Outreach
Democrats, Republicans, and Political Parties in general are made out of the groups they represent. Democrats are very much guided by Labor Unions and Republicans by Business, for example. In order for the Green Party to grow I suggest we directly approach different groups to represent them in Government.
Natural Health Practitioners
Raw Milk, Herbal Supplements, and Natural Health alternatives often do not find friends within the Government. The FDA bans, Health Departments raid, and insurance companies do not cover. Let’s talk to this industry and find out what Local, State and Federal laws affect their practice and work that into our Platform.
Permaculture and Organic Farmers
Again, Farm and Oil subsidies often work against this industry. Let’s find out what they would like to see from the Government and help represent them. The Green Party should be the home of Organic Farmers, let’s find out why it isn’t and how we can bring them from the Democratic Party (or from being non-active) into the Green Party.
Buddhists and Muslims
Greens need to approach Buddhists and Muslims with the same focus that Republicans approach Christians. Their interests are far better served through the Green Party than they are through the Democratic Party. We can do this by attending meetings, going to Temples and Mosques, and approaching individuals within our communities.
The Dalai Lama Wants to Join the Green Party
Fahreen Hakeem, Muslim Community Activist and Green Party Leader
Use Meet-Up to Outreach
This is what I will be doing for the next couple weeks to test this out. I am trying to connect with groups on Meet-Up that I think should be involved with the Green Party. I am contacting the local Green Party members and letting them know about the “Meetings.” My experience doing this for Ron Paul supporters is that a few people will show up, exchange numbers, and start working together. I am simply the organizer (as I am traveling and not a citizen of the areas I am helping).
Greenville, SC – December 6 (Tuesday)
“Conscious Politics and Sustainable Government”
http://www.meetup.com/volusiagreens/events/43478692/
http://www.meetup.com/Natural-Health-Practitioners-of-Greenville/events/43246602/
http://www.meetup.com/conscious3/events/43242912/
I joined a few groups and invited the “Conscious Living” advocates, Natural Health Practitioners, Buddhists (who already have an event at the same time, I left a comment inviting them any way), a local Organic Farmer, and two Greenville Greens.
Columbia, SC – December 13 (Tuesday)
“Green Party Outreach”
http://www.meetup.com/volusiagreens/events/43485012/
I doing the same thing in Columbia, inviting anyone and everyone I can find that I feel would be best represented by the Green Party. If I can find a ride to Charleston I will do another one there on the 10th or 11th.
Pensacola, FL – December 16
“Gulf Coast Greens”
http://www.meetup.com/Sustainable-Gulf-Coast/events/43485382/
http://www.meetup.com/volusiagreens/events/43485592/
The only group on Meet-Up I have found so far is the “Sustainable Gulf Coast” so I will approach them. I will also post all of these on the Volusia County (Florida) Green Party group, even though they are far from all of these events, they are the closest Green group on Meet-Up (see below, there are only three in the country).
Activism
We need to start working on a general activism action-plan. What can people do to grow the party even when there is not a campaign going on? Tabling events is good, but we need to get out and meet people face-to-face through canvasing.
You can do this without any material, but a comprehensive brochure and handout would be great. Here is a basic strategy/script for going door to door.
Activist: Hi, my name is [Jack], I’m going around the neighborhood talking to people about the general direction our country is heading in.
I’m curious, what is the most important issue to you when you decide upon a candidate to vote for, or a Party to vote for?
Voter: I really am concerned about [issue].
Activist: Do you favor any Party or candidate in particular?
Voter: Yes, [so-and-so] and [the this] Party.
Activist: What do you like about that candidate or Party?
Voter: They are working on [issue].
Activist: I am actually out here promoting the Green Party…
*Using your knowledge of the Green Party platform, and their candidates, respond to the voters issue and preference. Do not down talk either party or any candidate, just start talking about how the Green Party can represent their interests.*
…Their stance on [issue] is [stance]. A number of candidates have ran with [this] platform. Etc.
Be knowledgeable. Especially if they come back with stuff such as:
Voter: “Don’t they want to take my guns away.”
Activist: A lot of Greens are non-violence advocates, but there are candidates that have stood up for gun rights, recently Le Alan Jones, who ran for President Obama’s former Senate Seat defended the rights of Chicago citizens to own guns in order to protect themselves. Even Mary DeCamp who ran for Mayor of Tuscon, Arizona said if she could she’d get rid of all guns, but knowing that isn’t possible she does support the rights of responsible citizens to own guns.
Voter: “Don’t they want to just tax and spend.”
Activist: Greens always call for a Balanced Budget, as deficits are not sustainable. Most Greens are against any new taxes on the lower and middle class. However, there is variety within the Greens, as there is any Party, and they will respond to their members and voters. I personally do not support the income tax at all and would like to see Government funded by Corporate Taxes, Tariffs, and Excise Taxes.
Voter: “I’m pro-life and can’t stand abortion.”
Activist: I don’t think anyone in the Green Party actually likes abortion either. It is a very difficult issue, weighing Reproductive Rights vs. the Rights of the Unborn. Most Greens support preventative sex education, access to birth control, and better adoption services in order to reduce abortions while making sure that women’s rights are protected.
