VeNews August 17, 2001

Welcome to VeNews, the email newsletter for Vesper Society friends!

Network 21: Convening, Communication, Leadership

Network 21, a project of collaboration between Vesper Society and OIKOSNET has, from its inception, introduced communication strategies that will mobilize groups of lay leaders. These communication strategies focus on emerging electronic tools and the project helps local organizations implement these tools in their daily work.

Recently, Vesper staff attended the annual meeting of OIKOSNET and discussed the project with the regional OIKOSNET Secretaries. There has been a marked change in attitudes around electronic communication strategies. At the beginning of the project three years ago, most regions were not using new communication tools and some regions had reservations as to the usefulness of electronic communication in general. However, at this time, all regions are using electronic communication as the primary method for communicating with their members. For some regions, this shift took place within the past year.

As an example of the change, all status reports were distributed electronically among OIKOSNET regions prior to the meeting so that the face-to-face time together was concentrated on discussing key topics. This is in contrast to past meetings where much of the time was taken in reading and reporting on pro-forma status reports with only limited time remaining for discussion.

Another example involves web pages. OIKOSNET leaders pushed for all regions to have their own websites in order to facilitate better coordination of information within regions, and eventually, across regions. A year ago only one region had a website. By the middle of 2002, five of the seven OIKOSNET regions will have websites up and running.

The meeting also addressed the current realities of reductions in funding facing many organizations. Much of the discussion concentrated on how electronic communication could be used to maintain cooperative planning and services, while at the same time reducing administrative costs. This was especially important for organizations that want to maintain contact with their communities and constituents, but face the prospect of limited funds available for face-to-face meetings.

For more information on Network 21, contact us at .

Vesper Society is a private operating foundation with programs in leadership, health, and Central America. Our mission is to create opportunities for individuals, groups, and organizations to apply moral and ethical values in decision making on social and economic issues.