political volunteers
DESCRIPTION
How to find, recruit, train and maintain volunteers for political campaigns.TRANSCRIPT
Why People
VolunteerMe, Us or It
Me• Access to elected
officials• Career enhancement• Resume building• Networking
opportunities• Self esteem• Can’t stand opposition
Us• Candidate• Friends• Relatives
• Co-workers• Neighbor• Coalition
It• Personal beliefs
match• Sense of purpose• Higher calling
Why are volunteers important?
• Too much work for staff to do
• Makes you credible• Links the campaign
with the community
Characteristics of a Volunteer
• Willing• Flexible• Friendly• Listens Well• Communicates Well• Enthusiastic• Has initiative• Connections in Community• Leader• Technical aptitude• Committed• Previous Campaign
Experience
Getting GoingGetting Going
Creating a Creating a volunteer volunteer
organization that organization that works!works!
The Big Sin
“Thou shalt not recruit volunteers
without having a plan in placeth first!”
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
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
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
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
Task• Getting them
started ASAP• Assign Jobs• Be clear about
objectives and expectations
• Hold Accountable, Be Accountable
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”?
Maintain• Communicate on
a regular basis• Ask for feedback• Give them perks
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%