DIY - How to start a DUNZ branch committee

By: Mike Peters

DUNZ: 17/08/2024

DUNZ will build strong local campaign branches across NZ that unite the disabled, their families and support workers regardless of race, sex, religion, age, location, occupation or sexuality. Everyone is welcome.

Start small

The key to starting a DUNZ branch committee is to start small. It is better to start small, do well and then grow slowly.

Often, there may be many DUNZ members in the area waiting for someone to get the ball rolling. It just takes a few people to make the first step.

DUNZ will help you, but you must be prepared to do the work at the pace you can.

People must prove themselves

The branch committee needs to be made up of people who prove themselves by what they do. This will take time. The blind, deaf and wheelie communities are usually pretty staunch. Some stroppy parents and unionised care workers will be great as well.

People don't get onto the branch committee because of "lived experience" or "identity". They get on, because they are courageous, capable, reliable, stubborn and sensible.  

Learning from others

Establishing the DUNZ-Invercargill Branch Committee followed a successful 1-hour picket protest, where everyone who participated went to a local café for a cuppa and a quick meeting. People put their hands up to join the committee knowing they would be required to do some work. Over 5 months, as the campaign got underway, 15 people joined, 8 left, and now 7 of the best remain. That is a natural process. Let people prove themselves.

If they don't turn up or do what they say they will do, drop them.

The DUNZ-Invercargill Branch Committee is on-track to have 10 members, but the goal is to have 20 members, so 10 will always be available (illness).

Steps

• Join DUNZ https://www.dunz.org.nz/p/join.html

• Find another 2 people to help and make sure they join DUNZ.

• Contact DUNZ to arrange a phone/zoom meeting so we can help you and make the job easier.

• The name of the branch committee will be for example "DUNZ-Christchurch Branch Committee".

• Choose a contact person, phone and email to put on publicity so supporters and the media can find you.

• Start meeting in person and figure it out as you go.

• Stay in regular contact with the other DUNZ Branches.

How the committee works

Start slowly. If you have 3 people, then don't take on too much. Pick some campaign activity that you can all do and learn how to work together. As you do this, recruit new DUNZ members.

Committee resilience

The Branch Committee needs to be very resilient because disabled people often have health issues. The way to do this is:

• Have a large committee to cover absence. 

• Swap committee roles often, so everyone can do any job at short notice.

• Keep things simple, deal with the urgent first.

National structure

DUNZ will eventually be able to establish some kind of National Council made up of delegates from each local branch committee to co-ordinate the campaign at a national level.

Last Updated 17/08/2024

Resources

• https://www.dunz.org.nz/2024/08/day-148-dunz-invercargill-ready-for-action.html

• https://www.dunz.org.nz/p/dunz-invercargill.html

• Other DIY resources

DIY - How to be a public speaker

How to be a public speaker

Tracy Peters

Public speaking did not come naturally to me; I had to learn how to do it. I practised by talking about things I really enjoyed. I'm uncomfortable in crowds, so I had to find a way and place to speak.

I can now speak to an audience, and I prepare myself; what am I talking about? What do I want to say? Will there be questions? Do I want questions? Will there be other interviewees? How will I handle interruptions? When someone interrupts me, if I'm speaking, I go quiet; if they want to be rude, it's on them; 

I won't argue with or contradict them by saying they are wrong. I stick to my story politely, but it can be challenging. Coming across as respectful, intelligent, thoughtful, and with a sense of humor will do so much more for my case than being snarky.

Mike Peters

At 40, I embarked on a journey to conquer my fear of public speaking, despite my dyslexia making it challenging to read out a talk. I discovered that having a physical object, like a map, book, picture, or prop, to discuss made it much easier for me.

Sometimes, I have a list of four or five bullet points to remind me to cover everything. My longest talk was 2 1/2 hours, but most have been about 10-20 minutes. When I talk, I like to look into the audience's eyes and faces and draw answers to questions on a whiteboard. So far, I have given about 200 public talks around NZ, and I'm still learning how to do it.

RESOURCES

• More DIY guides

• Examples of public meetings

DIY - How to be interviewed by the media

How to be interviewed by the media

By Tracy Peters Disabled United

07/04/2024

It can be daunting speaking to the media, giving my name, and allowing a picture to be taken to be used in the media.

Here's how I go about it.

Firstly I am disabled and I'm proud of who I am a disabled woman in a wheelchair. This will come across on camera and during an interview, I'm me, and I'm proud of who I am.

Self-image is critical; it's where we start.

Next is how I present myself. I dress carefully. What I wear, the color style, how does it look in a mirror?

What of me is visible, and am I happy with what is visible?

