ICPJ is launching a process of surveying and speaking with our members and allies to help get broad input as we look forward to set our future course. Read below to find out more about this process. In November, we will have a copy of the survey available here in November, stay tuned for more information.

Goal: Identify key thoughts and concerns from ICPJ members, constituents, and allies. These concerns include priority issues, thoughts about our audience, and perspectives on our organizing model.

Purpose: To provide the Steering Committee with information about our members’ concerns so that the Committee can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources, focus outreach, and develop campaigns. This information is especially important as the 40 More Years campaign increases our resources and capacity. This broad-based listening model provides an important way to make decisions consistent with the interests of our members.

Key Questions:

What are the issues? What’s most important to you, what are you most interested in working on?

How do we direct our resources? How much should ICPJ take on? Should our model be taking on a variety of issues or working more deeply on a few?

Who is our audience? How broad should ICPJ reach? Should our organizing focus on mobilizing liberals who are already pre-disposed to supporting our work, or should we reach out to moderates and conservatives on common to widen our base?

Tactics:

Member Survey: print and electronic survey of members

Focus Groups: Gather groups of ICPJ members and allies

Constituent meetings: Meet with peace and justice, church and society, global issues, and other committees of partner congregations and potential partners. Also meet with other organizations in Washtenaw County.

Deadline: Present a summary of the findings to Steering Committee by January of 2007 so that the SC can make recommendations on the findings by the March 2007 Annual Membership Meeting.