How to plan your year

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
-John Lennon

You are going to have to have a certain level of organization at the very beginning, in order to help attract people to your group. That means doing a certain amount of planning - while still leaving space available to adapt to any new situations that arise, or incorporate ideas that come up throughout the year. Don't get stuck "doing what you know how to do" - your group can seriously lose out by not being receptive to the wider pool of ideas, talents and perspectives held by your members. Use this short guide to help you plan a basic framework for events and actions throughout the school year, and keep the calendar handy as a reference throughout the year.

Starting Out:

Take a look at what worked well (and what didn't work at all) last year - in your group or in other groups you've been involved in. Pick a couple of key activities you'd like to do over the coming year - it can be something as straightforward as a series of information tables - and advertise this at your first meeting.

Bringing It Together: Working With Others to Create Your Plan

Survey the interests, abilities and talents of people joining the group
Brainstorm ideas for the group's work
Trim down the list and set some priorities. Factor in how well the ideas on the list match the interests, abilities and talents from the initial survey.
Draw up a calendar to see how everything fits in. Be sure to include beforehand the dates of exams, holidays and other busy times (don't be surprised if that takes out a third of the year!).
Assign coordination roles, tasks and do a "reality check" on timelines and workload. Make sure people are able to say "no, this is too much" without guilt. Many groups create an overly ambitious plan the first time around.

A Few Final Tips

No Group is an island. Be aware of what other groups are doing and when they do it. You may wish to participate in their events (eg: set up an Amnesty table at band's Holiday concert) or plan your schedule so that major events don't conflict.
Check in on how you're doing. Regularly check your progress and re-design things that aren't working for you. This isn't being overly "bureaucratic" - we all need to put energy into how we organize ourselves. With a solid base, your human rights campaigning can be more creative, more sustainable - and ultimately, more successful!

SEPTEMBER

AI Reminder!: Re-register your group with Amnesty International's National Office

Opening Day of UN General Assembly - International Day of Peace

OCTOBER

Third week of October: Amnesty Week - check in closer to the date to find out the focus this year

1 International Day of Older Persons
5 World Teacher's Day
16 World Food Day
17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
24-30 Disarmament Week

NOVEMBER

11 Remembrance Day
20 Universal Children's Day
25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
25-Dec 10
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

DECEMBER
Watch Your Mailboxes!: Human Rights College and AGM Registration Package Mailed Out Special Action: Greeting Card Campaign

1 World AIDS Day
2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 International Day of Disabled Persons
5 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)
10 Human Rights Day
mid most University and college exams (good luck!)

JANUARY
1 Happy New Year!
end most high school exams, often followed by short break

FEBRUARY
Watch your calendars! This month is the deadline for Human Rights College applications!

second or third week: Reading week for most Universities

MARCH
Special Action: Women's Human Rights - check out www.amnesty.ca/women International Week of Student Action - stay tuned for more information!

8 International Women's Day / United Nations Day of Women's Rights and International Peace
21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
22 World Water Day

APRIL

4 Refugee Rights Day (Canada)
7 World Health Day
22 Earth Day
end of National Volunteer Week (Canada)
end of Exams for most Universities and Colleges

MAY
Special Event!: Human Rights College and AGM take place the end of this month!

Beginning: exams for most CEGEPs
1 International Labour Day/May Day
3 World Press Freedom Day
28 Anniversary of Amnesty International's founding in 1961
end of Aboriginal Awareness Week (Canada)

JUNE
Special Action: Summer action sheets sent out to youth & student members whose groups are inactive over the summer.

5 World Environment Day
20 World Refugee Day
21 National Aboriginal Day (Canada)
26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
end of Exams for most High Schools

JULY
Special Program: Summer action sheets for youth & student members whose groups are inactive over the summer.

AUGUST
Special Program: Summer action sheets for youth & student members whose groups are inactive over the summer.

9 International Day of the World's Indigenous People (during the Decade of Indigenous People)
23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition