How We Organize the AMC Zine vol. 1

30 Pages·2013·1.41 MB·English

VOL. 1
HOW WE ORGANIZE THE ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE ZINE
Contents
INTRODUCTION ... p.3
BACKGROUND
T T RANSF Allied Media Conference: A Brief History... p.4
C O
E
N R Allied Media Projects Network Principles... p.6
N M Tracks, Practice Spaces, & Network Gatherings... p.8
O
AMC Organizing Cycle-at-a-glance... p.10
C

E COORDINATING YOUR T/pS/NG
T
A Coordinator’s Shortlist... p.13
A
Core Roles of a T/PS/NG Coordinating Team... p.14
E
10 Ways to Start Organizing Your Team Now... p.20
R
Month-by-month Checklist for Coordinators... p.22
C
FUNDRAISING
What am I fundraising for? ... p.24 1
What Support Does AMP Provide?... p.25
Questions to Ask Before/During/After Fundraising ... p.26
A Basic Recipe for Successful Grassroots Fundraising ... p.28
Some Awesome Fundraising Plans that have Worked! ... p.30
SESSION pLANNING
The Life Cycle of a Session... p.33
Tip Sheet! How to Recruit Sessions ... p.35
AMC Session Review & Selection Process ... p.36
What Makes Awesome AMC Sessions? ... p.37
On (Not) Merging Sessions ... p.40
Communicating with Presenters.. p.42
LOGISTICS
Logistical Considerations for the AMC ... p.44
Tips for Practice Space Organizing ... p.48
WE
BEGIN
BY LISTENING.
e Introduction:
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Pr
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g Welcome to the first volume of our “How We Organize the AMC”
n
eri zine. In this zine we are focusing on the fine art of organizing
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Gat AMC tracks, practice spaces, and network gatherings (T/PS/NGs),
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or the core content types of the Allied Media Conferences.
w
et
N
k, AMC Tracks, practice Spaces,
c The intended audience for the zine are coordinators of T/PS/NGs,
a
Tr
C but hopefully others will find these materials interesting as well.
M & Network Gatherings
A
n
a
e In 2013, we will celebrate our 15th annual Allied Media
at
n
di Conference, which is an amazing accomplishment made entirely
or
Co possible by our network of volunteers, coordinators, organizers, In
w to sponsors, presenters, performers and attendees. trod
Ho uction
This zine attempts to aggregate some of the organizing models
2 3
and collective wisdom of the AMC network. We hope this
knowledge-sharing makes AMC organizing smoother, more
rewarding and fun, and we hope it offers some inspiration for
T/pS/NG
other similar gatherings.
Cheers to another 15!
Morgan Willis, Jenny Lee, Mike Medow
(AMC Zine Co-Editors)
pRONUNCIATION: tip’sing
e Background
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e
c
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Pra ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE: A BRIEF HISTORY
or
g Every year new national networks of social justice organizers,
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heri The Allied Media Conference emerges out of 14 years of artists, educators and technologists make the AMC their point
at relationship-building across issues, identities, organizing
k G of convergence to share skills and develop strategy. Every year
or practices and creative mediums. Since the first conference (then
w we face new challenges and opportunities. As a result, the work
et called the Midwest Zine Conference) in 1999, people have been
N of organizing the conference changes constantly, and there is no
k, compelled by the concept of do-it-yourself media. With the shift
c
a perfect formula for how we do this work. Embedded into every
MC Tr to Allied Media in 2005, the AMC began to attract more people conference organizing cycle are a set of principles, which AMP
A who are interested in using participatory media as a strategy
n has distilled from our network after years of listening.
e a for social justice organizing. Our definition of “media” has grown
at
n over the years to include everything from breakdancing to
di
oor broadcasting community radio and building web applications. Ba
o C ckg
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Ho BY THE TIME Allied Media Projects and the AMC moved from nd
Bowling Green, OH to Detroit it 2007 more young people, queer
4 people, people of color and low-income communities were 5
participating in the conference. More artists and organizers
from Detroit were participating and bringing with them the
lessons from the city’s creative media and social movements. In
moving the conference to Detroit and connecting with the city’s
movement legacy and current practices of transformation, AMP
began advancing a new model for how national conferences can
relate to their host cities. Following the first AMC held in Detroit,
in 2007, legendary Detroit activist Grace Lee Boggs wrote:
At this conference, a new generation of
youthful movement-builders came out of
obscurity. Emerging in a special time in
which there is an explosion of activity in
the fields of alternative media, alternative
education, and alternative ways of doing
politics, they have accepted the challenge to
direct this explosion towards a new movement
to transform society.
e Allied Media Projects
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cti Network Principles
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Gat X We are making an honest attempt to solve the most X The strongest solutions happen through the process,
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wor significant problems of our day. not in a moment at the end of the process.
