Overview of "The EFFECT Network"

"The EFFECT Network"

A unique structure for a "Grassroots" effort in support of recapturing our Representative Democracy


The following is information provided for those who wish to be considered as the FOUNDING & CORE members of EFFECT...not for the general public.

Simply stated The EFFECT Network, Inc. (EFFECT) is an educational institution which aims is to raise awareness about vital issues, train our students in civic activism, and to employ our graduates in carrying out such civic activism and the daily operations of EFFECT.

The motivation that prompted the creation of EFFECT can best be conveyed in the answer to the following question:

Q: What could be the possibilities for the direction of our nation if the “condition" in which legislators or candidates' reliance on corporate and interest group's financial contributions were greatly reduced or eliminated and they could, instead, be able to count on greater civic and financial support from their constituents?

A: For one, the possibility of recapturing our Representative Democracy!

"Recapturing" our Representative Democracy, implies that we no longer have it as it was intended or, at best, that it has gotten alarmingly worst than it has been historically. If so, how could this have occurred - Whom or what is responsible for this?

The scenario just described, may be one of several threatening our Representative Democracy. Following are the 4 which EFFECT identifies and addresses and are, what we refer to, as the "Condition"


THE "UN-GOLDEN RULE" (He who has the gold... RULES!")
Refers to reducing or eliminating the need for our legislators/candidates' dependency on corporate and/or interest group’s financial support and the possible attempts from these groups to “influence” policy and legislation.

THE “APATHY”
Refers to the large number of voters who are not aware of the issues and don't take part in
civic activism...let alone make financial contribution on elections or even bother to vote!

THE 4TH ESTATE & THE “MACHINERY”
Refers to the obstacles from a seemingly controlled Press & Political Parties' “machinery”

THE "ILLUSION"
Activist may be operating under the illusion that doing things which worked in the past are going to continue to produce results with our current state of affairs.


This last aspect, may be hard to contemplate for most activists and “begs” for further clarification.

Yes, conventional methods of activism are important and valuable and should not only continue, but increase as well. These include things such as sharing information, volunteering, signing petitions, “Honk & Waves”, demonstrations, marches, etc.

However, the lack of results being produced from pursuing conventional methods, during the past few years, is overwhelming. The evidence for this can be easily found, for instance, by looking at the issues being brought up in numerous Liberal/Progressive venues available through the Internet.

One would be hard pressed to find resolutions, on issues of any national significance, among the numerous being brought up in these venues. This lack of results produced, seems to be as prevelant among larger entities such as MoveOn.org, the Democratic Party and our current Democratic Legislators. This, in spite of the considerable amount of effort and/or expenditures these entities have expended.

Name ONE issue of any national significance to Progressive/Liberal to which such organizations or entities can be credited for having resolved during the last 3-4 years. It may be hard to find any. When are we going to acknowledge that, perhaps, in the context or structures of our collectively activism, "Our Emperors have no clothes!"

This suggests that we, probably, should start evaluating such context or “structures” in which our activism takes place.

The aim for which EFFECT was created was to provide a structure, in the form of an “Alliance”, in which conventional and some new and innovative methods of activism can have greater possibilities for producing results by addressing today’s civic challenges.



THE AIM OF EFFECT”

"To create an educational, activist and economic "ALLIANCE" between individuals, groups and organizations, of varying political persuasions, in order to reach and coordinate a "critical mass" of those in our country whom have risen their awareness about non-partisan vital issues, have had training in civic activism and have become better able to provide civic and financial support to legislators or candidates, and to social /civic non-profit Groups and Organization’s".

"With such an "ALLIANCE", we may be better able to provide legislators or candidates, of varying political persuasions, with the cover they will need to go up against interest and corporate groups in order to recapture our Representative Democracy".

Putting EFFECT into perspective

EFFECT did not “invent” civic activism any more than Microsoft or Apple Computers, for instance, invented the computer or their application programs. However, companies such as these took something that already existed and became instrumental in the creation of a new computers based industry which not only made it possible for many to have access to computers, they also made it possible for individuals to gain employment in this new industry.

EFFECT's vision is for civic participation and their employment opportunities, to become as common place as computers and their related jobs are today.

As it was with computers and with fax machines, their potential for EFFECTING CHANGES IN OURSOCIETY only came into existence after a "critical mass" of individuals, businesses and organizations, using in such technologies, was reached.

