Outreach and Chapter Building

AL-AWDA, THE PALESTINE RIGHT TO RETURN COALITION
Third Annual International Convention
UCLA, Los Angeles, California
April 15-17, 2005

Outreach and Chapter Building - Report back by Lamis Deek

1. Commit to having meetings, town meetings and Al-Awda chapter and other meetings more regularly and through these define leadership and assign accountability

2. Set tangible goals and evaluate the goals in substance i.e. politically and in their success and in mobilization-numerically

3. Vancouver representative committed to reporting back to the Palestine Community Center

4. We need to publicize and support existing chapters

5. Revive Delegation Tours to Palestine

6. So as to build other Chapters, we proposed that:

A Handbook outlining Events and Ideas be created as a starting point
Revamp website and adjust language or add pages in consideration of non-action visitors

7. Surveying local Community and expert personal outreach creating a mechanism to facilitate Chapter success and undertaking of Chapter initiatives. This would also go hand in hand with increasing our fundraising efforts by perhaps committing to raising funds at every event and hosting fund raising dinners or haflat.

8. We also proposed that a National Rally be held this year. It was suggested the rally be held in September commemorating Sabra and Shatilla. Have the rally be preceded or followed by a week or night of Cultural Events. Some reservations were expressed on holding a national versus local rallies. Decision to be made soon.

9. Prime Delegation Work and through that develop teach-ins. Develop Sistership campaigns between towns here and in Palestine or with refugee camps.