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Building School The Communist Party Building School is a milestone event in 2012 - we need cadres from every CP branch and district/ nation to attend - which will help provide a springboard for Party activity across Britain
June 9-10 at the Marx Memorial Library, Clerkenwell Green, London
Venue The School is set in the heart of historic London in the Marx Library . This is the very building which housed the presses that printed for William Morris, Eleanor Marx and in which Lenin edited Iskra for 2 years
Dates The School runs over the weekend of 9/10 June and involves an overnight stay
How to get there The School is being held five minutes walk from Farringdon station, easily accessible via Kings Cross tube. Parking is expensive so please car share or use public transport
Attendance Because of space, each branch and district/ nation is limited to a maximum of three representatives. Party Centre will cover the cost of one fare per district/nation
What to expect Group work, practical training in campaign skills, discussion, book launches and a video presentation.
Who can come along? We want every branch, district and nation to be well represented. Start thinking of your Building team now
ON SUNDAY you can have your photo taken in Lenin’s chair!
Come to the CP Building School GENERAL SECRETARY ROBERT GRIFFITHS WRITES: “This is the first Building School that the Communist Party has held in more than 25 years. The need to further develop our communist cadres has become increasingly obvious as our Party has greatly expanded its reach and activity, recruiting new members and establishing new centres of activity. The School is an excellent opportunity for you to develop as a cadre and to bring with you, members of your branch, nation committee or district who want to become more active and develop politically. There will be book presentations, discussion, group work and plenaries and some of the best known Communists and guest labour movement activists will be on hand to participate throughout.”
Communist Party Building School 2012
WHAT TO EXPECT How to organise more effectively in your locality Party organisation & campaigning priorities Discussion of the CP’s work in the labour movement FOLLOW US ON TWITTER at www.twitter.com/communists1920 1
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HOW TO PREPARE
WHAT IS OUR AIM?
You can circulate this brochure to get comrades interested
Building the Communist Party anew for the struggle Socialism
Discuss the event at your branch committee, branch, district and nation committee meetings Consider who might benefit most from attending Come prepared to listen and learn as well as speak Read the literature sent to you once you register to attend BRING ALONG CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF LOCAL CAMPAIGNING WORK
WHO IS IT AIMED AT? Key branch and district/nation officers and/or branch builders - Aim to bring along those who may in the future become branch officers.
WHO CAN ATTEND? A maximum of three people per branch. This should include the branch secretary and active branch members who help share the Party building workload, now or in the future. Party Centre will cover the travel costs of one fare per district/nation.
WHAT TO READ IN WHERE IS IT? At the Marx Memorial Library, 37a ADVANCE • Britain’s Road to Socialism
Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU
• John Foster on the role of the communists
WHEN?
• Liu Sha Chi “How to be a Good Communist”
Saturday 9th June, 11am - 5pm, with an evening social event at the Lenin and William Morris pub, the Crown
• Phil Piratin’s Our flag stays red Plus the NEW EDITION of the Communist Party Activists’ Handbook which will be circulated in advance to attendees and officially launched at the school.
Sunday 10th June, 11am to 3pm
WHAT WILL YOU DO? Take part in discussion and feed in your practical and political experience.
COVER AND OTHER PHOTOS By Mina Boromand who will be exhibiting and discussing her work at the School Communist Party Building School 2012
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SATURDAY 9 JUNE
Theme: Building the Communist Party 11-11.30am Registration - coffee 11.30am -12pm Introduction: Bill Greenshields. Welcome by John Callow Director of MML Phil Katz - school organiser sets out day. 12-1.15pm Session One: Why are communists indispensable to the Labour Movement? Session leaders: Liz Payne and Martin Levy Method: Open discussion on John Foster’s speech to Praxis 2011 conference 1.15-1.45pm Lunch 1.45pm-2.30pm Book break out - “Norfolk Red” Wilf Page and Communist organisation in Rural Britain Chaired by Robert Wilkinson 2.30-4pm Session two: What works for your area and what doesn’t? Session leaders: Ben Stevenson and Tim Gulliver Method: Small groups discuss series of themed dos and don’ts and then tutor led discussion draws out main points to consider: What are strengths of CP [we should do more of], what are the weaknesses [we should do less of]. 4-5pm Book break out - “Building the Communist Party in the Community” Phil Piratin and the communist experience Steve SIlver - chaired by Marc Livingstone Method: Presentation followed by Q&A. Based on Our Flag Stays Red - available from CP online store.
Communist Party Building School 2012
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SUNDAY 10 June
Theme: The CP in the Labour Movement 11am-12pm Session Three We stand on our record - what is it? Session leaders: Peter Middleman and Mary Davis Method: Two groups with prompted points discuss CP achievements then join in open session to prioritise them. 12-12.45pm Book Break out - “Revolutionary Communist At Work” - Bert Ramelson and Communist organisation in Trade Unions Introduced by Tom Sibley and Roger Seifert. Chaired by Ann Field Followed by Q&A The book will be available to purchase on special offer 12.45-1.15pm Lunch break - Have your photo taken in Lenin’s chair! 1.15-2.30pm Session four: Campaigning to build the Labour Movement Session leaders: Robert Griffiths, Moz Greenshields and Bob Kelly Method: After a short discussion about key issues we will divide the participants into two groups to work up campaign plans for:
Communist News and Views is a regular publication sent to thousands of subscribers. We regularly send out special editions to subscribers in targeted localities. Essential if you want to advertise bigger open meetings. Getting local supporters to subscribe is a key way to get your message out the the local labour movement and to recruit.
• local anti-cuts, and Peoples’ Charter campaign
• a local campaign against job loss 2.30-3pm Closing Plenary What have we learned over the weekend and what should we do now? Session leaders: Robert Griffiths and Phil Katz. Chaired by Bill Greenshields
Party Organiser is a new Bulletin for CP cadres. It contains news, priorities, updates and reports that will not be found on the CP website.
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HOW TO GET THERE Marx Memorial Library 37a Clerkenwell Green London EC1R 0DU UK. Tel #44(0) 207 253 1485 THE NEAREST STATION - A FIVE MINUTE WALK AWAY IS Farringdon Station http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Farringdon_station IF YOU COME ON FOOT OR BY CAR, PLAN YOUR DIRECTIONS HERE Google Map and directions here
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WHERE TO STAY
WHAT IT COSTS
We encourage you if you can to stay with a friend, family or Party member if you can. The London District Committee will organise a limited number of places with local comrades Go here to apply. [links to a District contact]
There is no cost for attending the School as it is being organised by the Party Centrally.
There are several B&B’s and hotels in and around Clerkenwell. Go here to view list http://www.google.co.uk/ search? client=safari&rls=en&q=bed +and+breakfast+in +Clerkenwell&ie=UTF-8&oe= UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=DExL T9GcBqKk0QW1vtmNDg There are three large Youth Hostels within a half hour walk with easy public transport connection.Go here to view list .... Hotels in central London are expensive so it is worthwhile looking at areas in outer London that have direct train/ tube links to Farringdon.
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Therefore the cost to you and your branch involve transport, overnight stay on 9 June and food. There are a good number of reasonable sandwich bars close by. We encourage you to raise the School in your branch, nation committee and District and seek to use local funds to help with the costs of sending comrades to the school. Funding is available from the Party centrally, on the basis of one fare per district/nation (this could be maximised by organising a car load from your area). The cost of parking in and around Farringdon can be high so you may want to consider using Park & Ride. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ roadusers/tubestationcarparks Communist Party BUILDING SCHOOL 2012