For the pilot workshop, Sammi and Stef can participate as Ellie and Tracy are working. We tried to arrange a date when all 4 could take part, but this was proving impossible given the timeframes. We decided we could invite peers and 2 friends each, and the event would be promoted on campus via the posters (see action point above).

For the live workshop: Organisations to engage their members, support from us will be in the form of our synopsis, communication, telephone engagement, and Posters we create and distribute to organisations.

Engaging social media audiences:

We agreed the tactic is to Share the movement and social media pages/posts with like-minded peers/friends/family/workshop participants. (Action all members on an ongoing basis)

Social media accounts would make links to similar accounts, and Facebook groups, via likes, mentions, and direct messages where applicable. Write about our page/campaign/movement to accounts with a high following with common interests such as intersectional feminist activism (contact feminist activists/artists/individuals/organisations, etc.). Action all group members to repost on their own accounts and tag relevant popular accounts they have a connection to already, regular, and ongoing.

Social Media Post considerations:

Post content, photo, limited words

Post frequency, the best time of day, the best day of the week

Post hashtags suggestions:

#IAMHERE #craftivism #feminism #advocacy #empowerment #support #feminismisequality #womesrights #femalerightsarehumanrights #mybodymychoice #equality #intersectionalfeminism

It is also worth including extremely popular ones like #photooftheday #love

We discussed Ellie’s time commitment to this task. She was happy to dedicate a brief period of time each day to social media posts to promote the campaign, which may differ from other members’ work which may be a long period of work, but not on a daily basis. We also ensured she was comfortable for this time to be in what would normally be considered “private time”, namely in the evening.

(Action Ellie: social media posts on a regular and ongoing basis)

Following Bryony’s seminar presentation Stef discussed how to improve our email & follow-up telephone questions to the organisations we are approaching. We agreed we do say why our work is great, we give a clear timeline, we talk about reciprocity (we offer the creative workshop, the enriching experience, they offer the space and the audience), we have emailed from a Glos Uni email account, we propose a follow-up telephone call in which we can also discuss working protocols. The only missing point is our previous working experience with similar organisations.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/112eHsrFgDqc3v0H1RFnj8AO2aGZwfmIt/edit

Stef to add this text to the email (action Stef 17/11). In the follow-up telephone call questions, we can introduce working protocols.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HBQcdm9OduVuBIRbDlAsSGZyf6Wq6SG_/edit

Stef to add this text to the document (Action Stef 17/11)

At today’s seminar, Bryony asked us to write a synopsis of our project for our audience.

Stef had already written an ‘About Us’ statement which was added to google drive on 10 Nov:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wQG_wKI1B3yZsUbl5PpdKR3YedN96qn_/edit

Stef has reworded it slightly to make it clearer and more accessible to our audience:

We are 4 women studying and working in creative arts. Our work is based on values of empathy, connection, belonging, inclusivity, empowerment, positivity, and creativity within a community of people identifying as women. We are starting a digital and physical movement called “I Am Here”. It is about people identifying as women reclaiming our space, it is about us being heard and being seen, and it is about saying we matter in every context. The physical part of this movement is rock painting/decorating/marking, a small act with a big meaning: making a positive mark on the landscape. Rocks are formed under pressure, and they withstand it; rocks represent strength, steadiness, and durability. The digital aspect of the movement develops on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter) with images of the painted/decorated/marked rocks, using the hashtag #IAMHERE. The campaign offers the opportunity for participants to feel empowered through a small gesture and to experience a virtual coming together and belonging thanks to this creative act. It is not confined to any location, and anyone can take part.

As a group, we need to reflect on this synopsis and agree if this is what we want to submit by Monday. Please provide your thoughts and suggestions in writing on Messenger by Sunday. If a long discussion is started, we may need a group telephone call to come to some agreement before Monday. (Action by all: read, evaluate, contribute, and agree to the synopsis by 20/11)

Bryony’s & Jack’s feedback on our project review form:

Wholistic shared vision!

Our feedback was great. Well done to us. It shows our shared concept, our commitment, our hard work, and our investment in the project.

