This afternoon, I was running errands looking for the proper attire for a black tie event. I’m going to an LGBTQ gala tonight and it’s formal, but the only dress I have is my wedding dress and my fashion sense is slim to none. Anywho, I digress. As I was trying to find a black tie (because I just can’t bring myself to wear a dress), I got a text message saying “Why didn’t I know that there was a JTI event today???” My response was “What JTI event today? There wasn’t one.” The next response “The fliers said it was a JTI event.”
Herein lies a weakness of JTI. We organize in the virtual space for the most part. We talk online, text message, email, and call each other. Willow and I barely see each other in person. In fact, in San Francisco on Thursday, we saw each other for only the 2nd time since the launch of JTI. Organizing online can sometimes lead to mixed messages. JTI-national did not have any event today, but some of our organizers may have chosen to have an event in their city for something local. JTI seeks to empower our members to stand up for what they believe in locally and nationally. Because of this, sometimes there will be events that a member holds that Willow and I or JTI-national are not a part of. Most of our organizers follow the protocol of checking in before listing JTI as endorsing an event that is not officially a JTI event.
So, this text message led me to thinking about this weakness, and wondering how we can fix it. We do have an Official JTI Events page that speaks to events or protests endorsed, hosted, or sponsored by JTI. We have an Other Events page, which speaks to events that we want to help get the word out on, but they are not run by, hosted by, endorsed, or sponsored by us. Still, there seems to be confusion out there, and we’re curious about how you think we should help to clear up this confusion? We do not want to become an organization that makes all the decisions of what to do, without listening to the needs of our members. This is why we’ve used The IMPACT the way we do and why we do not treat our organizers like employees… these organizers are what make us a success, we do not make them a success, and we want our actions to show our appreciation for them. We will NEVER tell our organizers that they cannot have an event without our approval. So how do we clear up the confusion when an event is held in our name, that isn’t actually one JTI is behind or even aware of?
We want to continue learning from you and working with and for you. Willow is at Camp Courage today. She is learning how to help provide more support for our organizers so that we can better serve you. That is one step, but we know there are more. So what do you think?
4 Responses
Seems there are two main components: Join the Impact - Events - which sponsors & hosts events.
Then, there is Join the Impact - Organizing - which acts as an organizing hub for all LGBT organizers to convey the message of their action or event and get the word out. Just because we use JTI to post about our events, does not mean it is affiliated with JTI - Event, but JTI - Tool (sorry, do not mean in a derogatory way, but seemed like a good word).
Maybe you could somehow webomatically separate out things like that?
Melissa
Posted on March 8th, 2009 at 3:10 am
maybe get IRS recognition and then allow local organizers to create local chapters also recognized by the IRS but I guess either way they could just add to the JTI logo by being sure to specify the local chapter printing instead of just “JTI” putting “JTI Chicago” or “JTI Dallas” or whatever local community is identifying itself as “that area’s” local hook up to the national JTI organization… or, if it’s a national event, which would only come from you, then the designated national logo… and establish operating practices so that all members are on the same page for branding…from my experience working in non-profits this seems like it could help clear up some confusion… also, I am wondering when/how JTI will get its official IRS status? I have heard a little about it in January, I think, but I haven’t heard anything since… but yeah maybe people should just be sure to specify that whatever event they’re having is locally organized, if in fact it is…
Also, your brother just told me he is your brother, he eats the food from the pizzaria/deli I work at here in Chicago!! Nice guy!!!
Posted on March 10th, 2009 at 1:21 am
I definitely noticed that while working on the rally in SF from here in SB - though I think the only thing that would help with that is clarifying a more central organization as otherwise it’s easy to operate in a vacuum. So even when things get done - there’s always stress when there aren’t more designated roles. So perhaps beating the point in beyond what seems necessary - Have Join the Impact as the event hub, and have the blog for that - and a separate service for the organizing with a different name - Ally Action or something like that perhaps. And under that name, act as an ally to other organizations and communicate/support but not be the direct organizers.
Posted on March 11th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
what good is it to have the Day of Silence? will informing people help to break the silence?
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 12:25 am
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