Date: Mon, 20 Mar 1995 04:29:39 -0600 (CST)
From: Kevyn Jacobs <kevyn@KSUVM.KSU.EDU>
To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" <KQN@casti.com>
Subject: NETWORK FOR UNITY & TOLERANCE SUMMIT APRIL 1

NETWORK FOR UNITY & TOLERANCE

Statement of Purpose
To insure access to diverse ideas, to promote open communication
among all groups in our society who mutually respect all people
and cultures, to educate and inform the general public on issues
dealing with activities of the extremist right.

NETWORK
Will be the catalyst to bring together diverse groups with a
common thread....they have been attacked by the extremist
religious right, or are potentially under such attack. The
Network will serve as a clearing house of information for member
organizations and the media, a multi-partisan network that will
provide a vehicle for developing joint strategies to counter the
activities of the extreme right political movement.


POSSIBLE GOALS AND DISCUSSION

1. ADOPT AGENDA
2. ESTABLISH STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR AND CONDUCT FOR MEETING
3. IDENTIFY ALLIES: keeping in mind that not every group may join
in every battle, but make it our goal to reach out to a broader
constituency. Keep in mind the old organizer's saying if you're
comfortable with everybody at the table, your coalition is too
small.
4. DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATION NETWORK AMONG GROUPS. Keep
in mind the importance of a diverse communication network,
computer bulletin boards, mail, newsletters, fax-nets,
telephone-trees etc.
5. KNOW YOUR OPPONENT-RESEARCH IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES IN YOUR
COMMUNITY. Get on their mailing lists, send representatives to
their public meetings, read their literature, listen to talk
radio and T.V. programs, also identify affiliations check out
faculty, staff, board of regents, large donors, radio and T.V.
stations, newspapers, bookstores, campus organizations and gather
names of leaders etc.
6. HOW DO WE AVOID BASHING OUR OPPONENTS FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS
VIEWS? Religion is to be respected, we don't want to give the
extremist right grounds to accuse us of religious bigotry - it
works in their favor every time. The battle is over politics and
policy and they may be wrong on the issues and have ideas and
motives we don't agree with but they have as much right to
participate in the democratic process as we do.
7. DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY PLANS FOR ORGANIZING. Take your local
extremist right groups seriously. They won't go away. If they
loose a battle they may retreat but they will be back, the fire
that drives them won't be dying anytime soon.
8. HOW TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC? These strategies may include
community meetings, speakers' bureaus, editorial writing and
visits to local paper, local talk programs, etc.

FIRST SUMMIT MEETING WILL BE SAT. APRIL 1, 1995
Unity Temple on the Plaza  707 W. 47th KC MO 9:30-4:00
$10.00 fee for room rental and a sack lunch will be provided
For reservations Contact Sharon Lockhart (913)642-1614
or Sue Ledbetter (316)265-5736

SPONSORED BY EQUALITY KANSAS
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