3)   What ways of communication and publicity do you think FLWN should use to reach women across our land?

" Fan outs - one volunteer in each geographic area who would pass on info to knowing members and recruit new ones."

" Wandering Books are wonderful but many people simply aren't taking the responsibility seriously enough."

"Newsletters" (this was repeated many times) "A newsletter . . or use provincial organizations' newsletters as a vehicle."

" Weave communication into existing CCLOW structures until we are strong enough to go on our own."

" I think we need to infiltrate every newsletter of every literacy group. Each of us needs to take about FLWN at meetings and events and take names."

" That depends on what the goals of FLWN are. If indeed it is to promote feminism, then direct attention to feminist groups. Define feminism so that prospective members can make an informed decision about joining."

"Send our newsletter to community colleges, women's organizations and literacy organizations."

"Send out brochures, letters to aboriginal communities, churches, school offices in the city."

" Un bulletin d'information écrit national ou une présence dans des réseaux déjà existants."

" Telephone chain."

" Teleconference with area representatives seems good."

" Can we set up a E-mail network?" (computer generated mail)

"A monthly newsletter where we could all send in our news and ideas. We do need some form of regular communication so that we know we are all out there."

"A mail-out with blurb and a reading list with the objectives of FLWN and how to join."

"Perhaps a larger project of descriptions of life, work dreams, transcripts of our speak-outs - a larger project may keep people plugged in ."

" I would like to see a resource list developed so that we might so have means of contacting each other and sharing ideas."

The participants' suggestions about ways of communicating with all members of the network can be grouped into the following categories: practical means (contacts, information, promotion) and other means and ideas (defining feminism, research, writing by women literacy workers).

PRACTICAL MEANS

Contacts

  • Establish contacts with other groups, for example those which promote women in education and women in the workforce, as well as organizations dedicated to improving the status of women.

  • Continue to discuss the definition of terms like "literacy worker" and "feminist." Not necessarily to arrive at a consensus, but simply to establish an environment where a variety of ideas can be heard and discussed.

  • Support feminist literacy workers, demand change, educate the public, circulate books.

  • Ensure that learners are represented on FLWN committees.

  • Invite more learners to the next conference.

  • Use teleconferencing and telephone chains.

  • Establish formal and regular communications to maintain the links and contacts we have created.

Information

  • Find a volunteer in each region to pass on information to current members and recruit new members.

  • Create a national newsletter or use an existing network or newsletter as a vehicle. This newsletter could be sent to members of the network, colleges, community organizations, women's organizations, and literacy organizations.

  • Circulate letters.

  • Organize ourselves so that all women literacy workers become aware of the existence of FLWN. They may not all wish to join the network, but this should result from a choice on their part rather than a lack of information.

  • Send out brochures and letters in native communities, churches, schools, and municipal offices.

  • Infiltrate every literacy newsletter of every literacy group!

  • Establish a database of members.

  • Hire a part-time person to coordinate the publication of a newsletter containing news items, ideas, etc

Promotion

  • The Wandering Book is a wonderful idea, but many people don't take their responsibilities as "chain writers" seriously.

  • Circulate a pre-publication version of the Wandering Book.

  • Talk about FLWN during meetings and events; on each occasion, take names, phone numbers and addresses of future members.

  • Enumerate the particular frustrations that feminist literacy workers have, and use this as an ice-breaker to recruit new members. Add a reading list and a membership form.

OTHER MEANS, OTHER IDEAS

Defining feminism

  • Set out a clear vision of what we mean by "feminist" literacy worker.

Research

  • Research the ethnic backgrounds of FLWN members.

  • Initiate a larger project that could bring us together, strengthen our connections and highlight both the diversity and marginality of our voices.

Writing

  • Develop a larger writing project describing the life, work and dreams of women literacy workers.
  • Transcribe our speakouts.

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