This post is on the BDSM Activism web board.
| Wed 8 Sep 10, 12:20 AM C_A_A_N UK, 4 yrs  |
“Beyond the Circle”, written by Jane Fae in close consultation with CAAN has sold well, and gained a few decent reviews. One (legal) academic is using and recommending it as course material for students interested in the law on sexuality. Still, there is more to be done. We are more or less at break even now, and with the party conference season coming up, we are looking to put copies into the sticky hands of MP's and researchers we'd like to influence. So here in order of helpfulness are a few asks we hope some of you can help with. First off, if you are going to be in one of the conference venues during September, could you help us get the message across to one or more of the parties. We need someone to drop off a couple of dozen addressed books to each of the conference organising offices: and we need someone either to sell them directly or to find a bookstall prepared to do the job for us. That's a big ask, but we have one person already lined up to help us out – and if you aren't too embarrassed to put your head above the parapet, maybe you could be one of the other two or three? Second, it cost a bit to print: it costs yet more to distribute (since a chunk of the run is being sent out to bodies and individuals that we believe ought to read it): so any and all donations continue to be gratefully received. Finally, if you haven't bought your copy yet, what's keeping you. You can order online here. and there are also details at the bottom of that page of how you can send cheques through the post if you don't have a paypal account. Don't delay: next project is likely to involve positive proposals around what the government SHOULD be doing on the sexual front – and that's where we are now starting to gather support and material. redcat/admin Sign up to our statement of principles for the freedom of consenting adults to express themselves!
http://www.caan.org.uk/sign.php | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 8:35 AM Ian_2007 UK(N), 4 yrs |
Other pressure groups are at least successful and popular enough to be able to afford to rent booth space at these events. Doing in in the casual way you suggest is more likely to put people off all of us than it is to persuade them that your arguments have any merit. I'm not sure I want to be "represented" in such an unprofessional way, and I can't be the only one. This isn't the first time CAAN have appealed here for what is effectively a free ride. This is no way to set about persuading wider society that we are normal and respectable folk. | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 8:45 AM Fourfiveone UK, 7 yrs |
Oh, wait, there aren't any. I guess that's why this grass roots activism is taking place. | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 8:52 AM Lady_Carol 22 mths  |
I quite agree with you Ian, if you want to be taken seriously then you'll have to rent space at conference. Trying to hide and expecting other folk to hand out your message is not a means to be taken seriously. If you believe in what you say, then say it. Be upfront and if need be defend it and argue your case. If you can't afford your own stand try approaching someone like lgbt Labour and offering to pay share the cost of a stand. However, lurking in the shadows is not an option especially when we have a reactionary government like the present coalition in power. See you in conference at Manchester. Carol | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 9:58 AM ThedaVamp UK, 6 yrs |
Funny, it seemed to work rather well for NO2ID and they didn't have 'booths' at the conferences. So then, considering the practicalities of a voluntary organisation, with very little funding, run by the hard work, passion and good will of a few people for many - how would you intend to represent yourself, professionally that is?
