Sustainability of social change organizations "is a function of organization, not

[Skidmore]

personalities." Bruce Gordon of the NAACP just made this point at Tavis Smiley's forum on CSPAN. I think this is something we need to file away. It is not a phenomenon solely confined to the black community, but is an aspect of the culture of this nation as a whole which is focused on "American Idol" packaged personalities. This message is one that we all need to pay attention to as we seek common cause with whatever groups out there for our own individual affiliations. Mr. Gordon's point was basically this is one aspect of the corporate model that can be applied to a social movement. It ensures sustainability and allows a group to not lose its stride when a personality leaves or dies.

Just wanted to make note for those not listening.

[patrice]

1. Extremely relevant area of inquiry!

From my perspective around grassroots organizations in this area . . . .

They **try** to organize, write by-laws, make plans etc., but they usually leave out an important organizational need, ethics. Because of the situations in which we find ourselves, there is inevitable competition within the groups for resources (time, materials, people etc.). Personalities can exaggerate those tensions, but that wouldn't be the death knell it often is if the group would pay more attention to its organization. One thing that seems obvious there, especially for non-authoritarian groups, is that the organization must include an Ethos. Something simple, that outlines, not just the how we will function found in the by-laws, but more philosophical factors having to do with how we promise to try to treat one another, especially when there is conflict or competition. This could be as simple as: I/we will always try to fully understand other members; members will address their differences within the appropriate group context rather than through gossip; members will phone-call or make personal contact with one another for problem resolution rather than just emailing.

Professional organizations usually have somekind of ethos inherent in their professional identity, e.g. how a teacher acts, or what a good attorney does.

But grassroots organization often don't include methods for problem resolution beyond some rather general notions about "consensus". I really believe if organizing included the group ethics, personality differences would be put aside and more of these groups would survive.