Outreach group initial notes

From CFI

OUTREACH

Who are we?

The Voice and public face of GULP.

What does that mean?

Communication:

To announce GULP events to the greater community.

To communicate to others the reality of these times as well as the potential solutions for the time.

To create events that will communicate GULP’s message in such a way that it can be received by non-GULPers.

Education:

Short term: To begin the process of waking people up to the environmental/political/social realities facing us in the near future with the depletion of cheap energy.

Long term: To create an educational setting with apprenticeships to teach basic skills in community building, local manufacturing of needed items, food. Teachers and information for these skills will be drawn from the other departments of GULP as well as local resources beyond GULP.

What do we need to learn? What are the current resources in our community that offer skills and apprenticeships for a self-sustained economy?

What are the groups to whom we can share information and learn from, i.e., agricultural, churches, schools, service organizations, public services (fire dept. etc.)

How do we prepare?

Develop talking points.

Create scripts and presentations using various media.

Line up speaking/presentation engagements

Write newspaper articles.

Interview Resources (people)

Some ideas for presentations and public interest:

Stage: skits, music, film, panels, interviews with local resource experts

Fair: showing alternative technologies. Make it a celebration of the possible

Video series for highschool, Mendo college, and general public.

Get teachers behind this educational effort to promote creative writing envisioning projects for students. Offer prize for best paper.

During the highschool “shadow” day (i.e. student shadow the working adult), have them shadow alternative gardening, technology, etc.

Get students involved in some of the projects around water, composting, community gardens, etc.

What do we still need in order to move forward?

More people on the Outreach committee with a skill in communicating and speaking to groups.

A clear Vision and Mission statement by the GULP community

A list of talking points, graphics (charts, pictures)

Getting our “Road Trip” together, including our speakers and .visual materials

A list of organizations and dates for presenting our material