28th September: Anniversary of BosF

We started BosF (http://groups.google.com/group/birdsofsamefeathers) on 9th September, 2007. We completed one year of sharing information. Now we want to check out and discuss the possibility of working together on a common cause. The credit goes to Major Kiran who mentioned this point to me in our first meeting.
 
We are organizing the Anniversary Meeting of BosF on 28th September.

Day and Date: Sunday, 28th of September, 2008

Timings: 10 am to 5 pm
 
Venue of the meeting:
Srikari Impetus Solutions Pvt. Ltd., 3rd Floor, SRT 234, Jawahar Nagar, Near RTC Cross Roads, Hyderabad.
 
Land Mark:
Road leading from Indira park to cross roads, Near Sudharshan Theatre (coming from Libery Flyover)
Right turn from RTC cross roads towards indra park after sudharshan theatre, first manual handeled singnal diagnolly opp: 4 stored building,  Precise opp. vijaya medicals (coming from secunderabad)
Any queries about the venue, call any of these numbers: 9866018748, 9949018740
 
Topic: Taking our efforts to next level, serving a purpose in optimal manner
 
Agenda:
Idea is to conduct four sessions, two sessions in the morning and two sessions in the afternoon.
First session is for brief introduction of the participating groups (we will send a template and members are requested to provide only that information about their respective groups).
 
Second session is to propose the idea of working together and what we mean by working together.
 
Third session would be to list all the pros and then all the cons.

Fourth session is about overcoming the cons and working on the alternatives to arrive at a solution. Simply put we will discuss about solutions, if majority of the participants want to give a try to this idea of working on a Common Minimum Programme.
 
Our thoughts:
The purpose of this meeting is to dwell upon the thought of taking our efforts to next level and to weigh the options of working together on a CMP (Common Minimum Programme). This is only to discuss about the possibility.
 
Irrespective of our (each group’s) main area of work, there are certain issues which apply equally to everyone of us and by simply practising few things we can make a lot of different to the cause. We want to emphasize those facts in bringing people on to the platform.
 
Major Kiran always exclaims on why don’t we all stand on one issue at a time and bring attention of the public and the govt. on that issue — whether it is traffic or environment or SEZs or RTI or whatever. That way we can make progress in less time and achieve the real purpose too.
 
We agree it is not easy. At the same time it is not diffcult too. We need lot of persistence and patience.
 
One year is a good span of time to see the fruits of sharing information and all. At least we can now sow the seeds of thinking in us about collaboration.
 
Obstacles:
Possible problems could be the identity crisis among the groups and idealogical issues. Identity crisis comes when one group wants to hijack other group or tries to get mileage for the collective work. Ideological issues will come to the fore if we try to rub our thoughts on other groups.
 
Solution:
How can we overcome these two important problems?
Let us make it very clear on certain points:
1. Let us not bring monetary aspect at all.
2. Working on the CMP
 
Initially let us not work across groups. Let us work with our own volunteers (means members of our own group) only.
 
Say for example, every group has one core area and they have monthly/quarterly or yearly plan/targets.  There can be one common program for a year.
 
For example, let us assume that we accept to work on Environment under CMP for an year. Each group can take one set of activity and they will be responsible for it. They are free in the execution and everything related to it. Only requirement is that sharing the updates with others so that it will keep everyone on the same page and also inspires them. This way, there would be no question of clashes and identity crisis too.
 
Let us assume that if all/some groups in Hyderabad agree to this concept and decide to work on it for a year, can’t we bring a significant change!!
 
What we mean to say is that, we know that there are some clear problems. Knowing the problem itself is a major step. As we know the problems well, our option is how to look at the alternatives and make the idea work.
 
We are not talking about sharing the core/unique projects of individual groups. We are only talking about the areas where we can work together realistically … RTI, Environment, Traffic, SEZs etc.,
 
Basic things that we can practise, wherever possible:
1. Using Swadeshi goods
2. Buying organic food
3. Pledging our organs
4. Growing plants
5. Follow environment friendly practises
 
Let us know what you think about this meeting. We request the participants to wear Khadi/handloom clothes for the meeting. What say!!
 
I also request to pass this message to members of different groups that you know and also ask them to send their representatives for this meeting. Please pass on their e-mail ids to me (prasanthi.uppalapati@gmail.com) and I will send an invite to them for the meeting.