Outreach Letters and Instructions for Starting a Chapter
Here are two sample emails to send to folks inviting them to an initial chapter meeting – pdf version1 and word version2 and pdf version1 and word version2. Feel free to edit either of them so it fits your style. You can send the out yourself and you can also ask us to send it out for you to folks on our list in your area. For the latter, just email cat at cat@spiritualprogressives.org with your name, email, city, state and zip code and the radius to which you’d like us to send the email on your behalf (we can have the letter sent to within 15, 30, 60, etc. mile radius of your zip code – the distance will obviously depend on where you live so just let us know). We will then send the letter to folks on our list with your email as the return email so folks can easily reach you.
Chapter Creation Process – This is a shorter document to help you with the initial steps for starting a chapter. The Starter Guide has additional resources and information as well.
Below are resources that you may find helpful in terms of how to talk about the ESRA, GPP, and NBL in different settings as well as additional resource materials.
Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment Resources
- Click ESRA to listen to a role-play of the ESRA
- Click ESRA Explained to hear the longer recording, 40 minutes, of Rabbi Lerner talking about the ESRA
- Click ESRA Short to read the 2-page document. On one is a very short explanation with lines for people to sign their names in support of the ESRA and on the back-side is a longer explanation of the ESRA.
- Click FAQ to read frequently asked questions about the ESRA.
Global Peace/Marshall Plan Resources
- Click GMP to listen to the Global Marshall Plan explained
- Click here to read information about House Resolution 87 Introduced by Representative Keith Ellison (MN) in February 2017 and co-sponsored by Representatives John Conyers (MI) and Gwenn Moore (WI)
New Bottom Line Resources
- Click Sierra Club Role Play that Rabbi Lerner and I did modeling how we might bring the idea of the New Bottom Line to the Sierra Club.
- Blurb for 3-minute talk on the New Bottom Line
Miscellaneous Additional Resources
- NSP Brochure – this is a downloadable version that you can print (it is a trifold)
- Sample Letter to President Obama (can be adapted) re: environmental crisis incorporating a spiritually progressive worldview
- Democrats on Family Values – How would you re-write this from a spiritually progressive worldview?
- Articles on Spiritual Activism by Russ Cashin and others in Utah.
- Letter to the Editor by Steve Rall re: football players taking a knee
- Video – How to Communicate — Not Debate — With Those Who Hold Different Political Views with Hannah Doerge, Iowa City writer, filmmaker and citizen activist
- Article on the importance of churches and community in the Right (supports our analysis of the religiophobia and elitism of the Left causing people to support Trump and others)
- Letter to the Editor by Darby re: race relations