HOW DO I BECOME AN ORGANIZER?
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Why Should You Start a Tikkun Group?
Often when many of us think of the term “leader” we think of a grand Martin Luther Kind Jr. figure. Although such people are very important in social movements we often disregard the vital role organizers play in building a movement. Do we know the names of those who organized people to go door-to-door before the school board election this year? Although someone like MLK Jr. is important to the spiritual and public relations aspects of a movement, the people who are doing the down and dirty work keep things moving forward.
So how can you help heal and transform the world? How can your campus group work to end the American occupation of Iraq and secure peace and justice in Israel/Palestine? How can you promote and practice ethical consumption, and end social and economic injustice? You probably see the frustration on your campus in regard to these issues. This frustration only grows when people feel confused about where to direct their energies. A good organizer not only helps people direct their energies, but also enables people to believe in themselves and follow through with their own ideas. Ideally, an organizer is in a constant process of training others. This is probably the most important thing to remember; you want to help others believe in themselves. A good leader disseminates tasks and helps others assume roles of responsibility while simultaneously building others’ investment in the organization.
Why Should You Start a Tikkun Group?
To take on the project of tikkun olam is no small task and such an undertaking requires the efforts of many eager hands. Those already struggling for peace, justice, and ecological sanity need your help too. Tikkun campus groups can join in solidarity with these movements and provide a spiritual world vision that helps sustain the struggle for a better world and reminds us why this struggle is necessary and worth it. We need you to start a Tikkun group because we cannot grow without you. A union is only as strong as its members and so too with Tikkun.
How do I Get and Keep People Involved?
There are people on your campus, no matter where you live, who want to get involved but don’t know how. They may be waiting for someone like you to tell them how to get involved. So, here are a couple things to keep in mind to get people involved in building the TCN.
1. How do I get people to do a job?
Ask them. Few people will volunteer their services. This does not mean that they don't want to be involved. People wait to be asked. They want to feel that their services are needed and valued. Asking builds activity.
2. Who should ask them?
If possible, someone they know and trust; someone whose influence they respond to. But if you cannot arrange for someone else, do it yourself. After this has been done, be sure that the new recruit is welcomed by the leader of the group she will work with.
3.What do I tell them?
• Make clear what job you are asking them to do, and be sure it has a definite beginning and end. People do not want to sign up for life! Do not ask them to over-commit themselves.
• Ask people to do things they can do well, especially in the beginning. People are more willing to begin things they know they can do. Later, when they are really a part of your group, they will be more willing to try new things.
• Tell each person how her/his job fits in with the rest. People want to understand things that they are part of, and they work best when they know that others are depending on them.
• Let each person know that his/her help is needed. If s/he feels that you are just "looking for people" s/he will also feel easily replaceable and less responsible for doing a job.
• Discuss individual goals and how they fit into those of the group. People have their own reasons for volunteering, and you need to know them in order to lead effectively. Also, you must help people keep their expectations realistic; otherwise disappointment will overburden accomplishment.
• Ask what they would like to know, and give them plenty of time and help in raising questions. Many people are reluctant to ask questions, but they will work better after they have done so. Ease anxieties and troubleshoot ahead of time.
• Do these things in person. There is no substitute for talking face-to-face. It lets the person know that you consider the discussion important, and it gives you a chance to get acquainted with him/her.
• Don’t be embarrassed to be enthusiastic about the importance of your work. Do not apologize or belittle it. Your energy will solicit reciprocal responses.
4. How do I build an active committee?
Keep Records: you cannot keep it all in your head. Have a list of members, with names and up-to-date addresses and phone numbers. Keep minutes or notes on jobs to do and decisions made. Keep a list of each person's skills and "strong suits."
Keep your committee together. Call meetings regularly; do not just keep in touch with each person separately. People need to see and feel that they are part of something big. Not just hear about it from you. Call each person before a meeting to make sure she will be there and be there, this way she will know that her presence is important to you and the group. Let members share in deciding what jobs to do, how they can best be done, and who can do them best. They know some things that you do not, and they will work harder for things they decide on themselves.
5. How can I keep people motivated?
• Set high standards of activity. Members will take their cue from you.
• For each activity, get consensus on group goals. (See appendix on building consensus).
• Get enough people to do the job. Overworked volunteers stop volunteering. Be sure each member knows her role within the larger group.
• Do things at meetings. Make decisions; review past work; plan new things. People will be more committed to things that have been agreed on in the group. Besides, they won't keep coming to meetings unless they accomplish something.
• Encourage people to help each other out on jobs. "Every person for themself" is not good committee work or collective spirit.
• Recognize good work, and reward it. What you can do will depend on the local situation, of course, but you can always commend good workers at meetings, express your appreciation in person and write letters of thanks.
