Lessons from the Boston Chapter

Challenging the established power structure is not in the curriculum of the typical American high school. Therefore, if we are to succeed in spite of our lack of formal training we must approach our challenges systematically and learn from each other and our experiences. The following lessons of my last year of organizing an IVAW chapter are not mine alone, they belong to all of us and I have borrowed a lot from other chapter presidents and organizers from across the country. The goal of this paper is to take the first step towards a systematized approach to building IVAW on a local level. Obviously different chapters have different circumstance to deal with and have different levels of access to other veterans and service members; the purpose of this essay is to highlight some common themes of success.

1. Socialize
2. Phone Calls
3. Know the Strategy
4. Follow up with New People
5. Utilize Volunteers
6. Be Consistent
7. Be Opportunistic
8. Utilize Individual Strengths
9. Work with Other Chapters
10. Get Members to National Events
11. Analyze Events
12. Lateral Communication
13. Educate

1. Socialize: Most of my success here in Boston has been a consequence of the strong bonds that have formed among a core of the members through sustained social contact.
The initial challenge of my chapter, and I presume most chapters, is the formation of this core of committed organizers that are in regular communication and who commonly orient themselves to the mission of IVAW. Establishing social bonds has provided us the mechanism to create the necessary core which precipitates all other IVAW organizing.

Making these connections is a challenge in itself, however there is no field manual for making friends. For the sake of brevity suffice it to say that it is paramount that we respect others, demonstrate kindness, and are willing to be a genuine and approachable. Finally, bear in mind that while meetings are important, meetings are not “fun” and other venues should be utilized to build social bonds.
(Concerts, bbqs, parties, trips, recreational activities, movies etc)

I used to think that I did not have to change my social life in order to change the world. I was wrong. Movement friends are absolutely necessary.

2. Phone Calls: The key to success early on is relentless phone calls. Once members start committing time on there own accord phone calls are still important, but it is exponentially more important to stay in communication with those who are not already involved. Simply put, we must realize that the work of making phone calls and writing emails is crucial to the initial success of the chapter. DO NOT EXPECT PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED THROUGH EMAIL CONTACT ALONE!

3. Know the Strategy: I was once told that the key to great writing was skillfully moving between big ideas and concrete details. I believe the same is true of organizing. It is important to do little things like make phone calls among your chapter and to know which details constitute the environment in which we are operating, but it is equally important to be able to assess the big picture in national politics, the military and the way in which the war has been portrayed to the public.

The most important big picture idea to remember is the IVAW strategy. Our strategy to end the war is to organize within the veteran’s community and the military to remove service member’s support for the war. Without the strategy providing a common orientation, our overall effect would be extremely negligible. For instance, if some of us wanted to organize soldiers while others only wanted to speak at religious services or lobby local politicians, our lack of common vision and focus would render all of our efforts irrelevant in view of the continuing occupations. The key to success of a chapter is ultimately connected to how much the members of the chapter feel they are contributing to overall success of the organization. Therefore, chapter leaders would be well served to establish a system for orienting new member’s to the overall IVAW strategy and to how individual members and chapters contribute to that strategy. The film Sir No Sir is useful in this regard, but orientation to the strategy must be more comprehensive than watching a film.

It is inevitable that some members, especially new members, may not understand or agree with the role of GI resistance. It is the responsibility of the core chapter leaders to ensure that the new member’s ideas are challenged, but challenged in a way that does not ostracize him or her. The mark of success is in blocking the pursuit of actions and ideas not in line with the IVAW strategy but still welcoming those members who espouse those ideas and providing a way for them to feel like active contributors.

4. Follow Up with New People: People who are expressing interest for a first time should be followed up with immediately and should be involved socially at the nearest possible opportunity. If a chapter member meets a veteran who you consider a potential member, that person should be invited to hang out with other “core” members within 2 weeks.

5. Utilize Volunteers: Many Chapters owe a great deal of their success to the hard work of non members who facilitate IVAW events and development. WE MUST WELCOME SUPPORT FROM NON MEMBERS who are willing and able to help build IVAW. Inviting a limited number of allies to meetings or events also helps to keep attendance in chapter events diverse and keeps new ideas circulating. Choose allies who work closely with the chapter very carefully. You want people who understand the dynamics that caused the war and have experience organizing to be sharing insights and knowledge with you. Concretely, volunteers can donate time to making phone calls, host/organize events, give guidance when interacting with the media, and provide connections to resources and other organizations in the community.

6. Consistency: Consistency is vital. Members, chapters, regions or any groups that meet consistently are far more likely to progress than groups that constantly exert effort and then disintegrate for extended periods of time. Meet regularly, have a set model for meeting. In Boston we always discuss the current situation in Iraq at the beginning of every meeting. Then we discuss the chapter events of the last week and overview the upcoming plans. Be consistent in meeting, planning, socializing, outreach, follow up and reflection.

