Below is the latest version of a draft found on our website:
http://www.openplans.org/projects/icarusproject/handbooks/national_local_collab_ashedit_11_19.doc

The Open Plans version also includes info on How The NYC Local works and other topics that aren't included here and will eventually become their own documents.

The Icarus Network and Local Groups

11-19 ashley revision of Will and Maryse edits

Overview

Through a national staff and a loose association of affiliated local groups, The Icarus Project works towards our vision of a new culture and language that resonates with our actual experiences of “mental illness†rather than trying to fit our lives into a conventional framework. This document serves as a set of guidelines about how we work together.

In general, the national staff works to nurture and support the local groups, while local groups pursue their own autonomous initiatives as well as contribute to shaping and guiding the staff and Icarus overall. We envision the relationship as somewhat parallel to the decentralized recovery movement, where local meetings are free to operate as best works for them under the broader recovery vision, while the national office provides important services and logistical help.

Some local groups might look closely to the national staff for ideas and guidance, while others will be completely independent, with a unique name, style, and agenda. What unifies us is our shared vision of mutual support outside the medical model of mental illness, without judgment of each others' treatment and life choices. We hope this decentralized approach will nurture initiative, inspiration, and wild freedom to grow a vibrant and creative radical mental health movement.

Shared Principles in the Icarus Network

We envision the wider Icarus network as a decentralized loose association, wild and unpredictable -- an adventure that is taking us to unexpected places. The key word is autonomy. We are not a franchise or a brand – which is why we're steering away from words like “chapters†(though you're free to call yourself that if you want). We don't require local groups to use the word “Icarus,†and we invite groups that are already up and running to join our network. The idea is that we share a broad vision and purpose, and that we all benefit from shared visibility, shared resources, a unified hub of support and assistance, and mutual collaborations. We ask that all local groups who wish to be part of the Icarus network engage the following principles in their organizing efforts:

Core Icarus Principles and Concepts:

Beyond the medical model. While we respect whatever treatment decisions people make, we do not define ourselves as essentially diseased, disordered, broken, faulty, and existing within the bounds of DSM-IV diagnosis. We are exploring unknown territory and don't steer by the default maps outlined by docs and pharma companies. We're making new maps.

Non judgmental and respecting diversity. We welcome people who take psych drugs and people who do not, as well as people who use diagnostic labels like "bipolar" to describe themselves and people who do not identify with these terms. We do not exclude people on the basis of politics, lifestyle choice, recreational drug use, "criminal" behavior, or other outsider identities. We all have a lot to learn from each other, so we respect each others' choices. While the current social system and medical model have the tendency to divide us, we want our experiences of madness – as we understand them – to unite us.

Educating ourselves about alternatives. A lot of what the media, medical establishment, and institutions tell us about "mental illness," psych drugs, and how we have to live our lives is just not true. We educate ourselves and each other. We question what we hear on TV and read in doctor's office brochures. We explore holistic and spiritual approaches to handling our extreme states of consciousness. We learn as much as we can about any medical treatments we are using, and encourage each other to make informed choices. Icarus is a sanctuary for people thinking outside the mainstream and creating their own definitions of health.

Non hierarchy / anti-oppression. Local groups need to be anti-authoritarian, inclusive, and working against racism/classism/sexism/homophobia and other oppressions. We're a radical mental health support network; affiliated groups create safe and challenging spaces where oppressive behavior is not tolerated.

Balancing wellness and action. Icarus is a place to support each other in practicing real self-care: making sure we don't neglect our personal basics like food, rest, exercise, and community; encouraging each other to commit to the amount of work we can actually do, and not pushing ourselves past our limits; challenging ourselves to find daily routines and projects that help us live out our dreams and have enough structure to get by. Even if your group is 100% about activism and not interested in a support group, you've got to take care of yourselves! Doing so will prevent burnout – and you'll end up doing better work in the long run.

Access. We don't need more alternatives that only rich people can afford. All Icarus gatherings follow the policy that 'no one is turned away for lack of funds.' We work to create options and choices that are available to all.

Nonviolence. We believe that we will bring about lasting change in the world through dialogue, compassionate listening, mutual aid, and grassroots networks of support, which may in time form a viable alternative to the current system of government, bureaucracy, and corporate culture. We do not endorse violence at any level of our organizing efforts.

Transparency. We believe in public access to information about how we are making decisions, spending money, distributing responsibility, and otherwise delegating the work of organizing together.

Communication between National and Local:

This takes place in five main ways:
Email discussion list
Discussion forum
Listening in on Staff Email list
Monthly visioning calls
Person to person: when staff members collaborate with local folks, facilitate workshops, participate in working groups, or just hang out.

About the Monthly Vision Calls:

We have a conference call monthly that anyone organizing with Icarus is welcome to join. This is an opportunity to hear each others' voices, check in about what we're working on, and discuss what visions and plans are on the horizon for Icarus as a whole. Eventually we are going to develop a more formal decision making structure for the organization as a whole.

How the National Office Can Support Local Groups:

With four people getting paid to put in 12 hours a week each, our national office resources are extremely limited. With this in mind, these are some of the things we offer to local groups:

Online discussion forum space and tools.

