Recruiting Volunteers

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Recruiting Volunteers
September 10th, 2008
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Why We Need Volunteers

• People powered campaigns
• Volunteers are the soul of a campaign
• Volunteers build long term progressive
  infrastructure

Never question the value of volunteers. Noahs
Ark was built by volunteers, the Titanic was
build by professionals --Unknown
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You Have to Ask!

• You will never get what you do not ask for
• Not asking for favors, but giving opportunities
• Embrace the No!

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Whats My Motivation?

• Announcements dont recruit volunteers
• What is a potential volunteers relationship to
  the campaign?

If you arent sure why someone is volunteering,
then ask!
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Who to Ask Relational

• Higher response rates all around
• Details about the campaign arent as important
• Make it about you
• Make it fun
• Network, Network, Network Build a snowball!

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Who to Ask Usual Suspects

• Campaign Lists
• Voter File
• Allied issue advocacy organizations
• Labor Unions
• High Schools Colleges
• Community Organizations and Faith Communities
• Everywhere!

Remember, busy people are more likely to say
yes! Why do you think theyre so busy?
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How to Ask Basic Tactics
High Response rates
High Time Commitment
Low Time Commitment
Low Response rates

• The more personal and interactive the ask the
  better the response

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Stories from the Field

• Northside DFA Issue Forums
• http//my.barackobama.com
• Networking Make business cards
• Be visible aware
• Dont be ashamed to talk politics with people!

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How to Ask The Five Cs

• Connect Establish rapport and trust
• Context Explain how they are helping us win
• Commit Get a solid commitment to volunteer
• Catapult Get them invested
• Confirm Remind them of their commitment

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Crunching the Numbers
Question How many volunteers would be needed to
reach 500 voters with a weekend phone bank?
Step 1 Calculate the number of hours needed
500 voters / 12 (contacts per hour) 41.67
hours Step 2 Calculate the number of volunteers
per shift to recruit 42 hours / 2 shifts / 3
hours per shift 7 volunteers per shift
Answer You will need to recruit 7 volunteers
willing to work a 3 hour shift each day
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Homework

• Make a List of 15 possible volunteers from your
  social network and ask them
• Sign up together for the Million Doors for
  Peace campaign next weekend!
• www.milliondoorsforpeace.org

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Next Week on Night School

• Canvassing Phonebanking
• September 17th, 2008
• www.democracyforamerica.com/canvass

Request a DFA Campaign Training in 2009!
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