Pennsylvania Afl-Cio Statewide Action

PENNSYLVANIA AFL-CIO STATEWIDE ACTION

TABLE OF CONTENTSPage

2015 Action Theme- Family Literacy Support Community Service

Commitment Registration2

Volunteer Recruitment3

Tips 4

Checklist5

Reporting6

Messaging and Communication

Talking Pointsand Social Media7

Media Advisory8

Press Release9

Flyer10

Planning Template11

Liability Waiver/Release Form14

STATEWIDE ACTION

2015COMMITMENT REGISTRATION

Join us by making a commitment now.

We don’t just talk the talk – WE TAKE ACTION!

Will your organization participate in the

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Statewide Action?

------

Yes, count us in.

We want to get involved inThe Statewide Action Project!

What agency or other community partners will you work with? ______

Please provide any web or social media links for your Statewide Action activity:

Website______

Facebook______

Twitter______

Let us know who you are:

Organization______

Contact Name______

Title______

Email address______

Phone number______

(Email to Carl Dillinger, or fax to 717-231-2865)

2015 STATEWIDE ACTION

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

Ask! The key to recruiting volunteers is that you must ask, in person if possible. Of course send emails, announce at meetings, circulate sign-up sheets, post on your website, pass out flyers, use the union bulletin board and use all the methods you can. But asking face to face is the best way to recruit volunteers. Get help from a few people you can count on. Make a list of your potential volunteers, divide the list, and start to ask people to help. Make sure the volunteers know the details, what the job is, when it starts and ends, what they need to wear and what will be provided. Ask them to wear their union shirts and hats or provide union branded shirts for the event in appreciation for their participation.

Create competition. Keep a running list of volunteers committed from each union and announce it at meetings, post it on your website and social media. Decide on some kind of special recognition after the Statewide Action for the union with the most volunteers. Always give special thanks to the leaders of unions that help the most.

Use social media. You and your committee can get traction for the project by posting it on the union or CLC Facebook page, website, and Twitter as well as your personal social media accounts.

Take your sign-up sheet anywhere there are people. Union meetings, community meetings, Labor walks, Labor phone banks, church and any opportunity where people get together is a chance to get someone else involved in a good cause. ASK!

Make your case. This is a good cause! If you believe in what you are doing others will know. Be righteous about the hardship working families have endured and the need for all of us to work together to help. Use talking points and facts and figures to make your case, but your enthusiasm and commitment will be the most powerful and persuasive tool.

Keep a good list of volunteer commitments. Make sure you have their contact information, including email and cell phone. Also find out if they have any special needs, like physical accommodations or food restrictions, so there are no problems the day of the event.

Confirm their participation. Within the week of the event, confirm their commitment to the project. Use email if you want, but a call or face to face is best. An email reminder the day before the event will help make sure everyone who has volunteered will show up. Remind them to wear their union colors (hats, shirts, jackets).

Say Thank You! You will never say thank you enough. Thank your volunteers for listening, when they say yes, at meetings (before and after the event), in the newsletter, on the website, on Facebook, when they show up, when they leave, in an email and any chance you get. A personal note or card sent in the mail after the event is a powerful expression of appreciation and will make a real difference the next time you ask for volunteers.

TIPS

Make a plan early. Be as detailed as you can. Use the planning template in this Toolkit.

When available participate in Central Labor Council activity.

Ask your union and/or central labor council to endorse your project.

Work with your nearest AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison. They can help guide and support you in your work. AFL-CIO Community Services Liaisons can be found at

Identify community partners/agencies with expertise in the kind of work you want to do. (Plugging into an existing operation is more effective than starting something new)

Get volunteer commitments. Make sure to keep a list, let them know they are on the list and let them know people are counting on them.

Post your project on your CLC/union website, Facebook and Twitter. Ask members to post it on their pages too.

Make sure volunteer needs are addressed. Food, refreshments, breaks, and other essentials should be provided and special needs should be accommodated as a priority.

Name a coordinator to deal with volunteers and agency contacts, problems and overall supervision of the project.

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2015 STATEWIDE ACTION

BEFORE THE EVENT CHECKLIST

Press Advisory sent to the media (date of event)

Coordinator confirmed and prepared

Volunteers confirmed and informed of details (time, place, proper dress, wear union hats, shirts, jackets, etc.)

Agency confirmed (date, time, # of volunteers, coordinator, etc.)

