Volunteer letter Freedom Flotilla
5-10-2010Prior to the FG meeting this past weekend in Brussels, it was determined to add 4 volunteers to a new ‘Flotilla Committee’ that is being established to organize the FG work in the lead up to the next flotilla. This will be mainly a technical committee.
The number is limited to 4 for reasons having to do with being able to communicate and work efficiently. Given that we are spread out around the world, constantly on the moveand in different time zones, it is very hard to organize conference calls, even with only the iB. On top of that, the conference calls themselves, as well as other communications will become more cumbersome with too many members.
Last year the iB also established a similar larger entity / committee to prepare for the flotilla. However, at that time we recruited and appointed the members, rather than issue an open call for volunteers. Although it was not called at that time a ‘Flotilla Committee’, in effect it was. This committee was comprised of the iB + Caoimhe
Butterly and Ewa Jasciewicz.
We are soliciting volunteers only from among the list of people who were invited to the Brussels meeting.At a pre-Brussels meeting of the iB, we determined the criteria for volunteers for this committee. We came up with 8, the first 4 of which are necessary, while the latter 4 are desired skills (but not required) that would be most useful. These criteria were put in place in order to ensure that we add to the Flotilla Committee the commitment and skills necessary to make the committee as strong and effective as possible.
This is a committee with a specific function and fulfills specific roles. Additionally, it is meant for this committee to be a start of sharing of knowledge from current members of the iB to more people involved with FG.
The 8 criteria for volunteers are:
1. full-time obligation
2. requires participation regular conf. calls
3. involvement in a local/national ship/delegation effort (not required to be on a
steering committee)
4. ability to travel
5. fundraising contacts
6. advocacy experience
7. public speaking experience
8. knowledge of boats
As per the agreement made at the Brussels meeting, there will be a window of 2 weeks from this date for people to volunteer themselves (no nominations of others). Anyone wishing to volunteer should send an email to: adamsop@gmail.com listing their name, email, phone number and a short (1 paragraph) explanation about why they want to volunteer and how they meet the criteria listed above.
At the close of the volunteer window (2 weeks), there could be a couple of different scenarios:
paragraph statements will be sent to the same overall email list (invitees to the
Brussels meeting) to vote on 4 candidates.
II. If there are 4 or fewer volunteers, then the iB will review the candidates and
accept those that meet the criteria. If a volunteer is considered to not meet the
criteria, the iB will communicate that to the individual. We will not make
public the name(s) of any individual determined to not meet the criteria unless
the individual indicates that it is OK to do so.
III. If in the event that there are less than 4 volunteers, the iB will seek to solicit
volunteers by individual outreach. If and when additional volunteers are
identified, they will be introduced via this email list.
In all cases the iB will inform the email list who is on the Flotilla Committee.
No one should feel that they cannot contribute to the work of Free Gaza if they are not on the Flotilla Committee. There is much that we have relied on others for, either on an ad hoc basis, as needs arise, or on a more regular basis. We always welcome offers to assist, even if we do not always have a specific task or responsibility that can be delegated at that time. Of course, the most valuable work is that which you do within your own communities – educating, lobbying, fundraising, building coalitions, etc.
We look forward to working with all of you to build the next Flotilla.
In solidarity,
Interim Board, Free Gaza Movement