Vote for the repeal of the Extreme Pornography Laws | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 10:21 AM kitty_Kaitlin UK(HX), 8 yrs |
The good news first - Politicos tend to have a stall at each conference as a professional bookseller they are more likely to consider such an arrangement. and it is one person to convince in London rather than 5/6 at each conference. Or failing that you might persuade the Independent and/or Guardian to "stock" it at their stand - at Labour and Lib-Dem conferences anyway - not sure that papers are present at the Tories. The Bad news - The conference organising offices are not post offices they are generally way too busy to look after this sort of stuff. The professional organisations and stall holders tend to bring their own stock with them or have it delivered to the venue - having first established their bonafides by renting a stall. Sadly the days of random strangers walking into party conference venues are long gone. These days the Police have a habit of blowing up/destroying/confiscating unexpected parcels first and asking questions second. The better plan - which may be too late for this conference season could be to organise a fringe meeting at/near each conference and encourage conference representatives to come along to that, then sell the books from that event. I suspect there are several people here from various parties who can share the how to do that/best practice based on personal experience. It will take more organising, and yes more money - but with a better return on your investment. | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 11:18 AM Jane_Fae UK(W), 3 yrs |
Fairly sensible reply...so a good place to start. The organisations that take up full-blown exhbiton stands at conferences like this are not (as Theda says) small pressure groups like No2ID, BigBrotherWath, etc. To run a minimal stand at the three major conferences would leave little change from £20k - and that's without any sort of stand design, accreditation, accommodation for those running the stand, etc., etc. That leaves fringe meetings - which would still cost well over the £1k mark to cover off all three conferences - or coming in on the coat tails of some other group. Like i said, kitty_K: yours was a pretty sensible take on this, and appreciated as such. Not quite so enamoured of the response that labels it idiocy and insignificance because an organisation doesn't happen to have a spare £20k to flash ...and goes well outside the bounds of what was asked. The issue here is simple: shifting a few books and getting a few more free copies delivered. That's easiest and simplest if managed through someone already attending. For the Lib Dems, I chat to DELGA (the LGBT bit) and Liberator (radical publishers) and both may be able to help. I MIGHT be going to one or two conferences and have press accreditation for them...and might be able to use that as a means to weasel stuff on to friendly stands: but that's probably not ideal and only a last resort. On t'other hand, i do have genuine reasons to chat with bods like Maria Eagle, Lynne Featherstone, etc. and no harm in an author chatting and handing over a book... and that's about it. If someone is there and can help, whoopee! If not, no big deal. If Carol is going and has links to book-sellers, would be nice if .she could give a hand. If not, not. Anyway, thanks kitty. jane xx
Personal: http://janefae.wordpress.com | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 11:21 AM keithunder UK(M), 10 yrs |
Leafleting is cheap and effective. the leaflet could get people to buy the book from the people leafleting. The stalls at conferences are very expensive. | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 11:32 AM Ama_Sidero UK(GU), 7 yrs       |
Will CAAN pay for the stall? When and where do you need someone? That precise Info might help.  . Depending where it is, I wouldn't be averse to helping. Hants/Berks/Surrey borders, BDSM All Day Play Party - 26/09/10 http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/278057/: details of the first party! | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 11:34 AM ThedaVamp UK, 6 yrs |
Exactly - it's the cause and contacts that matter. Money helps - there's no doubt about it (especially for travelling to the events!), but I was incredibly impressed with NO2IDs impact at conferences - they had no grand budget, and only a handful of intelligent, informed and active volunteers and they still managed to gain high profile support AND more importantly an upcoming retraction of ID cards.
Vote for the repeal of the Extreme Pornography Laws | ||
| 8 Sep 10, 11:57 AM Belasarius UK(M), 8 yrs      |
My advice would be to forget the party conferences for a year or two. And, when ready, begin the process with fringe meetings that you KNOW will be attended by a number of activists with followings in their party, commitment to our cause and the balls to be open about it. Until we have that traction the investment of time and resources is worthless. Right now, my lobbying would be designed to track down, educate and motivate those activists at a pace they are comfortable with and to spend time demonstrating we are serious people with serious issues. I wouldn't ever take a stand, for us. Stands are great for causes that the party supports - because everyone wants to be associated with them, or groups that make huge contributions (not just financial) to the party concerned - like Unions at Labour conferences. Stands just about work for people representing causes that can't be ignored. For everyone else they are a waste - all you do is provide window dressing. And, if you are controversial - you are shunned. Stands are also not cheap. I did one, for the best possible reasons, in 2009 - the stand cost £15K and a further £5K was spent on materials and activities to exploit it. I am finding twitter works as a great tool for identifying people with very specific views and concerns who also like to be in a position to influence others. It's also great for alerting one to opportunities to communicate with them and be taken seriously. Find a few real friends in politics and start lobbying when you know they are behind you - because it is they the media will be most interested in, not us or our spokespeople. My goal - to save women from nature (Dior) |
