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American Friends Service Committee — Part 4
Page 36
36 / 108
The good leader must have a perspective(not
constantly react to situations as they arise),
credibility (not promise what cannot be accomp-
lished, over-or under-shoot the potential, keep
the group moving at its capacity), and “image”
OF personality. Remember that a leader can be
cut down just as surely by apathy as by elections,
and that you can sabotage any organization by
obeying all the rules carefully, just as you can
sabotage it > it by a “slow-down," This, after ali,
is just another way of doing "passive resistance."
a
. (4) The good leader recognizes minority points
of view without being bullied by them. Dissenters
are a part of the movement unless proven other-
wise, and above all they are human beings and
must be treated as such. A good leader will
insist that arguments be to the point, and will
not allow "ad haminem" or name-calling argu-
ments which attempt to discredit people's think-
ing by some form of "guilt by association. "'
The above are general pointe. What are
a a af the anarifir iogha that need doing? (This
BV wa wis OPeesesu yu
8
is partly based on Charles Walker's Organizing
~- for Nonviolent Direct Action, Cheyney, Pa. }
{i} Once the executive committee and the officers
have been set up (with clearly established lines
of authority, responsibility, and decision- -making
maw eae Fy
and with as Little overlap as possible) we are ready
to move.
(2) A timetable for action is worthwhile. Persons
who have charge of such jobs as publicity, office
‘management, transportation, communication,
housing, training, supplies, finances, literature,
etc, should be appointed, or elected. Special
24
resource persons, when needed, should be lined
up: workshop leaders, legal counsel, public
relations specialists, etc.
be set up. Select its location carefully for con-
venience and possible symbolic value. Keep
quarters neat and clean. Your headquarters
speak for you; you will want to post notices,
posters, etc, and poasibly open it with a recep-
tion and press conference,
(4) Finances are always a tricky matter.
Open a special bank account if necessary. Be
clear on any tax-exemption problems. Set up a
simple bookkeeping system in case your regular
bookkeeper is arrested. Your opponenta will
seek excuses to charge misuse of funds and there
may be investigations. Your financial affairs
should be kept fanatically clean.
(5) Office supplies, communications equipment,
(walkie-talkies, etc.) and equipment for meet-
ings must be on hand when they are needed,
Make sure your machinery is kept in good repair
so that it can function when you need it. The
problem of record-keeping must be clarified:
while you may not wish to have records seized
{hence have supporters punished) at the same
time it is important to keep track of activi-
ties for the sake of accounting for responsibilities,
informing new personnel of work in progress
when they take over, and helping sociologists
and historians in their job for the future.
(6) Secrecy: It ia possible to confuse and delay
the obtaining of "secret" information by your
25
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