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Plan it and They Will Come
How to Host Your Own Potluck
Thanks for your interest in hosting your own Potluck for Peace. This page contains general information and a link to a potluck registration form. We'll use the information from the form only to organize events and facilitate communication among potlucks.
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Each potluck should aim for 25 to 100 guests, depending on where it is held. Hosts should concentrate on inviting their neighbors who may be friends or passing acquaintances or even complete strangers. The purpose of the potluck is to reach out to people who have not been involved in the anti-war movement so far. We don't want to preach to the choir. We want to help people find their voice and express their concern.
Each host should recruit a committee of half a dozen friends, neighbors or associates to help in planning and recruiting. Most of the potlucks will be small and in somebody's home. But a church basement, a union hall or a school cafeteria are appropriate too. And some people may want to plan a potluck around co-workers, members of their union, or members of their church.
One of the best and easiest ways to invite people to your potluck is to write a simple invitation flyer, and hand it out door to door in your neighborhood. It's even more effective if you knock on doors and introduce yourself as you make the rounds. If no one's home, leave the flyer, and try to come back later to make a personal contact.
When an ad hoc peace committee in Ballard (Seattle) held a cider press for peace in October 2002, they passed out 400 flyers at houses in their neighborhood. Over 60 people came to the event and signed a petition opposing U.S. war plans.
We'll furnish some informative literature, and one of members of the host committee should say a few words explaining the purpose of the gathering, but there should be no long speeches. The important thing is for people to have a chance to talk to each other about their concerns about approaching war. Your guests should be encouraged to express their views, ask questions, share ideas.
You can also try to arrange radio broadcast in Seattle focusing on Potlucks for Peace, or even perhaps have an event recorded for broadcast (live coverage on commercial radio is unlikely).
This part is very Important you should arrange to have a computer with Internet access so that each guest can e-mail government leaders with a CC to Potluck Central. It's best that each person write a personal message. You should have a list of emails of officeholders.
Last thing: send in a brief report on your potluck...how many attended, future action discussed, should we do this again etc? Send your report to : potlucks@potlucksforpeace.org
And be sure to add your potluck to our <a href="http://potlucksforpeace.org/tools/calendar.dwp">calendar</a> right now!
Each host should recruit a committee of half a dozen friends, neighbors or associates to help in planning and recruiting. Most of the potlucks will be small and in somebody's home. But a church basement, a union hall or a school cafeteria are appropriate too. And some people may want to plan a potluck around co-workers, members of their union, or members of their church.
One of the best and easiest ways to invite people to your potluck is to write a simple invitation flyer, and hand it out door to door in your neighborhood. It's even more effective if you knock on doors and introduce yourself as you make the rounds. If no one's home, leave the flyer, and try to come back later to make a personal contact.
When an ad hoc peace committee in Ballard (Seattle) held a cider press for peace in October 2002, they passed out 400 flyers at houses in their neighborhood. Over 60 people came to the event and signed a petition opposing U.S. war plans.
We'll furnish some informative literature, and one of members of the host committee should say a few words explaining the purpose of the gathering, but there should be no long speeches. The important thing is for people to have a chance to talk to each other about their concerns about approaching war. Your guests should be encouraged to express their views, ask questions, share ideas.
You can also try to arrange radio broadcast in Seattle focusing on Potlucks for Peace, or even perhaps have an event recorded for broadcast (live coverage on commercial radio is unlikely).
This part is very Important you should arrange to have a computer with Internet access so that each guest can e-mail government leaders with a CC to Potluck Central. It's best that each person write a personal message. You should have a list of emails of officeholders.
Last thing: send in a brief report on your potluck...how many attended, future action discussed, should we do this again etc? Send your report to : potlucks@potlucksforpeace.org
And be sure to add your potluck to our <a href="http://potlucksforpeace.org/tools/calendar.dwp">calendar</a> right now!
Igniting the Conversation
How to Have a Successful Potluck
The following are just suggestions. The basic rules are: play it by ear. Give everyone a chance to talk about how they feel, and try to end up with a focus on future action and future contact with each other.
Ok, you handed out your flyers, the RSVPs have come in and now its Saturday afternoon and people are knocking at your door carrying covered dishes. What do you do now?
First: Make sure everybody signs in. The sign-in list is one of the most important things to come out of your potluck...it’s a vital resource for future activities. Be sure to have space for phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the sign-up list.
Next: Let people mill around and chat with each other and munch on chips or appetizers.
Next: When you think that everybody has come who’s going to come, go around the room and ask people to introduce themselves, including where they live.
Next: To get a discussion started, start talking. As host, you can start the ball rolling, or designate someone you know pretty well to make a few remarks to set the tone. Describe your feelings and ideas about the proposed Iraq war. Talk about how you started to get these views and how they developed, and why you decided to hold a potluck. Talk a little bit about what you think it will take to have an impact in public policy making. Don’t talk very long. 5-6 minutes max.
