Learning Centres & Places

GoodWork Jobs, Volunteering & Activities – e-mail list of jobs and volunteer postings, including fun activities such as workbees and weekends at organic gardens and environmental locations. www.planetfriendly.net/goodwork.html

Create Community Anywhere – www.planetfriendly.net/community.html#anywhere

Alternative Voices – Alternative Media & Internet Directory: websites, e-mail lists, newsletters, books, magazines, film & video, radio, television, resource centres, groups & organizations, networking opportunities, more. The sections on "Resource Centres", "Bookstores" and "Other Gathering Places" include many local bulletin boards and magazine racks. Also, how to "become the media". www.planetfriendly.net/voices.html

People- & Planet-Friendly Directory – amazing, annotated directory of everything people- & planet-friendly! Thematic pages on everything from organic food, to green energy, to war and peace. www.planetfriendly.net/directory.html

Canada: www.planetfriendly.net/calendars.html ; www.flora.org/flora/mailinglists/ ; www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/stand1.asp ; www.activist.ca/maillist ; http://resist.ca/lists.html ; http://lists.indymedia.org ; http://lists.tao.ca

North America & worldwide: http://lists.riseup.net/www/ ; www.envirolink.org/categories.html?catid=11 ; http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/Cultures___Community/Issues_and_Causes

Broad directories (public lists of all types):: http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/Mailing_Lists/Directories/ ; http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/Mailing_Lists/

(1) Register if possible. Some events ask you to register in advance. Not only does this reserve your space, but it is a great help to the organizers. On the other hand, if you can't register in advance, it's often possible to turn up at the door, even if the poster said "registration required".

(2) Can't afford it? Call the organizers in advance to ask if there are lower rates for students and under-employed (also known as "sliding scale" or subsidies). Better yet, ask if you can volunteer (in return for free or reduced admission).

(3) Set yourself a goal or two. Are you going just to fill time? Or do you want to learn something new or contribute in a meaningful way? Before you leave home, spend a moment thinking about what you could do before, during and after the event, to help you towards your goals.

(4) Don't just sit on your but. Ask questions, talk to people, give the organizers a hand, participate in the discussion.

(5) Ask questions. There's no such thing as a dumb question. Chances are, many others have the same question. The only thing that's "dumb" is not asking it!

(6) Be helpful. Helping out or volunteering can be lots of fun ...and can be a great way to meet both the organizers and the participants. If possible, call the organizers in advance and tell them you're interested and how much time you can offer. If there are certain kinds of things you'd like to do, let them know.

(7) Go around to the tables and displays, and speak with the people behind them. Ask them about their roles, their interests, different ways to get involved, what are the positive alternatives, etc.

(8) Don't run out when the presentation or film is over. The discussion & socializing that follows is often the best part. It's a chance to meet new people and hear what's going on outside of the formal presentation. Listen actively, to hear what different people are feeling and thinking ( www.google.com/search?q=%22listening+skills%22 ).

(9) Keep it positive. It's easy to complain and criticize, but it's much more important to create positive solutions. Look for ways of actually implementing your values, whether at home, in your community, or in the world. Rather than blaming people (e.g. politicians), think about how to create structures and environments, locally or globally, that foster healthy and sustainable behaviour. ( www.google.com/search?q=%22positive+thinking%22 )

(10) Don't steal the floor. On the other hand, don't talk too much. All it takes is one person with "verbal diarrhea" to really spoil things. If you're participating in a discussion, keep it brief. Try to make one point only, and make it in less than a minute. Repeating yourself or going into lots of detail isn't going to persuade anybody – or win you any friends. If you think you're talking more than others, be quiet for a while, ask some questions and listen carefully to the responses. (related links: www.angelfire.com/nc/psalm91/skills.html www.toastmasters.org/tips.htm http://add.miningco.com/library/blmonopolizing.htm )

(11) Help get the communication flowing. If people don't know each other, or if everyone hasn't already spoken, suggest a "go-round". If possible, sit or stand in a circle, and have each person briefly introduce themselves and their goals, hopes or fears for the day. Or, if a discussion doesn't seem to be getting to the heart of things, suggest a more in-depth "talking circle" (see www.vision-nest.com/btbc/kgarden/tscircle.shtml ). Offer to help facilitate a discussion or break-out group. Tips & articles on facilitation, group process, consensus: www.ic.org/nica/Process/meeting.html www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/rural/facts/factshts.htm

(12) Sign up for an e-mail announcement list to hear about upcoming events & opportunities, or even a discussion list if there is one (usually involves a higher volume of e-mail). Announcement lists usually only send very few messages, but are a great way to stay connected. If there is no e-mail list, suggest it or offer to create one yourself. (Tips for starting, managing, or using an e-mail list: www.planetfriendly.net/emailtips.html )

(13) Don't run from your feelings. If the subject of the day is a big one (peace, environment, social issues), it may leave you feeling confused, fearful or angry. One way to deal with this is to avoid your feelings by avoiding the issue (i.e. going home and not coming back). Better: find someone who seems involved in a positive way, ask them how they deal with it. And remember the proverb: "It's not your obligation to complete the task [of perfecting the world], but neither are you free to desist [from doing all you can]." (Rabbi Tarfon). www.google.com/search?q=%22coping+with+fear%22 www.google.com/search?q=%22coping+with+anger%22 http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Relationships/Anger_Management/

(for a separate page on this topic, see: www.planetfriendly.net/eventtips.html)

This page is part of the People & Planet Directory – a compilation of thematic pages with organized, hard-to-find information related to sustainable living, peace, environment and social issues.

Disclaimer – This document is provided for your interest; free of charge. Inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement. Please report any errors and we will do our best to correct them.