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Volunteer Center

GoodSearch FSP donations made easy

Step by step instructions to setup your browser to effortlessly generate donations for the Free State Project.

Goodsearch is a great way to passively generate revenue for the Free State Project. Here's an easy, illustrated guide to configure Firefox or Internet Explorer 7 to be the default search engine in your browsers toolbar.

Operation Politically Homeless Manuals

Link to downloadable OPH manuals

Free State Project Lights of Liberty

While the FSP generally recruits self-identifying libertarians, during ou

Help Wanted

Looking For Adventure, Excitement and Romance?

The FSP is currently seeking explorers, freedom fighters, and secret agents to get involved in the following areas (knowledge of ancient forgotten languages, ninja skills, and sultry good looks a plus, but training will be available):

Community Liaison Outreach

Community Liaison Outreach
Ideas and Options

by Jean Alexander • 11/17/04


Basic Communication

  • Set up a Yahoo group for your community. I have FSPHomeschooling and we cover homeschooling and education issues.

  • Promote your Yahoo group ... on the FSP forum, in other related email lists, bulletin boards, forums, etc.

  • Use your FSP email address, the FSP website address, FSP slogan, link info for your group.

  • whichever of these works best for you -- in your email signature line.

  • Join email lists, bulletin boards, other forums related to your community. Comment on FSP as appropriate.

  • Do regular internet searches on your topic (once a week is probably enough). Share information with your communities. If a story hits a particular nerve, consider forwarding it to Publicity/Advertising for consideration for a shadow ad.

  • Write LTEs and other responses to articles on your community.

  • If you're a radio listener watch out for talk radio programs related to your community, listen to them and be prepared to call in!

Community Leaders

  • Write, email or otherwise contact leaders in your community. Introduce them to the FSP and, if reasonable, obtain an endorsement from them. (If an endorsement is obtained communicate with Chris about getting that posted on our website.)

Essays

  • Write an essay related to your community which can conclude in a demonstration of how FSP can be a solution. Essays can be posted on our website, submitted to various e-zines or magazines, etc.

Other

  • Create a website related to your community.

  • Carry FSP web cards, trifolds, etc. with you to hand to interested folk.

  • Join/volunteer for organizations with similar missions. For instance, Evan Nappen, our guns rights liaison, volunteers for and is on the Board of the NRA.

Conferences/Presentations

  • Create a list of conferences and/or groups to which presentations could be made.

  • Create template materials that could be used at conferences and/or presentations (In particular make a community tri-fold. Samples for gun rights and homeschooling/education attached.)

  • Create a community DVD that can be played at conferences, mailed to key people, etc.

  • Network with local groups, speakers group, and other volunteers to attend these conferences and presentations.

Approach

I look for lead ins and don't offer information completely unsolicited. I don't want to be considered a spammer. I want to target folks who are already open to the idea of smaller government and more liberty.

Building Consensus

Communication Strategies For Building Consensus

From a chat workshop with Dr. Michael Edelstein • 10/20/04


  1. Assume responsibility for your role in a dialogue. Do what you can to improve the process. (As good as it may feel for the moment, resentfully criticizing others for communication breakdowns doesn't help and often accelerates a downward spiral.)

  2. Bring up and then address one issue at a time.

  3. Remain positive and give the other person the benefit of the doubt. For example, if you suspect they may be using a sarcastic tone, assume the best.

  4. Respond only to the constructive content of a message. Ignore, when possible, sarcasm, innuendo, name-calling, etc. (It's usually possible). This helps avoid escalation.

  5. Avoid accusations, especially overgeneralized ones, such as: "You never...", You always...", "Why can't you...?", "I can't believe you said that," etc.

  6. Say "Please," "Thank you," "I apologize," "Great idea!," etc., generously. These words are the lubricants of communication– especially "I apologize." ;-)

  7. Before criticizing a position, consider feeding it back to the person advancing it, to confirm you've understood it.

  8. Do not label the individual you're speaking with, e.g., "You're a troll," "You're intolerant," "...disrespectful," "...oblivious," "...obnoxious," etc. This rarely helps and often makes matters worse. Similarly, calling their arguments stupid, destructive, "I can't believe you said that," etc. is poor technique.

  9. Keep in mind that "agreeing to disagree" is usually a fine option when stuck in a communication rut. There's often no right or wrong in our disagreements. Differing opinions may rest on different styles, proclivities, or comfort levels.

  10. If you wish someone to communicate more constructively, offer a specific suggestion and begin it with "I prefer..." For example, "I prefer you not call me intolerant. Rather, please cite specifically what I said that you disagree with."

  11. If you feel the process is breaking down, discuss this with the other person. Collaboratively work to improve it by focusing on future behavioral change, rather than by assigning blame for past communication difficulties.

  12. State negative feelings in a positive way by stating the other's best self, e.g., "I know you're a tolerant person," or "You often have excellent ideas." Then let them know you feel they're not living up to their usual high standard.

  13. If you're communicating by computer, consider moving to the telephone should communication get stalled.

  14. Give positive feedback, praise, appreciation, "atta boys" wherever possible.

  15. Preface constructive criticism with positive feedback.

  16. If disengaging is a viable option with someone who seems generally angry and negativistic, politely end the dialogue. Alternatively, consider suggesting ending it for continuation at a future date, when one (or both of you) will have had a chance to collect your thoughts and calm down.

  17. Keep in mind that everyone is a free agent with free will, consequently you can't force anyone to understand or agree with you, no matter how self-evident your view seems to you.

  18. Remind others–and yourself–of our common goal: to build a free society. Consequently, collaboration, rather than one-upmanship, is essential.

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