Parking accommodations arranged

Press Release prepared, copies on hand

Photographer arranged

Food and refreshments arranged (for arrival, breaks, and lunch)

Any transportation needs arranged

Any tools, equipment, supplies, etc. arranged

Union spokesperson recruited & provided with suggested talking points

Agency spokesperson recruited

AFTER THE EVENT CHECKLIST

Clean up event site as necessary

Volunteers thanked verbally and by email, letter, others

Press release sent to media (not in attendance at the event) with pictures

Send links to press coverage to and ______

Thank you requested from agency(ies)

Volunteers recognized at meetings, in newsletter, on website, etc.

Feedback requested from volunteers

Report filed with Pennsylvania AFL-CIO

Report provided to the central labor council/local union

2015STATEWIDE ACTION

REPORTING

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO will be covering local events for our website, newsletters and blog posts. We need your information and pictures to accurately report your activity. Please complete the following information and email to or fax to 717-231-2865.

CLC/Local Union______

Contact: Name______Title______

Address______

Phone______Email______

Project Description ______

______

Partner Agency(ies) ______

______

Number of Volunteers______

Number of Unions Participating______

What press outlets provided coverage?______

______

Was the event posted on Facebook, Twitter, website, etc.? Please provide links.

______

Please send pictures to . Pick out a few good pictures and identify who is in the picture (name and union) and describe what they are doing. Action pictures of people working on the project are best. You should get permission from those in the picture before sharing it with us. (See Pg. 14 for Liability Waiver/Release Form)

2015STATEWIDE ACTION

TALKING POINTS

The Statewide Action is an effort to mobilize working families, neighbors, and friends to put “boots on the ground” to participate in programs and servicesin need of support.

Unions have a long history of Community Service. The oldest tradition of early unions was to pass the hat to help each other and our neighbors. We are here today, in that tradition, to support the (name of the agency) which provides (type of assistance) to working families.

The solutions are political. Until policies are enacted to bring jobs home, rebuild our infrastructure and invest in job creating programs whichprovide family sustaining jobs for the future, we must act. TheStatewide Action is about supporting agencies and programs in our community that support early reading education.

We came together today with the help of (names of local unions) and the (name of AFL-CIO Central Labor Council) to take action by volunteering to help our friends and neighbors.

SOCIAL MEDIA

A Week Before your Event

Create a Facebook event with Statewide Action specifics

Explain why this action is important on the event page (pictures, talking points)

Use Local Leadership to promote event online via Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.

Use Volunteers to Share Event Page – Post Friend-to-Friend publicly asking for commitment

Post event details to local media Facebook pages (PennLive, Philly.com, Local TV stations)

Spread Facebook Event URL everywhere (websites, blogs, social media, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations)

Use Event Flyer as profile picture for Local Leadership, Friends, and Participants

There should be at least 10 updates during the month or two before the action. (Message Inbox Updates, Photo Posts, Switching Profile/Cover Picture to Event Flyer, Confirming those attending, Friend-to-Friend Post, Facebook Chat invites, Media, Leadership, Email Blast, and a final push to have participants share event)

During the Event

Take Pictures, Post Pictures, Get your Picture taken by someone else

Make status updates of the details of your event (Time, Location, Who will be there with you)

Change Profile Picture/Cover to Event flyer

After personally thanking participants, post a thank you on their wall publicly, and post general thank you to all volunteers on the events page

Facebook Friend every attending participant to create a list of your go-to volunteers. This list will help with future actions.

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(Print on your union letterhead)

MEDIA ADVISORY

Media Advisory for: (Day, and Date)

Contact: (Name and Phone Number)

Union Workers Join Head Start Agency to Support and EncourageParents to Read to Young Children

(City, or Town, and State) – Members of area unions will be helping (name of local Head Start agency, pre-K institution, elementary school orlibrary) to encourage parents to read more books to children and help them to develop an appreciation for reading. (Description of activity:Workers, community members, and Head Start Parents Committeemembers will gather to assemble and paint book shelves for the local Head Start Center. The local hardware store donated the lumber and fasteners. The local paint store donated brushes and paint. Carpenters Local number yyy precut the lumber for each book shelving unit. The Central Labor Council’s Community Service Committee is stocking the book shelves with collected 25 alphabet books, 25 rhyming books, 25 picture books, 5 wooden 3-D alphabet letter sets, and 25 boxes of crayons, pencils and paper. The Coalition of Labor Union Women chapter will be stocking the shelves with five newly purchased games that help children learn alphabet letters.Your local union xxx number 1111 is providing four mentors and the library’s mascot Super Reader Bee, all with clearances, to provide children’s activities while their parents are engage in assembling the shelving units. Local zzzunion number 2222 will be hosting a potluck luncheon for workers, parents and children.) at the (location, of event as well as date and time.)

