Building Momentum on Building Momentum on CampusCampus
Creating Huge Buzz, Building a Creating Huge Buzz, Building a campaign corps, and MAKING campaign corps, and MAKING
THINGS HAPPEN!THINGS HAPPEN!
Why create Momentum?Why create Momentum? A successful campaign depends on widespread support and A successful campaign depends on widespread support and
involvement on campus!involvement on campus! Focusing on creating momentum on campus can re-inject Focusing on creating momentum on campus can re-inject
the energy and excitement necessary to get over the “MID-the energy and excitement necessary to get over the “MID-SEMESTER HUMP”SEMESTER HUMP”
The more visibility and buzz around the issue the more The more visibility and buzz around the issue the more power you have to win victories and show urgency for your power you have to win victories and show urgency for your targets to ACT.targets to ACT.
ContextContextYou have a group of committed people You have a group of committed people
showing up each week for meetings, showing up each week for meetings, you’ve started to have some great you’ve started to have some great conversations related to choosing a policy conversations related to choosing a policy or an ask for your campaign…But or an ask for your campaign…But something seems to be missing? With something seems to be missing? With only 6-7 people engaged in the work only 6-7 people engaged in the work you’re nervous that you need MORE to you’re nervous that you need MORE to really build the type of campaign you’ve really build the type of campaign you’ve envisioned on campus…envisioned on campus…
Warning Signs…Warning Signs…Some warning signs that you could use a Some warning signs that you could use a
Momentum Boosting Week….Momentum Boosting Week….1.1. Your groups hasn’t had any events recently, Your groups hasn’t had any events recently,
and the next event is very far into the the future.and the next event is very far into the the future.2.2. You haven’t been recruiting and educating new You haven’t been recruiting and educating new
people about the campaignpeople about the campaign3.3. You’re bogged down in lots of discussions and You’re bogged down in lots of discussions and
internal conversations and getting STUCK!internal conversations and getting STUCK!4.4. In general you feel like the campaign is a bit In general you feel like the campaign is a bit
sluggish…sluggish…
The Remedy…The Remedy…MOMENTUM BUILDING WEEK!MOMENTUM BUILDING WEEK!
Kick it into high gear! Plan a week full of Kick it into high gear! Plan a week full of activities that are visible, easy, and FUN! FUN! activities that are visible, easy, and FUN! FUN! FUN!FUN! Plan 2 quick, high visibility eventsPlan 2 quick, high visibility events Recruit new rock star volunteers into your campaign.Recruit new rock star volunteers into your campaign. Get a media hitGet a media hit Do a visibility blitzDo a visibility blitz Get everyone TALKING!Get everyone TALKING! Go back to the basics…RECRUIT! RECRUIT! Go back to the basics…RECRUIT! RECRUIT!
RECRUIT!RECRUIT!
Starting a Drumbeat…Starting a Drumbeat…
In order to recruit for your group, and build In order to recruit for your group, and build up a base a support so you can run bigger up a base a support so you can run bigger events…events…
You should first start with some simple You should first start with some simple tabling events…tabling events…
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How To Plan a great quick How To Plan a great quick EVENTEVENT
Brainstorm an idea for your eventBrainstorm an idea for your event Phantom Biker
Choose the placement, date, and time of your Choose the placement, date, and time of your eventevent
Know your campaignKnow your campaign Set Goals for your eventSet Goals for your event Put together the materials you’ll need for your tablePut together the materials you’ll need for your table
To Keep The Drumbeat Going…To Keep The Drumbeat Going…
Invite all of your volunteers, people on Invite all of your volunteers, people on your list, and people who filled out interest your list, and people who filled out interest cards to your next meetingcards to your next meeting
Hold another event in the next couple of Hold another event in the next couple of weeksweeks
TipsTips Have fun! Make your events fun and exciting. Have fun! Make your events fun and exciting.
Make people want to know what you have to Make people want to know what you have to say!say!
When possible be interactive and hands-on. When possible be interactive and hands-on. Emphasize that the solutions you are working for Emphasize that the solutions you are working for are easy, available now, and don’t require major are easy, available now, and don’t require major changes in lifestyle or big sacrifices.changes in lifestyle or big sacrifices.
Avoid simply sitting at a table with some fliers. Avoid simply sitting at a table with some fliers. People won’t notice you and your goal is to be People won’t notice you and your goal is to be noticed!noticed!
Avoid an event with only 20 people who already Avoid an event with only 20 people who already know all they need to know about the issue. know all they need to know about the issue. Preaching to the choir gets you nowhere.Preaching to the choir gets you nowhere.
Global Warming SuperheroGlobal Warming SuperheroThink Superman! No…ClimateMan! ClimateWoman!
(Feel free to come up with your own name.) Background: There has been a longtime fight in the DC
metro area to create a transit line that encircles the city. The DC MetroWoman has been a constant fixture in the campaign and often stands outside metro stops handing out literature. It has worked wonderfully to keep the public engaged in the debate.
Make it happen on campus: your Climate Superhero can become an infamous figure on campus.
Come up with a costume with a visible message that you are trying to convey about global warming solutions. If you use a good mask, you can have people alternate being the superhero.
Here are some things the Superhero could do: Submit anonymous letters to the editor with the
campaign message to the school paper from the ClimateMan/Woman.
Appear at strategic and random times handing out flyers about upcoming events and updates on any successes with the campaign.
Most importantly, have fun! This is a great way to be creative and gain publicity for the campaign.
