Meetings

WeROC Monthly Meeting – March Special Edition

We are devoting our “First Thursday” WeROC Meeting of the Whole to planning a major local community organizing training event in March, as described below.

The open planning meeting will be Thursday, March 3 2016, 5:30-7:15 PM, at Beth Israel Congregation, 2000 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 . (The building is to the left side of the main building). Light dinner provided.

A lot of WeROC folks have been eager for us to have an organizing and leadership training here in Washtenaw for some time, especially to build on the momentum of our very successful Public Meeting, held last November. Please make a special effort to come to this one, and be prepared to make and hear suggestions about how we best use our time and the time of participants to build the broad-based power of WeROC and the effectiveness of our leaders.

Our training is in part a continuation of a major event being organized by our friends at Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice. WeROC proposed, and ICPJ accepted, a proposal for WeROC leaders to do a workshop at the March 6 event — “Connect and Act Summit: Building the New Movement for Economic and Racial Justice.” It will be held March 6, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor. See all the details here: .

Be sure and mark your calendars for the WeROC Community Organizing Training, Thursday evening, 6:00-8:30 pm, March 17, at Faith Assembly Church, 377 S. Harris, Ypsilanti, 48198. More details will be coming soon!

At the March 3 planning meeting, we’ll also have very brief updates on our current and emerging Action Team work.

WeROC Meeting of the Whole Thursday 2-4-16

This month’s WeROC Meeting of the Whole is at 5:30-7:15 pm this Thursday, Feb 4, at Strong Tower Ministries, 134 Spencer Ln, Ypsilanti Twp (Annex building at south end of lot, near Michigan Av).  Light dinner provided.

Your input is especially needed and welcome as our congregations, unions, organizations, as well as individuals, work together to keep building our momentum, our numbers, our grassroots power, and our smarts in ways rarely seen before our County.  We’ll be leveraging our big successes from the Public Meeting in November in several areas:

  • Updates on WeROC Action Team work on local school suspensions, earned sick time, “ban the box,” regional transit, and mass incarceration/deportation.  The Action Teams are where things actually happen; plan your time for you (and others from your organization) to participate in one or more team!
  • Launching a new phase of WeROC by completing bylaws that capture our unique organization and community organizing approach, including how existing and new congregations/organizations can be more effective together.
  • Exploring how upcoming local WeROC organizing and leadership training sessions can make the most of our busy supporters’ time while moving WeROCs agenda forward in powerful ways that strengthen our member congregations/organizations and WeROC as a whole..

Questions?  Tad Wysor, Volunteer WeROC Organizer, 734 883 3225, tadwysor@gmail.com.

WeROC First 2016 Meeting Summary

WeROC Leaders and Supporters…More info below on these topics…please read on!

  1. MOSES MLK Day Banquet, next Monday Jan 18 — Hoping you can join us at the WeROC table!
  2. Action Team meetings need you (and others from your congregation or organization) to help put “meat on the bones” of the commitments we got from officials at our November Public Meeting.
  3. Local Trainings in the works.
  4. Formalizing and stregthening WeROC as a power organization for the long haul,

FIRST: Just a note on Flint:  The human-caused horror that our sisters and brothers in Flint have been suffering, and the creative push-back by the community and their allies that is finally beginning to force the Governor and State officials to be open and honest and do their jobs, will be a source of lessons for WeROC and MOSES for a long time to come.  We don’t have a direct connection with the Flint organizing right now, but our prayers and solidarity, at least, are going to be welcome.  (This video gives a powerful summary and update, with interviews with key people):

http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2016/1/8?autostart=true

There’s a rally in Ann Arbor Monday 1/18 at 4 PM related to Flint and the Governor: Facebook event