Web space at our cost for you to upload your site, such as www.theicarusproject.net/LocalGroupName

Listing in our local contact directory.

Email forwarders: LocalGroup@theicarusproject.net forwarded to your email address.

Publications, stickers, and other material goodies provided at our production cost + shipping, for raising $.

An online provider directory where you can add Icarus-friendly health care providers in your area

Tech tools and advice: We can recommend all kinds of useful free software and techniques. Want an easy email setup, a free place to put your photos, a way to chat, a fast website, a place to put your organizational documents, or a way to create t-shirts easily? We've got some ideas.

Nationwide visibility for your efforts via our website, such as a blog for your group with prominent entries on the site. Plus we work to get Icarus in the media nationwide, which can help make your efforts more visible.

Seed grant program. Check details coming soon. We hope to have seed money is available to individuals and organizations in small amounts such as $100-$300. Priority goes to proposals from people who've been volunteering with us, have a history of follow-through on projects, and offer an inspiring vision that is manageable in size.

Problem solving, skills mentoring, grassroots organizing ideas, counseling crisis help. We've got limited resources and time, but can help with generally watching your backs.

Local events. We're often available to come visit for a speaking engagement, workshop, or other event. Generally we need our expenses covered, plus a share in money raised. Plans need to be made in advance, and agreements recorded ahead of time in emails or other record.

Skillshares/trainings. See more details at our website post coming soon.

Help with fundraising plans, grant proposals, budget setups, figuring out bank accounts, and other financial strategizing. We've taught ourselves the basics of grassroots money issues and can share what we've learned, including the tools and systems we use and ideas of where to ask for money.

Eventually – 501(c) 3 umbrella so you can write grant proposals and raise $ from foundations tax free. Cool!

Finances Between National and Local:

Despite often sharing a name, local groups are financially autonomous and independent from the national organization in money, resources, and staff time, and are free to raise and spend money as they like, consistent with the overall principles and vision of Icarus as a whole. Who knows, maybe your local group will grow to the point of paid staff and even have a budget larger than the national office!

While local groups are free to raise money from their area mental health system, and often money is available for 'peer services,' Icarus is an independent movement and neither the local nor national budgets accept donations or in-kind support from pharmaceutical companies. Be careful of pharma front groups as well.

Local groups and the national organization agree to not compete for funds from the same funding sources. If a situation seems unclear, please get in touch to discuss and resolve fundraising plans. On the other hand, it is anticipated that the locals and national may collaborate on joint grant proposals or other fundraising efforts that may overlap in ??national versus local funding sources?? (want to design some Icarus t-shirts you can sell locally – and nationally? Maybe we'll collaborate on that!) We encourage working together on grant projects and fundraising (our local Seed Grant program is set up for this kind of thing).

Creative Commons and Copyright

We are trying to disseminate the Icarus message far and wide. Everything we produce (our 'intellectual property') is released free to the world under the Creative Commons Copyright, which is part of the open source philosophy and movement. What this basically means is that anyone is free, and encouraged, to copy and spread anything Icarus – webpages, articles, publications, graphics, anything – as long as they are not making money off of it for themselves, as long as they acknowledge where it came from, and as long as they don't alter it. Any other use needs a special arrangement (for example we really want groups to use our publications to sell and keep the money for themselves, but want to work out an arrangement for this in advance so we know who's doing what.)

You're free to set up your own copyright or anti-copyright policy for your work, but keep in mind that this is a movement, not a commercial enterprise, and the idea is to spread ideas, images, art, and ideas as far and wide as possible.

Confidentiality

Mental health issues are sensitive issues: people with psych labels can get discriminated against, harassed, or shamed. It's up to each of us to decide how public we want to be about our struggles with madness. It is essential in all our work to be extremely careful with names, phone #, info, email addresses, forwarded emails, etc. Local groups need to make a special effort to respect confidentiality.

Info About the National Office: Who is the Icarus Staff and What Do They Do?

The national staff is currently comprised of Sascha DuBrul (Hudson Valley/NYC), Will Hall (Northampton, MA), Ashley McNamara (Hudson Valley, NY), and Madigan Shive (NYC/SF). 

Staff members currently get paid $800/mofor 12-13 hrs/wk of work @ $15/hr, (no benefits or tax withholding), though there is great flexibility on comp times, vacations, and travel. Plus national staff does a lot of volunteer work, especially by being involved in local organizing.

The staff is responsible for bottom lining all of TIP's national housekeeping tasks, as well as trying our best to stay communicative, accountable, and revolutionarily mentally healthy. Staff members also work with the help of interns and volunteers, especially on sprawling projects like distribution and the website.

You can 'listen in' on staff email communications by taking a look at the online archive
at: http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/icarus-staff

Employee and Volunteer Wellness Policy

You can read The Icarus Project's wellness policy by visiting: http://www.theicarusproject.net/icarus-organizational/wellness-policy-for-volunteers-interns-and-staff

This is our staff and national office policy but we hope you will use it to guide local group work as well.

Email Communication Policy

You can read The Icarus Project's e-mail dispute policy by visiting: http://www.theicarusproject.net/icarus-organizational/email-conflict-policy-for-volunteers-interns-and-staff

Again, this is the national policy but we strongly recommend local activists adopt it or something like it.