International
U2 360° Tour
Meeting new and old friends in La Plata
The U2 360° Tour made a stop in La Plata, Argentina last week for three phenomenal shows and ONE Members came out in full force, braving the blazing sun and driving rain. Over the course of three concerts, 76 ONE members were able to sign up over 14,000 new ONE members in Argentina, all committed to the fight against extreme poverty.
I continue to be amazed and humbly touched by the generosity, compassion and commitment demonstrated by every ONE member I have worked with thus far. I remain grateful for your hard work and beautiful spirits.
One of those members is a former ONE colleague, Lauren Conn, who is now living in Buenos Aires and came out with her dad to volunteer at the first show. Lauren included an update on her work and travels, which is well worth checking out.
Many thanks to all the ONE members who came out to volunteer in Argentina.
Together as ONE, we will make a difference!
Much love, Maura
¡Che amigos! ¡Saludos desde Buenos Aires!
It’s good to be back on the ONE blog!
I recently moved from the ONE field team in the US to the Southern Hemisphere to study the programs that millions of ONE members support in our global advocacy work. In addition to leading the fight to eradicate polio with partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary sends students all over the world to promote cross-cultural understanding, advance peace scholarship, and develop future leaders in global health, diplomacy and education (Find out more on the Rotary website).
This year the Rotary has generously given me, and nine other scholars, the opportunity to study international development, peace and security as Rotary World Peace Fellows at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires.
Even though I’ve moved away from Washington DC, I continue to use my voice and take action with ONE. And when U2 came to La Plata in Argentina I actually had the chance to take action OFF-line as well!
An amazing group of local ONE members and the Rotary World Peace Fellows worked the concerts recruiting new ONE members en español! In any language, it’s not hard to communicate why relatively small investments in global health are the right and smart thing to do. Thousands of concertgoers in La Plata – from all over Argentina, South America, and the world – stopped to sign the petition asking world leaders to invest in lifesaving vaccines against two of the leading, entirely preventable causes of death among children in the developing world: rotarivirus and pneumococcal.
By the time the concert started, there was a sea of ONE bands waving in solidarity throughout the stadium! From abroad I’ve watched the inspiring efforts by ONE members to fight budget cuts that could cost lives so it was great to stand together with ONE members in Latin America who are also holding their leaders to account and lifting their voices on behalf of the world’s poorest people.
Rotarians and ONE members are committed to the idea that where you are born should not determine whether or not you survive preventable, treatable disease. Experiences like I had at the show really remind me that the world is smaller than we think. The health and opportunities of the poorest people on Earth are related to everyone’s security and well-being. And now especially in difficult times when our elected officials are faced with tough choices, we must be a voice for the voiceless who can least afford cuts to programs that save lives and create a sustainable path out of poverty.
Many thanks to my former colleague Maura Daley and the incredible ONE members I met in La Plata who inspire us all to continue to lift our voices in the fight against extreme poverty.
The excitement was palpable in Santiago!
Santiago, Chile was the first stop on the South American leg of the U2 360° Tour and wow, did ONE Members set the bar high! 28 energetic and committed ONE volunteers, some who have been members for five years and others who have been members for three months, came out to the Estadio Nacional on a beautiful late summer Friday and were eager to get to work…so much so that they practically told me to stop talking in order to get out there and spread the word about ONE.
The total number of sign-ups from one concert in Santiago clearly illustrates the enthusiasm and passion that these ONE volunteers had. In total, the group of 28 were able to sign-up 7,072 new members in the fight against extreme poverty. A truly amazing job!
When I talk to ONE members on the road, the first question I ask is, “Why did you join ONE?” I often wonder what it is that draws so many wildly passionate individuals varying in age, gender, work and educational background and financial situation to volunteer their time and effort to fighting extreme poverty. Each individual has different reasons but one recurring theme is the power of using your voice to make change. Whatever financial situation you find yourself in, it doesn’t matter. ONE is pure advocacy…using the power of YOUR voice to fight for the world’s poorest people.
No matter the exact reason, each time someone explains why they’re a ONE member, it makes me even more proud to be part of this organization….part of over 2.2 million people working together as ONE to give a voice to the voiceless.
Three ONE members from Chile, Carla Herrera Cantera, Rodrigo Segura, and Eduardo Javier Fernandez Perez shared a few thoughts on why they joined ONE…
So tell me, why did you join ONE?
Thanks for the reminder, Cape Town
It was a blindingly bright and scorching hot day for the U2 360° show in Cape Town last Friday. And with little shade and a long walk around the stadium to where the fans were, I was worried that the heat would cook my volunteers, bedecked in their black T-shirts, before they could really get to work.
ONE members at the U2 show in Cape Town
But they showed me I was wrong to worry.
So while the heat shut down their iPads, they kept on patiently working, gathering nearly 4,500 petition signatures by the end of the day.
