One workshop at the Animal Rights Conference was on “Running Small Groups”. For details about the conference, please take a look at arconference.org.

“Running Small Groups”
by:

Saurabh Dalal, International Vegetarian Union
Debra Erenberg, Rainforest Action Network
Dallas Rising, Animal Rights Coalition

First speaker: Dalal recommended the book, Good to Great (Link is to book I think is the right one; I didn’t get the author’s name while taking notes). He said it is important to balance the amount of planning you do: enough to make it repeatable and to learn from the event, not so much that you are paralyzed.

Most of our small local groups contain people with diverse interests and a range of commitments to the animal issues. Design activities to appeal to the different interests: those who are possibly interested, already interested, totally there. Dalal’s recommendation is to place the greatest emphasis on appealing to those who are “slightly interested” in animal rights and to spread out the balance of time and money on the remaining groups.

Several speakers, in different workshops, emphasized the value of forming partnerships with groups with overlapping interests. Dalal said the same, and said some groups are better at some activities than others, and they should use their strengths while you use yours, when organizing a joint event.

Dalal borrowed terms and practices from business. He recommended use of SWOT:  Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats – as a way to evaluate an event and an agenda.

He emphasized the need to do a postmortem afterwards to find out what went well, what did not.

He also recommended learning from other groups who have held similar events.

Teamwork – usually there is a small leadership group, five or fewer, who do the organizing. The challenge to this group is to get “the right people on the bus, in the right seats”. When people are doing what they do well and are satisfied that their work is important, they stay with the group. This doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be disagreements. Dalal said it is good to encourage disagreements. talk through them, be open, learn. You can’t always have consensus.

What brings success? Some groups find followers because their leaders have charisma, but hard work, rewarding people, recognizing people, openness to others, is more important.

Dalal emphasized that local is where it’s at. The real work is done on the ground at the local level. Our little groups matter.

Second speaker: Debra Erenberg, Rainforest Action Network

Three things are necessary for the success of a group:

• Constant outreach

• Productive meetings

• Leadership development

Leaders have the responsibility to make sure the group actions and materials reflect our values. Everyone in the group should be encouraged to listen, speak, engage.

OUTREACH

Why: gets a response, increases visibility, brings new people into group

How:

In general: look for every opportunity to set up table, canvas crowd, go door to door. The more diverse the actions the more diverse the group will become.

It takes time to build roads in the community. The more you show up, talk, and listen in other community activities and groups, the more likely others will listen to you over time. It is an investment in time.

• Consider partnering with other groups that are compatible.

• Always have something for people to sign. Also an opt-in message if they give you their email address. Send a response message quickly to keep up the interest, invite to something coming up soon.

PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS

• Have a monthly newcomers orientation ahead of regular meeting.

• Assign newcomers a buddy.

• People show up the first time because they care about an issue but won’t come back unless they feel welcome.

• They also don’t come back when meetings are long, contentious, don’t accomplish things. Respect people but agree to keep meetings short and deal with power issues.

• Find ways to confront oppressive behavior. Be sensitive.

• Social events need to be inclusive. Include activities for a full range of attendees.

• Gender: division of labor – women take on grunt work, take notes, bring food – men take on leadership roles. To avoid, set assignments keeping in mind genders, and rotate roles. Airtime: men dominate conversations. Do more frequent “go-rounds”. Men can help monitor, take note when men are dominating conversation and can say something.

• Anti-racist organizing for white folks: form alliances with groups of color, learn from each other.  Don’t assume you have the answers. Be careful with radicalism. Different groups have different relationships with law enforcement and so on. Learn about own whiteness. Google “white privilege”.

• Running group: many groups operate by consensus – need clear idea of consensus process, need clear roles. Can be effective process if done right. “formal consensus process” – search it. Use the formal version when topics are controversial within group.

• Don’t need specific leader but each needs to have a role. Consider “group nag” – holds others accountable for their roles. Make sure people have clear understanding of responsibility and be sure they can do it.

• Have fun. Need to support each other and enjoy each other’s company.

Third speaker: Dallas Rising: Animal Rights Coalition, also support vegans in prisons (small group), small dog rescue of Minnesota

There was a handout that was no longer available when I arrived. Part of Rising’s talk was from the handout, unfortunately.

• Take time out to brainstorm ideas from list

• Network with other groups, focus on helping them  – how can we support you? Usually helps your group too

Examples:

• low-income – literacy program for children – a  humane education director volunteers to work with the children on literacy, using humane materials. – helps their program, helps the humane director too

• yoga for animal activists – animal activists are a vulnerable group, carry around the pain, can benefit from yoga principles.

Find where the connection is between groups.

Leaders need to take care of themselves while keeping a positive outlook for others.  Use your own support network of family, friends.

Rising recommended the book Aftershock.

Money: She recommended that participants attend the fundraising workshop.

On bringing in the voices of the shy: Say “let’s hear from some of the introverts”. It helps people feel welcome – just offer the opportunity to speak.

Questions:

One member of the audience recommended VegFund for help with activities involving offering vegan food to the public, and Rising heartily agreed

Some comments from the panel on keeping members involved:

• Deborah – do roles with a buddy, make sure you thank people, have one-on-ones about what they want from the group – skills, how things are going

• Dalal – exit interview if they leave – how can we change, let them know they are always welcome back.

• members may need right role. Use website, newsletter, other means to recognize and reward participation.

Dallas – Need to set crystal clear expectations of members.

Sections: Vegan Resources
Topics: ar 2009, AR conference, veg, Vegan