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k,
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Tra X We are building a network of people and organizations X The most effective strategies for us are the ones that
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AM that are developing long-term solutions based on work in situations of scarce resources and intersecting AM
e an the immediate confrontation of our most pressing systems of oppression because those solutions tend to P’s N
dinat problems. be the most holistic and sustainable. etwo
or rk
o Co Prin
w t X Wherever there is a problem, there are already people X place is important. For the AMC, Detroit is important cip
Ho acting on the problem in some fashion. Understanding as a source of innovative, collaborative, low-resource les
those actions is the starting point for developing solutions. Detroit gives the conference a sense of place,
6 7
effective strategies to resolve the problem, so we focus just as each of the conference participants bring their
on the solutions, not the problems. own sense of place with them to the conference.
X We emphasize our own power and legitimacy. X We encourage people to engage with their whole selves,
not just with one part of their identity.
X We presume our power, not our powerlessness.
X We begin by listening.
X We spend more time building than attacking.
X We focus on strategies rather than issues.
*Outside of these three content types there are individual sessions, music showcases,
bowling and karaoke parties, opening and closing ceremonies and a slew of
participant-organized auxiliary activities, like soccer and thrift store escapades.
AKSCARTSNOITATNESERP SGNINSEEERRUCTSCESLERUTSCPESOLEHSUS=KCRUOAWCSE NCONS-ANSMODRNISOASFHERSE EPTUNIM 09SRUOT PRACTICETRACKSSPACES — SSECORP N NGEPNETWORKI OSSLAESGATHERINGSODPOR P— +EVI TA RSOBSA LWELOEICCVESORESSRECOPRP NGIS E D — S—S EDCEOSRIGP NN PGIKRSOCECD ES— S ASORCNNSEGETYOIIETANICDVG ITETANCCATAOI VGITNWIPIEOSGNSOOBR EKC GIATTCHAERRPING ABCTRACKSPRACTICE SPACESNETWORK GATHERINGS A Network Gathering is a day-long A Practice Space is a Track that A Track is a series of 90 minute AMC mini-conference convened by a local or happens in one place throughout the sessions held together by a shared national network on the Thursday whole weekend, with a focus on theme. It may contain a combination before the AMC. They provide space for hands-on activities. They often feature of lecture/presentations, hands-on groups to do strategic planning, “ongoing activities” like building a radio workshops, screenings, performances, media-making and other activities that transmitter, which might take all tours, and caucus meetings. support their year-round organizing weekend. They may also offer open and collaboration. studio hours for unstructured, collaborative exploration.
AMC Organizing
Cycle-at-A-glance
Major content areas (T/PS/NG) are proposed,
reviewed and selected
Pre-AMC survey goes out
Coordinators meet in Detroit
FALL
Sessions are proposed, reviewed and selected
Mini-grants for grassroots fundraising
are awarded
The AMC happens!
Post-AMC survey goes out
Coordinators and AMP staff reflect and plan for
improvements on the design of the coming year.
WINTER
SUMMER
Coordinators work with session-organizers to
develop and finalize their AMC sessions.