It was a great way to end my run on the tour; with a powerful reminder that no matter what the challenges, ONE members will keep on working hard to make a difference.
Rocking Soccer City
I’m back on the road with the U2 360° Tour, and yesterday had a fabulous show day one in sunny Johannesburg.
The team of ONE volunteers were exceptional – gathering more than 200 petition signatures each. Thank you and congratulations to everyone on the team.
ONE Members in Johannesburg
Before sending them out to volunteer, I gave them my pitch about what it means to be a ONE member, it goes something like this:
Being a ONE member is making a commitment that when there’s an opportunity to make a difference – when a mobilised public can tip the balance of a decision – that you will be a part of it; that you don’t want to sit out the political fights when lives are on the line.
But the beauty of ONE is that being a member means something slightly different to different people. So during the day I asked a couple of the volunteers what being a ONE member meant to them. Here are a couple:
Lozola Belle:
We all know the problems around the world, yet we all feel powerless by ourselves. However, as a united front we can make enough noise to make the governments and the powers-that-be to act.
Sandra Felix:
To be a ONE member is to join your voice to about 2 million other people in the world for good basically, and to advocate for those people who can’t advocate for themselves.
The common theme that struck me was that it isn’t just about doing good work. It’s about joining together to change the world for the better. And thanks to the team of passionate volunteers in Johannesburg, another few thousand ONE members have joined us!
Pulling it all together in Perth
The U2 360° Tour closed out the New Zealand – Australia leg in Perth with shows on the 18th and 19th and what an awesome stop for ONE! Perth proved to have a loyal ONE following….with more than 50 ONE Members coming out over the course of the two shows and signing up over 6,500 new ONE Members. That number surpassed all others on this leg and I want to congratulate every person who made that happen.
ONE members in Perth
I have met some incredible people during this leg of the tour. Your passion and commitment to ONE and the fight for the world’s poorest people is inspiring beyond words. Volunteering your time for something you feel so strongly about puts it all into perspective. The days were long, hot, often times rainy, yet you never complained. You were grateful to be out talking to folks and getting them to join you in the fight against extreme poverty. I am always taken aback when you thank me for the work I’m doing because all the thanks and praise goes to you. What we achieved over the course of the past five weeks is only possible because you came out and made it happen.
I want to thank you all for your generosity, your time, your dedication and your love. It was an honour to meet all of you and I look forward to working with you again soon.
Here’s to many great things in 2011!
ONE members make their mark in Sydney
Oprah Winfrey wasn’t the only star in Sydney this week…ONE Members were also making a splash! Over 50 passionate men and women volunteered their time over the course of two U2 shows in the city and did an amazing job, signing up nearly 5,000 new members to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease.
ONE members in Sydney
ONE Member, Jane Flack, who signed up over 200 new members, shared her thoughts and feelings post show day. Here’s what she had to say:
I felt very humbled being a part of the ONE team working as a Downunder volunteer at U2′s Sydney gig. Global action – that’s what I love about being a part of ONE – and it was actually really exciting reminding people just how powerful their involvement is in something so valuable to many people across the globe. A fun afternoon was had and I creatively used humor as an icebreaker and in many cases as a ‘glue’ to bond. Thanks Maura.
And “Thanks” to all the other Sydney ONE volunteers for their encouraging smiles.
Thanks ONE, and U2 as well for coming to Sydney – it gave us this opportunity to finally volunteer for ONE and get their great message out and belong talked about!!!
Jane also gave her tips for signing up new ONE members:
- don’t be afraid to approach people – they won’t bite – in fact they can be very receptive if you have a smile on your face and most importantly, that smile emanates from your eyes. If you’ve intro’d yourself to them with your name and just why you’re there most people sign straight away in a heartbeat.
- I always excused myself when I approached a group dynamic and asked if they would mind if I bothered them for 5 minutes of their time.” Rarely did they.
- I always thanked them with a big smile and an “enjoy tonight” or “enjoy the concert, it’s going to be fantastic/wild/an incredible night!” regardless of whether they’d signed or not.
- those who were attending from other countries (I signed some from Spain, Brazil and Colombia) I did my best to utilize my cheeky Spanish skills (“hola”, “guapa”, “Madrilheno”) – as well as quite a few colloquialisms to the local lads (“thanks mate, greatly appreciated” or “thank heavens it’s not a scorcher today” – some local empathic lingo is a connector).
- while signing people, I’d sometimes recognize a post code (and say something a little familiar about it “oh, you’re on my side of the bridge, we’re probably neighbors’” and they’d always ask me where I’m from – which is heartening/warming because it’s connecting)
- those that respond with a “no” or “not interested” invariably call/wave you back over quietly if/when you’ve just signed the group next to them.
- I told almost everyone I signed just how powerful their individual voice actually is – I implored them to understand we are all a part of VERY connected humanity and a fluid conduit in action – and if it wasn’t for people such as themselves creating a bigger global voice then One wouldn’t have their work cut out for them….
