•  

•  

Outreach tip #3 – Community Support Team

By ERICH JACOBY-HAWKINS, Green Party of Canada candidate for Barrie

Ontario Green party members are often very active leaders in their community. Many are involved in different charities, campaigns or causes outside their Green party involvement. But what happens when a group of Green Party members decides to don party paraphernalia and participate as a team in supporting a local cause?

Our experience in Barrie demonstrates that a political party can boost its visibility, build momentum, develop membership, motivate volunteers, and attract media attention by forming a Community Support Team (CST).

Initially we called it the “Walk/Run Club” because the team’s purpose was to take part in the various walks, runs, and similar activities done to raise funds (and profile) for various charities. Now our CST takes part in many different types of events in the community and has enjoyed great success in raising the profile of our local riding association.

Benefits

Here are some of the benefits of establishing a CST in your local riding association:

1. Building respect and goodwill in the community;

2. Raising funds for a good cause;

3. Stimulating interest in the Green Party (and particularly your riding association);

4. Developing membership between elections;

5. Attracting media attention;

6. Motivating local members and supporters;

7. Easy to organize because its not your event;

8. Enjoying fresh air and exercise!

Procedure

And a few tips on how to form your own local CST:

1) Poll your EDA members and ask them about forming a CST (or “Walk/Run Club”);

2) Prepare a calendar of every relevant community event (walk, run, bike-a-thon, etc);

3) Have someone – ideally your nominated candidate – sign up as your team captain;

4) Enroll CST members to each event’s squad – along with anyone else you can recruit;

5) Arrange sponsorships, if possible;

6) Get enough matching Green Party T-shirts to outfit your team;

7) Take part in the event, wearing your T-shirts;

As Woody Allen once said, “80 percent of success is showing up.” Make sure you’re wearing Green Party paraphernalia when you pose for a group photo (organized by the event or by yourselves). And do the walk, run or bike-ride as a group.

Publicity

It is vital that you sign up using a “Green Party” team name (we are the “Barrie Greens”) and that all your participants are “branded” by wearing Green Party logo gear – T-shirts, hats, scarves, buttons – preferably the same (think uniform), and as visible as possible. Participating under your own brand (rather than the cause’s brand) is not improper. Although many events provide t-shirts specific to the event or cause, many companies, clubs, or other groups take part in such events wearing their own “uniform” and this is actively encouraged at many events.

Also carry extra buttons to share with supporters and make sure you have Green Party literature and contact information as well for those who express an interest. A contact form to record newly-discovered supporters (for your CiviCRM or GRIMES database) is also handy to bring along. People WILL come up to you and tell you they voted Green and you should get them into your voter database. Jim Harris calls this “symbiotic-marketing” and you can read more about it here.

Sponsorship

It is good to do a bit of sponsorship-based fundraising if you can. We don’t ask our team members to contribute their own money (unless they wish to), but we encourage them to circulate a pledge sheet around their family, neighbours, or co-workers. It is legal to donate money to the charity from your EDA’s funds. This can be a way to use some surplus election funds (or post-election rebates). Note: it is NOT legal to solicit and receipt political contributions expressly to donate them to a charity.

Results

Our recruitment effort has yielded a CST of about half a dozen members who have attended several events. I expect CST participation to swell with the momentum we are building by attending and participating in different events throughout the year.

Two years ago a new student club held a walk to support War Child and wisely invited all four local federal candidates. We all took part, and the fundraising was competitive. I am proud to say that, at over $300, I raised more than the Conservative, Liberal, or NDP candidates.

For some smaller/newer events, your participation may be very significant. Our CST was lost amongst hundreds of participants in the MS Walk. But last year the local AIDS walk had only a couple dozen folks, as did the Poverty March. So our contingent was a significant boost to their numbers.

We have found that when you help a newer group get their annual event off the ground, they are likely to feel grateful. And the smaller the march, the more likely your team will be seen in media coverage. Even by announcing the event to your email contacts, you are helping spread the word.

Have fun!

It’s good for the party and the cause you are supporting when you wear a smile and enjoy the fresh air and the exercise in good cheer. Bring your kids and/or pets, as this increases your chance of getting local media coverage. Also, walking is good for kids and pets, too!

Erich Jacoby-Hawkins is a four-time Barrie Green Party candidate. He served as both Green Party of Ontario's Critic for Environment and Housing and is currently the Green Party of Canada Advocate for Ecological Fiscal Reform.