Family literacy is defined as home literacy activities that provide literacy skill-building opportunities for young children while enhancing literacy skill development in all members of the family. While researching family literacy you will often come across terms like, "literacy-rich homes," "family-focused reading" and the importance of building strong "home-school communication." All of these components are essential for promoting family literacy activities and raising ready readers.

The (event) is part of a statewide action underway by union members all across Pennsylvania in conjunction with local United Way Agencies to support the improvement of children’s reading skills. The emphasis is on preparing for the future by concentrating ondevelopment of early reading skills.

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(Print on union letterhead)

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: (Day, and Date)

Contact: (Name, Title, and Phone)

Union Workers Join Head Start Agency to Support and EncourageParents to Read to Young Children

(City or Town, and State) - Union workers and other community volunteers took a day off to share their appreciation for early reading and to encourage and support parents to pick up a book, read with their young children and gain a better appreciation of reading and learning together.

(Quote from union volunteer/spokesperson) “We decided that this year we would put the emphasis on development of children’s early reading skillas a basic building block of learning. Reading readiness skills begin to develop very early in life. This critical skill goes beyond knowing the ABC’s. Our community is working together supporting children’s reading readiness which can lead to improved outcomes.

Today’s event is one of many being carried out by unions and their members all across Pennsylvania as the labor movement puts the emphasis on reading readinesswhich will provide children with skills toget the best education they can.

The activities were organized by (name of local union, Central Labor Council, Area Labor Federation) in conjunction with local United Way Agencies. The programis being coordinated around the State by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s Community Services Department.

The events are also drawing attention to communitywide support for improved educational outcomes resulting in a more competitive workforce.

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2015STATEWIDE ACTION

PLANNING TEMPLATE

Local Union or CLC sponsor: ______

Contact information:

Name______

Town/City______

Union or CLC______

Email______

Phone______

Cell______

Project Description: ______

______

Agencies you are working with:______

______

Number of Volunteers (targeted):______

Recruitment Plan:

How will members be recruited? (check all that apply)

____ Meetings

____ Mailing

____ Email

____ Phone calls

____ Flyers

____ Webpage

____ Facebook

____ Twitter

Other______

Tell us how you will confirm participation with volunteers including start time, end time, appropriate dress (union hats, shirts, jackets), supplies needed, coordinators name and contact number, assignments, etc.

______

How will you remind them the week of the event? ______

Event Plan:

Start time______End time______

What food and drink will be provided? (coffee, doughnuts, lunch, cold drinks, etc.)

______

Who is the on-site coordinator______

Spokesperson for Media______

What is the plan in case of an emergency?

______

Who will take pictures?______

Publicity Plan:

Develop a press list for sending advisories, press releases and follow up calls to the media? Ask your Community Services Liaison or the United Way for help or call Jim Deegan at 717-231-2867.

Send a press advisory a few weeks prior to event

Recruit a designated spokesperson to speak to the press.

Ask the agency to also supply a spokesperson.

Have a Press Release on the day of the event

Send the Press Release immediately after the event with pictures

Issue a blog post to and ______

Post to Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram during and after the event

Post on CLC/union website

Notify national/international unions involved

Ask agency for a press release and to post the event on their website

How will you thank the volunteers and unions that participated? (check all that apply)

____ Email

____ Letter

____ Certificate

____ List on website, newsletter, etc.

Other ______

Liability Waiver/Release Form

Please complete and return by:______

UNION/LOCAL: ______VOLUNTEER NAME: ______

VETERAN? □Yes□ NoEMPLOYED? □Yes□No

CELL PHONE: ______E-MAIL: ______

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, NOTIFY: ______

PHONE: CELL ______WORK: ______HOME: ______

T-SHIRT SIZE: □L □ XL □ 2XL □3XL

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN ANY OF THESE AREAS, PLEASE INDICATE:

□Carpentry □Electrical Work □ Plumbing □Roofing

□General handyman □Other (please list): ______

□Project Leader on Site

DATE AVAILABLE______TIME AVAILABLE______

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN ASSIGNING YOU TO A PROJECT?

(i.e. back or neck injury, severe allergies, pregnancy, etc.) IF SO, PLEASE LIST:

______

RELEASE

I, (print name)______, agree to participate in the Statewide Action activities sponsored by the ______and release ______, its participating agencies, and sponsors for any liability arising out of participation in the program. I understand that I will be performing volunteer services for agencies at locations designated by the host agency. I authorize the ______and the agency where I am assigned to use photographs taken during theStatewide Action for its various publications and/or website.

Date: ______Volunteer's Signature