Fresno Brown Berets held an organizing meeting in the Pinedale barrio of Fresno on Friday, 3/4/11. A member walked through the area the day before talking to residents and handing out cards. The meeting was called for between 5-6pm. By Friday afternoon I already got two phone calls from people stating they wanted more info. They were told to talk with us later that day at the center. The meeting got off to a bad start.
First, the plan was to leave from headquarters by 4:30 pm so we'd get to the center in plenty of time. By 4:30, two members who confirmed they wanted to go didn't show up. I especially wanted these two members to go because they are in high school so would have related well to any youth we may have encountered. I had to scramble to get at least two more to go. Luckily little Sierra and Antonio, stepped up to the plate. We loaded up our flags, tables and literature and headed out 15 minutes behind schedule.
Ok, I planned to make up the time by taking the freeway. Bad Idea. It was already close to 5 pm and the traffic was backed up due to a fender bender. We got to Pinedale center 15 minutes past our 5pm start time.
We set our flags up and a table and talked amongst ourselves. I introduced myself to people as they passed by. We got a lot of stares from people driving or walking by. At 5:30 I conducted a Brown Beret workshop.
We lined up in formation, and as unit captain I conducted inspection pointing out areas they were out of uniform and going over the need to present ourselves in a professional manner. I talked about various issues affecting the Chicano community and how education can impact those issues. We then practiced commands, went over drills and marched along the sidewalk, with the banderas flying high. All this took about 20 minutes.
We didn't have a direct audience at anytime during the workshop but I did notice several teens walking by very slowly or stopping nearby within hearing range and they were in fact listening to the words I was speaking.
After our workshop we ended with a Unity clap and shouts of Chicano Power, Who are We? Brown Berets All the Way! and a couple of Viva La Raza's.
One member felt the meeting was a failure because we didn't recruit anyone. I pointed out that we have to look at the positive not the negative. Even though we didn't get new members, plenty in the community saw us that evening. Just the fact that the Brown Berets returned to Pinedale is victory enough. And finally, we can always do a repeat performance but next time all be on the same page and dressed out in compliance as a professional soldado/a. They liked that idea. We plan on doing it again on Thursday March 17.
First, the plan was to leave from headquarters by 4:30 pm so we'd get to the center in plenty of time. By 4:30, two members who confirmed they wanted to go didn't show up. I especially wanted these two members to go because they are in high school so would have related well to any youth we may have encountered. I had to scramble to get at least two more to go. Luckily little Sierra and Antonio, stepped up to the plate. We loaded up our flags, tables and literature and headed out 15 minutes behind schedule.
Ok, I planned to make up the time by taking the freeway. Bad Idea. It was already close to 5 pm and the traffic was backed up due to a fender bender. We got to Pinedale center 15 minutes past our 5pm start time.
We set our flags up and a table and talked amongst ourselves. I introduced myself to people as they passed by. We got a lot of stares from people driving or walking by. At 5:30 I conducted a Brown Beret workshop.
We lined up in formation, and as unit captain I conducted inspection pointing out areas they were out of uniform and going over the need to present ourselves in a professional manner. I talked about various issues affecting the Chicano community and how education can impact those issues. We then practiced commands, went over drills and marched along the sidewalk, with the banderas flying high. All this took about 20 minutes.
We didn't have a direct audience at anytime during the workshop but I did notice several teens walking by very slowly or stopping nearby within hearing range and they were in fact listening to the words I was speaking.
After our workshop we ended with a Unity clap and shouts of Chicano Power, Who are We? Brown Berets All the Way! and a couple of Viva La Raza's.
One member felt the meeting was a failure because we didn't recruit anyone. I pointed out that we have to look at the positive not the negative. Even though we didn't get new members, plenty in the community saw us that evening. Just the fact that the Brown Berets returned to Pinedale is victory enough. And finally, we can always do a repeat performance but next time all be on the same page and dressed out in compliance as a professional soldado/a. They liked that idea. We plan on doing it again on Thursday March 17.
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