Austin Progressive Potluckers

Posted Tue, 12/25/2007 - 8:43am by Selwyn Polit

Hi - Welcome to Austin Progressive Potluckers. We go to other people's potlucks. Come join us - share food - meet fascinating people - network with other thinkers like you.

Potluckers steering team
from left to right: Jan Adler, Shanda Sansing, Brandi Clark, Selwyn Polit, Bruce Kravitz, Diane Miller, Jerry Amundson
  • Austin Progressive Potluckers connects people interested in making a difference with the non-profits and grassroots organizations that are working hard to make a positive difference throughout Austin.
  • Each month, the Austin Progressive Potluckers are hosted by a different organization, providing people a chance to learn more about the group while connecting and networking over great food and great conversation.
  • Our motto is “Changing the world - one covered dish at a time.”
  • Scroll down the page to see the upcoming potluck. Click here for more on how potluckers works. Ready to host a potluck? Check out How to host a potluck.
  • Want to help with the planning or see where we are heading in the future.  Check out our planning page

 

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Upcoming Potluck

Austin Progressive Potluckers: Happy Living with Justice
Sunday, 12 September 2010 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Barton Springs Pool
2101 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX, 78746
Telephone: 512-292-8093

Join one of our favorite annual potlucks hosted for the fifth year by Happy Living with Justice. Happy Living with Justice hosts yoga classes as an outreach tool to increase awareness and activism on peace, justice and environmental issues so that more and more people live a lifestyle in harmony with the welfare of the entire world (particularly underprivileged people) and its ecosystems and also learn about and get actively involved with existing groups, who are working for a just and sustainable world. Happy Living with Justice meets at 3:00 p.m. usually on the last Sunday of every month at the Carver branch of Austin Public Library, 1161 Angelina St. 78702. Yoga practice is followed by an interactive discussion/action to increase awareness and promote activism on issues of peace and justice with main focus on "what I can do". All are welcome to these free meetings. To be on the mailing list of this group, please contact Jogi Bhagat through email happylivingwithjustice [at] gmail [dot] com or call 292-8093.

As you are aware that heavy monsoon rains in the northwestern region of Pakistan have claimed over 1,600 lives, driving millions from their homes.  Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has described the flood disaster as the worst he has ever witnessed. Happy Living with Justice will offer potluck attendees the opportunity to make voluntary contributions in the form of cash or checks in favor of Red Cross for the victims of this devastating flood. The amount collected at the potluck will be sent to Red Cross Pakistan Flood Relief Fund.

SPECIAL NOTES: Our hosts will hold a yoga session at the beginning of the potluck from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. (before eating) so anyone wishing to participate in this free yoga session needs to arrive before 5:15 p.m. and should bring a blanket or yoga mat and wear loose-fitting clothing. The yoga session will take place on the grassy hillside on the north side of the parking lot of Barton Springs Pool (and just east of the Zilker Hillside Theater) and will be led by Mamta Ganesan. If you aren't planning to do yoga, feel free to arrive closer to 6:15 pm. Also, there is a free swim at Barton Springs at 9 p.m. so folks interested in taking a dip should bring a swimsuit and towel.

Please bring a dish that serves approximately 6-8 people. PLEASE NOTE that you will need to bring your own plates, cups and utensils and drinks. The only food or drink restriction is that there are no alcoholic beverages, please.

Barton Springs Pool is located off Barton Springs Road in Zilker Park. We'll meet and feast at the picnic tables in front of the Barton Springs pool entrance and concession area (to your left as you walk up to the entrance of the pool). Yoga prior to the potluck will be on the north side of the parking lot in front of Barton Springs Pool. Note that there may be a $3 fee to park at Barton Springs.

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How it works.

Austin Progressive Potluckers connects people interested in making a difference with the non-profits and grassroots organizations that are working hard to make a positive difference throughout Austin. Each month, the Austin Progressive Potluckers are hosted by a different organization, providing people a chance to learn more about the group while connecting and networking over great food and great conversation. The recipe for the Potluckers is simple; take a heaping quantity of progressive groups, add a bunch of really cool people that care about our town, mix with good food and great conversation and you end up with a fun and easy way for people to connect with others and with a wide array of important organizations and efforts. At every gathering, we get to know more about these great organizations and the people involved, make new friends over delicious home-made food in a relaxed setting, and help realize the Potlucker motto of “Changing the World -One Covered Dish at a Time”.

Why should you be interested in hosting the Austin Progressive Potluckers? Your group has a progressive view of the world and wants to share the good work you’re doing with others. What better way to do that than to throw a party! If there's one thing that brings people together, it's good food and a good cause. The Austin Progressive Potluckers has been going strong since 2002, growing from a few folks to a network of over 700 people throughout Austin who want to get connected with people and groups who are making a difference. As a host, you’ll get the opportunity to share your vision and passion with others in the community, meet new and fascinating people, network with like-minded souls, make new connections, have stimulating conversations -- all by lifting nary a finger. At each event, typically one to three dozen Potluckers attend who are eager to learn more about your organization and meet people in your network. You simply need to furnish the space for the event, sit back and enjoy. The food shows up; the people show up. And voila! You get to have a fun-filled gathering with little work on your part and the chance to spread the word about what you do to an ever-expanding network of people. What's the catch? Nothing -- other than a sincere desire to connect with others through the potluckers community.

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How do I host a potluck?

To set a potluck, there are 10 easy steps:
  1. Check out our planning page for our future schedule. We plan up to 6 months in advance and we want to make sure we can eat with YOU!
  2. Pick a date (Fri or Sat nights work best, usually mid month is best)
  3. Pick a time (6.30-9pm is usually a good bet)
  4. Pick a location. A house is fine unless you are expecting a really large group to attend. Intimate gatherings are lovely
  5. Get driving directions to your location. Google Maps is a great resource for this.
  6. Get together a short write up about your organization and include a contact name, email, phone number and web site if folks want more information.
  7. Decide if you want to have any food or drink restrictions (ie no alcohol, vegetarian food only, dishes based on chocolate, desserts only, middle eastern food theme. etc)
  8. Decide if you will provide plates, cups, utensils or should we ask our folks to bring their own?
  9. Decide if you will provide any drinks (access to water or tea?) or do we need to ask our folks to bring their own?
  10. Send a message to the potluckers steering committee using the contact form. Please be sure to select "Hosting a potluck" in the category so the message goes to the right folks.If you don't have all the information, don't worry - let us know what month you want and we'll follow up with you.

Based on this info, we'll create a brief email and send it out to our email list (currently about 700 people) about 3 weeks before the event. We also send out a reminder email about a week before the event. The invite will also be posted on our web site page,www.austinprogressivecalendar.com/potlucks Usually about 2 or 3 dozen Potluckers show up.

At the glorious event, folks usually eat from first (sometimes from 6:30 until around 7:15) then somebody from your group can make a brief (15-20 minute) presentation about your organization. Often a potlucker committee member will talk to the group about potluckers for 5-10 minutes and invite people to sign up. The rest of the evening is spent chatting and socializing and networking with some of the greatest folks in Austin.

Send a message to the potluckers steering committee if you want to set up a potluck.