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Post by Steve Dorst on Jul 18, 2013 15:38:59 GMT -5
I see us doing 4 things: - Education
State by State: How to register
State by State: Voter ID requirements
I anticipate that there will be many OTHER topics related - even tangentially - to voter suppression that will get added. - Coordination
Assuming we don't partner with another site that's already doing this, I envision the site coordinating:
People who want to volunteer to assist others in obtaining Voter ID
People who want to volunteer to assist others in registering to vote
People who want to volunteer to provide rides to the pols
People willing to open their homes to volunteers in any of the above 3 areas
And I'm sure there will be more!!! - Action
Not sure exactly how this might work. For me, the organization/website we are founding IS an action. But I intend to do other things - like spend 2-3 weeks in a Voter ID state next spring assisting people (mostly driving) in getting their Voter ID - Partnerships
Reaching out to other organizations/sites with whom we have common ground.
I'd like to express the above as a shorter mission statement. And I DO have a suggestion for something TOO short for a mission statement - perhaps a Motto to appear on the masthead of the site:
Resisting Voter Suppression Any Way We Can!
Your thoughts?
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Post by groovegrl4 on Jul 18, 2013 20:38:07 GMT -5
This mission statement is a really good start. I think that in the education part, we should also include resources for how to find polling places as well as how to register to vote (but, as you mentioned, there will obviously be more to add there).
Educate, Coordinate, Motivate, and Collaborate! Basically, we would be about all things voting - and fighting against all things voter suppression. Every vote matters!
I like it!
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Post by Steve Dorst on Jul 18, 2013 20:44:04 GMT -5
I'm glad you like it. Still hoping to pare it down to a 3-4 sentence declarative paragraph.
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Post by groovegrl4 on Jul 19, 2013 11:18:24 GMT -5
Here's a stab:
<name of organization> was founded with the purpose of helping citizens resist any and all attempts at voter suppression, which we hope to achieve through four steps: Educate, Coordinate, Motivate, and Collaborate . We want to Educate people with information on all things voting - how to register, how to obtain necessary identification, where to vote, etc. <name of org> seeks to provide a resource to Coordinate individuals who would like to fight back against voter suppression, and to Motivate those individuals to action. We also have the desire to serve as a platform to be used to Collaborate with other groups and organizations fighting for similar causes.
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Post by Steve Dorst on Jul 19, 2013 16:39:44 GMT -5
Charlotte, I like where you're going, but think it needs edits. Mostly to be shorter and more declarative: <name of organization> was founded with the purpose of helping exists to help citizens resist any and all attempts at voter suppression ., which we hope to achieve through four steps We have 4 pillars: Educate, Coordinate, Motivate, and Collaborate. We want to w ill Educate people with information on all things voting - how to register, how to obtain necessary identification, where to vote, etc. <name of org> seeks to provide a resource to will provide a platform to Coordinate individuals and groups who would like to fight back against voter suppression. and to We will Motivate those individuals them to action. We a lso have the desire to serve as a platform to be used to will Collaborate with other groups and organizations fighting for similar causes. Here's the result: <org name> exists to help citizens resist any and all attempts at voter suppression. We have 4 pillars: Educate, Coordinate, Motivate and Collaborate. We will Educate people on all things voting - how to register, how to obtain necessary identification, where to vote, etc. <org name> will provide a platform to Coordinate individuals who would like to fight back against voter suppression. We will Motivate them to action. We will Collaborate with other groups and organizations fighting for similar causes. What do you - and anyone else - think? Steve aka sjdorst |
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Post by groovegrl4 on Jul 19, 2013 17:05:45 GMT -5
I think that sounds better. I did have the thought that I was using passive tense and that wasn't quite right, but I couldn't seem to come up with the right tense. I like it!!
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Post by barocknodrama on Jul 19, 2013 18:34:10 GMT -5
I guess i was thinking more of the super short "corporate" type mission statements that im aware of :
<Suffrage Against The Machine> was founded to provide the American citizenry with informational and practical resources to resist organized voter suppression. Our goal is to aggregate in a single database all the statutory and geographic data necessary for eligible voters to effectively exercise, and collectively defend their right to suffrage
Neither explicitly refers to any commitment to offer direct support (ie transportation, $, etc) and my intiial draft doesnt include the pillars, which i think are good
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Post by gfjacobs on Jul 20, 2013 6:31:15 GMT -5
We need to be ready and able to go beyond just the voting project.
I see us founding a basic movement to change our representative democracy. While this begins with voting, it must also tackle Citizens United and the Gerrymandering of Congressional districts to enforce the polarization which ensures Madison's mischiefs of faction.
My great concern for ALL that we are planning is that we will be diametrically opposed to corporate interests WHO OWN AND CONTROL the internet facilities we propose to use. THEREFORE, part of the organizational/coordination actions that Steve lists needs to include NATIONAL action - necessitating finding representatives to continue the effort into every state with humans on the ground. Occupying offices to demand redress of grievances is a BASIC RIGHT OF CITIZENSHIP and a PUBLIC ACTION that can be seen and reported on by the media. How much more impactful can that be made if it occurs CONCURRENTLY in all the states suppressing the vote?!!!!
We will need to address CitizensUnited repeal as a further action POST-ELECTION-SUCCESS (I have to assume success in setting goals, while also planning for failures in managing this project), as well as a means for ensuring continuity of change - apathy is the omnipresent enemy of activism.
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Post by Steve Dorst on Jul 20, 2013 7:32:31 GMT -5
GF, you're talking about - in essence - a political party. I'm seeing this effort as something a bit more focused. That's not to say that our organization can't later expand, or spawn similarly structured organizations centered around other issues, and then (perhaps) create a coalition of organizations that functions at all levels on a wide variety of issues
And the organization as I initially brainstormed DOES address both gerrymandering and Citizen's United. Gerrymandering makes votes irrelevant because those in gerrymandered districts don't fear the wrath of the voter. Citizen's United suppresses INFORMED votes and thus defeats the purpose of voting.
Thus I believe we should stay on point: Resisting voter suppression - in all it's forms. Let's focus on getting people to cast educated votes, without hindrance, fairly and accurately counted before we take on the world!
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Post by Steve Dorst on Jul 20, 2013 17:49:23 GMT -5
Barock,
I'm all in favor of short, but I don't mind making it as long as necessary to convey the core points of what we're trying to achieve. Corporate mission statements are frequently too short - with the result that they are more politically correct babble than a clear, concise statement of objectives.
Steve
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Post by gfjacobs on Aug 4, 2013 19:50:07 GMT -5
Steve, I am talking about efforts to counter misinformation and act. yes, it could become a party, but that is explicitly NOT something I am after. counter stuff like this: crooksandliars.com/karoli/groundswell-group-plotted-scandals-congressIf the right wing can organize to produce lies, we on the left should be able to organize to promote the truth. It only BEGINS with the vote. |
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