Describing your goal requires specifics. Stop the war. End the killing of spotted chickens. Whatever.

It’s just as important to describe how you are going to accomplish that goal, but it’s not always as easy to define. This is where your group of volunteers or board members will run into disagreements and dissension. If so, you may find its best to be less specific in describing the means. However, in doing so, you must recognize that you are laying the groundwork for future schisms within the organization if the disagreements are strong.

One of the clearest and easy to define differences is between direct action and public education. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you are working to stop the exploitation of natural resource in your home state.

Some in your group will argue for direct action as the best way to accomplish such a thing. They’ll want to picket the opposing companies, chain themselves to trees, and hold outrageous demonstrations in order to draw attention to your cause.

Others will argue for legal action. Get a friendly lawyer and file suit against the government or the companies involved.

Still others will argue for lobbying or public education. Press conferences, interviews with the local media, or door to door sales of your ideas are all tried and true methods of community activists.

The thing to remember is that while all of these methods are effective in their own ways, they are often mutually exclusive if conducted by the same organization. If you are seriously lobbying Congress, you may find that your allies who have painted themselves blue and laid down naked in the hallways of the Capitol are discrediting your work and making it much more difficult.

Recognize these differences and deal with them early. If you have that many people with that many different ideas, you may well have discovered an issue ripe for a genuine movement.

Based on all of this discussion, figure out how it is that you are going to conduct yourself. What will be most effective in the environment in the community you are operating in. Local politics and activism is often very different than dealing with Congress or the White House. If you have anyone in your organization with experience as an activist, rely on that experience.