Given that a "critical mass" may be needed to effect changes in our culture, such as in the social/political arena, it is the "prime directive" of EFFECT to contribute, along with thousands others, in reaching such a critical mass of civically aware and active individuals and of civic Groups and Organizations

An aspect that probably contributed to accelerating the explosion of computers and faxes around the globe, were the enterperunrialship and employment opportunities they afforded. By the same token, these same opportunities could also help accelerate the pace for producing the results for which EFFECT was created.

In recent years, thousands of companies have closed, at a cost of millions of jobs, which includes entire industries being outsourced overseas. Creating at least one new "industry", such as EFFECT envisions, may have now become a vital necessity to the social/economic survival of many.

Principles from which EFFECT's structure was derived

EFFECT's strategy is based on its PRIME DIRECTIVE to create an ALLIANCE of at least, one million individuals in our country, along with numerous civically minded Groups and Organizations, whom:

* Have risen their awareness about vital issues
* Have had training in civic activism
* Have acquired a greater degree of financial stability to provide financial
contributions to our legislators or candidates


These 3 principles of the EFFECT structure were based on the observations stated in the following 3 audio clip excerpts that MUST be listen to in order to truly understand the thinking that was the bases that influenced the structure of EFFECT.

"Have risen their awareness about vital issues"

Without the "light", which knowledge and awareness provides, we could be ”shooting in the dark" when it comes to giving our support to issues and to legislators or candidates. To "Light Up America" then, there is a need for an "informed electorate" - "for an educational Army out there!” as Ed Griffin suggests in the audio clip below:

Audio clip excerpt from Ed Griffin during a conference in which he was discussing the Federal Reserve as a possible source of many the monetary and fiscal woes in our nation. http://www.freedom-force.org/
http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=93187&f=AMKOFV&ps=13&p=1 (4 min)

"Have had training in civic activism"

In order to experience real satisfaction form having produced results, we must get educated and trained in effective political/civic activism by taking advantage of efforts such as those the Paul Wellstone Academy and from many others that will be available through EFFECT.

Audio excerpt from the Al Franken's Radio Show on "AIR AMERICA" about the results produced in Minnesota, in the 2004 elections, by students of the Paul Wellstone Academy http://www.wellstone.org/action/mission.aspx http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=123748&f=SGVEOA&ps=13&p=1 (3 min)

"Have acquired a greater degree of financial stability"

One obvious reason for the lack of civic participation, are the time and financial restrains much of our nation's electorate seems to find themselves in, as expressed by Lou Dobbs of CNN News:
http://PlayAudio-123.com/play.asp?m=99903&f=YQSUXF&ps=13&p=1 (1 min)

Based on Lou Dobbs' observation, if Americans are "too busy" and overwhelmed trying to maintain a standard of living to focus on participatory Democracy, then something that could help them enhance their earnings with employment position which addresses social/civic issues, they could be more willing to explore and participate in.

EFFECT'S EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING COURSES

BASIC MONTHLY SEMINAR - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 HOURS @ $45.00
INTERMEDIATE MONTHLY SEMINARS - - - - -8 HOURS @ $90.00

It should be noted that the information our students receive throught the Internet for our BASIC and INTERMEDIATE Courses, is not only FREE, it is encouraged that they freely shared it with others.

EFFECT’s Courses are geared to educate and train individuals in areas that will lead to employment with EFFECT or other employers. Graduates of our BASIC COURSE become eligible to enter EFFECT’s “Work & Study" Program as part of our Intermediate Courses. Graduates from our "Work & Study" Program become eligible for full employment status with EFFECT.

The "BASIC COURSE"

This course is designed to raise the publics' awareness to vital issues which seldom, if ever, are being covered by our main stream press and educational institutions. These will be issues such as disclosures about the real status of the economy and jobs, our educational system, suppressed energy and propulsion technologies, undisclosed aspects of 9/11 and the war in Iraq and on health issues dealing with vital information about vaccinations, antidepressants and cancer treatments.

The BASIC COURSE is intended to have people realize that things may not be as they seem and to realize what may be at stake for us, individually, and for our nation so that they could be more likely to become more civically aware and active.

People's time is at a premium. As will be seen, great consideration was taken in formulating our student's time schedules for courses and employment in EFFECT.

Our BASIC COURSE is 6 hours of course time per month and is divided in 2 segments:

a) 3 hours where students listen to audio clip excerpts and read information links, at their homes, which have been sent to them through the Internet.

Participants fill in a form that has sentences with blank spaces which they fill in as they listen to audio clips or read links.These completed forms are e-mailed back to EFFECT for verification that students have done their assignment and to be credited for their "Work & Study" compensations.

b) 3 hours in our REGULAR MONTHLY FORUM which students attend. Here is where students go over the ramifications about the information they received through the Internet, are introduced to general aspects of civic activism and receive orientation for their possible continued participation and/or employment with EFFECT.

