KEEPING VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED WITH ACTIVITY – CHAPTER TWO
In the previous Grassroots Corner we explored ways in which individuals could become engaged in FAIRtax activity. (I was reminded by the FAIRtax Guys that there is another way for individuals to reach a Congress Member – through POPVOX – www.popvox.com – but you may want to put it on your calendar for January if your Congress Member has changed.) In this Grassroots Corner we will explore activities as a group.
The first point to underscore is the importance of having a local FAIRtax group. Whether at your State, Congressional or Legislative District level or local level, group members feed off each other. We define a group here as any combination of two or more people who support the FAIRtax. The first undertaking for a group is to get together regularly. Groups can meet by telephone. Www.freeconferencecall.com makes it easy to set up a telephone account, giving you a dial-in telephone number and an access code. And, as its name says, it’s free! Group members simply dial in at a pre-arranged date and time.
In New Jersey we try to have in-person meetings once or twice a year. Our Nebraskan brothers and sisters meet in person every month. In-person meetings depend, of course, on your State’s logistics.
The group structure can be as informal as you want to make it, or formally organized to become a chapter (“Qualified State FAIRtax Organization”). Michigan FAIRtax leader, Roger Buchholtz, says the following four functions should be reached for, no matter the size of your group:
- Spokesperson
- Internal Communications
- Membership
- Programs, Projects, Activities
Roger Buchholtz
Groups can undertake many activities. Having a table or a tent at a fair or gathering helps get out the brand. Going to Town Halls and political events raises the FAIRtax profile where people are thinking about public issues. Get your gear for these events at www.fairtaxlogostore.org. There you can get palm cards, stickers, bumper stickers, caps, T-shirts, polo shirts, business cards, banners, and tons of other interesting stuff all at cost or below and free shipping. You also can visit your Congress Member as a group. Your group has to decide for itself what activity works best for your State, Congressional or Legislative District or community.
Giving talks to groups is also a great activity. Preparing for the talk sharpens one’s own understanding of the FAIRtax. I have a *.pdf booklet of comebacks to criticisms of the FAIRtax that are likely to come up during your Q&A segment.
Giving a talk may be ambitious for a newcomer to the FAIRtax. We, as an issue campaign, are different from political campaigns because: 1) our campaign requires a greater level of knowledge among our members than political campaigns, and 2) we keep on going after any political campaign is over. The fairtax.org website has educational materials for the newcomer and gives the newcomer the confidence to speak to groups.
Finally, have your group help out our Illinois leader, Marilyn Rickert, at a national event.
Marilyn Rickert
Marilyn can be reached at fairtaxnow@aol.com. Marilyn organizes events for us and our sister organization, Fair Tax Nation. She has had tables and booths at Congressional Black Caucus, CPAC, Tea Party Patriots, Netroots, Faith and Family, and many others.
CALL FOR PICTURES AND WRITEUPS
We need MORE of you to send in pictures and news. If you have anything to share, please send your material to me at jim.bennett@fairtax.org, or text me at (908) 578-4975, or fax me at (908) 598-2888. When others see your activity, they are inspired, and the process snowballs. When the process snowballs, Congress Members and Senators and, yes, even the President start to listen.