Well, I am going to temporarily ban myself for a week or two. Although I love you all, I frankly, rather talk with a local leader for 30 minutes than to write a blog or write posts in Dap or elsewhere. I know I am in the process of becoming ProcrasinatorinDenial for never blogging. What can I say? Love the person to person thing.

Still, it seems that some of you want this site to become more effective. Although, it is a great idea, it is also very difficult. For something to change, it needs a consensus with a majority that respects the minority. Also, organizations are hard duty, as other members said, there is underline issues. Simply, if you want to become a non-profit, you need to have a director, a board of directors, a clear plan and a clear path. As I talked to some foundations, it is clear that they only fund organizations that are serious and professional.

My personal motto is that you leave the leaders/volunteers/ people you hang out with to share the power. You allow others to make decisions too and allow others to do share the load of work. Simply said, power is responsibility. If you want lots of power, you are going to take lots of responsibility. If you want no power, neither you have to do nothing. Still, if you let others to take your responsibility, don’t complain when they use their power against you.

Well, going to the grain of the matter.

First, what do you want to obtain? Pass the Dream Act is veeeery vague. You need something very specific. Do you want to chain yourself to the White House building to grab media attention for the pledge of students? That is kind of lame -and kind of cool- but veeeery specific. Do you want to promote a phone campaign to pass the Dream Act…how about focusing on five senators instead of 10-20? Also, how about a phone campaign that focus on 2-3 Senators that were co-sponsors, asking them to do it again? How about concentrating on Obama and making a phone/mail/email campaign for a week. You get the point, find something veeery specific.

Second, as paragraph one states, do something that you feel passion about. Talking to people is hard, especially when people are jerks and tell you in your face that you are a moron forwarding La Reconquista. All events are hard to coordinate, thus, for you to stick around, find something you want to do. If you really want to make a parade, do a parade. Don’t don’t do what you don’t want to do, do what you want to.

Third, do research. Say, you want to parade with big sombreros and chili pepper collars in DC. See what you need to do, how many people you want in your parade? Thus, how many people you need to volunteer? How much time you need to organize the event – some actions take months to develop, promote and do. Parades do require a lot of prior planning and at least four months. If the concept is daunting, how about parading in your home town? How about parading in your state? Again, consider specific targets. If is better to make one event with one senator than to make 10 calls to 10 senators.

Fourth, prepare for naysayers, if we learned from something from the current topics. Some of us are snobs with low self-esteem that delight into making people look/feel bad thus making us look/feel better. That is why steps 1-3 are so important, when the go into “well parading with sombreros and pepper collars is a lame idea” you can give reasoning as to why your plan will work.

Fifth, make a thread with your idea. As a rule, all members at least try to read all posts. Make it on the Take Action section. Give your idea with lots of passion and logic. People do love passion and logic. What if Gerardo Rivera had a child with Nancy Pelosi….mmmmm….creeeepy.

Sixth, target specific members that you think might like your idea. Look for support, if Ianus says that parading with sombreros is a reasonable idea, his credibility makes your idea more credible. Actually, I would pay to read a post by Ianus promoting parading with sombreros and peppers. Yes, you are rubbing shoulders, kissing butts, selling, hustling, and pitching…in that order. Make as many PMs and emails as possible to as many members as possible. Compliment them sincerely and do your stuff.

Note: when dealing with face to face meetings, in average for every ten people you approach one will respond and half of those ones, will actively work on your plan. Since people can be cowards and insult you without merits because they know that you will never confront them face to face and expose them for the fakes they are, it is easier for just ignore you, send you to hell or tell you that you are awesome and do shit. Sorry for the language but that is the actual definition. It is hard work that is why you need the love and passion thing. It is the only way, you can make it work.

The more people you have the faster things will move. Still, three to five strong is better than 20 weak.

Seventh, be ready to change plans but do not compromised on the vision or the values nor the practical. If someone throws in sandals, well, let’s parade with sombreros, peppers and sandals. If someone advices on parading without sombreros, peppers or sandals and it seems that it would make the idea more popular, then let’s do it. If someone wants you to change the 100 people parade in to a 100,000 people parade, is that feasible? Can you guys really pull it off? Also, trying to organize an effective phone campaign in one hour is a lame ass idea and it will not work.

DO IT AND BRAG ABOUT IT ON THE SITE SO THAT TROLLS CAN EAT THEIR HEART OUT.

Analyze what happen. Make a phone meeting or a chat with the team and see what went right and wrong and how to make it work better for the next time. Also, what are the next steps for the following action. More important what you learned from this? What do you need to do for the next time and how can you put your accomplishments in a resume? Yes, what you did is actual work and makes you a more valuable future employee. Whether you stay in the country or leave, people will want to pay top dollar for your virtues.