7. Be Opportunistic: Always be aware of what is happening in your community that offers potential opportunity for IVAW to gain positive attention, improve chapter morale, gain members or advance IVAW’s strategy of building support for IVAW from vets and troops. Act swiftly in situations that warrant immediate attention. If a great artist who supports IVAW is coming to town, be aware and see if getting tickets is possible so members can have an opportunity to strengthen their bonds, if the authorities are suppressing IVAW activity or are exposing themselves as draconian, send out press releases or organize an action that highlights IVAW’s commitment to freedom, the constitution etc. If the political climate changes drastically for any reason, act in a manner that positively contrasts IVAW’s positions on ending the war to the rhetoric of the mainstream machines. Some opportunities will be small scale and local, others will be subtle shifts in the national debate about the war

8. Know Your Strengths: Know who among your membership is good with art, or the press, or with public speaking, or with approaching potential members, or with facilitating meetings, or with allies or writing, or whatever, Know who is well suited to do certain things and tailor assignments or roles to the strengths of your individual members

9. Work with Other Chapters: Working with neighboring chapters is essential for the growth of IVAW. Lend each other support and collaborate to develop each other’s chapters. When extended periods of inactivity or irrelevance are threatening the morale of a chapter, neighboring chapters can help by incorporating intra-regional involvement into their campaigns.

10. Get Members to National Events: I have been consistently amazed at how meeting members from throughout the country energizes my efforts and gives me tremendous confidence in the members of IVAW. Members often go from perceiving IVAW as a few local activists to a national movement once they have the opportunity to attend an event attended by members from throughout the nation. Therefore it is highly encouraged to place a high priority on bringing members to large national or regional meetings as soon as possible.

11 Reflect on Your Experiences: If we don’t reflect on the details and the broader context of our actions and their consequences in an attempt to glean new insights and improved tactics, we will never progress, learn from our mistakes or be able to capitalize on our successes. Always take time to reflect collectively on your experiences, whether that be an event at a local community college, a party, a GI outreach campaign, or a collective refusal to deploy.

12. Lateral Communication: This principle implies that information should be shared broadly and without the constraints of a hierarchy. Important information for immediate action and lessons from past actions are only useful when they are communicated within a relevant timeframe. Lateral Communication means chapter members communicating across the chapter as well as members communicating across the organization. List Serves are great tools only if most of the chapter participates in it and only when it is a supplement to other meetings and communication. Mass text messages and conference calls are also useful tools. The tools themselves are not the answer; it is the idea of lateral communication that must be absorbed by the members.

13. Educate: Developing a chapter (or the organization as a whole) does not mean simply getting more members, it means developing and strengthening new and existing members into conscious and dynamic organizers. This means education. We must strive to educate members on the information relevant to the arguments we need to make to move forward with GI resistance. Education does not only mean politically educating members about the Iraq war, it also implies the learning about the context that surrounds the war, understanding how to build a movement as well as the hands on practice needed to learn how to effectively organize . Provide opportunities for members to try things they are not strong at and help them to grow with those skills.

Summary:
These themes are all useful and probably not unfamiliar to most organizers. Our success is dependent on incorporating these ideas into the situations we create. Each chapter should determine how to best systematize these items into their circumstances, a one size fits all approach would probably prove ineffective at best.

The chapters are responsible for their own systems and plans for growth; this essay is intended as a guide to help leaders determine where they are and in which areas attention is needed.

The items were not listed in any particular order but it is not an accident that “socialize,” “make phone calls” and “know the strategy” were at the top of the list. They have proven extremely useful items to me.

Note that nowhere in this paper did I advocate changing what anyone believes. I believe people become part of a movement through contact with people in it, not through the media or even through there own beliefs. Surely we can all think of a few people who have strong beliefs about the war and yet they do not consider themselves a part of a movement. Therefore, the conclusion I draw is that it is our task to connect with people and share information. Sustaining connection and the flow of ideas and information will draw that person into the movement when they are ready, not any effort to conform their beliefs to “ours.”

Our biggest challenge is organizing ourselves, not in attracting new members. The tragic and despicable nature of what and who we oppose is not a hard thing to win people to resist once they have a glimpse of the information being hidden from them. It is getting the opportunity to develop consciousness and to bring them into proximity to our movement that is the challenge. The above “lessons’ will aide in overcoming that challenge.

Finally, be patient, the war will not end in a matter of weeks. It will take the patience to build a movement and to endure its highs and lows. Take care of yourself first and foremost and take care of each other too.

The world seems a lot more changeable ever since I’ve joined IVAW.

Respectfully Submitted,

Liam Madden