RECRUITING FOR DM • Overview: • Why Recruit? • Principles of Recruitment • Types of Recruitment
Why Recruit? • It helps your achieve your goals • It creates visibility for the organization and boosts numbers • It educates people and gets them thinking about the issues • They help sharpen your skills and keep you in touch with what people are thinking about. • It helps build a campus community
Principles of Recruitment • Reach out to a broad constituency • Multiple methods of recruitment are important • Have a simple message • Follow up with new recruits immediately • Ask everyone to do something • Use other networks • Have materials ready • Always be recruiting – integrate it into everything you do
Types of Recruitment • Tabling • Class Announcements • Group presentations • Phone calls • Dorm storms • Visibility
When and Where to Table • Pick a high-foot-traffic area like a dining hall, student union, or the quad/plaza • Make sure that it’s not too crowded. You want the table to get noticed and you want to have time to stop people to talk. • Make sure you table where you’re allowed to table; find out how to get the proper permission
Tips on Tabling • Make sure the table looks attractive and professional – make a good impression. • Examples: sign up sheets, something to give out (flyers), something for people to DO (petitions), big provocative posters to attract attention, the DM banner • Use the table as a base, not as a wall to hide behind. • Tabling is a great first activity for a new volunteer. The best way to train them is to have them learn by doing. • Make your table fun and high-energy and it will attract more people. • Don’t leave the table unattended, ever. An empty table = inactivity and disorganization
How to Set Up Class Announcements • Get a list of faculty, with their office numbers, phone numbers, and email addresses. • Get a course schedule to help you figure out which professors have the largest classes. • Prepare a short presentation to explain to professors what you want to do
How to Set Up Class Announcements, cont’d. • Prioritize classes by size, previous support, the presence of seniors, and subjects • Have a binder or folder where you keep records of which professors you’ve contacted. • Use email in addition to calling • Visit during office hours
How to Make a Class Announcement (sample) • Overview: who you are, what you’re doing, what information you have to offer (15 seconds) • Introduction: Describe DM, how long it’s been on campus, and anything else important about the group (30 seconds) • Legitimize your group: Describe your group’s most recent success or what it’s best known for on campus (15 seconds) • Problem: Describe what’s happening that has caused your group to take on it’s current issue (30 seconds)
How to Make a Class Announcement, cont’d. • Solution: Describe what your group is doing about the problem (30 seconds) • Involvement: What students can do to get involved (1 minute) • Other issues: anything else your group is working on (15 seconds) • Personal appeal: Why you got involved (15 seconds) • Thanks: thank your audience for their time and attention (5 seconds) • TOTAL TIME = 3 MIN. 35 SECONDS
Group Presentations • Similar to a class announcement, but limited to just a specific organization on campus -- environmental group, feminist group, civil rights groups, etc. • The examples you give in your presentation to either a student organization or to a class should be relevant to the group/class • If the professor/student group allots you more time, the presentation can be lengthened when possible.
Outline of a Phone Call • Know what you want to get out of the call • Call the day after the initial encounter • Don’t leave messages • Remind the person how you got their name • Find out whether it’s a good time to talk
Outline of a Phone Call, cont’d. • Listen for cues that indicate the person’s area of interest • Describe your immediate goals and lay out a range of tasks • Get a commitment • Keep records of the contacts you make • Establish a rating system for how skilled the contacts are.
Elements of a Successful Dorm Storm • Have a plan – dorm storms are similar to approaching people while tabling • Sign up “stormers” and dorm coordinators • Make the dorm storm fun – offer prizes to the group with the most recruited members per floor
Principles of Visibility • Know your audience • Promote whatever you’re doing • Know the rules • A good visibility plan includes both active and passive visibility
Types of Passive Visibility • Banners • Leaflets • Table tents • Posters • Chalking • Emails
Types of Active Visibility • Class announcements • Group presentations • Tabling • Media
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