Action Plan 2012

Preface

After having consolidated its place in the EGP, redefined its mission and designed a longer-term strategy, the Network shifts its focus to reaching out to European Greens and actions addressed at the general public. It does so by reinforcing the team, preparing a supporters’ recruitment campaign, organising a few events aimed at different audiences, and perfecting its tools.

Brussels, 5 November, on behalf of the GreenYourope Team: Alexander Tietz, Christoph Becker-Schaum, Joline Suijkerbuik, Lynn Tabak, Michael Leibman

 

1. Team : inclusiveness & responsibility 

At the moment, the Network has only limited acting capacity. It uses that first of all to get more people involved, by a. systematically including new activists in the organisation of events – to double the number of active members by January 2012, and have a pool of 10 to 15 before the summer holidays, and b. introducing inclusiveness, co-ownership and responsibility as new principles for work.  In 2009, when the first team was chosen according to the new rules as an EGP Network, a lot of energy went into designing election rules and getting chosen, and fairly little into getting things done and involving others. From now on, we reverse that focus, moving from setting up an organisation to organising.

For each activity – website & newsletter, Supporters’ on Tour, but also overall coordination – teams are put in place. Everyone is welcome to join it and have a say, but everyone is responsible for his/her engagements and the overall result. All responsibilities are published on the website.

Coordination team meetings (4x per year, plus bi-weekly Skype conferences) are open; decisions are taken by consensus whenever possible, and calendars, agendas and decisions published online. The Network is accountable to the supporters as well as to the EGP.

To put the new principle in practice, the Network organises a team building weekend open to all active members and, within the available budget and space, members-to-be. The aim of the session, which will take place from 20-22 January 2012, is, to create a collective attitude in which each individual is respected and feels inspired to contribute. To transmit the new spirit, we invite (possible) partners for a concluding session and chill-out.

 

2. Supporters – preparing a breakthrough

Increasing the number of supporters and activists is this year’s second concern. To get numbers up, we’ll be perfecting existing tools:

  • One name: GreenYourope, for the EGP Supporters’ Network, the site, and the annual meetings, instead of different names – EGP Supporters’ Network, GreenYourope, and Heerlen – for each;

  • One message: join & participate in a Green Europe of Citizens. The message is also printed on windmills and other gadgets distributed to grassroots Greens;

  • Online registration & payment, linked to the Supporters’ database. Will be put in place a.s.a.p, and be linked to the EGP database;

  • Ready-to-use material – online and printed – adaptable to local languages and party cultures;

  • A lively presence wherever we show up, if possible linked to a ‘supporters’ event’.

In addition we develop, together with the EGP campaign specialist, an exciting campaign addressed at all individual Greens in Europe. We count on the EGP committee for lobbying with party boards, to actively promote the supportership.

To increase participation, we’ll be inviting people from the very moment they register, by thanking them & welcoming them by offering participation possibilities, from general to jobs on offer; and including them a.s.a.p. in a project.

3. Projects 

  • European Democracy
    - as a follow-up of the workshop in Frankfurt/Slubice and the side event during the Paris congress, we’ll be planning a campaign for a federal Europe, together with Fédécolo (EELV), and external partners.

  • International solidarity – one or more new fund raising campaigns may be launched, depending on international developments.

  • Health as a new challenge for Greens – we’ll be taking up the project proposed by André Cicolella (Health commission EELV), which had to be postponed because of lack of people.


4. Permanent tools 

Intended to reach out to individual Greens, the following instruments will be used and improved:

  • Supporters on Tour – Network members visit party events and organise, together with local activists, debates and workshops about European and cross border issues, information stands, and presentations; they participate in workshops and debates, collect new ideas, get new people on board, and report on the Network site. Depending of the capacity of the On Tour team, one or more new parties may be added.

  • Annual conferences:  – plenary ‘live’ meetings during which the results of past and ongoing projects are presented and new projects are proposed, and new team members are chosen. To expand the Networks’ scope, European Green and individual party structures are involved as much as possible. Much more energy will be put into preparing the sessions and reaching out to a broad and international audience.

  • Online communication – by inviting new bloggers, contributors, and editors, we’ll continue improving the GreenYourope Website, which provides the ingredients for GreenYourope News. To assure the latter is really issued every fortnight, a small Site & Newsletter team will be put in place, which also watches over the quality. By enlarging the pool of volunteer translators, we make both accessible to a larger audience.

  • Crossborder Cooperation and –action – to show at the local level that Green action doesn’t stop at borders, the Network promotes local examples and supports new initiatives. In 2012: at least Savoye/Geneva area, Lille/Flanders, Lower Sachsony. Best practices are put online and, through regional conferences, shared.


5. Events 

The following events have been planned to strengthen the team and/or get new activist involved – on strategical locations that still have to be chosen. Addressing different audiences, and involving both MEPs, and stakeholders in national parties and civil society, they should also improve the Networks’ visibility.

  • 20-22 January – Extended team weekend – team building, preparing GreenYourope 10, inviting new stakeholders;

  • April 13-15 or 20-22: GreenYourope 10 Conference, 10th annual meeting of EGP supporters. Location: Vienna;

  • May or later – Health as a new Challenge for Greens, multi-party specialists conference, intended to design a common campaign against the causes of non-transmittable chronic diseases;

  • Cross-border conference,  focusing on the French borders. One or more similar events on other locations may be added, depending on local contacts and availability of people and means

  • EGP Fringe meetings – at Spring (Copenhagen, May) and Autumn Council, issue-oriented, prepared together with local and/or issue focused partners.

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