long run.
TIME FRAME 2
[hold the course]: Make the 12 facilitators of
the National Summit the Organizing Committee for the NO.
Make the purpose maintaining stability and civility. If any
decisions are necessary, make them by consensus (all 12
votes). Ask if the Clearinghouse will continue to back up
this process organizationally.
TIME FRAME 3
[fermentation process]: Plan for a grassroots
organizing meeting/not a final resolution, but as a stimulus
for focusing and supporting the voice of the grassroots. We
should look at a “National Hub” model
where local creativity
and differences of approach can be cherished. See if we can
make for this “grassroots festival” to be
a major focus for
Alternatives 2002. Set the national ‘founding
convention’ —
where “checks and balances” can be negotiated —
subsequent to this “festival.”
TIME FRAME 4
[inventing a work process]: Develop discussions
of and models for fighting factionalism. The indicator of
when we’re ready for the NO
‘founding convention’ is when we
have this factionalism project up and running, when we feel
ready to invest in it.
What we hope to create by this is “a national organization
not dominated by any faction or leader which has constant grass
root input which puts forward a unified face not a face of
infighting.” (quote from Organizing Plank)
Respectfully
| Larry Belcher (WV) |
Alternative Services
Plank Facilitator |
| Dennis Budd (KS) |
|
| Su Budd (KS) |
|
| Odette Chenoweth (CA) |
|
| Sally Clay (FL) |
|
| Stephan DuBose (CA) |
|
| Tom Harkins (CA) |
|
| Nancy Hugo (OR) |
|
| Ed Knight (CO) |
Organizing Plank
Facilitator |
| Irene Lynch (NJ) |
|
| B.J. Morganti (CA) |
|
| Andrew Phelps (CA) |
Social Accountability
Plank Facilitator |
| Syl Plowright (CA) |
|
| Sue Poole (SC) |
|
| Jose Rangel (CA) |
| Richard Ratledge (CA) |
|
| Pat Risser (OR) |
|
| Yvette Sangster (CT) |
Advocacy
Plank Facilitator |
| Bonnie Schell (CA) |
|
| Walter Shwe (CA) |
|
|
