More notes from RootsCampDC...

 

(There were two sets of notes for this session.)

 

 

Better Field Ops

 

Notes 1

 

How to stop opretives from fudging reporting data

Palm Pilotshttp://rootscamp.org/RootsCampDCSessions

Double-check a small percent

Train

 

Paid Vs. Volunteer

Volunteers out perform

 

Volunteer retention

make it fun and social

think beyond election day

set goals and track results

treat volunteers well- thank you notes, volunteer appreciation nights

creating leaders out of volunteers- more responsibility, more ownership

give volunteers a title and a job

give them access to someone to answer questions

have candidate do the same job, ie make calls, knock on doors

sign up volunteers for the next thing after the event they just did

visual aids that allow people to see what needs to be done and sign up

call people that night to blow you off that night. Ask them what happened

have the same person call build a relationship

friendly competitions between organizers

interview volunteers to find what is best for them

train

make sure the materials are good- walk lists, phone scripts, etc.

ask for feedback

Recruit volunteers

Cold call strong democrats

hard ask- give them time and date

make them say no at least three times before letting go

if no hard commit then get a soft commit- pencil them in

follow up- let them know you remember

call night before, and morning of

emails reminders as well

 

Notes 2

 

Fudging reporting data

Palm pilots v. paper

Double checking results

Need to provide expectations during training

Managers need to be diligent

Paid v. volunteer

Vol. Retention/ Attention

Make volunteering fun

Think beyond Election Day

Keep up momentum

Buy-in from local/state parties helps with volunteers

Treat them well

i. Systemized thank you

 

Assign specific duties

Give ‘volunteer titles’

Provide Access to campaign staff

i. Tell ‘big picture’

ii. Protect volunteers from other demands and other campaigns

iii. Senior staff should join volunteers on walks, phones, etc.

 

Stipends/housing/etc

Good volunteer timeline

i. Cold call strong Ds

ii. Make hard ask: time, date, goal, make 3-no’s

iii. Follow-up:

 

1. night before

 

2. morning of

 

3. Let volunteers know they are important enough to warrant follow-up call

 

4. Email reminder

 

iv. Next ask: sign up for next volunteer at end of night before leave

v. Publicly thank volunteers

 

1. Wall of thanks

 

2. Wall of schedule

 

3. Physical reminder of commitment

 

Volunteers should work same list/turf

Build relationship with volunteers to leverage them later

Scoring system for volunteers

i. Public accountability

ii. But do not punish people

 

1. Use merit system

 

2. Not a demerit system

 

iii. Foster friendly competition between organizers

 

Use public (Google) calendar

Common mistakes

Assuming what people want to do

Under-utilizing volunteers

Giving volunteers duties they like

Not asking enough

Recording commitments (get on paper)

Letting people leave without future commitment

Use good, targeted material – one size does not fit all

Incomplete walk list is insult to volunteers

Script with typos

Bad maps

SOLVE with a debrief

i. Get feedback

ii. Make volunteers feel valuable

iii. Do what it takes to fix the problems

 

Debrief in groups

One on ones will take time

Groups can counter-act complaints

Watch for volunteer infection

Paratroopers

Are often there to help, not take over

Those that are there to take over, give them to other organizers to work with

Talk to them before they arrive

"15 commandments for effective field organizing"

Desperate need for early comprehensive training


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