Welcome back, Saturday Campaign D.I.Y.ers! For those who tune in, welcome to the Nuts & Bolts of a Democratic campaign. Each week we discuss issues that help drive successful campaigns. If you’ve missed prior diaries, please visit our group or follow Nuts & Bolts Guide. This series has been focused on how to build and develop campaigns and successful activism efforts.
Over the last few years, I’ve tried to talk frequently about the importance of rest in a campaign. Having people burned out or overly stressed means that you get less productive work, create internal conflict and run off great volunteers.
During the holiday season, there aren’t a lot of campaigns going on—well, unless you are in Alabama right now—but for the most part, around Thanksgiving and the December Holiday season, political activism organizations start to plan how to taper down the pressure to make sure their best and their brightest stay functioning.
When you listen to the tax fight or any legislation, know that legislators are there too—they don’t want to be trapped in DC in the middle of December. Some organizations will be needed year round, and we are grateful for their efforts. For your local Democratic efforts though, you need to start thinking about how to plan the holidays effectively.
Not everyone celebrates the same holidays.
First rule of any Democratic planning is that you shouldn’t assume what holidays those around you celebrate. Before you make assumptions about holiday planning, work to make sure that your holiday efforts reflect your membership. Part of making your efforts successful is showing people that you respect and value who they are—and that means not making assumptions about how they plan to spend their holiday.
Democratic groups are well advised to keep in mind that there are plenty of holidays this time of year, and that can create diverse issues for your group. If you avoid making big sweeping decisions based on your membership, you show respect to your members and avoid any potential problems.
Sometimes, the best holiday plans are no holiday plans.
Every year, I receive dozens of invites to different Democratic groups who are throwing holiday parties or fundraisers. Some are fantastic. On the other hand, there are others that tell me the people involved in these small community organizations feel incredibly overworked.
Before you begin to plan a holiday party or any event, ask yourself if this event will generate excitement and energy in your organization or if it is going to be a drain on your resources that will stress your membership out.
Before you embark on your planning, do a quick poll of your group. While large entities and statewide organizations view winter holiday events as important to wave the flag, smaller organizations from county parties or local activist groups may find it a whole lot easier to just give people a break and let them choose to stay home under a blanket.
Sometimes, the best gift is rest.
Okay, you’re committed to plan a holiday event. Let’s take care of a few basics.
Ready for me to be a buzzkill? Here are a few things that you need to keep an eye out for if you decide to host a holiday event:
- If you are going somewhere that serves alcohol, try to get agreed upon limits. Drunken holiday affairs are bad. Also, if you go to an event where alcohol will be served, make sure you have a means to get people home.
- Be inclusive. Try to avoid throwing events that are exclusively tied to a religious angle. Remember, it is fairly likely in most communities your group will have a mix of people and their beliefs.
- Don’t plan an event that, financially, strands most of your membership. Groups that turn their holiday event into fundraisers need to keep in mind that the spirit of the holidays isn’t pricing people out of a meal or a time to celebrate with their friends.
I urge every Democratic group to consider one other element in any holiday planning: if you are planning holiday events for yourself, take a second and remember those who are less fortunate and in need.
Final thoughts
This week’s Nuts & Bolts is short and sweet. Not everything needs to be complicated. All Democratic groups want to do big things and many view celebrating the holidays as part of their plans. But holiday celebrations can be financially and emotionally draining. Don’t feel obligated to throw a holiday party or throw a fundraiser. Look at your organization and always keep in mind what is best for your membership.
If you do host a holiday event, make it inclusive.
Next week is Thanksgiving weekend, and we’re going to talk about one of my favorite subjects: Thanks & Praise: why we honor volunteers.
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Nuts & Bolts: Building Democratic Campaigns
Contact the Daily Kos group Nuts and Bolts by kosmail (members of Daily Kos only). You can also follow me on twitter: @tmservo433
Every Saturday this group will chronicle the ins and outs of campaigns, small and large. Issues to be covered: Campaign Staffing, Fundraising, Canvass, Field Work, Data Services, Earned Media, Spending and Budget Practices, How to Keep Your Mental Health, and on the last Saturday of the month: “Don’t Do This!” a diary on how you can learn from the mistakes of campaigns in the past.
You can follow prior installments in this series HERE.