Light Bulb Switch!Light Bulb Switch! A lot of students wonder how they can lower their global warming
impact. You will provide them with a solution. Background: The University of New Hampshire Sustainability Department
handed out free light bulbs to any student who wanted one and they had students all over campus switching out their bulbs!
Make it happen on campus: Set up a table in a high traffic area near electrical outlets. Have a lamp
with a conventional bulb sitting next to a lamp with a Compact Fluorescent bulb (take off the lampshades for dramatic effect).
Have a poster and flyers that talk about how much more efficient CFL bulbs are and how much energy and money you can save over time. Make sure you emphasize that the CFL bulbs even last longer!
Talk with a sustainability department or your campus about purchasing bulbs for students (it will save them money and work time to have all their students replace their bulbs).
If that doesn’t work, talk to a local hardware store about getting a bunch of free bulbs, or coupons for students (you will provide them with a lot of business). The University of Southern Maine student’s did this last year and sales at the local hardware store increased!
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Jay-Z has 99 Problems and Global Jay-Z has 99 Problems and Global Warming is Number OneWarming is Number One
Here's the Five Simple Steps to Running a Jay-Z Event on Here's the Five Simple Steps to Running a Jay-Z Event on Campus:Campus:
Step 1: Recruit volunteers to help you.Step 1: Recruit volunteers to help you.
Step 2: Reserve a table in a high traffic area during the busiest hours of Step 2: Reserve a table in a high traffic area during the busiest hours of the day (generally, 10am-2pm).the day (generally, 10am-2pm).
Step 3: Make A Huge Sign With A Picture of Jay-Z.Step 3: Make A Huge Sign With A Picture of Jay-Z.
Step 4: Tell Students about the "Break Your Addiction Challenge."Step 4: Tell Students about the "Break Your Addiction Challenge."
Step 5: Get Every Student that Stops by to Sign a Campus Climate Step 5: Get Every Student that Stops by to Sign a Campus Climate Challenge Pledge.Challenge Pledge.
Here’s the REAL breakdown of Here’s the REAL breakdown of how to make it all happen…how to make it all happen…
STEP ONE!STEP ONE!
1. Convene your corps group together, say 1. Convene your corps group together, say on Sunday afternoon…on Sunday afternoon…
STEP 2STEP 2
Pick an easy, quick event to do on Pick an easy, quick event to do on Wednesday of the VERY SAME WEEK!!!Wednesday of the VERY SAME WEEK!!!
Time’s a tickin’ Better get PLANNING!!!
STEP 3STEP 3
Set goals! What do you want to come out of Set goals! What do you want to come out of the event?the event?
30 new volunteers! Educating 100 new 30 new volunteers! Educating 100 new students! Getting a picture in the student students! Getting a picture in the student papers?papers?
STEP 4STEP 4
Spend Monday & Tuesday reinvigorating Spend Monday & Tuesday reinvigorating campus - CHALK, POSTER, write and campus - CHALK, POSTER, write and sent an LTE to the campus paper!sent an LTE to the campus paper!
TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THE TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THE CAMPAIGN!!!!CAMPAIGN!!!!
STEP 5STEP 5 Go back to the basics, set up some class Go back to the basics, set up some class
raps, remind people of just HOW raps, remind people of just HOW awesome you are.awesome you are.
Execute a great event on Wednesday - Execute a great event on Wednesday - have music, be bold, get lots of contact have music, be bold, get lots of contact info for new students - Invite them to a info for new students - Invite them to a meeting/green party the next night.meeting/green party the next night.
STEP 6STEP 6
Have a fun meeting on Thursday with your Have a fun meeting on Thursday with your new recruits - Brainstorm a plan for the new recruits - Brainstorm a plan for the rest of the semester…Use a calendar to rest of the semester…Use a calendar to put events and activities in for the rest of put events and activities in for the rest of the semester.the semester.
Make sure everyone has responsibilities Make sure everyone has responsibilities and knows their next steps.and knows their next steps.
STEP 7STEP 7
Go out and celebrate, eat Pizza, drink Go out and celebrate, eat Pizza, drink beer or soda depending on your age, and beer or soda depending on your age, and congratulate yourselves on building some congratulate yourselves on building some real MOMENTUM!real MOMENTUM!
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What has worked well What has worked well on your campus?on your campus?
““Saying that a country that can double the speed of Saying that a country that can double the speed of microchips every 18 months is somehow microchips every 18 months is somehow incapable of innovating its way to energy incapable of innovating its way to energy independence - that is for sissies, defeatists and independence - that is for sissies, defeatists and people who are ready to see American values people who are ready to see American values eroded at home and abroad.” – Thomas eroded at home and abroad.” – Thomas Friedman, author and economistFriedman, author and economist
It’s time for us to go out and MAKE THIS It’s time for us to go out and MAKE THIS HAPPEN! It can all start with one HAPPEN! It can all start with one HUGE WEEK ON CAMPUS! Let’s go HUGE WEEK ON CAMPUS! Let’s go out there, let’s run events, let’s out there, let’s run events, let’s engage new people in our work, and engage new people in our work, and RISE TO THE CHALLENGE!RISE TO THE CHALLENGE!
Looking for MORE RESOURCES? CHECK OUT:Looking for MORE RESOURCES? CHECK OUT:
www.climatechallenge.orgwww.climatechallenge.orgfor toolkits, campaign ideas, and more!for toolkits, campaign ideas, and more!
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