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Branch Recruitment Guide Branch Recruitment Guide BRANCH RECRUITMENT GUIDE BRANCH RECRUITMENT GUIDE The NSW Labor Party has a proud tradition of strong local branches. This Branch Recruitment Guide aims to share some ideas for making branch membership a more rewarding experience. I would like to thank all Branch Officials for their hard work and dedication. What you do in a voluntary role for the ALP is appreciated by the Party Officers and the Parliamentary leadership. Without you we could not sustain such a successful Party into the future. This Guide contains a few suggestions on how you might go about recruiting new members to our Party. If you would like to share an idea that has worked for your Branch, please contact Membership and Communications Officer Kaila Murnain on (02) 9207 2000 or [email protected] Matt Thistlethwaite General Secretary PS. Have you recently visited the Party Website www.nswalp.com? Resources for Branch Officials include publications, forms and recruitment material. BRANCH RECRUITMENT GUIDE 2009 3 BRANCH RECRUITMENT STRATEGY Recruiting new members is essential to keeping most Recruitment Brochure branches active. From time to time, all branches The NSW Labor Recruitment Brochure is available should reflect on recruitment strategy. on the NSW Labor Website www.nswalp.com. This full colour document includes basic information Branch Officials should direct and oversee any about the benefits of NSW Labor Membership. recruitment activities. However, sharing the responsibility for recruitment involves members Recruitment Flyer in preparing your Branch for the future. The Recruitment Flyer is available from the Members’ Area of the Party Website NSW LABOR RECRUITMENT MATERIAL www.nswalp.com. This black and white flyer can be photocopied for distribution. Membership Application Form A NSW Labor Membership Application Form is included as an attachment to this publication. This form is also available from the Members’ Area of the Party Website www.nswalp.com. BRANCH RECRUITMENT GUIDE 2009 4 DISTRIBUTING RECRUITMENT MATERIAL LETTERBOXING The Recruitment Flyer is a great resource for letterboxing. This low cost flier directs interested parties in your local area to contact Party Office for more details about membership. You should focus on areas that are likely to support Labor ie. student accommodation. You can use Polling Booth results to determine which parts of your local area are more likely to vote Labor. Alternately, if your Branch is organising a community forum you may like to use this to target your letterboxing. For example, if your Branch is organising a forum on public housing, letterbox areas with a high number of Department of Housing residences. Alternately, you may like to consider doorknocking with a petition for people to sign on an important DOORKNOCKING issue – supporters can be personally approached and Doorknocking can be a good recruitment exercise. invited to join the Party. Remember to choose an issue However, Party Office recommends caution in that is likely to identify Labor supporters. recruitment doorknocking. Doorknock in pairs during the middle of the day LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC PLACES for safety. Volunteers should also wear some form Most local areas have a few well-known places where of identification to avoid resident concerns about community information is available. Some examples household security. are libraries, cafes, churches, community centres, It is important that doorknockers adopt an appropriate supermarkets and book shops. manner. Members of the public should not feel Appoint a Branch member to distribute Branch pressured to join to the Party. Recruitment Flyers at these locations. This member Do not under any circumstances receive may also be able to monitor what material is available membership fee payments while doorknocking. in regards to other community groups for future Simply leave interested people with a Recruitment collaboration. Brochure or Membership Application Form. STREET STALLS Holding a street stall at a local shopping centre is another effective way to distribute NSW Labor recruitment material. Choose a shopping centre Tanya Gadiel MP seeks your support that is mainly frequented by locals. Keep our boat afloat – Fight for the Ferry Dear Resident, Combine your recruitment activities with campaigning The Special Commission of Inquiry into S Ferries recommends the scrapping of the ydney RiverCat Service from Rydalmere to Parram Parramatta Advertiser, 19 December 2007 If implemented, this would have a disastrous for a local Labor Candidate or Representative. atta. effect on our local area and mean: Reduced business viability; Loss of an alternative means of transport; and Fewer tourists visiting Parramatta and suppor A conversation with a local MP or Councillor can our local businesses. ting That’s