E) At these events, be sure to hand out free downloaded DVDs, have books and dvd’s for sale, etc to help raise public awareness. Ask participants at the event to hand out copies to their local libraries and to like-minded friends.
F) Newspaper calendar events are free advertising. Some towns offer community-based and grant-sponsored TV stations, which are decent (not great) free publicity sources.
G) Fliers are eye-catchers. Post them in libraries, college campuses, Laundromats, community centers, etc and be sure to post them any place where you have a like-minded crowd to draw on.
H) To raise funds to fly your speaker in and pay them, don't forget about the Foundation Center's website which has grants for social justice giving: www.fdncenter.org
I) Don't forget how powerful house parties have been proven to be! Arrange a DVD-watching house party, listen to cd's, hold discussions and ask participants to spread word, hosting house parties of their own.
K) Book clubs often have political discussion groups. You can start such a club yourself.
Remember: Preaching to the choir actually works! You get a wave of like-minded constituents going, the wave grows as word spreads, then finally as the wave becomes large it gains power and credibility. This, in turn, recruits people who might otherwise have been less convinced previously.
ALWAYS BE SURE TO DO A FACT-BASED PRESENTATION AND TO AVOID FEAR-BASED ANALYSES OF LEGISLATION ET AL, EVEN IF YOUR CONCERNS ARE TRUE. UNDER-STATING THE CONCERNS AND PLAINLY OFFERING PURE FACTS, IN A RATIONAL AND ALMOST SCIENTIFIC WAY, CARRIES FAR MORE CREDIBILITY THAN EMOTIONAL PRESENTATIONS. THE LATTER WILL ONLY TURN PEOPLE OFF, OR JUST DISCOURAGE THOSE PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH YOU, AND EITHER SCENARIO IS THE LAST THING WE NEED FOR OUR MOVEMENT. AVOID LOOKING LIKE A “CONSPIRACY KOOK” EVEN IF YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ON AND TRULY ACCURATE. REMEMBER THAT FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, AND PEOPLE WILL DRAW THEIR OWN INTELLIGENT CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE CONCERNS WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY YOURSELF COME TO AS A RESULT OF----GUESS WHAT----FACTS.
Let’s not give up! There’s still hope and there’s still way to spread word!
I suggest we all chip in together to create an activist's toolkit. We all need hope and empowerment right now, and the pooling of communal ideas is "where it's at". Let's do this intensively now, to offer pro-active ideas!
And please spread the word.
THANK YOU ALL! And here's a PS:
If we tip-toe around the unconstitutional "law" we are feeding the beast and handing an unprecedented victory to the Feds. But some people may be inclined to feel cautiously self-protective, and there's merit in that too. After all, when we take care of ourselves we can best serve others. The other point of view would be to say "I am not going to cater to them" and just to continue right on doing what you normally would do, saying what you normally would say, etc but we must also be aware of the possibility of some risk in so doing, if this bill passes. The choices are up to us, and what suits our own spirit best. Honor your self and the right thing will be the result. Blessings on your path!
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