Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of projects/membership-meeting/2011/general-report
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- Sep 25, 2011, 10:31:03 PM (13 years ago)
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projects/membership-meeting/2011/general-report
v3 v4 1 1 = 2011 General Report to Leadership Committee = 2 2 3 Introduction 3 == Introduction == 4 4 5 5 May First/People Link is a politically progressive membership organization whose primary purpose is the development and sharing of technology resources among its members. It is unique in this country and one of the few organizations of its type in the world. … … 7 7 This report focuses on recent developments within MF/PL as well as the challenges we currently face. Its purpose is to put into context, the proposals for upcoming work being made by our Leadership Committee which must be approved by the Membership at its meeting. To make that presentation, we have to at least mention some of our history. 8 8 9 A Period of Diversified Growth 9 == A Period of Diversified Growth == 10 10 11 11 Since its founding, May First/People Link has experienced several years of significant growth. We founded this organization with about 65 members with about 100 websites and 400 email accounts. Today, we have over 550 members, about 1,000 websites and over 2,000 email accounts. … … 27 27 We have also, for the first time, expanded our staff to include two paid part-time positions: a staff-member working on membership and dues and a staff-member concentrating on tech support. 28 28 29 Challenges Presented 29 == Challenges Presented == 30 30 31 31 In my report, earlier this year, to the Leadership Committee, I made the point that "...all growth brings challenges and errors. We have our share." In reporting on our challenges, I will quote from and paraphrase some of that previous report. … … 63 63 In addition, the above mentioned stances on Social Networking sites and FOSS often cast us, in the eyes of people of color organizations, as technocrats, purists or eccentric scientists...and not practical activists. For that reason, our current recruitment is mainly of white people and white organizations. This, given the way the world is going, is organizational and political suicide. And, of course, it means we aren't doing our job politically. This a potentially long-term problem that could prove crippling. 64 64 65 Backdrop ¶ 65 == Backdrop == 66 66 67 67 It is an understatement to say the world is dramatically changing. Recent events in several Mid-East and North African countries, including Egypt, coupled with the stunning developments in Latin America hint at major movement in many parts of the World, movement we don't always know about or learn about in this country. … … 81 81 While we have no illusions about clearly resolving these seemingly contradictory strategic questions, we have to be clear about their presence and importance as we determine our work for the coming year. 82 82 83 Tasks for the Coming Year 83 == Tasks for the Coming Year == 84 84 85 85 Our work in the coming has two goals: 86 86 87 1 -- Strengthen our organization, its resource infrastructure and its membership growth, paying particular attention to the recruitment of organizations and people of color and the development of technology skills among activists of color.88 87 89 2 -- Maintain and aggressively expand the public profile of our organization and deepen its relationships with movements in this country and internationally. 88 1. Strengthen our organization, its resource infrastructure and its membership growth, paying particular attention to the recruitment of organizations and people of color and the development of technology skills among activists of color. 89 1. Maintain and aggressively expand the public profile of our organization and deepen its relationships with movements in this country and internationally. 90 90 91 91 To pursue these goals, we are proposing six priorities: 92 92 93 1 -- Bring our technology -- including resources and support systems -- to a point at which our members can have complete confidence. 94 95 2 -- Involve our membership in the planning and development of new capabilities based on their organizational and political needs as well as the evaluation of our current capabilities. 96 97 3 -- Add 200 new members to our membership. 98 99 4 -- Develop an outreach and relationship-building program which would include not only direct contact with progressive organizations in this country but a raising of our visibility in public discussions, debates and decisions. 100 101 5 -- Continue our involvement in the Social Forum and Climate Change movements and our International work, including our work with the Palestinian rights movement. 102 103 6 -- Launch a training program, in collaboration with members the Praxis Project and the Progressive Technology Project, to train activists of color to become server administration capable technologists. 93 1. Bring our technology -- including resources and support systems -- to a point at which our members can have complete confidence. 94 1. Involve our membership in the planning and development of new capabilities based on their organizational and political needs as well as the evaluation of our current capabilities. 95 1. Add 200 new members to our membership. 96 1. Develop an outreach and relationship-building program which would include not only direct contact with progressive organizations in this country but a raising of our visibility in public discussions, debates and decisions. 97 1. Continue our involvement in the Social Forum and Climate Change movements and our International work, including our work with the Palestinian rights movement. 98 1. Launch a training program, in collaboration with members the Praxis Project and the Progressive Technology Project, to train activists of color to become server administration capable technologists. 104 99 105 100 We are submitting this report and those priorities to the membership for its deliberation and approval. 106 101 107 [wiki:projects/membership-meeting Back to Main Members' Meeting Page]