During the 2019-2020 year, Interim Pastor Paul Blankenship encouraged the Meeting to consider ways to let the public, both Spokane and beyond, know more about Quakerism in general and this Meeting in particular. Early projects included having street meetings in Spokane, delivering care packages to our members and neighbors during COVID restrictions, establishing a relationship with Faith and Values Spokane (FaVS), and advertising there and in Fig Tree our Peace Month presentations on learning about other faiths.

More recently we have surveyed our members and attenders to ask what values, projects, etc. were important to them and should be shared with the public at large. We were assisted in this by Walter Simon whose professional life has involved organizing media exposure for clients. From the survey results, Walter crafted a sumary of material to use in various media, devised a timeline, and made a preliminary budget for publicizing Quakerism and Spokane Friends Meeting.

Walter’s first draft for this project appears below

Presentation to Monthly Meeting for Business, October 18, 2020            
[The results of the Survey allowed me to digest many of the values and abilities of the Friends’ community, also to build a comprehensive campaign for you to consider, one I anticipate will increase membership, treasury and provide significant social interactions centered on your community issues.  
          The success of reaching the goals of the SF community is up to you. Consider these three questions: Do you want it; when do you want it; what will you do to make it happen?  
          What I cover today needs to be tightened, the next step After review or this presentation, the next step will be to tighten it into a comprehensive campaign for your stated goals.
          1. POSITION & SUPPORT
          2. MEDIA
          3. COMMON BONDS
          4. RELATIVE CONNECTION
          5. SIGNIFICANT VALUES
          6. COMMUNITY ISSUES
          7.  FRIENDS REPRESENTED
          8.  SF/WEBSITE: MEMBERSHIP ESSAYS
          9.  COUNSIL OF CHURCHES   
          10. Action Committee:  Outreach & internal focus 
        
NOTES: The Package for Process
  A CONSIDERATION BETWEEN GOALS AND PUBLIC REACH
(Identifying more action, support, publicity and outreach.)

STEPS: PUBLIC POSITION AND MEDIA SUPORT:
Research (in progress) --  elder approval – get non-profit (vital) status – establish a speaker’s bureau  -- association of other religious organization – kick off media reach for new members – purchase  access and reinforce with PR distribution – use releases and word of mouth.

Application: Media released by the quarter:  (Timetable needed)
  January – March          2021          …basic concepts and events
  April – June                   “               … values and events 
  July -  September           “        … community issues and events
  October – December     “               …seasonal issues and events

Media access preferred: (print and radio/Use TV for special guests.)
          Inlander*                                         
          TV: commercial & public,*
          Public Radio*                                
          Facebook*
Others considered:  Spokesman Review,   Gonzaga outlet 

Common Bonds among Spokane Friends: Difference Internal appreciationlove),Social Awareness, Connections  
 
Other connections: 
          Theolog & political view
          Self-decision
          Soft Landing (SFC)
          Quaker Enthusiasm
          Self-decision
          Common vision
          Faith community 
          Community support*
          Nonviolence                                    
          Equality
 
2/SF
Significant Values:  (*noticed preference)
          Community (*)                                
          Justice
          Peace (*)                                         
          Environmental justice                   
          Act on beliefs
          Honesty 
          Transparency        
          Compassion/love                           
          All welcome
          Participation 
          Concentrated outreach
          Focused                                           
          Kindness
          Equality
          Non-violent 
          Christ centered
          Gradual growth 
          Transformation/Renewal         
          Encouragement
          Quaker process
          Values Well Represesnted             
          Community*
          Outreach
          Justice                                                  
          Theological respect
          Equality                                     
          Challenge & renewal  
          Acceptance                                    
          
Community Issues:
          Spiritual support 
          Help Working Poor          
          LGBTQ support (community)
          Homelessness                                 
          Racism*                        
          Non-violence
          Struggling parents                 
          Tutoring children
          Internet for neighbors (?)             
3/SF
Representing Friends:
          Doing the best with given means 
          Ground up leadership
          Diversity/ecumenical; love*
          Longevity of thought
          Manageable and sustainable
          Non-profits
          Advocacy for the vulnerable
          Public Speaking
          Refuge for seekers and weary
          One local  issue to act on
          More racial/ethnic diversity
          Attending and learning from other faith communities

Website Changes Considered:
          Keep the basic structure but add on screen right topics of interests and essays that represent community issues and support as written by membership and other noted articles that represent SF    VALUES. Draw from AFSC and other like writings.  Original work from SF members. Report a reflective thought from pulpit speakers.   
Form Council of Churches:  (something to think about)
    Add substance and political reach in our region.  Have quarterly     meetings to discuss and report on salient issues and release to      local press and sympathetic internal and external community organs.
Form Action Committee:  Select leaders -  4 Public Speakers noted  
4/SF
NOTES:
          Growth of membership, need children for longevity
          Completing non-profit status (alternative considered).
          Establish budget for a 1-year campaign;
          Present a direction from elders to membership for approval;
          Determine starting point of campaign;
          PBS seems a significant medium for Spokane Friends;
          Make modest additions to SP WEB site;
          Establish strong connection with other community churches;
          Open to suggestions sent to SF office;
          Use advertising connection to get in on their social n                       network through receptions.  Pass out cards;
          Argue for the need of an advertising budget until community                              issue well established;
          Design one-column 2-inch ads: 10 pica column/12- pica reach
          Suggestions for SF to move the project along.
          Back-up PR replacement
          Select Action Committee to direct and represent campaigns
 

This action plan was presented to Spokane Friends by Walter Simon during Monthly Business Meeting on October 18, 2020.