- I reassured them that we will never ask for any money from them – that immediately put people’s minds at ease.
- And finally (particularly after gates open and everyone’s rushing to get here, there and everywhere to get in, meet their friends, get food etc) – if you’re a multi-tasker ie. can walk, talk and i-pad sign up all at the same time (which I can) – I did exactly that. I asked people if I could join them on their walk to the gate/meeting point they’re going to for 5 minutes about joining ONE. No one had a problem with that as long as I was able to keep up (which I did, no probs), keep half an eye on the ground so as to not trip over, type in their details and ask the others in their group if I could add their voices to our global network.
ONE on the road in Brisbane
Brisbane, our second stop on the Australian leg of the U2 360° Tour, was yet another success. The rain moved out, the sun came out, the humidity rose along with the number of new ONE members! Over the course of the shows, 55 dedicated ONE’rs came out to recruit new advocates in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. Those 55 superstar ONE’rs were able to sign-up just shy of 6,000 new members….an amazing job!
ONE members in Brisbane
ONE members, Ben Lynskey and Angela Leco-De-Latombel, shared their thoughts on why they joined ONE and how they were spreading awareness at the U2 shows. Here’s what they had to say…
Thank you again to each and every ONE member who came out to the shows and dedicated an entire day’s work to help fight for the world’s poorest people. Each of you are an inspiration!
Making it happen in Melbourne
The U2 360° shows in Melbourne have come and gone and what a great start to the Australian portion of the tour. Over the course of the 2 shows, we had 41 dedicated ONE members who were able to recruit roughly 5,000 new Members. What an awesome job they did.
ONE volunteers at the U2 show in Melbourne
One of my favourite things to do at the end of the “work day” is to talk to ONE members and get their feelings on how the day went. Just getting an understanding if their experiences… talking about ONE, our mission, what it’s like to be a ONE member, and how it was getting new folks to join. Hearing their stories and experiences gives me great joy and I’m proud to be associated with each of them. So I thought I’d include excerpts from 3 ONE members, post volunteering at the Melbourne shows.
I would just like to thank you so much for such a wonderful experience. I awoke this morning with a smile on my face and it made my day that much extra special. So some 24 hours have passed and I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am that my life crossed paths directly with yours and the team from ONE. Love and a big hug to you.
Trevor Field
Thank you for the opportunity to work with not only yourself but all the other people involved with ONE. It is something I will take to my grave with me. I have been inspired by the people on Wednesday and by your enthusiasm and work you do for ONE.
Nick Koutroumanis
Thanks Maura…it was unreal and exhausting day. It was an awesome experience. As usual U2 fans were on the whole great. it was a fantastic experience and it was great meeting the other volunteers as well as Maura and the other tour staff. Tips I have for others…
- Listen to Maura’s instructions
- Be prepared for the weather
- Be outgoing
- Read up on ONE (I studied the night before)
- Tell people you just need their voice/electronic signature…they will not be spammed
- Respect and thank people who have signed even if not with you
- Respect those who say no
- Read the one blog…there’s tips on there too
- Have fun
Isobel Cassidy
I want to thank all the members in Melbourne who came out in support of ONE. The work they did was outstanding and they should be proud. I also want to thank each and every new ONE member that signed up at the shows. We look forward to working together with you in the future!
Haere ra New Zealand!
The New Zealand – Australia leg of the U2 360° Tour has begun and what a great start! In true ONE fashion, an incredible group of passionate ONE members came out to volunteer in Auckland, and together signed up thousands of others to the fight against extreme poverty.
ONE volunteers at the show in Auckland
The days were long and the weather was unpredictable. I scoffed when someone said to prepare for all four seasons in one day. Alas, the weather would go from rainy and cool to bright, sunny skies in the blink of an eye. Local New Zealanders also were not joking when they said to watch out for the sun. Let’s just say I learned that lesson the hard way…correction, the back of my neck learned that lesson the hard way… and I won’t need to be told twice!
Over the course of the two shows in Auckland, more than 40 dedicated members, many of whom came out for both shows, committed an entire day’s work to volunteer on behalf of ONE. The team came out to Mount Smart Stadium early in the day and spent the afternoon and evening chatting with U2 fans about ONE and our work. Between the shows, our dedicated team of New Zealand ONE’ers signed up almost 5,000 new ONE Members who have committed to doing their part in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease. I am tremendously proud of that number as well as the New Zealand team that made it possible!
My first stop on the U2 360° Tour in New Zealand was an enjoyable one but the most memorable part was the generosity and passion of the New Zealand people. I thank the ONE’ers who came out to volunteer and I look forward to working with all of you again soon.
- Previous Posts Older Entries
- Next Posts Newer Entries
 |
 |
 |
About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
TAGS: Argentina, ONE, ONE Members, Spotlight, U2 360° Tour