Kitchen Table Activism

Background: 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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June 2002 Activity

Let's Have a Picnic!

WHY THIS ACTIVITY?

All year long, we dutifully show up at meetings in church basements and libraries and living rooms to do the work of social justice. Summer is here, or soon on its way. It's time to get outside, bring together friends, family, neighbors and allies and show the world that organizing can be fun. Having a casual social event gives your group an opportunity to get to know each other better, involve new people and highlight your group's work and upcoming events in a relaxed setting.

WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY?

Host a picnic, barbeque or potluck to bring together group members, friends and allies. Use the opportunity to highlight your work, share brief updates, and celebrate your successes. You could also use it as an opportunity to raise funds for your group.

STEPS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY:

  1. Decide whether your group wants to do this activity.
  2. Think about what type of celebration you want: do you want a low-key potluck of group members and families, or would you like to host a bigger bash and invite other groups or the public to attend;
  3. Choose a time, place and location;
  4. Make arrangements for food;
  5. Make a plan for inviting people. Who will do what? (Hint: go beyond e-mail. Make phone calls or send out invitations. Who haven't you seen for a while?)
  6. Identify volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up, picking up food, organizing games, etc.
  7. Have someone in your group agree to make a brief presentation (no longer than ten or fifteen minutes) about what your group is doing. You may want to use this time to present a short analysis of the upcoming elections, say thank you to key volunteers, or bring up issues important to your group. Call the ROP if you'd like ideas for a quick update.
  8. Some other ideas: seek donations and have a raffle to raise funds for your group; invite a local band to play music; plan games or activities for kids; register people to vote; or have a locally relevant political trivia contest.
  9. HAVE FUN!

PLEASE ANNOUNCE

  • Increase the Minimum Wage: The Minimum Wage Committee is seeking endorsements and help gathering signatures for Initiative 88 to increase the minimum wage to $6.90 and provide annual cost-of-living adjustments to keep pace with inflation. See enclosed "Resolution of Support" and petition.
  • Oregon Legislature's special session is coming up on June 7th. The Western Prison Project is asking for letters to legislators to urge them to save money by halting prison construction. For more info: http://www.westernprisonproject.org/
  • June 3rd is the scholarship deadline for Western State's Center's Community Strategic Training Initiative (CSTI). If you want to apply for a scholarship through ROP, please contact Grace at ROP ASAP. This is an excellent opportunity to get skills and analysis for organizing for social change. Don't miss it!

Previous Kitchen Table Activities

Questions? Please contact us!