"FINDING YOUR NICHE IN RWU"

1. THE FIRST RULE OF ACTIVISM IS TO "USE YOUR TALENTS."

If you are a writer, write. If you prefer speaking, speak. If you like to entertain, help plan and host a local RWU chapter get-together. If you can draw or do cartoons, use that talent to depict our struggles or goals.

You can learn to do some things (speaking, fund-raising) and to overcome your fears, but remember having fun is important. If you don't enjoy it or find it meaningful, you probably won't be doing it for long.

2. "START WHERE YOU ARE."

Once a person becomes active, they can find it relatively easy to keep going. Speakers get invited to speak again. There are always new tasks for writers.

So we say, "Start where you are." Take a look at the suggestion list at the end of the article and locate yourself in a possible beginning.

You can hone your speaking skills by beginning with just a small group of your co-workers either in an informal setting such as the locker room at work or in the lobby of your away-from-home terminal. You will find that most all of them are eager to hear about anyone's efforts to bring reform and progress to our unions. They all know we need change, democracy and reform. They are just not sure how to help, and some believe they are too busy to be interested.

As a writer, you could be writing copy for new brochures and handouts or writing stories about your union for our newsletter. Or you could be helping other brothers and sisters write letters to the editors of their local newspaper.

If you want to start smaller, there are less-demanding tasks you can begin with.

3. USE YOUR NETWORK OF CONTACTS.

Who do you know? Often, once we consider, we find that we have contacts that can be beneficial to RWU. Can they donate in some manner? Do they have ready access to resources we can utilize? How can they assist you in your activist's efforts?

Oftentimes, you will find that friends and family will feel privileged to be asked to help. Don't deprive them of the opportunity.

4. WORK AT A SUSTAINABLE PACE

Most people will need to fit their activism in with their job, family, kids, hobbies, chores and other volunteer efforts. We are in a long-term, but winnable, struggle, so we don't want to ask people to work at a pace they cannot sustain. The closer you can fit union activism and your daily life, the better. A little work on your part to organize the different activities in your life will show you have some time to be an effective activist.

5. SOME VOLUNTEER ACTIVIST ASSIGNMENTS TO GET YOU STARTED.

Below are just a few of the things for which you might consider volunteering. You don't have to confine your activities to just one task, and hopefully you will soon find you are ready to tackle additional duties. But if you choose to limit your activism, that is ok too.

Wherever you find yourself, just know that we appreciate all your efforts and your contributions. Who knows, you may be ready to step up to a leadership role in no time at all!

1. Writing for the newsletter, website or outreach materials.
2. Fundraising.
3. Hosting or planning Chapter meetings and functions.
4. Conducting membership outreach activities such as calling new contacts or making telephone reminder calls.
5. Helping with the website.
6. Stuffing and stamping envelopes for mailers.
7. Maintaining reference materials and archives.
8. Doing necessary research.
9. Making signs.
10. Doing desktop publishing.
11. Maintaining communications such as an email list or email news.
12. Serving on committees with different functions.
13. Serving on the Steering Committee as a National or Chapter officer.