  1. BANQUET: If you possibly can, go to mosesmi.org right away and buy a ticket for next Monday’s annual MOSES Banquet in Southfield.  Many organizations have dinners, but those who have been to past MOSES banquets know these are special. Special mostly because the room is filled with MOSES folks who’ve doing what WeROC has been doing with MOSES support and advice…strategically building relationships, alliances, and community power.  Plus, great speakers AND a chance to socialize with fellow WeROCers.  (Let Tad know if you’re coming or have questions, including carpooling and possible help with ticket prices.)
  2. Where the ACTION is:  Action Teams!  WeROC leaders are encouraging each of us to pick an Action Team (or more than one!) and plan to participate in their meetings…probably even more important than the Meetings of the Whole.  We want to move toward each participating congregation or organization to have someone on each Action Team.  Here’s what’s coming up…many hands make big things happen, yes?
    • Education Action Team (Reducing suspensions/expulsions in area school districts)  TUESDAY JAN 26, 7-8 AM, Lord of Light Lutheran/Intersection, 801 S Forest Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
    • Economic Dignity for Working Families Action Team (Earned Sick Time and Regional Transit) THIS THURSDAY JAN 14, 6-7:30 pm, First Congregational UCC, 218 N Adams, Ypsi.
    • Ban the Box Action Team (Building on our BtB successes, possibly including new organizing led by returning citizens aimed at reducing recidivism and welcoming people back into productive participation in the community.)  Strategy meeting to be announced soon…).
  3. Local Trainings in the works:  There was widespread support at Thursday’s meeting for WeROC leaders to organize local community organizing trainings — to make sure we’re all sharing the powerful lessons learned in the run up to and implementation of the November Public Meeting.  Whether you’ve been involved for some time, or are just recently experiencing the WeROC phenomenon, creating opportunities for high quality organizing and leadership training is fundamental to building the long-term, healthy collective power that really changes policies and structures. Stay tuned, and plan to put the date(s) on your calendar early!
  4. Organization-Building for the Long Haul: As we build on our successful issue campaigns, our staying power as an important player in our region depends on building the foundations of WeROC.  In addition to the Action Team work, don’t be surprised if you find yourself being asked to part of short-term committees to plant those long-term roots, including:

    • Completing the bylaws, including clarifying how congregations, organiziations, and individuals can become formal members of WeROC together.
    • Electing formal leadership.
    • Developing more relationships with potential local and regional funding institutions.

As several of you reflected at last week’s meeting, WeROC’s exciting successes so far are only really valuable if we keep building this unique organization — we need to multiply our numbers, involve and develop new grassroots leaders, get smarter, make sure that our broad, unified voice becomes even louder.  No other local organization is filling this role quite like WeROC is, and you’re the reason.  Let’s keep supporting each other as we launch WeROC toward bigger and better things in 2016, yes?

Next WeROC Meeting – Thurs Jan 7 5:30

Hello, WeROC Leaders and Supporters….

WeROC Meeting of the Whole, Thursday Jan 7, 5:30-7:15, Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries, 123 N Adams, Ypsi (Park on street, in city lot across the street, or mid-block on Adams at First Congregational UCC).

After our amazing success together at the November 15 Public Meeting, we need to make sure we keep that good momentum going in this new year.  Our first Thursday “Meetings of the Whole” are where we “cross-pollinate” among the Action Teams and other work, to keep us on the same path and learning from each other.  Then as we gravitate to the Action Teams or other committees to do the actual community organizing work on our key issues, we can all have the bigger picture in mind.

Looking forward to beginning 2016 with you (and your congregation/organization, as appropriate) as we continue to build healthy community power in effective new ways!

Upcoming WeROC Meetings

If you weren’t able to be with us for the Big WeROC public meeting last Sunday, stay tuned here for more about the most successful event ever for our still-young organization. Over 300 of us who are never in same room together, including people from over 30 congregations, unions, and organizations, joined in a spirited reminder of how grassroots democracy can powerfully work when we make the effort to join our voices. We walked away with new relationships, important commitments from local decision-makers, and a lot of energy that can keep the momentum going.

Please return to this site often, and put these upcoming events on your calendar as we map out what WeROC and our grassroots Action Teams will do next to build on the commitments we won and the joyful energy that filled Emmanuel Lutheran!

WeROC Meetings of the Whole, First Thursdays
Next meeting: Thursday December 3, 5:30, First Congregational UCC, 218 N Adams, Ypsi.

Education Action Team
Next meeting: Wednesday December 2, 7-8 AM (in the morning!), New Beginnings Church, 4859 Ellsworth, Ypsilanti

Economic Dignity for Working Families Action Team
Next meeting: Wednesday December 9, 6-7:30 pm, First Congregational UCC in Ypsi

Ban the Box/Pipeline to Prison Action Team
Next meeting To Be Announced

Caught the Buzz? Last Call for WeROC’s Major Public Meeting THIS Sunday

You know what to do! Make sure you are with hundreds of kindred souls on Sunday afternoon to experience what real grassroots democracy feels like for yourself. And bring along some members of your congregation, organizations, family, and network to experence it with you (and make sure the room is full to impress our local decision-makers!).