why I’m working with Parramatta City Coun and the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce to: cil Retain our ferry service; and often attract passers-by. Make the service more reliable and user frien Please sign the petition below to keep our b dly. oat afloat. Tanya Gadiel MP You can also use a petition or campaign activity to State Member for Parramatta Daily Telegraph, 3 November 2007 Sign the Petition · Keep our boat afloat To Members of the NSW Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney initiate discussion. Remember that you may need This petition of citizens of NSW draws to your at the recommendation made by the Special Commis tention Inquiry into Sydney Ferries that the RiverCat It will mean reduced business viability, los Rydalmere to Parramatta be scrapped. sion of Service from means of transport, and fewer tourists visiting Pa Council or Centre approval before holding a stall. s of an alternative We consider this recommendation unaccep and supporting our local businesses. rramatta table. We therefore urge MPs to reject this recommend expand the service to make it more reliable and Name (Please print) ation, and Signature frequent. 1 Address Email Address 2 BRANCH RECRUITMENT GUIDE 2009 Email Address 5 3 Email Address 4 Email Address 5 Email Address Please return to Tanya Gadiel MP, 90 George Or by fax to 9891 5618. For more petitions Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150. please phone Tanya Gadiel’s office on 9891 4722 Feb 2008 . ADVERTISING Reaching members of the community who are likely to consider Party membership requires a well-considered strategy. Consider how to target members of the community who are already engaged in community activities or have political interest. Branches may like to brainstorm organisations and locations that are likely to be a good contact point for potential members. You could start by discussing branch members’ community involvement for ideas. LOCAL PAPERS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERS Make your presence known DIRECTORIES Many community organisations in the local community by Information and Neighbourhood have newsletters that include advertising in local papers. Centres and Local Councils opportunities for advertisement. Include local Branch Contact often have a local Community Advertising in these publications Details to allow interested people Groups Directory which is an opportunity to make to obtain meeting details. Many you can be listed in. your activities known to community newspapers feature a other community activists. free community notices section. If you are organising a community forum, campaign, or event, you may be able to obtain some editorial coverage. Many branches also organise “Letter to the Editor” campaigns in local papers. BRANCH RECRUITMENT GUIDE 2009 6 REACH OUT BRANCH SOCIAL UNIONS Many members have friends or family who support the Many trade unions have a formal relationship with the Labor Party. Recruitment can sometimes be as simple Party. Find out which affiliated unions have offices or as asking members to invite these supporters along to organisers in your local area. You may also have a a social event. local Trades and Labor Council. Consider inviting unions to attend branch events. COMMUNITY AFTERNOON TEA / BBQ This is particularly appropriate when events address A community Afternoon Tea/ BBQ can be an industrial relations issues. opportunity for members of the community to meet local Labor MPs to discuss local issues. This may COMMUNITY GROUPS allow Branch members to identify potential members. Building relationships with other community groups is another way to grow your membership. Collaboration COMMUNITY FORUMS with community groups can assist in directing branch Organise a Community Forum on an important local discussion and campaigns. or Labor issue. Choose topics and speakers that will attract Labor supporters. CAMPAIGNS Community Forums allow branches to network with Campaigns are a great time to recruit new members. unions and local community groups. For example, you Be prepared to talk to campaign volunteers about the can invite relevant unions to a forum on healthcare or benefits of Party membership. local charities and churches to a forum on poverty. Running a local campaign on a community issue The Branch can also promote the event through press is also a strong method for identifying activists. releases, advertising in local newspapers, word-of- Demonstrating that Party membership can assist in mouth and letterboxing. Holding a Community Forum achieving activist goals is a powerful recruitment tool. is also a chance to re-engage inactive members listed with your Branch. Remember to use the Forum itself to attempt to recruit attendees to your Branch. Distribute recruitment brochures at the event and make sure you collect contact details for
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