 Constructive feedback:

1.  How are we addressing social media promotion?

We discussed this at length in our meeting prior to our feedback session and we all felt this was answered.

1. Why rock painting and no other medium?
2. We also have a document backing this up. We felt we are so close to the project and have it so clear in our minds we failed to explain the obvious, so will ensure it is stated in our synopsis. (action Stef to add Rock statement to synopsis ASAP)

The social media logo will include a Rock – could it be one of the painted rocks or does it need to be more generic? (Action Ellie on logo design)

Meeting Date: 23/11/2022

Review all previous Action Points and progress made to date.

Each member please provide an update.

Team Protocols need deeper detail for the benefit of the groups and the campaign’s longevity. Our project and campaign are gaining momentum and it is more important than ever to ensure we are working within healthy boundaries we are all comfortable with.

At present they are as follows (agreed on the meeting of 09/11, see minutes on google drive folder):

Group protocols:

1. Each member will dedicate the time that is necessary to the task they have taken on. If the task is finished early, they can say so and offer to help with other tasks. If the task is taking longer, they can say so and ask for help.
2. Boundaries around time – evenings are personal time. Weekends are generally personal time too, but the consensus is 2 hours can be dedicated to the group on a Saturday morning between 10 am and 12 pm.
3. We agree that the digital movement and the event remain in line with our communal vision and values relating to female empowerment and positive expression, community spirit, and belonging.
4. We all show a degree of flexibility and empathy in group work, and we are all trying to contribute equally and in line with our strengths.

I feel it is crucial for each group member to expand on what are fundamental qualities for them to have in a team and what are unacceptable traits for them to have in a team. For example, in my working relationships, fundamental qualities are clarity, accountability, and respect; unacceptable traits are discrimination, dishonesty & unfairness (btw in no way is this referring to anyone in our group!). Establishing boundaries is a very healthy and safe way to work together.

Open to Discussion & feel free to contribute.

Sammi:

As my energy levels are exceptionally low and fluctuate massively, I cannot define a specific time that I will be able to respond – I can plan for a Sunday afternoon being my time to dedicate to promoting the digital aspect of the movement going forward – also a Thursday evening. This is once we have the framework fully in place. Up until this point, we have been working hard to get things going and I have been using all my energy here, and unable to work on my other module. >>> This is in response to the *longevity* aspect( misunderstood and thought this was post module if we wanted to carry on!)

Fundamentally qualities:  – respect, clarity, conciseness, honesty, accountability and thoughtfulness.

Unacceptable traits: Discrimination, unfairness, lack of respect, slacking

Defining a clear PR strategy. How we engage with different audiences and organisations. From social media to radio, news reporters, etc.

Open to Discussion & feel free to contribute to.

 Sammi:

I suggest we have a press release (if we engage with the press) based on the synopsis already written. No objection to the press – *providing* we are clear about our values and stress the anonymity aspect. Equally always open and accepting of anyone else’s ideas or different solutions/ways of working!

Defining a clear communication strategy:

How (and what) information is distributed accurately and homogenously both internally and externally.

Open to Discussion & feel free to contribute to.

Sammi:

I feel that chat gets swamped! Perhaps creating a document of the info first then sharing a link in chat would be better. Maybe we should make a personal chat, and a separate one for this module. That way key messages may not get missed. I suggest everyone checks chat once a day to make sure nothing important is missed. We could follow up with an email on very important things – however that can be harder to access when out and about, or might feel overwhelming. Thoughts welcome! (At the moment we use email when we are contacting outside entities and putting the emails in the doc. We are CCing the rest of the group on internal emails – I think this works) From my part, 2 chats – one *purely* for this module’s updates and one personal one would be the most immediate way of relaying info. (Or a WhatsApp group – but again purely for the module).

When I get a moment I will reorganise the google drive into subfolders, or would people find that more confusing? Perhaps just move the minutes to a separate folder?

 Decision-making in a group:

What is our preferred method/technique? A few known ones are used in groups (this link shares some:

https://www.timecamp.com/blog/2022/01/group-decision-making-techniques-tools-strategy/

We are a group of equal parts. So far, we have brainstormed and reached decisions by consensus. Does this work for everyone? Is this how we wish to proceed, or do we want to change/challenge this method?

