Kitchen Table ActivismBackground: Kitchen Table Activism (KTA) is a monthly project of the Rural Organizing Project. Often building on quarterly themes, short actions are described in each KTA. The theory is that basic steps and tasks can lead to powerful collective results as small groups of people gather to complete the same action throughout the state of Oregon. ROP works to keep the basic tasks easily achievable so that groups with other projects or groups with limited immediate energy can still manage to complete the KTA each month.
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December 2006 ActivityThe Gift that Keeps on Giving: Introducing your Elected Officials to your Human Dignity Group WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY? After every election cycle, ROP encourages local groups to sit down with their newly (re)elected officials, orient them to your group, and initiate/deepen a relationship. Even if your group knows your state legislators already, a formal meeting establishes a working relationship for policy decisions. These gatherings can be as simple as one or two human dignity group leaders having coffee for 30 minutes with your newly elected official or setting aside time to meet with him/her during your group’s regular December or January meeting. The goal is to get on the radar of your elected officials and to build a relationship that lasts through the legislative session. WHY THIS ACTIVITY? The 2006 mid-term election gave us much to celebrate. It also opened the door of opportunity for the work we need to do. The results of the 2006 election show us that the voters are frustrated with the direction of this country and are willing to try something new. The shifts in Congress and the state legislature offer us an opportunity to advance an agenda that builds democracy and respects human dignity. If we are to take advantage of this moment, we must continue to engage our community members in demanding the democracy we desire while also getting our group’s agenda (and people power) noticed by our newly elected officials. STEPS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY: 1. Select a few dates that will work for your group to meet with your state legislators. Contact information can be found on the secretary of state website (http://www.sos.state.or.us/) or at your local newspaper. 2. Chose a group member to call up your legislators and come up with a time to meet. (Consider doing this before December 15th as we all get focused on the holidays after that). 3. Set an agenda for the gathering. (CLICK HERE to see sample agenda.) 4. Consider how you might want to share your group’s agenda. We encourage every group to use this opportunity to orient your legislator to the Co$t of War campaign. (See grid below.) 5. Be sure to send a thank you card. 6. Consider what other elected officials your group might want to meet with. Are there new city councilors or county commissioners that it is especially strategic for your group to have a relationship with? ROP Legislative Plan 2007 In the 2007 Legislature, ROP will raise up a legislative platform that says NO to the Cost of War and YES to Rebuilding Oregon. Oregon’s Cost of War totals more than 2.7 billion dollars. Rather than prolonging this costly and immoral war, we need to Rebuild America starting with Oregon. Rebuilding Oregon means investing in vital human needs, like healthcare, education, living wage jobs, and creating real community safety through strong protections of our civil liberties and civil rights.
Please Note: The actual bills under each category will be inputted as they emerge. Stay tuned. Previous KTAs are now located in the
KTA Archive. |
