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Tuesday, 18 September 2007 |
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Page 2 of 12
Building A Constituency
Building a strong support network is one of the most challenging aspects of starting a skatepark effort. Fishing for potential advocates and enthusiastic supporters becomes, for most skatepark advocates, something they do all day, every day. Advocates see a potential ally in every person they meet, even those who seem very unlikely to be sympathetic to skateboarders’ needs. Any positive encounter can lead to one of three outcomes: the person becomes a fellow advocate for the skatepark cause and helps the effort directly by sharing and spreading the message; the person supports the cause by donating services, goods, or money; or the person introduces the advocate or the project to someone who then becomes a fellow advocate or supporter. Any of these outcomes is a victory that hopefully will be repeated again and again.
WHO'S WHO?
Several governmental agencies will need to coordinate for the skatepark to become a reality.
Recruiting Advocates
The first step of any advocacy program is focusing on those people who will become fellow advocates. By building a strong and diverse constituency, the advocate builds a group of “core supporters” who help craft the essential messages that will be delivered to the broader community at every available opportunity. A large advocacy group is valuable because it is seen as a proof of support. The larger this advocacy group is, the more powerful it sounds when described in numeric terms. In San Antonio, Texas, for example, the San Antonio Skatepark Association (SASA) has a large advocacy group of skaters and supporters who subscribe to an e-mail newsletter. Counting the number of local newsletter recipients is a very direct way to quantify local interest. The group’s spokesperson can then report that SASA represents the interests of over 500 San Antonio skatepark supporters.
Recruiting Supporters
Once the core supporters have begun to assemble and the word is out that an advocacy group is forming, attention may be turned towards recruiting potential supporters in positions of power. Nearly all municipalities answer to a city council, and it’s easy to find out who its members are by viewing the city’s Web site. Larger communities may have layers of public-relations people between public organizations such as the skatepark group and the city council member. But in smaller communities an advocate may be able to just call the council member on the phone. Regardless of the size of the community, advocates should introduce themselves to the most powerful community leaders and ask if they will meet with the group. If your invitation to meet is enthusiastic, professional, and conveys a positive message, they should be eager to meet, offer advice, and maybe even offer their support. Before the meeting with a city council member or representative is concluded, be sure to schedule a follow-up meeting or request a meeting in a month or two to touch base. If this goes well and rapport is established, it will be one of the most valuable sources of information and advice the group will receive throughout its effort.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 14 February 2008 )
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