Local and online fundraisers are underway
Conference schedule is finalized
Session logistics are finalized
S P R I N G
e COORDINATING YOUR COORDINATOR’S SHORTLIST
c
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cti T/PS/NG As a T/pS/NG coordinator, this is the list of things you and your
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Pr team will do between December and June. Each item applies to
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g all T/pS/NGs unless otherwise noted:
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k } Assemble your Coordination Team and assign roles
or
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et } Complete and distribute the pre-AMC content survey
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ac } Write the final description/vision statement for your TPSNG
C Tr Co
M “I have found the key to successful } Attend the Coordinators meeting in Detroit o
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n collaboration and collectives are: in
ordinate a hcalveianrgl ya- dsehfairneedd vrioslieosn, ahnodn egsota ls, }} CCrreeaattee aanndd iimmpplleemmeenntt aan f uonudtrreaaiscihn gp lpalnan atiing You
w to Co csoymsmtuenmisc aotfi oanc caobuonutta bcialpiatcyi,t ya,n ds ttrhoen g } Canreda cteir caunlda tseh iat r(eT raa cckuss taonmdi zPeradc ctaiclel fSopr asceesss)i oonr dpersoipgons yaolsu r r T/PS/
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H ability to scale back if needed.” agenda (Network Gatherings) G
12 } Review session proposals 13
- Diana Nucera, AMC2012 Media A Go Go
Lab Coordinator / AMP Co-Director } Make recommendations for final content to AMP staff
(Tracks and Practice Spaces)
} Facilitate session changes and mergers (Tracks and Practice
Spaces)
} Promote your T/PS/NG to the world
} Support your T/PS/NG participants in making travel and
housing arrangements
} Find and coordinate volunteers (Practice Spaces)
} Conduct an internal debrief with your coordinating team
} Participate in the AMP reflection and evaluation process
} Get ready for next year!
e Core Roles of a T/PS/NG
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cti Coordinating Team
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g or T H E COMMUNI
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Gatheri IRTE’SS EpVOENRSYIBOINLIET YO NTO Y:OUR COORDINATING TEAM’S ATIO C
work NS ore R
Track, Net Actively participate in shaping the vision of your T/PS/NG MAV oles of a T
AMC Be realistic about your capacity and communicate clearly if you EN /PS/
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a cannot complete something you said you would do G
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ordin Rweitmh aAinM aPw satareff a antd l eraesstp tewctof udla oyfs a pllr idoera tdol ian dese aadnldin ceo imf ymouun wiciallt e rdina
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Ho Circulate the call for participation in your T/PS/NG am

Promote your T/PS/NG’s fundraising efforts
14 15
Promote your T/PS/NG once the content is finalized
E V E RYON
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R W
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ce The Wrangler The Communications Maven
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Pra KEY WORDS: FACiliTATe ORGANize CONSiSTeNCy KeyWORDS: CONTeNT PeOPle viSibiliTy
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eri IT’S pRIMARILY THE WRANGLER’S JOB TO: IT IS pRIMARILY THE MAVEN’S JOB TO:
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Gat } Keep communication flowing among coordinators. } Lead the session-recruitment process (for Tracks & Practice C
work } Keep track of deadlines and tasks. Spaces) or agenda-development process (for Network ore R
ack, Net }} BOerg tahnei zpeo/insct hpeedrsuolen r oefg cuolamr mcouonrdiciantaiotonr wmitehe tAinMgPs .staff. } GDaetvheelorpin ygosu) r T/PS/NG’s “brand” (take the lead on drafting oles of a
MC Tr } Develop coordination tools (like spreadsheets, to-do lists, language, designing logos, making fundraiser graphics or T/PS
A listserves) flyers) /
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e } Facilitate group brainstorming and problem-solving. } Be the primary social media representative for your T/PS/ C
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w to Coordin Do you answer yes to the questions below? } NaCcoGcl lo(acubrneotarsat)ete a wndit hm oatnhaegre T /TwPSit/tNerG, Fs Bto, o dre ovtehloerp scooclliaabl moreadtiivae rdinating Te
Ho If so, you may be the Wrangler. content am
} Lead the process of giving feedback to presenters/
16 Y / N Do you like herding cats? participants in your T/PS/NG as they finalize the outlines 17
Sometimes getting everyone on a call at the same time, and descriptions of their sessions.
especially if you are dealing with multiple time zones can
feel like cats herding. Are you a natural cat whisperer?
Y / N Do you like liaison-ing with AMP staff? Do you answer yes to the questions below?
Y / N Do you like being a person who knows the answer to If so, maybe you’re the maven.
“WHEN IS _____ DUE?”?
Y / N Do you take pleasure in well-crafted sentences, stunning
visuals and other vehicles of clear communication that
make ideas irresistible?
Y / N Do you find yourself speaking about the AMC to random
“A good facilitator can pull a
people more often than you would like to admit?
to-do list out of a conversation and
Y / N Do you use/understand FB, tumblr, twitter, pinterest
remind others what they agreed to do
or other sites on which people share cool/critical
before the conversation ends.”
information?
- D. Nucera Y / N Are you a natural collaborator who seeks out the
interconnectedness of all things?