Report from the Long Range Planning Committee Meeting 1/17/12
Regular weekly meeting 1:00 pm Ike Box
Attending: Peter, Michael, Gary, Bobbie, Hugh, Laurie
Submitted by Laurie
The Committee undertook a SWOT Analysis of OSO
SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Most of the meeting was taken up by identifying things in each SWOT category, however at the end we discussed some ideas suggested by the SWOT process.
Strengths
Committed Members
Shared general agreement internally
Various experiences & skills rresented
Useful contacts
All adult age groups represented
Website & comm infrastructure
Part of vibrant national movement
Diffuse leadership
Flexibiliry
Openended nature of concerns
Local allies
Weaknesses
Lack of agreed concrete goals & principles
Lack of structure & leadership @ @ committee level
Unclear communications
De facto ingroup / outgroup culture
Lack of clear recruiting system
Not enough young people locally
Opportunities
Concentration of wealth & power concerns unite us & suggest actions
Many Salem residents share OSO’s concerns
Recruiting opportunity @ colleges
Salem has local economy & is state capital
Salem religious community can help build movement / principles in accord w/ OSO
Create more formal organization
S J could help some employees like us
National dialogue is so removes from largest public concerns
Intent still exists even though tents are gone
Threats
Negative Media
Dropping poll #s
Perception – Occupy is over
Others framing Occupy
Fickle public
Misconception re: what Occupy is about
Apathy & ignorance – external
Ideas for going forward suggested by SWOT Analysis
Media strategy & team
Publicize OSO activities
Produce Op Eds
Cultivate media relationships
[Peter had a 4th idea I didn't catch]
Outreach Team
Go to churches, colleges
Develop program on Occupy issues to present at other groups
Provide niches for people to be involved who can’t devote lives to Occupy
Media & Outreach ideas involve external communications so need collaboration and synchronization with Communications Committee
Start talking about Occupy By Laws