Open to Discussion & feel free to contribute.

Sammi:

Reaching consensus is working fine so far – I think if we have a decision that needs to be made fast we should attempt to reach the group  – and put in a suitable time frame (if we have a day to respond for instance) – if someone hasn’t responded in that timeframe we will have to go with the responses we have had. (This comes back to communication – people need to check the module chat to check nothing important has come up – which is why it needs to be clear in there). I am contactable via WhatsApp or phone: 07766241237 if needed. I appreciate not all members may want their phone numbers involved – am mindful of privacy 🙂

If people haven’t been able to check within that time, that is out of anyone’s control. I am not saying this *will* happen – I am just making sure we have a system in place for it if it does. (Equally, I am very open to other systems!! This is just me brainstorming)

Sammi:

Update = Obviously the big news is the Nelson Trust uptake, awaiting to hear back regarding the next step, will put any response in here so it doesn’t get swamped in chat – and run any further responses past you. Hoping they will go with the group meeting as that will save us a lot of time. Exciting. Pilot workshop should provide us with vital things we need to tweak, help us practice – and provide feedback for the wider group.

I have a “Really Useful Box” I can bring for transporting/storing materials

Please note that for the further workshop (external) I won’t be able to carry anything, so it is important that the other members share the load equally = which we should be doing across everything:D

After the workshop, I suggest we scan the feedback forms and upload them here for our records, so any members that can’t attend can see any feedback and help make decisions going forward. (I can do that, I have a scanner here at home)

Items to consider before the Workshop at The Nelson Trust:

Can you comment below with thoughts/actions on these?

1. Sammi: Transport: I have a large car that will fit us all in if necessary, happy to take us there. I live 5 min drive from the Uni. (If anyone needs)
2. Purchasing items etc, this will not be possible for me ahead of Weds as I order all my food online (I can’t push a trolley, obvs!)

Stef:

1. Could possibly need more stones, hinges on numbers… (*Sammi* waiting on those from the nelson trust, Kate has asked Karina – we ought to get more in case)
2. Hot drinks, milk, non-dairy milk (*Sammi* Kate says they have hot drinks – no panic! Non-dairy milk is important)
3. Feedback from workshop participants at the end?
4. Logistics of leaving rocks to dry at end of the workshop (*Sammi* Will ask in email response – thanks!)
5. Provide craft aprons? (*Sammi* Will ask – but might be enough to say it is messy so wear clothing you don’t mind getting paint on)
6. Number of likely participants (*Sammi* Hopefully Karina will let us know; she has been asked)
7. Time for participants to fill in and for us to see preworkshop questionnaires.
8. Consent to photography, if the slightest doubt exists, no photos at all!
9. Print a bullet point agenda of the day so we know we are covering all we intend to, as per suggested protocols document on shared drive (*Sammi* Can we finalise this on Weds and print 4 – I’ll start one today?) see

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HBQcdm9OduVuBIRbDlAsSGZyf6Wq6SG_/edit

1. PRIORITY- protocol for trigger points – if someone is triggered, or upset by actions or discussions of the group, what is the plan of action, have this firmly clear with Nelson Trust and all our group members (*Sammi* Karina the art therapist will be there all the time. We need to be mindful to avoid bringing anything forward around domestic abuse ourselves, but be aware that it may come up from the ladies themselves. We can keep an eye on body language (I am sure Karina will be) and alert her should we have concerns. We can attempt to divert conversations if people are getting uncomfortable – say something along the lines of “this is why things like reclaiming a little piece of landscape is so important – making a positive act – I am really enjoying the act of being together” etc – divert into a positive. Hopefully, we can talk to Karina on the morning of the workshop so we can be mutually reassured.
2. I am extremely car sick so would prefer to drive, can have passengers too.
3. I cannot load any heavy items (like stones) as have the degenerative back disease, but light stuff ok (*Sammi* Tracy to load? Am I right in thinking Ellie cannot make it?)

Event suggested date 01-12 Dec 2022