BASIC COURSES start the1st and 3rd Monday of every month.

"INTERMEDIATE COURSES" & "Work & Study" Program

The INTERMEDIATE COURSE is the first stage of The EFFECT ACADEMY's "Work & Study" Program and it is composed of 2 aspects:

1. PROMOTING CIVIC AWARENESS AND ACTIVISM

These courses expand further into subject matters that have been highly suppressed from the public and which ramifications have the greatest and, at times, dire consequences for us individually, for our nation and, indeed, the rest of the world.

Those completing this course will be left with little or no doubt for, not only becoming more civically aware and active, but will also realize the need to support others in becoming part of this collective effort in order to reach the earlier mentioned "critical mass".

2. CARRYING OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF EFFECT

Our students will have the opportunity to work in their chosen or related areas of work experience or academic studies in order to carry out the necessary daily functions of EFFECT. This will be of particular advantage to college students who can gain work experience in their specific or related academic fields and have references for work experience which they will be able to indicate in applications for future employment in the work force.

This program is composed of 3 academic and training levels:

* FACILITATORS
* APPRENTICES
* INTERNS


FACILITATORS

This is a 30 day evaluation period, a "boot camp" of sorts, to determine which individuals may be "up to speed" to be able to operate at the pace and the effectiveness level that will be required, given the limited study & employment times schedules in our "Work & Study" Program.

STUDY & EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULE: Approximately 20 hours per month.
SALARY: $150*

* NOTE: If you do not pass the "BASIC COURSE to get accepted into the APPRENTICE "Work & Study" Course which follows, the $150 salary is intended to compensate for the out of pocket costs of the Basic and Intermediate Courses ($45 + $90) plus some miscellaneous expenses. This is done so that participants don't accrue a financial hardship for their efforts in wanting to make a difference through our programs.

Students can repeat the FACILITATOR COURSE, as many time as they wish, in order to graduate and be accepted into the APPRENTICE COURSE. Each time, their $150 dollar compensation will apply at the end.

NOTHING SHOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF THOSE WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH "EFFECT"


The FACILITATOR COURSE is composed of 4 parts

1. One hour Orientation Session, at the start of this course, where students learn about the
"Work & Study Program, and what will be expected and measured of them in order to be
able to graduate and enroll in the APPRENTICE COURSE, if they so choose.

2. 3 hours, at student's home, where they they follow the same procedure as with the BASIC COURSE.

3. One hour they attend during the second week of the monthly course where the ramifications of the subject matter received on the Internet are discussed and to support them in fulfilling their required tasks for this course

4. 3 hours of our REGULAR MONTHLY FORUM which all students attend as part of their requirements for graduation and compensations.

The balance of the 20 hours per month (12 hours) in the FACILITATOR "Work & Study" Program is allocated for carrying out the functions of EFFECT in the areas of student's chosen or related work experience or academic studies.

APPRENTICES and INTERNS

The same pattern in the FACILITATOR COURSE is followed for the APPRENTICES and INTERNS COURSES. The only differences are in:

1. The amount of academic and training times.
2. The amounts of times working for the functions of EFFECT.
3. The increased amounts of compensations received.


APPRENTICES

STUDY & EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULE: Approximately 30 hours per month.

SALARY SCHEDULE:
1. Base Salary: $500 per month
2. Recognition & Ontological bonuses: $125 up to $500*

*NOTE: At the end of each month, a percentage of APPRENTICES will receive recognition bonuses based on their teacher's evaluation of their academic and work performances and their Ontological or "personal growth" in their participation. These bonuses are in increments starting at $125 with the top bonuses being $ 500.

INTERNS

EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULE: Approximately 40 hours per month.

SALARY SCHEDULE:
1. Base Salary: $1, 250 per month
2. Recognition & Ontological bonuses: $250 up to $750

FULL EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS WITH EFFECT

TEACHERS & PROFESSORS

Are full time employment positions with EFFECT

EMPLOYMENT SCHEDULE: Approximately 40 hours per week.

SALARY SCHEDULE:
1. Base Salary: $3,500 & 5,000, respectively, per month
2. Bonuses based on portions of EFFECT's monthly revenues.

Conveying EFFECT to the public

There are 6 different methods by which EFFECT will reach the general public:

1. CONVENTIONAL

These include printed materials and the Print Media, Radio and TV ads.