Next: announce that you’ve had your say, but you really want to hear from everybody else. If nobody volunteers immediately, call on some one by name and ask them a provocative question such as, “Bill, can you tell us why you are here today?” If Bill doesn’t grab the ball and run with it, try someone else. “Sharon, what made you decide to put up that No War sign on your lawn? And tell us where you got that sign.”
You will almost certainly start a discussion that will go on for an hour or even longer if you don’t put a stop to it. Try to keep the discussion moving. If somebody starts speechifying, don’t be afraid to jump in and say you want to give others a chance to talk.
Next: After 45 minutes or not more than an hour of this kind of discussion, announce that the food is served. The conversations will no doubt continue over food.
After everybody’s had a chance to eat, the host or moderator should call for attention and announce that this part of the potluck is going to be focused on future actions.
This would be a good time to announce that those who want to can send an e-mail to Pres. Bush and members of Congress on your computer, which is conveniently, right in the next room. (E-mail addresses are on the web site, http://potlucksfopeace.org under Vital Info. No e-mail? Have paper and envelopes ready. While this letter writing is going on, ask for ideas on What to do Next: Discussion might involve getting everybody to put up a yard sign, joining vigils, or joining in the Martin Luther King March on Monday Jan. 20. Be sure you have a flyer on the MLK march to hand out to your guests. Perhaps you could set up carpools from your neighborhood.
Also, be sure to pass the hat! Use this opportunity to collect funds to finance further activities.
Before January 18:
Pick up some “No Iraq War” signs
See pick-up locations at: http://www.geocities.com/noiraqwarsigns/kiosk.html
You can sell these signs at a little more than you pay for them to recoup your cost, and add a little to the kitty of your favorite anti-war group.
Pick up some materials to hand out to your potluck guests at
Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War
c/o Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
225 N 70th St, Seattle, WA, 98103
info@snowcoalition.org
(206) 789 5565
Last thing: send in a brief report on your potluck...how many attended, future action discussed, should we do this again etc? Send your report to : potlucks@potlucksforpeace.org
And be sure to register your potluck on our web site http://potlucksforpeace.org
The following are just suggestions. The basic rules are: play it by ear. Give everyone a chance to talk about how they feel, and try to end up with a focus on future action and future contact with each other.
Ok, you handed out your flyers, the RSVPs have come in and now its Saturday afternoon and people are knocking at your door carrying covered dishes. What do you do now?
First: Make sure everybody signs in. The sign-in list is one of the most important things to come out of your potluck...it’s a vital resource for future activities. Be sure to have space for phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the sign-up list.
Next: Let people mill around and chat with each other and munch on chips or appetizers.
Next: When you think that everybody has come who’s going to come, go around the room and ask people to introduce themselves, including where they live.
Next: To get a discussion started, start talking. As host, you can start the ball rolling, or designate someone you know pretty well to make a few remarks to set the tone. Describe your feelings and ideas about the proposed Iraq war. Talk about how you started to get these views and how they developed, and why you decided to hold a potluck. Talk a little bit about what you think it will take to have an impact in public policy making. Don’t talk very long. 5-6 minutes max.
Next: announce that you’ve had your say, but you really want to hear from everybody else. If nobody volunteers immediately, call on some one by name and ask them a provocative question such as, “Bill, can you tell us why you are here today?” If Bill doesn’t grab the ball and run with it, try someone else. “Sharon, what made you decide to put up that No War sign on your lawn? And tell us where you got that sign.”
You will almost certainly start a discussion that will go on for an hour or even longer if you don’t put a stop to it. Try to keep the discussion moving. If somebody starts speechifying, don’t be afraid to jump in and say you want to give others a chance to talk.
Next: After 45 minutes or not more than an hour of this kind of discussion, announce that the food is served. The conversations will no doubt continue over food.
After everybody’s had a chance to eat, the host or moderator should call for attention and announce that this part of the potluck is going to be focused on future actions.
This would be a good time to announce that those who want to can send an e-mail to Pres. Bush and members of Congress on your computer, which is conveniently, right in the next room. (E-mail addresses are on the web site, http://potlucksfopeace.org under Vital Info. No e-mail? Have paper and envelopes ready. While this letter writing is going on, ask for ideas on What to do Next: Discussion might involve getting everybody to put up a yard sign, joining vigils, or joining in the Martin Luther King March on Monday Jan. 20. Be sure you have a flyer on the MLK march to hand out to your guests. Perhaps you could set up carpools from your neighborhood.
Also, be sure to pass the hat! Use this opportunity to collect funds to finance further activities.
Before January 18:
Pick up some “No Iraq War” signs
See pick-up locations at: http://www.geocities.com/noiraqwarsigns/kiosk.html
You can sell these signs at a little more than you pay for them to recoup your cost, and add a little to the kitty of your favorite anti-war group.
Pick up some materials to hand out to your potluck guests at
Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War
c/o Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
225 N 70th St, Seattle, WA, 98103
info@snowcoalition.org
(206) 789 5565
Last thing: send in a brief report on your potluck...how many attended, future action discussed, should we do this again etc? Send your report to : potlucks@potlucksforpeace.org
And be sure to register your potluck on our web site http://potlucksforpeace.org
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