Students Against Global Apathy (SAGA). Made in October 2008 at the University of Alberta. Part 1 - Introduction Part 2 - Background Part 3 - New Members Part 4 - Q&A; and pics Transcript of Part 3: To all new members here, please listen carefully SAGAs number one priority this year is to build an awesome team. We are going to invest the time, the energy, the hard work, and the money into this goal. It is not going to be about t-shirts; it is not going to be about fundraising; it is not going to be about big events or big trips. Our top focus this year is going to be about our people and building a great team. We have done those others things in the past and we will still do them to some degree this year; but our number one priority will be YOU GUYS. The members within an organization are its greatest assets; and investing into them is critical for any kind of sustainable success. (pause) SAGA is an idea that is good enough to last a long, long time but it has to be done properly. Okay, here is how SAGA internal structure is going to be setup. There will be 3 levels of commitment: the first level is the general SAGA Volunteer; the mid-level is the SAGA Ambassador; and the top tier will be the SAGAcore. I will explain the details, the responsibilities and commitments of each level later in the presentation; but for right now just keep this picture in your head. The urge to live lives of meaning is one of our most elemental desires as human beings. We want to make a difference in the world. We need to leave a footprint in the sands of time to mark our existence. Life is short and unpredictable, and we could easily die tomorrow like that; (snap fingers) but we could also live forever through our words and our actions! Make your thoughts extraordinary! Dream bigger than you have ever dreamt before. Think of Gandhi, think of Heller Keller, think of Mohammed Ali, think of Neil Armstrong, think of Gutenberg; think of Shakespeare, think of Einstein; think that you can change the course of history! I know I am using way, way too many hyperboles here; but hope is the oxygen of the human spirit. And I believe that the only people who make any significant difference are those who find the courage to act. How I imagine SAGA working is like this: Our t-shirts are the first step. They are the front door. They are fun, creative, and appeal to the broad general public especially young people. Those on the fence and even those who dont care about international issues want to buy our t-shirts. They are the hook for the apathetic. The second step is to then make it super-easy to continue being part of SAGA. Its like giving away free food. We will provide tools and workshops that will be obviously beneficial to user, and allows them to make future gains, personally and financially, with our knowledge. For example: we will teach people how to win an argument, how to run better meetings, how to give a good presentation, how to manage their time, and how to communicate more effectively whether it is to a future boss or to the cute guy/girl across the classroom. The third step is to inspire them. This is the dessert. We are a group that allows people to dream about change. We have ideas and can express those ideas in ways that touch peoples hearts. Young people need more inspiration and we can fill that gap for the under-engaged. The fourth step is to give them a small role in SAGA. For example: spending two hours a month selling t-shirts or attending a workshop to learn about some international issue. This is something simple; but its tangible and allows for future growth. Step five, a medium role in SAGA where you start running workshops, managing people and implementing ideas. Some things you might have to invent on your own, but a large part of it will be somebody else from above helping you along the way. They will be your guide, your mentor, your teacher, your tutor, the one you turn to for advice. When you have questions, they will have answers; and they will allow you to push the limits of yourself so you can grow and achieve your real potential. Step six, this is the SAGAcore and they are the teachers. They are responsible for the team and the larger vision. They provide clear and defined responsibilities for the others; plus they ensure that the workshops provide information on leadership issues, organizational issues, and international issues of relevance, such as: AIDS, human rights, Darfur, environmental sustainability, tropical disease, fair trade, maternal health, micro-credit, poverty reduction, student travel, or any of a dozen other issues. The SAGAcore live and breathe for the mission; and they coach those below them to one day replace them...... For complete typed transcript go to: https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgkhcftv_2fxg36hcf&hl;=en

• published: 19 Oct 2008
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