2. NON-PROFIT AFFILIATE PROGRAM

Promote participation with EFFECT from members of Non-Profit civic Groups and
Organizations which have been receiving weekly contribution from EFFECT and by showing them how they can generate their own larger contributions through EFFECT's AFFILIATE Program for such "non-profits".

3. FORUMS

The public can attend, free of charge, our " Basic Monthly Forums" where they can learn about our efforts and their opportunities with EFFECT

4. OUTREACH

Teams from EFFECT visit groups and organizations in the community.

5. SEMINARS

Daily Introductory Seminars are held where the public and those referred by our students and employees can learn about EFFECT

6. WORD OF MOUTH

These are those referred to EFFECT by our students and employees.

FACILITIES.

The FOUNDATION GROUP will meet at member's homes.

The CORE GROUP will, at first, meet at FOUNDATION GROUP members' homes and, as it grows, will meet at either hotel conference rooms or, when possible, at Universities facilities, "Progressive" churches such as Unity, or at affiliated Non-Profit Organizations' facilities.

The GENERAL PUBLIC will use the same facilities as the CORE GROUP but no longer at member's homes. In time, EFFECT's will also have its own facility in each city which will include conference and class rooms.

REGULAR MONTHLY FORUMS where all our participants in a city and the general public attend. It is held once a month and will be at centrally located hotel conference facilities and, as growth requires, in public auditoriums.

EDUCATIONAL & TRAINING COURSES are held simultaneously, in EFFECT's facility and in several of locations, among those described for the GENERAL PUBLIC. This is done to provide convenience and facilitate travel time for our participants.



INITIATING EFFECT & A "Model" For Participating Cities

Following, are some of the structures that have been adopted for EFFECT designed to archive its stated aims. There are 2 aspects that are of prime importance for maintaining the integrity and the success of EFFECT.

1. AVOID THE "UN-GOLDEN RULE"
2. CREATE A SOLID FOUNDATION


AVOID THE "UN-GOLDEN RULE ... (He who has the gold...RULES!)

It can be speculated that financial contributions from interest and corporate groups may be exercising undo influence on our legislators and/or policy decisions which tend to favor these group's interests.

EFFECT was primarily created to recapture our Representative Democracy form the bonds which the "un-golden" rule may have on our government. It would be hypocritical for EFFECT not to "follow what it preaches" by depending on financing from outside sources.

Therefore, it is in the interest for integrity of EFFECT to avoid such possible pitfalls by incorporating a structure for its fiscal viability which is void of the need for financial contributions for its operations. These include financial influence from interest or corporate groups, or from political parties or individuals, the likes of the "George Soros" of the world, as well intended as they may be, who may want dictate EFFECT's direction or use in order to forward their agenda.


A SOLID FOUNDATION

Any structure needs a solid foundation to sustain it and provide longevity. In the case of EFFECT, outstanding activists will provide such a foundation. These are individuals who are already carrying out civic activism which may be in alignment with EFFECT's aim and who recognize the potential EFFECT could afford them to forward their own efforts and vision.


The structure in EFFECT, which was designed to address these 2 areas of concern, call for initiating and proceeding this effort in a series of stages.


The 3 stages of EFFECT

1. THE FOUNDATION GROUP STAGE

2. THE CORE GROUP STAGE

3. THE GENERAL PUBLIC STAGE

THE FOUNDATION STAGE

As the name implies, the FOUNDATION GROUP stage is where a small group of about a dozen distinct activists are selected to set up the programs and operations of EFFECT. These are individuals who have already risen their awareness to vital issues, to what may be really going on, have displayed a large degree of civic activism and have been willing to make civic/political financial contributions.

For their vision and for their service in setting up operations , the members of the FOUNDATION GROUP of EFFECT will be provided with a fiscal option. The same option will apply to FOUNDATION members initiating EFFECT's representation in their cities.


THE CORE STAGE

The CORE GROUP, which creation follows the completion of the FOUNDATION group, are also activists selected to take part with EFFECT who have a sufficient degree of awareness about vital issues and have displayed some degree of civic participation.

Again, the best way to identify these individuals are from recommendations by members from both of these initial groups and will be completed when about a 100 members in the CORE GROUP is reached for EFFECT.The same applies for the FOUNDATION members initiating our efforts in their cities.


THE GENERAL PUBLIC STAGE

After a proper foundation has been established with these 2 initial groups, the general public will be reached, employing the methods outlined in the earlier segment: "Conveying EFFECT to the public", so that they too can have the opportunity to take part with EFFECT.

