robert.cox
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I managed to join Spopen but not via the linkPlease can someone advise about the link as its still being sent to new members
Thanks.I'm trying to subscribe to Spopen then.I tried this link, it's the one that is being sent out in the letter to new members but it just leads to a blank screen.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spopen/Is it wrong?
Regarding post #19 and the Media Committee, any Comrades who had seen its plan of action (Conference/ADM 2016-17, but unfortunately, due to over-commitments, yet to be realised) would have seen that the commitee itself recognises that sending news releases to the general news media is usually a waste of time, as they are just ignored.Letters to the local press, or specialist publications, especially on topics of direct interest to their readers on the otherhand are proven to be far more successful.
I tried to follow the link to watch the showIt told me I was subject to a 'geographical restriction'I take it Fox TV is not affiliated to the WSM then?
To reply to message #46 from jondwhite, I'm sorry but since the book appeared, I have not had time to do anything about this.I may be able to get a news release together early next week. In the meantime if you wish to contact any yourself, please if you have time send a list of them and a copy of the text you send to the Media Committee.Please direct any communications for the Media Committee to our email address spgb.media@worldsocialism.org. They will then come directly into our personal email accounts. I do look at the Forum every few days but when and whether I see any particular message may be akin to ‘Russian roulette’. For the Media Committee
The stall in Canterbury last Saturday will be memorable because Neil, a local resident, who had earlier made contact on the ‘Meetup’ website, turned up to meet us. We soon found out that he had already applied on-line to join the Party, and we are looking forward to seeing him at our Branch meeting later this month.Again we experienced unexpected rain showers, but these were mitigated by the kindness of the street trader next door, who lent us one of his parasols. And again it was windy, but we managed to get the display stand out for a good stint. We sold two Standards, one SOYMB, a Marxism Revisited and a Strange Meeting (WWI) pamphlet.About a hundred copies of our new leaflet were distributed, aimed at Corbyn/Labour Party supporters. Usefully, several of those in the target group who took a copy misread the title as being a Labour Party leaflet, despite our logo being right on the front.Among the workers we had discussions with, were a mature woman who advised us try to avoid misconceptions by not publically associating ourselves with Marx, and a man who expressed sympathy with socialist ideas, but was sceptical about the chance of success, but nevertheless had voted for the “independent socialist” in Canterbury at the 2015 general election (i.e. making him one of the 166 who voted for the SPGB on that occasion).
Hello yes I can give you some more information on this.Following a discussion with another member of our Party branch, as a trial I purchased a small quantity of transfer printed T-shirts carrying the Party logo and web address. The idea was to produce a promotional item, which Party members could wear when campaigning, rather than as a fashion item.I offered the first batch for same at cost price at a Party delegate meeting, which generated interest on-line, so we thought it would be a good idea to suggest to the Party Executive Committee to make them available on a national basis, which they agreed.It had been suggested that screen printing shirts might be a better alternative to transfer printing, both to produce a better quality product and to reduce the cost of production and delivery. We started looking at potential suppliers, but were soon approached by a Party member with access to the necessary equipment who agreed to make a batch, and on behalf of the EC the Branch asked her to make up the order mentioned above, with the aim of making them available to order from Party Head Office, at a modest price.Unfortunately, there were unexpected technical difficulties with printing the logo on the T-shirts, and the member was unable to provide the range we requested, and some were of variable quality, so not suitable to sell by mail order. We sold some of this batch of shirts at a Party event in Birmingham two weeks ago.The member is planning to experiment with a different type of ink, and has also suggested adjusting the print size of the logo.The screen printing of the canvas bags was very successful, so hopefully they will be made available to purchase on-line shortly.The Branch has a meeting scheduled next Sunday, 13th August and will receive a progress report on the matter. Members will need to decide the best way forward, which may be to delay any decisions until the member concerned has concluded her experiments with alternative ink, revising the range of designs to be made available, or to look at an alternative method of producing part of the range.I hope this helps, if you need more information you are welcome to message me.
