Agreements for womonists/feminists working together

1)    We embrace feminist/womonist principals of anti-racism, cooperation, problem-solving, critical thinking, compassion, compromise, commitment, analysis and processing!!!

2)   We have a deep, long-term commitment and we are in this for the long haul: disagreements, disappointments, feelings hurt, angry NO MATTER WHAT!

3)   Whereas we will all do everything in our power to help each other out and work together cooperatively to provide for our needs, never-the-less, every womon is responsible for herself: from logistics (food, bedding, clothing) to making sure the action you want to take place actually happens - and YOU make it happen the way you want it to, in cooperation/help with/from other folks

4)   We are committed to non-violence towards human beings, the Mother Earth, and all life: both when executing our action(s) AND within our internal structure and relationships

5)   We agree to be responsible for something only when we're 100% sure we are going to do it (or we find someone else to take our place) - we all have to count on each other

6)   We are all leaders and we are a team: we work as a team, with activists willing to bottom-line, coordinate, and be point people – and we will rotate these jobs

7)   The weight of one’s criticism will be equivalent to the work one has put into the action/event; and criticism must be accompanied by willingness to do the work to implement the change one wants to see

8)   We will not use such statements as “that will never happen”, “we will never be able to do …”, etc. but instead we will use our analytical framework to figure out obstacles to making something work, and then make a plan for overcoming those obstacles

9)   Actions are determined by the individual/teams that decide to do them; if someone doesn’t want to do an action or disagrees, or if they missed the planning sessions, they can express, negotiate, persuade: then either roll up their sleeves and get busy, or get out of the way.

10) We will not allow the right-wing or mainstream press to determine our actions or how we decide to be – we will “consider the source” of any criticism & we will not react to outsiders’ negative characterization of our actions or beings. We will define who we are & what we want to do; we will not be co-opted by ‘bad’ press, etc.

11)  We will be vigilant & aware of attempts to undermine our work, both from within & without – and we will not allow for the destruction of our cohesiveness, the distraction from our work & goals, the deterring of our focus from ending war & violence at home and abroad

12) We will appreciate the number of womyn who show up for an action and the length and scope of the action, no matter how ‘few’ or how ‘small’

13) We will not speak poorly, negatively, or discredit any other womon, behind people’s backs, on line, to others outside our group. If we have ‘issues’, we will talk with that person directly; failing that, we will use mediation and conflict resolution to move on