Am I tidy? hair brushed, am I comfortable in my wheelchair?

What's behind me? And yes, it's important. What's behind me will reflect how good I look in a picture, and I want to look good because I will be judged on presentation—that's a fact—so I make sure what's behind me and beside me is good.

A good interviewer and photographer will make suggestions and offer guidance.

Am I ready? Is the cell on silent? Where is the interview going to be?

Is the place noisy? Do I need a friend to support and cheer me on?

Who am I going to be speaking with? I use the word deliberately, as you need to speak with someone who engages with you, asks questions, keeps you on topic, helps you relax, and has fun! As serious as the topic is, have fun!

RESOURCES

• More DIY guides

• Examples of great interviews of disabled people.

• Send press releases to Scoop

DIY - How to organise in 11 easy steps

How to organise in 11 easy steps

By Mike Peters

05/04/2024 Disabled United

To win, help build a snowball of people that grows until it becomes a big avalanche. Numbers matter; the fight to win will require a lot of work from many people, which means we need to be really organized. 

Join all the disabled people who live everywhere in New Zealand by organising in each town and city, so we can be stronger together.

Here are some suggested steps of what to do.

1. Stay Connected

We all need to stay in touch.

Join the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/disabledunitednz

An email mailing list has been set up for the public using Google Groups. You can sign up to receive short updates on upcoming protests and other efforts to defend our funding support. The list is private, so no one can see your details. The leaders will send messages only, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Subscribe to Disabled United News

Please share articles from the newsletter and this website on social media, your group's mailing lists, and anything else you can think of.

2. Find Other People To Help

Find other disabled people who want to fight the government's changes. Agree on a time and place to meet somewhere.

• Local Public Library

• Community Centre

• Church

• Cafe

Then tell other people about the meeting so they can come. Someone needs to be a contact person by phone or email.

• Advertise on Facebook

• Make a poster and put it on your fridge, in the local public library, church, community centre, cafe, or anywhere else you can find a spot.

3. First Meeting

Well done. Discuss who will do what to spread the jobs around and grow the snowball. 

If only a few people come to the meeting, the next step is to find more people to help. Plan to do this and call another meeting in a week or two. 

If you have enough people at the meeting, go to step 4.

4. Going Public

When you have enough people to do the work, choose a way to build support by reaching out to more people. Choose the one that works for you. These are all good ways to build disabled people's self-confidence, belief that they can change things, and win public support.

• Have an information table to talk to the public.

• Find disabled people prepared to be interviewed in the paper or radio about the effects of the cuts on their lives and families.

• Ask for messages of support from people and groups.

• Hold a public forum or meeting with speakers who are against the changes.

• Organise a peaceful public protest that families can attend and where cars can toot support.

5. Posters

Print A4 posters to promote the meeting or protest.

Then, ask if people can pin it on their noticeboard or window. Ninety per cent are saying yes. We have a lot of support, and it's growing.

Places to put posters

• Shop

• Cafe

• School

• Marae

• Workplace

• Staff rooms

• Pub

• Community Centre

• Club

• Union

• Farmers group

• Community Group

• Church

Disabled United can help design a poster for you to use. Make a request on the Disabled United Facebook Page or phone Mike Peters 022 600 5006.

6. Signs

You can make placards using old cardboard. Either paint or use a marker pen. You can also print a message on paper and tape it to the cardboard. Use the signs to say what you want. Some popular ones have been.

• Reverse the changes

• Nothing for us without us

• Equality for disability

• We are people, not $$

7. Marshals

Volunteer marshalls are needed to help keep people safe during public events, look after anyone who becomes unwell, and manage silly behaviour. You need to bring and wear a yellow safety vest and have a first aid kit. The Maori Wardens might also help.

8. Speakers

Ask organisations that support the demands to provide speakers at the meeting or protest. Speeches need to be short and snappy. Get a hand megaphone or sound system to use. Get a sign interpreter for the deaf community.

9. Donations

Set up a table or find a way to

• Collect names and contact details from people to build the snowball.

• Collect donations to help with printing costs.

• Signatures for the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) petition.

10. Meeting After

After the meeting or protest, go to a nearby cafe, where everyone can sit down, have a cuppa, and discuss what worked well, what could be improved and what to do next.

11. Repeat

Now, do it all again. If you are doing it right, the numbers should grow every time. Just don't burn out, so keep it manageable. This will be a marathon, not a sprint.

RESOURCES

• More DIY guides

• Examples of Public Meetings

• Examples of Peaceful Protests

• NZ Disability Advisory Group (list of disability organisations)

Last updated 9/04/2024