In the end, if you come to a house and that person obviously is not open to being a Green, simply thank them for their time (you can even offer to just leave them some information) and wish them a good day. Be nice and patient and confident and you will make an impact. Remember, the formula for success in any movement is to:
Convert people who are “open” to your cause into “Supporters” of your cause
Turn “supporters” into “activist”
And turn “activists” into “Leaders.” (or Candidates).
What do you do with people who are not open to your cause? Just try to get them to be open. You do that by not arguing wit them, by treating them with respect, and simply giving them information to look at in their own time. Then let go and move on.
Organize
There are tons of resources we as Greens need to be actively involved and make use of. Forums are free, Meet-Up costs a small amount of money. I suggest we use all of the above.
Meet-Up
Meet-Up is a great place to organize meetings and events. As of now there are only three Green Party meet-up groups in the U.S. We need to start by creating groups for each State Party. It costs $72 for the year to host a group.
Florida
http://www.meetup.com/volusiagreens/
Maryland
http://www.meetup.com/green-227/
Washington D.C.
http://www.meetup.com/cynthiamckinney-7/
Here is an example of how to use Meet-Up to organize. I recently got an email from the DC Greens about an event next week, so I posted it on the DC Cynthia McKinney Page (as this was a Green Party group).
http://www.meetup.com/cynthiamckinney-7/events/43479222/
Forums
This is how we can share information. Recently Farheen Hakeem failed to gain ballot access due to being short by five signatures…FIVE! Look at this comment:
From: http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2011/11/28/jill-stein-campaigns-for-president-in-california/
“I am sad to report that Farheen Hakeem missed getting on the ballot in Minnesota by five signatures. If I had have known, I would have helped her. I had not even known she was gatherinng signatures and did not even sign her petition.”
We need to be actively sharing information, posting requests for help, and actually helping each other. It is hard to keep tabs on everything going on in the country involving the green party, by having communities sharing information on some central forums we can ensure that information is better shared.
http://www.progressive-independence.org/
Progressive-Independence will allow us to post content and share it with each other. My profile is: http://www.progressive-independence.org/userDiary.do?personId=215
Green Party Watch is probably a better format for Internet activism, however it currently is not open to users to post content. I have talked to the site manager and there is interest in upgrading the site to a more interactive format, but some help from a competent web developer is needed (I am not one). You can read more about this in my article: http://freeindependentsun.com/republic/how-the-green-party-can-win-the-tuscon-mayor-race-and-prepare-for-2012/
Political Forum is a generic forum, but is a great back up for the two forums mentioned above. My profile on there is: http://www.politicalforum.com/members/jaktober.html
Advertise
Make Commercials, whether for TV or Internet. Post them on forums and on social networks. Feel free to act independently as activists. Here is supporter created commercial:
Another:
This is a commercial made by a supporter in Europe (unofficial):
Run Strong Candidates for Congress
We need to get as many of our leaders to run for office in 2012, especially for Congress. A united “Green Party for Congress 2012″ campaign would help us find a few districts in which we are able to win (as is what happened in Canada recently). Our Presidential Candidate could then speak with these candidates in order to help build both campaigns.
Create
We need more creators and builders. I built this site to help promote not only the Green Party, but Libertarians, Permaculturalist, Yoga, Health, Technology, etc. Here are some examples of what Ron Paul supporters have built to help the movement (all on their own, without official approval, usually with their own money).
Video Library
The Green Party has something similar on the home page, but this is a dedicated site where any new video gets posted.
Products
There are a number of independently made products and websites for them for the Ron Paul grassroots campaign. The most recent and game-changing product is the “Super Brochure” who’s creator even set up a way for supporters to buy them and have them directly sent out to voters in key states. I have talked to Scott West in South Carolina, who seemed interested in trying to build a “Super Brochure” for the Green Party. If we could set up a website where supporters can buy them and have them shipped to areas where there is need to grow the Greens, this could be a huge help.
Here is a start to creating some images that I will work on turning into stickers and make available to the community (if you want to go ahead and do it you have my permission to take the “Vote Local! Vote Green!” images):
http://freeindependentsun.com/republic/vote-local-vote-green-a-grassroots-campaign/
Thumbnail: By NoNomme (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jack Wagner is the Editor of The Free Independent-Sun. Born in Sonoma, California and currently residing in San Francisco, Jack set up The Free Independent-Sun on July 4th, 2009, after sleeping in and not making his usual trip up north for his hometown festivities. He figured he'd do something revolutionary to make up for it. In the Summer of 2010 Jack registered Seraf Media with the City and County of San Francisco as a Sole-Proprietorship. He is dedicated to articulating the finer points of the Revolution in order to bring about a Global Renaissance and Abundant World Economy. He also isn't afraid to get his hands dirty transplanting succulents. 
These are great ideas.
You should check out firedoglake.com; I’m trying do do some Green outreach there, and for the most part the reception has been favorable. It’s one of the few places where Greens are tolerated.
Interesting article Jack. Those target groups are great starting points. Looking through the GP platform, there are many more groups that we can target as well. Would like to promote this blog on my blog and updated information about meetings and such.