Fix things Friday

[luzula]

So I used to post semi-regularly on Fridays, with a list of all the organizational volunteer work I'd done recently, in order to encourage myself and show that yes, actually I do things even if it feels like I don't do enough (because given the state of the world, nothing would actually be enough). I don't intend to take this up regularly again, but I thought I'd do it now and then, at least.

During the last two weeks I have:

• Been on TV!
• Chaired two board meetings for my environmental organization, as well as preparing the agenda for both.
• Done book-keeping for environmental organization.
• Attended and chaired a members' meeting for the union chapter, though not prepared it--that was done by a board member, though he looked relieved when I offered to chair, because I know he hates it. Also, this had to be held in English since there were two non-Swedish-speaking members there--I am not used to chairing meetings and talking about union issues in English, but I think that didn't hurt, because they were not native English speakers anyway and thus it was best to keep the language simple and not use technical terms.
• Attended and wrote minutes at a members' meeting of the university union club.
• Submitted Lots of Opinions on the draft for new bylaws for the central federation level of the union, because of course I did. Also volunteered myself as chair of the central union congress next year, because I enjoy such things, whereupon I got the reply that usually people don't line up for that, ha ha.
• Read and written lots of emails about various matters, mostly in the environmental organization.

All meetings over Zoom, obviously...also, from this list it is probably apparent that I am not much of an activist, whatever that means, but more of an organizational infrastructure kind of person.

Comments

[ride_4ever]

I think that if you are an organizational infrastructure person in an activism-oriented organization you are a kind of activist.

[luzula]

Maybe? I mean, I do sometimes also do things like occupy forests, but the vast amount of work is not that. I always feel that media portrayals of activists focus too much on the exciting bits and hide away all the book-keeping and meetings. : )

[skygiants]

On the one hand I understand why this happens, and on the other hand, the organizational stuff and meetings is SO important and it's so regrettably easy to give the impression that all the rate bouts of Exciting Stuff happen by magic, somhow! anyway yes fully agreed being in organizational infrastructure for activism means being an activist

[luzula]

Oh, I totally understand why movies/books don't show that aspect!

Interestingly, a while ago I read a book about the impact of social media (and the internet more widely) on social movements. One of the conclusions it had was that today it's much easier to make a big rally happen (by making a Facebook event for it that then gets a lot of attention), whereas in the past, this required a lot of background organizational work to get the word out. And for this reason, a big rally today is not the demonstration of strength that it was in the past--it doesn't demonstrate the existence of an organized body of people working for that cause.

[nnozomi]

One of the big themes in fics I've written is "administration saves the world," and this is exactly what I mean by it. Infrastructure people are absolutely essential and undervalued and I admire you for being one and getting the job done.

[luzula]

Thank you! : ) And I totally agree. I mean, obviously administration/organizational infrastructure itself is a neutral thing, and can be used for good or ill. But it's a necessary thing when you want to get something done--you can't just do the flashy stuff and think that will be enough.

[jesse_the_k]

I've participated in scores of municipal administrative infrastructures (particularly bus system governance) and this behind-the-scenes stuff is crucial.

Are you nnozomi?

[nnozomi]

Bus system governance sounds like a handful, in a different way again from luzula's union work, my past experience as an academic administrator, etc. people, mechanical issues, budget, weather...
(yup, I am nnozomi on AO3 as here :) )

[regshoe]

I've often thought how the sort of detailed infrastructure-related work underpinning the big questions and great work of fixing the world is so vital, and often ignored. Whether or not it counts as activism, that sort of thing is certainly important! Anyway, you're certainly achieving a great deal :)

[luzula]

Thanks! Yes, it's very important--you can't just do the flashy stuff and think that will be enough. This often annoys me with books and movies portraying activists and social movements, that they just show the "cool" things and not people doing book-keeping and planning meetings and cooking lunch and editing the newsletter. There was a movie about suffragettes a few years ago which I remember as having that flaw, for example.