Organising is not for everyone.
And it is really hard to try and encourage an organisation that does not want to organise to do so. In addition, organisations may have seasons when they might be more or less likely to get involved in organising.
Still, as organisers and leaders seeking to find those institutions that are most likely to want grow, deepen and strengthen through participating in a broad based organisation (BBO), here are some things to look out for:
- Leadership, participation and listening – They need to have people in their organisation (so not seek to ‘represent ‘ others or be a 5 person band). They should want to find and build new leaders to take the roles of the current leaders. And the organisation should have – or want to build – a culture of listening and participation.
- Mission – They need to have a mission/vision of the world. And a desire to make enact that vision/mission in the world, not just talk about it.
- Internal organisation – organisations should have an organisational/leadership structure and have a culture of accountability.
- Civil society – they should be part of civil society more broadly, which is why so many BBO members are from faith, education, charity, youth, community, university and union groups.
- Money – They need to have money they could contribute to ensure the creation, independence and sustainability of the BBO. They should want to organise their money to build power internally and externally.
- Appreciation of difference – A desire to work with people different to them and a willingness to be part of something bigger/more powerful than them, where their organisation will have a voice (ie 1 vote) but not a veto.
- Hunger for change and willingness to take action to achieve it – Desire to achieve material change in the world, and an appetite to take calculated risks to make it happen.
- A commitment to the common good of a place – that could be the neighbourhood, community, town, city, region or nation (and the closer to the start of that list the better).
