You may be aware that an Election has been called for Sat 9 October
2004, and this is probably our last chance to make some noise about
the GEERS system and the general issue of workers not being paid.

Change of group focus
---------------------
I have decided to change the email group (OT Mushrooms) to be a more
general group, of appeal to all creditors in all insolvencies. This
means that I will advertise the group more generally, and that groups
of concerned creditors from other insolvencies may inhabit this list.

I will not rename this list (OT Mushrooms), nor change the private
openVictims list. I do not propose forming an incorporated body. The
group description has already been changed, and other material on the
group's Public File Archives will be updated over the coming week.

Of course, I do this knowing there is no chance that we will be paid
our entitlements - it's about election stink and preventing further
victims.

Campaign Plan
-------------
My basic plan is to hand out leaflets outside the venues of creditors'
meetings being held in Melbourne and Sydney, which summarises the
issues of importance to creditors, gives them the group's website
address (below) and asks them to let their election candidates know
that insolvency law is an issue. The group will be advertised like a
Self-Help group (similar to a Men's Group, Cancer group, etc)

I am seeking help with the campaigning process:
+ Suggestions for leaflet content (see below) or general approach
+ Funding to print leaflets (it costs about $300 per 1000)
+ Keeping an eye out for Creditors' meeting notices
+ Help to hand leaflets out at venues
+ Let your election candidates know it is an issue - make a phone
call or write a letter.


My reasons for this campaign style are:
+ Public presence - the act of handing out leaflets may get us (or
me) in the media.
+ Targeted - we are targeting those most at pain from insolvency issues
+ Follow-through - putting the group's address on the leaflet
provides some way for interested creditors to stay in the loop.


Leaflet content
---------------
I am in the process of typing up a leaflet and I hope to put a text
version on here later today. I have deliberately widened the target
group to all creditors, so that we may gain better traction with a
broader section of society. If you feel strongly that I am "letting
workers down", or have other issues for or against this, I welcome
your input - I might learn something!

You may have more comments once I post some draft content.


Miscellaneous
-------------
I had considered running a "mushroom soup kitchen" outside the various
venues, but the logistical effort involved is considerably more than a
simple leaflet drop - licensing/permits, pub.liab.insurance, getting
the gear, not blowing myself up, ...

However, I'm willing to hand out more packets of mushroom soup,
depending on funding, or even wearing a mushroom costume - if such a
thing can be found.

Can everyone please think about the kind of help you are willing to
give, and let me know? Thanks in advance,

Nick Bishop, grad.com @ nick4mony
-----
I've been to six different airports in Australia:
Brisbane, Melbourne, and four different versions of Sydney Airport.
-oOo-