THIS SUNDAY, Nov 15, 3:00-5:00 pm, Emmanuel Lutheran Church ELCA, 201 N. River St, just east of downtown Ypsilanti near Michigan Av.

Flyer and Letter
Facebook event

NOTE we need all WeROC participants and volunteers who are on the Agenda or have roles for Sunday to come for the “Dry Run” Rehearsal: Noon tomorrow, SATURDAY Nov 14. Also at Emmanuel Lutheran.

  • We’re so proud of our Public Meeting Planning Committee, who have been working non-stop for weeks to create a meaningful and memorable program for the community, and to help all of YOU to help US fill the room!
  • Our speakers, presenters, and musicians are excited (including Mark Fancher, the “You Can’t Stop Us” Project, Darius Simpson, Marilyn Watson White and Ahmid Alexander.
  • And our amazing WeROC Action Teams are ready to go with their “asks” for our public officials and decision-makers and their future plans on Earned Sick Time, regional transit, keeping our students in school, eliminating mass incarceration and mass deportation, and supporting early childhood development.

ALL WE NEED IS YOU! See you Sunday!

Contact: Tad Wysor, tadwysor@gmail.com, 734 883 3225
Facebook: facebook.com/werocmi

Last Steps Before Public Meeting

** First, a correction to the address in our last post for this week’s final Planning Committee meeting — First Congregational is at 218 N Adams in Ypsi (NOT River St) at 5:30 Thursday Nov 12. EVERYONE PLEASE PLAN TO COME!

** Also, a reminder about the dry run rehearsal Saturday Nov 14 starting at noon at our host church building, Emmanuel Lutheran ELCA at 201 N. River St (yes, River St!) — all WeROC participants need to be there if at all possible.

With our big Public Meeting coming up in just over a week, the WeROC Planning Committee has identified several “Day-of-Event” Tasks — easy but important things that you and/or members of your congregation or organization could take on to help make Nov 15 an even bigger success.  Please email Pat Jackson at msullivanlady@yahoo.com with any slots you can help fill…and please stay flexible in case a task is already filled — there are others!

One more thing…Our Planning Committee is excited — and also nervous — about reaching our target of 300+ in attendance.  So….in addition to the day-of-event tasks, your ability to get commitments from as many people as possible in your congregation/organization, networks, neighborhoods, and families to be a part of the Public Meeting — will help tilt the balance for our leaders away from nervousness and toward excitement.  (And please take a moment to report your progress or any concerns to Pat.)  The flyer and letter are here to help you help us all!

Day-of Event Tasks:

  • Registration Table (and prior preparation of materials, sign in sheets, etc)
  • Floor Team
  • Runners for Stage Manager (Kandia)
  • Ushers
  • Technology Team (projector, sound, etc)
  • Setup
  • Take-Down
  • Timekeeper
  • Microphone Holder
  • Offering basket holders
  • Earned Sick Time Petitioners
  • Identify/Usher Public Officials
  • Parking attendants

Just two More Planning Meetings before November 15 — All Hands Requested For the Final Push!

Hello, WeROC Leaders and Supporters…

This month’s WeROC Meeting of the Whole is serving as one of our two final “all hands” planning meetings this Thursday (Nov 5), as well as next Thursday (Nov 12).  Both are at First Congregational UCC at 218 N Adams River in Ypsi at 5:30 pm.  (Construction is over, parking is easy, hooray!)

If all of us can find a bit of focused time over the next 12 days, especially to be at these two meetings, we’ll stay on track to fill Emmanuel Lutheran with hundreds of Washtenaw residents, and have a tight, powerful action program waiting for them.  Please come and be a part of the many hands that will make our 2015 Public Meeting a big success, winning real, meaningful improvements for everyone — everyone — across our region.

And now, more than ever, whether you can make the meetings or not, your word-of-mouth personal invitations are our secret weapon — for the all-important turnout of hundreds of unified, caring folks to help our public officials make the right decisions.  In person.  And in public.  Use the flyer and the recruitment letter as you talk to other organizational leaders and individuals and help fill the room to overflowing.

Again, the 2015 WeROC Public Meeting is Sunday afternoon, November 15, 3:00-5:00 pm, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church ELCA, 201 N. River St, just off Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti. (Our “dry-run” rehearsal will be noon-3pm Saturday, November 14, at Emmanuel — all participants please plan to attend.)

We hope you are as excited as we are about what we’re doing together!
Pat and Carissa for the WeROC Public Meeting Planning Committee

For more information, contact Tad Wysor at tadwysor@gmail.com or 734 883 3225.