The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.35           October 5, 1998 
 
 
`We Decided To Raise Our Goal' For $115,000 New International Fund  

BY MARTÍN KOPPEL
"We just decided to raise the goal for Birmingham from $2,500 to $3,000 after taking a closer look at our political opportunities here," George Williams, director of the New International Fund in that area, reported with evident pleasure.

"In this area there are some new young people around who are attracted to revolutionary ideas and who will be interested in New International," Williams explained, referring to the Marxist magazine of politics and theory, the latest issue of which will be out before October 1. "There are a number of workers who read the Militant and who we know will contribute to the fund. And several longtime contributors are in better job situations right now. After looking at all that, we decided we should raise the goal right away."

With that increase, the cumulative goals for the fund are just over $113,000, as you can see on the chart - still a couple thousand dollars short of the international goal. A few more Birminghams are needed right now to get up to $115,000.

Williams, a member of the United Auto Workers, said five other workers in the aerospace plant where he works have already made pledges to the New International Fund. A couple are longtime readers of the Militant, others are young workers who have recently begun to read the socialist press. "We have $75 in pledges from co-workers, and we're still approaching several more."

Another fund-raising ingredient, Williams said, is a public political meeting planned for October 16. Such meetings are most effective if they are scheduled in the first half of the fund campaign, which began September 19 and ends November 15. That way, they can help give early momentum to the fund drive rather than serve as a catch-up tool.

There is a real political premium on raising as much of the money as early as possible in order to allow for fund- raising in late October and early November for the Young Socialists national convention, scheduled for December 4-6 in Los Angeles.

Maggie Trowe, a packinghouse worker who is the fund director in Des Moines, Iowa, says supporters of the New International Fund there are planning some teams to the outlying region to sell subscriptions to the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial and to raise funds. Several potential contributors live in Kansas City, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; and other surrounding cities.

"We're going to use issue no. 11 of New International to expand our sales, discuss the big political questions facing working people, and raise money for the New International Fund," Trowe added.

Supporters in Des Moines are preparing to mail a letter to interested workers and youth soliciting contributions.

Next week we will start reporting results on the fund. Checks must be received by Wednesday to be counted in the chart printed in the Militant that Thursday.

 
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home