In this
interview he
speaks about his
large experience
in the
organization of
events and his
valuable
contribution for
the Spiritist
Movement:
What has been
your experience
with the
production of
events?
I always had a
curiosity about
it and liked to
promote events
in my house when
I was a child,
inviting school
friends. When I
started to work,
things got more
serious: I was
involved in
events not only
in the city I
worked, Matão,
but also across
the state of São
Paulo. Some
events gathered
more than 100
thousand people.
Based on your
experience, what
is the first
aspect to be
considered in
order to achieve
success in
planning an
event?
We believe that
the biggest
charity we can
make is the
dissemination of
the Teachings
and events have
a great
potential to
achieve exactly
that. There are
a number of
aspects that we
should consider
when we are
producing any
event. I always
ask myself these
questions: why,
where, when, how
and who? It may
sound simple,
but for each one
of those
questions there
must be a
detailed
project, with
professional,
human and
ethical aspects
taken into
account. I
believe that if
we go over each
one of those
questions then
we manage to
move forward.
What are the
biggest
challenges you
face in the
organization of
any event? And
what is the best
way of
overcoming
them?
The biggest
challenges are
ourselves. As we
are imperfect
beings, we still
carry in us the
pride and
selfishness that
blind us when it
comes to giving
up on some idea
that we would
like to
implement. I
speak for
myself. Another
problem is that
we, Spiritists,
are too shy and
strive to do
everything in a
simple manner,
with the
contribution
only of
volunteers. We
forget that we
may need
sometimes to
hire people who
are more capable
than us and who
are specialized
in areas we are
not entirely
familiar with.
In sum, I
believe we need
more and more
volunteers, as
we often say in
Spiritism that
“There’s not
salvation
without
charity.” But to
get more
volunteers we
need to
disseminate
Spiritism and
for that we will
need to
modernize and to
become more
professional.
What is the key
factor in good
planning, even
once an event
has started?
An early start
is essential for
good planning.
Ideally we
should have a
yearly calendar
and begin
working on
events with a
year in advance.
That way we
would be able to
anticipate and
correct eventual
flaws, even if
they happened
during the
event, as all
the people
involved would
have been
trained and
developed. There
are also four
basic rules from
Marketing that
work for the
success of any
event, of any
size:
Product,
service, event:
what does the
client want?
Price: how much
will it cost?
Place: Where
will it happen?
Promotion: How
it will be
publicized?
Is there an
ideal method to
motive a team so
that we get
harmony for a
common goal?
In order to have
an ideal method
for motivation,
a good leader is
needed and his
or her main
virtue must be
humility. In
team work we
need to hear a
great deal and
create
strategies with
plans A, B and C
for the event.
That leader must
also be a good
observer so that
he can get the
best out of
every team
member.
From what you
have seen in the
Spiritist
Movement, where
do we need to
act in order to
improve the
most?
I believe that
by diversifying
the events and
using the arts,
culture and
technology we
will be able to
make huge
progress.
Another
important issue
is the
technology for
broadcasting,
social media and
television. If
we don’t move
forward in those
areas it will
take longer for
our goals to be
achieved. We
must also adapt
to the speed of
the children. We
can no longer
use the language
of years ago.
All events must
combine areas
and the
infra-structure
to attend them
and help them in
their process of
development.
Do you think
that the events
of the Spiritist
Movement have
achieved their
goals?
I am very
critical with
myself. I always
think I could do
more and that we
could improve,
but I think that
the Spiritist
Movement has
been growing
fast and in may
different ways.
The internet has
helped a lot in
that matter. TV
Mundo Maior has
also played an
important role
in the
dissemination of
Spiritism.
Your final
thoughts,
please.
Within my
limited
capacities, I
want to say that
I am available
to help as a
volunteer any
Spiritist event.
My contacts are:
+55 16
981496807,
Facebook:
Ronaldo Pires,
Ronaldo@vivaararaquara.com.br.