The first segment of our population that will be reached will be COLLEGE STUDENTS & EDUCATORS which will be followed by the UNEMPLOYED, then our elderly RETIREES and, finally, the rest of the public.

The reasons for reaching the unemployed and our retirees should be obvious. These are two segments of our population who have been most affected by our current state of affairs.

In the case of college students, they are the ones who have a lot at stake for their future. In addition, college students will have a vital role carrying out a vital function in EFFECT which is called our I.R.V. Program (Information Research and Verification), which will be covered later on. Educators, who are also being affected by the "politics" of education and budgetary concerns, will be instrumental in assisting college students in carrying out the I.R.V. functions.

Following, is a link that contains the 4 pages of "The EFFECT ACADEMY" brochure, which has been already printed and which will be used to present this aspect of EFFECT: http://www.freewebs.com/effectnetwork/



IDENTIFYING "FOUNDATION GROUP" MEMBERS

Unlike the "shotgun" approach other organizations such as what "AMERICAN IDOl" does by spending considerable time, effort, and expenditures auditioning 10s of thousands, in order to select their final 12 contestants, EFFECT will employ more of a "rifle in" approach.

EFFECT has adopted a structure to very quickly and more precisely identify potential FOUNDATION & CORE members among the millions of people in our population.

This structure calls for employing the methods for "Conveying EFFECT to the public" but will used but in the reversed order that was presented earlier, begining with the "WORD OF MOUTH" method.

I will initiate the contacting process with those in my city and, for those in other parts, I have created a Yahoo Group to convey most of the specifics. I will introduce them to EFFECT and invite them to learn about the specifics of this grassroots effort, which structures could be instrumental for producing results on issues of mutual interest.

In addition, these distinct activist may know of other ideal activists which they can also refer to this selection process. Ideally, the 12 EFFECT FOUNDATION members should be from different cities so that the process of spreading this effort in our nation can commence.

I devised a process to help determine which of my fellow activists are willing and able to become FOUNDATION members. Those not selected can still be part of the CORE group.

The same procedure will be applied for creating our "CORE" Groups prior to conveying EFFECT to the general public.

We will still rely on the "word of mouth" recommendations from the public but, by the time they are approached, EFFECT will be in a better position to also employ the remaining methods outlined in the earlier "Conveying EFFECT to the public" segment.

I mentioned earlier that most of the aspects of EFFECT will be provided in the selection process. There are certain aspects of the EFFECT structure that are proprietary in nature and are keys for reaching EFFECT's aims by the 2006 Mid-Term elections.

Lets not kid ourselves, we'll be in a battle of sorts to recapture our Representative Democracy and there are those who would want it to be otherwise.

Therefore, it would be imprudent to publicly disclose these key elements of the EFFECT structure so that protagonist to this effort could gain an edge. Consequently these proprietary aspects will be shared only with the selected EFFECT's FOUNDATION members and, perhaps, with some of the Managing FOUNDATION member in others cities, whom EFFECT will appoint to these positions.

There are many other aspects and details about EFFECT to be conveyed, much that is left, is proprietary in nature which will be provided to the FOUNDATION members selcted. There are two distinct and important aspects of the EFFECT structures which should be added to finish this overview of EFFECT:


2 VITAL ASPECTS OF EFFECT

EFFECT's I.R.V. Program (Information Research & Verification)

A vital part of the training students and employees receive with EFFECT is in their expanded ability to judge the merits of issues and legislation based on rational evaluations, as compared to "passionate" favoritism to a party or candidate.

Rational judgment requires valid verification of the facts which our I.R.V program carries out by researching and verifying information, as best as it may be possible, with what is available in the public domain.

Our I.R.V effort may also be one way of contributing to reversing the polarization that has gripped our nation by getting those with varying political persuasions to align on the most appropriate course of action on issues or legislation and for the legislators or candidates whom may be more willing to propose and fight for their implementation.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO NON-PROFIT SOCIAL-CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND EFFECT’s "AFFILIATE" PROGRAM

Financial stability and the capabilities it affords, is a key factor which determines a Group or Organization's success.

In order to support the financial viability of such Groups and Organizations - and that of its members - and as a way of promoting the efforts of EFFECT, financial contributions will be made to a number of non-profit national and local socially-civically minded Groups and Organizations... on a WEEKLY basis.

In addition, such organizations may have a way of generating their OWN increasing "contributions" by taking advantage of EFFECT's "Non-Profit Affiliate Program".

Through this program, such Groups and Organizations will hold an affiliated status with EFFECT were they can qualify for revenues.