Canterbury SPGB Street Stall – Sat. 15th JulyCanterbury out-foxed the BBC weather dept. today with unscheduled rain that started as soon as we got the stall up and lasted an hour and a half. Very few locals appeared to be in town but lots of overseas vistors, especially students.The stall was fairly quiet (especially during the rain). Sold two Standards, a book and a pamphlet, and distributed well over a hundred leaflets before rain returned at 4:30pm.
News from Kent and SussexHeld our first Folkestone election street stall yesterday. Despite the town being very quiet (cold and wind keeping people away?) we had several useful conversations, gave out loads of leaflets and sold four Standards.We received a friendly visit from the Labour Party, requesting we stand down our candidates in favour of those (Labour) who had signed the Momentum 'pledge'. After an amicable meeting in which one of our candidates explained why we would not be standing down in favour of any other candidates, the Labour guy left on good terms even offered to exchange details of hustings events with us. Distribution of the main election leaflet started in both Folkestone (Kent) and Lewes (Sussex) on Thursday. Much of the 5,500 for Lewes are probably done by now. Folkestone will take the rest of next week to do 15,000.We also have a poster, which we used on the stall display yesterday and will try to get some up in windows. I would post a it here if I knew how to do so.
Thanks Vin, regarding the video offer.I have a meeting with the prospective candidates on 6th March (by which time we should have EC approval to contest) so I will discuss the idea with them.As I recall one of the candidates has his own recording studio, so the audio should be no problem (he is an experienced Party speaker as well).Will be in touch later.PS Would this be in a personal capacity,or via the AVC, now you are re-instated?
Yes well done Comrades. I have just emailed ALB as if you are up for another Saturday in Richmond, I have got about 350 copies of "The Problem is not the Tories … it's capitalism" leaflet.On Wednesday I am in London for a gig. If you want them, I can come up a bit early and drop them off somewhere – Head Office maybe?YFS
Great well done all involved. Lets get that pitch booked ASAP and before they change their minds. Did we get a contact name?We should consider having some kind of display, to present the Party as best we can. We have the display boards at Head Office and/or my Branch can bring up the more mobile one we use with our street stalls.Maybe it could feature our opposition to war and/or our position on state capitalism, given the fact that it will be 2017 – and the plans of the Publications Committee for next year.And let's do a street stall nearby as well as being inside the book fair.
Hi TimI take it then you will be wanting the white on black shirt? Did you find one the right size at Head Office? If not I can order you one in.BTW Did I mention Wally Cox played for the Beddlington Terriers? Not had many orders in those colours yet – funny that!
VinRegarding my post #8, I am sorry Comrade, I realise now that I took what you said too literally.Maybe EC members should stay away from the Forum!Regards
LindaThere are EC members who visit the Forum, but I for one have held back from commenting on this issue here for two reasons:1. The EC has tried to avoid making explicit reference to items published where there is a doubt over use rights for third-party content;2. The EC makes decisions collectively. It may not be helpful or useful to try and judge the grounds on which individual EC members decide on an issue, unless you are able to get the considered view of each of those who consented to the agreed position.However, given the publication of the full text of the Lancaster letter in these EC minutes, these issues are now public (or as public as they can be on this site).Linda I hope you have not contacted the BBC and told them there are their clips on SPGB official websites. I think there is a big difference between posting clips as stand alone items, and incorporating them in promotional material. If the 'owner' óf the clip objects, we can just have it taken down. If we have used it in a video it would mean taking the whole thing down. I suspect the latter use is more likely to provoke action tnan the former.If you have now told the BBC what you said you would, well now – unless the use is in accordance with the fair useage guidance – its likely that we can do neither.I am hoping the dicussion at ADM this weekend will give the EC a better idea of the feeling within the Party on this issue.YFS
