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Hi folks, UnHARM are hosting an important discussion addressing the notion of 'coming out' from the drug using closet as a strategy towards normalisation, decrimilisation and harm-reduction an welcome you to join the conversation. Come and share your ideas with key thinkers from the fields of health and consumer activism, sexual politics and queer theory to strategise around the question "is coming out the next step in achieving real change around drug law reform". https://www.facebook.com/events/357841314705607??ti=ia Tickeys available from the link above: Concession card holders are free and it is $10:00 for general admission, or $49:99 to include a donation. with thanks, Australian Psychedelic Society - Sydney

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Hi All, Are any of you willing and able to do a bit of volunteer webmastering for a small, profession-based, drug law reform group, already registered as a not-for-profit? I don't know if they already have web pages written or not, a domain name registered or not, and/or hosting arranged or not. But I can find out, if you want to know before offering to help. They'll most likely be wanting something pretty basic. There may be a desire for members-only pages, but that's just a worst-case scenario. You can always just "flesh out" one of these 2,000 free templates... www.oswd.org If not, do you know of anyone who could and would do it? Please pass this on. Please contact me directly, off-list, for an introduction. Thanks very much, Carl Turney Mobile 0427 024 735 [email protected]

Hi all, Hope this is in the right part of the Forum, and meets the standards. Very sorry if it's not. Regarding today's (3 Apr 2012) press release, of drug law reform (DLR) statements by a wide range of powerful celebrities on both sides of politics: True, there's a risk that no real legislative change will come of it. But much of that's because DLR organisations have not conducted themselves as efficiently and effectively as possible over the past 40 years. I see a solution to this (below), based on my recent brief employment in DLR (and a study of the current scene), my Masters in Public Policy, my Honours in Commerce, and numerous little successes in strategic and tactical management in the private and non-profit sectors. The Australian drug law reform (DLR) movement seems to suffer from some worrying patterns: -- Each organisation is noticeably lacking in some professional-level skills necessary for optimum performance (e.g. finance, lobbying, recruitment, PR, records, IT, strategy, etc.). -- Most DLR groups work in isolation from the others. i.e. There is little coordination, synchronisation, or collaboration between DLR groups. -- Too many DLR groups talk too much and/or do too little (or at least too little of what proves to be effective at altering public opinion). -- I know of no DLR groups that have viable and active chapters outside of its home state/territory. (Please advise me if you know of any.) -- I know of no DLR groups for certain key professions that would assist the movement (journalists, writers, marketers, accountants, academics, IT techies, teachers/principals, etc.) -- There are gaps and overlaps in the areas that DLR groups cover. -- No DLR groups appear to have carefully analysed all aspects of the successes of DLR in the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, etc. Instead, they just copy the decades-failed tactics of US groups, or think up things that seem logical to the uninitiated, and then suffer R&D failures. On the other hand... The DLR movement does =not= need yet another organisation saying "we're doing this better than anyone else, because of XYZ, so leave them and come join us". It also does =not= need a group trying to be the umbrella or biggest group, led by someone with a God/Goddess or King/Queen personality. So I propose a secretariat, one which works behind the scenes, never making public statements of its own, and never lobbying on its own. It provides support services to all eligible DLR groups that request them. e.g. It will help facilitate collaboration between DLR groups; will evaluate and despatch volunteers with different skills to the groups that need them at the time; will arrange an annual round-table members-only conference of DLR groups; will maintain (or direct member groups to) a repository of resources and background info (drug-related and non-profit-lobby-group related); and other support services, as decided by the member-organisations. Let's face it. The anti-DLR groups (governments, churches, political parties, etc.) are better-organised, and they're winning. I'm not ready at this time to help bring this secretariat to life. But I expect to within a few weeks or months. (The members of one well-managed DLR group, with quite enough on its hands already, has seen a preview of this. I don't expect them to divert their resources to it.) If you are a qualified, experienced, and successful (former) general manager (like me) or broad-range senior administrator, with time on your hands: I'm happy to help you take this idea off me and run with it. But otherwise: Just think about this, with an open mind, and await further announcements about it. I'm sharing this idea with you, now, for these reasons: -- Today's DLR PR announcement looks like the biggest since I returned from overseas 7 months ago. -- You may have some special skills that various DLR groups need (web site authoring, bookkeeping, graphic designing, marketing, librarianship, call centre, writing, etc.) - so consider volunteering. -- You may be the officer or member of a DLR group that would benefit from such services - so consider asking for help. -- You may be in a DLR group that is dwindling and has had no real successes, and would benefit from a friendly confidential "business audit" to help point out your weak points and strengths. -- You may know of DLR groups that didn't receive this email, and should get a copy of it - so please forward it, and CC me for the new address. -- You may find errors, overlaps, or gaps in this proposal - so discuss it in the forum (or email me, if you must). -- To let you know there ARE things DLR groups are doing noticeably poorly, and there ARE solutions to those shortcomings. Cheers, Carl Turney Belgrave, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Mobile 0427 024 735 p.s. Keenly need a job and/or clients in the Melbourne area. Specialise in management, research, analysis, writing, training, clerical, etc. Happy for part-time and casual, too. More info is on the About page of my company website: www.boms.com.au Willing to consider relocation, under certain limited circumstances. Also happy getting exercise... So have a construction-site White Card, ute, PPE, hand tools, and some building/demolition experience.