As Liberals, we pride ourselves on our open-mindedness and our commitment to forward-thinking. We learn from our past mistakes. And, we put what we learn to good use. To ensure a strong future for our Liberal Party, we cannot permit the Liberal mantle to reflect only the glories of the past. We must reinvigorate our current membership while reaching out to new using methods we have not yet tried. This challenge calls for resolute leadership and a dynamic plan of action.
As Liberals we value inclusiveness. In the past we have been vigilante to create a common, inclusive ground for membership in our Party. Going forward to rebuild we must continue our commitment to this important, defining value.
What does “inclusiveness” really mean? It means that as Liberals we achieve our goals only when we look beyond membership numbers alone and create a “culture of diversity” within our Party. It means that every member is valued, enjoys a true sense of acceptance and feels a strong connection to our common purpose. Let me be clear: diversity is not something we should pursue because it is a warm, fuzzy, feel-good idea or because it satisfies a fleeting, short term agenda. By fostering an inclusive “culture of diversity” we not only capitalize on the skills and perspectives of all Canadians; we advance the fundamental mission of re-invigorating our Party and our country. Inclusiveness is not an optional exercise. It is the foundation on which we will rebuild.
Should I have the honour of being selected as National Membership Secretary, I will implement a 5 point plan of action to
- Get our members more directly involved with the Party
- Give more back to our members
- Train and support the leadership of our EDAs
- Reduce membership churn, and
- Use information technology effectively to reduce environmental impact when we communicate with our membership
Members are the lifeblood of our Party. My 5 point plan of action focuses on serving their interests and stimulating their involvement. It draws on successful practices already in use in our Party and in the many membership-driven organizations I have personally been involved with over the past 30 years. Most importantly, it also includes the newest best practises now used by highly successful, membership-driven institutions and political organizations. For example, we must constantly adapt to an ever changing world in which many communications are driven by “social media.” We can’t afford to be left behind again, ever.
I believe that every member is a potential ambassador for our Party and for our movement. My plan calls for us to create a “Best Practices Toolkit” to make our current members more effective as “Membership Ambassadors”.
We must re-build our old networks of support in our communities. We must also build new ones by promoting ourselves to new affinity groups. My plan proposes that we foster regular, highly visible opportunities for dialogue between our existing members and potential new ones.
The membership of our Party is the key litmus test of how well we are progressing toward achieving our Party’s aims and goals. We are very fortunate to have a diverse membership that represents the depth and breadth of the people who make our great country exceptional. Our members reflect the best that Canada has to offer its citizens and the world.
Inclusiveness and diversity is a primary cornerstone of what this great Party and our country stands for. If elected as National Membership Secretary I will advance this agenda. You can count on my tenacity, my responsiveness to your suggestions, my commitment to making positive changes happen, and my tireless personal commitment to you, the membership, and to the Liberal Party of Canada.
Membership is a force for the renewal of our Party, and our country. Our future depends on it. Please support me and help make this renewal a reality.
