Political Volunteers

17

description

How to find, recruit, train and maintain volunteers for political campaigns.

Transcript of Political Volunteers

Page 1: Political Volunteers
Page 2: Political Volunteers

Why People

VolunteerMe, Us or It

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Me• Access to elected

officials• Career enhancement• Resume building• Networking

opportunities• Self esteem• Can’t stand opposition

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Us• Candidate• Friends• Relatives

• Co-workers• Neighbor• Coalition

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It• Personal beliefs

match• Sense of purpose• Higher calling

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Why are volunteers important?

• Too much work for staff to do

• Makes you credible• Links the campaign

with the community

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Characteristics of a Volunteer

• Willing• Flexible• Friendly• Listens Well• Communicates Well• Enthusiastic• Has initiative• Connections in Community• Leader• Technical aptitude• Committed• Previous Campaign

Experience

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Getting GoingGetting Going

Creating a Creating a volunteer volunteer

organization that organization that works!works!

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The Big Sin

“Thou shalt not recruit volunteers

without having a plan in placeth first!”

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Plan• What is your objective?

– Staff HQ?– Voter Contact?– Data Entry?

• What role can volunteers play in this plan?

• Create a job description

• Timeline for recruitment, training and implementation

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Recruit/Invite

• How will you attract volunteers?• How will you recruit volunteers?

– Person to Person– Internet– County Fairs– Phones/D2D– Campaign Events– Meetings

• Low Hanging Fruit– Stay-at-home moms– Homeschoolers– Local parties– Coalition Groups– Students

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Evaluate• Does the volunteer match

the job?• What is their availability?• Do they have restrictions?• Does it work

geographically?• Who are my likely

volunteers for this project?

• Always consider:– Age– Ethnicity– Gender– Affiliations/Coalitions

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Train• What tools will they need?• What knowledge will they

need?• Who will they need to know?• Who will they report to?• Schedule regular trainings

– Campaign/Task overview 2x/mo (New vols)

– Insider Briefings 1x/mo– GOTV specific starting in

September– Rally Sat or Sun with

final details

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Task• Getting them

started ASAP• Assign Jobs• Be clear about

objectives and expectations

• Hold Accountable, Be Accountable

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Motivate• Do they have a reason

for doing their job?• What will make them

want to come back?• How are they being

treated by the staff?• Is there a “class

structure” among the volunteers?

• Volunteer “Promotions”?

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Maintain• Communicate on

a regular basis• Ask for feedback• Give them perks

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Metrics For Success

• The volunteer cycle:– Commitment

• Specific vs. Non Specific• Time of “ask”

– BIS%– Retention/Repeat

Volunteers– ’04 Overload – ROR and

probability of increase• Recruitment Goals:

– Jan – Oct = 125%– Final 72 Hours and ED =

110%