If you haven't signed up for the
Ummah Relations "Muslim Media Points" PR newsletter, please consider doing so. It's been on hiatus over the summer, but I'll be resuming a monthly schedule for it. Hopefully I can ramp it back up to a weekly rate -- which I did at first, but found it too hectic to sustain.
The newsletter is primarily a short white paper designed to help communications staff at Muslim institutions, community centers, NGOs and local
masaajid (who may not even have a full-time communications staff) save valuable time in the ever-shortening news cycle by offering context, analysis and starting points to help frame their individual responses.
The idea is to help communications professionals or directors get “jump started” on the PR implications of current issues (think of it as a cup of strategic chai).
I won't post too often content from the newsletter here -- its content is fairly niche and specific to PR and media professionals -- but for this week's version, I'm making an exception, because I want to cast the net a bit wider:
I've been formulating this concept for a while, and I'd like to offer this up as a challenge and see who'll take me up on it (I'll even throw in a small incentive at the end of the post).
I'm proposing a group or
masjid host a Muslim Speed Meet event.
Similar to Speed Networking, the event would pair Muslims with non-Muslims in a timed round-robin series of meetups.
Here's some detail from a networking business model:
Speed networking programs generally involve people meeting each other one at a time for a short interval and then moving on to the next person in line. They are fairly structured in the way people queue up to meet. For example, one variation is to have two concentric circles of people. The individuals sit across from one another and after the set time period--generally one or two minutes--the outside circle of people gets up and moves in one direction around the circle until everyone has met.
The one key to making this a success for Muslim groups
will be an inviolate ground rule that religion is not to be discussed. The objective here is to get to know one another
as people first.
Other pointers to consider:
1) Most Muslim groups will naturally want to keep this gender specific, at least initially. Divide the evening into gender times, or have a separate men's and women's night.
2) Start small by enlisting the cooperation of one of your stronger interfaith partners to tap their constituents to participate. If the event is successful, then expand the call to the public at large.
3) In any case, neutral ground ( i.e.,
not at the
masjid) may be preferable. It will make non - Muslims feel more comfortable as well as sending the signal that we're willing and eager to be part of the community and step outside of our own enclave.
4) Make sure to invite the press, but document the event yourselves.
So here's the throwdown: For the first group or
masjid that lets me know they'll take this on, I'll help with promotion, press, organization, etc and will waive the regular consulting or project fees (less any travel expenses/per diem and event costs) if you want me there in person). If you factor usual consulting rates for media outreach
and event planning, that's quite a substantial savings.
OK - so where in the ummah is a group bold enough, open enough and ready to really step up to the plate? Looking for some forward -looking brothers and sisters.
Who's on?
While I admire the physical skill to contort and cuddle all those humans, it's an idea that falls squarely into he "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" camp, at least for an ad.
I saw the ad run on CNN and had a true WTF moment:
