ACTION ORGANIZING TIPS
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If your chapter has a Lesbian Rights task
force, call special meetings to plan, publicize, and get people involved
in a day of action.
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If you don't have a Lesbian Rights task force,
create one and use a Valentine's Day action to kick-off the new committee.
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Publicity is a crucial component of planning
actions. Remember to plan your action at a good time to attract the media.
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When selecting a place for your action, find
out if you need a permit. Call the police and let them know that you will
be having an action. Assign a police liaison.
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Make sure your event will be inclusive of
all activists -- regardless of sexual orientation. After all, lesbian rights
issues are important to everyone.
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Reach out to a broad coalition, including
civil rights, campus, religious and progressive organizations. If you run
across a group that does not have a policy on lesbian rights issues, use
the opportunity to lobby them.
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Publicize and build attendance through newsletters,
word of mouth, special mailings, and fliers in the community. Don't forget
to include outreach to all forms of alternative press.
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Announce the action in the calendar section
of your local newspapers, television and radio stations.
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Spread the word! Distribute fliers announcing
your action all over town. Be sure to post the information on the Web and
send it out via e-mail.
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Make your flier both readable and informative.
Keep it simple -- try not to use every font and clip-art image on your
fancy new computer. Be sure to include enough information to educate folks
on the issue. Include who, what, where and when in a clear and prominent
place. Always use a bold, descriptive headline ("STOP HOMOPHOBIA!
or EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS NOW!). Don't forget your contact information
at the bottom.
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Be sure to have facilitators -- people who
help make sure that the action goes smoothly -- designated. Even if you
are expecting just a handful of people, have at least two facilitators.
(Clinic defenders -- or others with peace-keeping and crowd-control experience
-- often make good facilitators.)
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Always have membership applications and a
petition or sign-up sheet to record the names, phone numbers, street and
e-mail addresses of attendees. Use the names as an action list and to recruit
new members.
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Make fundraising part of your plan -- pass
the hat, make a pitch from the stage, sell products, solicit memberships.
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Always leave your demonstration site the way
you found it. Ask activists to pick-up trash before leaving.
Have fun! The most important tip of all.
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