NASW Ohio Chapter Activist Training Event Planning Adrienne Gavula, MSW, LSW Relationship Mgr NASW OH Chapter

What does being an activist mean? 5 “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.” – John F Kennedy

What activist(s) do you admire? Which people inspire you? What issue(s) motivate you? “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.” -Casar Chavez

What skills do you need? My advice: Find what you enjoy! 5 “Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.” – Gloria Steinem

Educate Yourself About an Issue – Research? 2-minute elevator speech – Can you quickly educate others? Speak to a small group? A large group? Write an editorial or a letter to the editor ? Write a research analysis/statistically analyze data? Speak at a government hearing? uest.pdf uest.pdf

Becoming an activist: Discover what you can do for the issues that matter to you Be realistic about your needs Reformer (within the system) vs Radical (outside the system) Do EVERYTHING you can to educate yourself on issues Read, Listen to NPR & C-SPAN, Go to Lectures, Watch the news, Subscribe to a magazine Find what you enjoy! Learn how to message effectively Connect with people doing the work

Once you master event planning, you can tackle almost anything! 5 “A first-rate organizer is never in a hurry. He is never late. He always keeps up his sleeve a margin for the unexpected.” Event Planning 101

How event planning usually happens… I have a great idea! Ok, let’s plan an event and see how it turns out! How it probably turns out

How it Should Happen! Each event is different, so treat it as such and answer these questions 0 What’s your goal? What is the goal of the organization and how can you plan your events and organizing around that mission? 0 Who is your audience? How does this audience link to the mission of your organization? How will this event benefit your organization? 0 What’s your budget? How will you find funding? 0 What event matches our answers? 0 Can you realistically do? Re: your staff/members/volunteers put on this type of event with this timeline? 0 Create timeline with to-do list & make sure EVERYONE takes a task & has buy-in – who’s the lead?

Steps to Event Planning 0 Decide your goal/audience/budget and what to do 0 Based on your audience, where should it be held? 0 Based on type of event, logistics! 0 Publicity 0 Executing the event 0 STAY CALM – KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN TACT 0 Celebrate!

Location

Type of Event – Prepare!

Publicity

Steps to Event Planning, Cont. 0 Executing the event 0 STAY CALM – KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN TACT 0 Celebrate!

5 Questions?