[Written by the AFSCME Union's Education Department, adapted for the TIKKUN Community]
Often when many of us think of the term “leader” we think of a grand Martin Luther Kind Jr. figure. Although such people are very important in social movements we often disregard the vital role organizers play in building a movement. Do we know the names of those who organized people to go door-to-door before the school board election this year? Although someone like MLK Jr. is important to the spiritual and public relations aspects of a movement, the people who are doing the down and dirty work keep things moving forward.
So how can you help heal and transform the world? How can your campus group work to end the American occupation of Iraq and secure peace and justice in Israel/Palestine? How can you promote and practice ethical consumption, and end social and economic injustice? You probably see the frustration on your campus in regard to these issues. This frustration only grows when people feel confused about where to direct their energies. A good organizer not only helps people direct their energies, but also enables people to believe in themselves and follow through with their own ideas. Ideally, an organizer is in a constant process of training others. This is probably the most important thing to remember; you want to help others believe in themselves. A good leader disseminates tasks and helps others assume roles of responsibility while simultaneously building others’ investment in the organization.
Why Should You Start a Tikkun Group?
To take on the project of tikkun olam is no small task and such an undertaking requires the efforts of many eager hands. Those already struggling for peace, justice, and ecological sanity need your help too. Tikkun campus groups can join in solidarity with these movements and provide a spiritual world vision that helps sustain the struggle for a better world and reminds us why this struggle is necessary and worth it. We need you to start a Tikkun group because we cannot grow without you. A union is only as strong as its members and so too with Tikkun.
How do I Get and Keep People Involved?
There are people on your campus, no matter where you live, who want to get involved but don’t know how. They may be waiting for someone like you to tell them how to get involved. So, here are a couple things to keep in mind to get people involved in building the TCN.
1. How do I get people to do a job?
Ask them. Few people will volunteer their services. This does not mean that they don't want to be involved. People wait to be asked. They want to feel that their services are needed and valued. Asking builds activity.
2. Who should ask them?
If possible, someone they know and trust; someone whose influence they respond to. But if you cannot arrange for someone else, do it yourself. After this has been done, be sure that the new recruit is welcomed by the leader of the group she will work with.
3.What do I tell them?
• Make clear what job you are asking them to do, and be sure it has a definite beginning and end. People do not want to sign up for life! Do not ask them to over-commit themselves.
• Ask people to do things they can do well, especially in the beginning. People are more willing to begin things they know they can do. Later, when they are really a part of your group, they will be more willing to try new things.
• Tell each person how her/his job fits in with the rest. People want to understand things that they are part of, and they work best when they know that others are depending on them.
• Let each person know that his/her help is needed. If s/he feels that you are just "looking for people" s/he will also feel easily replaceable and less responsible for doing a job.
• Discuss individual goals and how they fit into those of the group. People have their own reasons for volunteering, and you need to know them in order to lead effectively. Also, you must help people keep their expectations realistic; otherwise disappointment will overburden accomplishment.
• Ask what they would like to know, and give them plenty of time and help in raising questions. Many people are reluctant to ask questions, but they will work better after they have done so. Ease anxieties and troubleshoot ahead of time.
• Do these things in person. There is no substitute for talking face-to-face. It lets the person know that you consider the discussion important, and it gives you a chance to get acquainted with him/her.
• Don’t be embarrassed to be enthusiastic about the importance of your work. Do not apologize or belittle it. Your energy will solicit reciprocal responses.
4. How do I build an active committee?
Keep Records: you cannot keep it all in your head. Have a list of members, with names and up-to-date addresses and phone numbers. Keep minutes or notes on jobs to do and decisions made. Keep a list of each person's skills and "strong suits."
Keep your committee together. Call meetings regularly; do not just keep in touch with each person separately. People need to see and feel that they are part of something big. Not just hear about it from you. Call each person before a meeting to make sure she will be there and be there, this way she will know that her presence is important to you and the group. Let members share in deciding what jobs to do, how they can best be done, and who can do them best. They know some things that you do not, and they will work harder for things they decide on themselves.
5. How can I keep people motivated?
• Set high standards of activity. Members will take their cue from you.
• For each activity, get consensus on group goals. (See appendix on building consensus).
• Get enough people to do the job. Overworked volunteers stop volunteering. Be sure each member knows her role within the larger group.
• Do things at meetings. Make decisions; review past work; plan new things. People will be more committed to things that have been agreed on in the group. Besides, they won't keep coming to meetings unless they accomplish something.
• Encourage people to help each other out on jobs. "Every person for themself" is not good committee work or collective spirit.
• Recognize good work, and reward it. What you can do will depend on the local situation, of course, but you can always commend good workers at meetings, express your appreciation in person and write letters of thanks.
[Written by the AFSCME Union's Education Department, adapted for the TIKKUN Community]
We are an international community of people of many faiths calling for social justice and political freedom in the context of new structures of work, caring communities, and democratic social and economic arrangements. We seek to influence public discourse in order to inspire compassion, generosity, non-violence and recognition of the spiritual dimensions of life.
