Recruitment
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Join a job agency?Seriously though, we are not looking for 'recruits' since we are an organisation of equals..
It was my understanding that we call upon the members of the working class of this country to muster under our banner, it states this in our declaration of principles.
'Mustering' is fine, though the banner is a bit musty now.Getting stalls at freshers fairs could be a good idea though, seeing as there is a new 'students' committee.
jondwhite wrote:Anyone got any ideas for recruitment?Emulate Kent & Sussex branch?
I have to agree with Gnome on this. They have shown an example for us all to try and take up. We need to show a presence otherwise how can we be noticed. At one time it was through open air meetings with captivating speakers that people would often first encounter us. Most branches met weekly. Many in addition held indoor public meetings. The Standard was often sold on street corners or around the pubs with each new issue.Now, as an attempt as a substitute, i think KSRB are on the right lines with their regular steet stalls. We should perhaps be thinking of how these can be made more effective and eye-catching to draw visitors and permit conversations to begin. (Perhaps having a banner flying high for workers to actually muster under).We need to explore ways on how to follow up and again KSRB are using the technique of acquiring email contact lists to keep the inquirers updated on activities.Street stalls are, however, a fair weather venture. We also need ideas for the cold, windy short days of winter. Unfortunately for other branches actual physical contact is often just a monthly (even bi-monthly) branch meeting, taken up mostly with party business. Other branches try to hold regular meetings devoted solely to discussion and these offer a more positive invite for those expressing an interest in learning more.I think EARB idea of making branch meetings a social event with a collective meal and then showing a movie is helpful in attracting not only visitors but even the frequently absent members of branches. In regards to freshers week, usually stalls at those are quite expensive as i found by googling. Nevertheless, the many student newspapers offer advertising at better rates than the normal press so that too should be explored.Once more, our experience during the election was that stickers were a useful tool and something members could do singly or in a group. I'm sure it has been suggested several times in the past but little done about it. A series of stickers, IMHO, should be designed and made available. We are not talking about breaking the bank with that sort of investment and certainly nothing beyond our technical abilities.Does anyone know if our media committee re-posted the BBC report and forwarded Cde Buick's comments as a press release to our extensive media list rather than waiting for some of them to pick up the story and perhaps distort it? In relation to the internet, I think each branch should have their own blog using local news and events to comment upon. From doing the SOYMB blog i find that many news stories have the statistics and information broken down to a local level and if used by branches it would give that local touch that people can connect with. When there is no news-worthy story or fact or quote that can be used, a brief educational post can suffice to keep the blog active. I leave the Facebook and Twitter participants to suggest better ways we can increase our followers and likes on those.
gnome wrote:Emulate Kent & Sussex branch?Out of interest how do most new enquirers find the branch, through the website, seeing the street stall or something else?
alanjjohnstone wrote:In regards to freshers week, usually stalls at those are quite expensive as i found by googling.With cash reserves of £452,250 according to the BBC, I shouldn't imagine that being a problem.
DJP wrote:gnome wrote:Emulate Kent & Sussex branch?Out of interest how do most new enquirers find the branch, through the website, seeing the street stall or something else?
All three. At least two of our newest members and a current applicant, whose Form 'A' will come before the EC in August, resulted from electoral activity and/or street stalls. Others have found the party through the website, then attended the branch and been overwhelmed by the eclectic mix of comrades (we've been described as the 'dream team'!). Keeping members and supporters regularly informed and involved (there are now 121 contacts on the branch's list) is key to maintaining a consistent level of activity combined with a light-hearted (well, most of the time) approach to the more tedious aspects of the branch's business. Maintaining a high profile in the local press is also important.Those who are free and relatively nearby are welcome to the discussion group organised by the branch which takes place this very evening in Brighton.http://allevents.in/brighton%20%20bn1%201yd/brighton-socialist-discussion-group/80002310208951#And here's the quarter page advertisement in last Saturday's edition of the Brighton Argus, similar to the one which brought three visitors along to the June introductory meeting.
Quote:The living movement always appeals to the young, and the mark of a living movement is its ability to attract the young. Wherever you see a party anywhere that has no young people, you can say for sure that its prospects are dim. The experienced troops of every army, even the best, always need renewal and replenishment.– James Cannon, the American Trotskyist of the Socialist Workers Party, words for ourselves to heed
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