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How To: Aid Reform Campaign
Spike
Oct 13th-20th
#fixaid
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Table of Contents
1. Getting started - Overview
a. Background Information and Key Contacts
b. How to read this guide
c. Who should be reading this?
2. Getting the word out
a. Eventbrite
b. University department promotion
c. Reaching out to student clubs and associations
3. Member Learning
a. Background
b. Goal
4. Phone-In Event
a. Background and Why Over the Phone?
b. Leverage and Window
c. Goal
d. Reading Material
e. Execution
f. Organizing Great Phone-In Sessions
g. I’ve never done this before - what can I expect when calling?
h. What we are saying in a nutshell
i. Other things to take into consideration
j. Following Up
5. Tracking and Trello Management
a. Tracking and Measurement
b. Trello Management (For Advocacy Reps, DT Members, and NO Staff)
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1. Getting Started - Overview
Welcome to the Fall Advocacy Campaign Spike! This campaign spike is running from October
13th to October 20th. We’ve put together this resource package to help you run a smooth and
successful member-learning and MP Phone-In events.
Background Information and Key Contacts:
Before diving in - please read the following documents:
2013-2015 Advocacy Strategic Plan
Aid Reform Key Messages
Aid Reform Campaign Spike - Concept Brief (describing events happening at chapters and
national office) *just skim through
Who to contact at national office
How to read this guide:
This guide is a step-by-step instruction manual providing guidance in executing each part of the
campaign spike.This guide also assumes that you’ve read the campaign spike brief overview
and you are ready to put pieces into action.
There are several processes to campaign spike which we envision chapters can take the lead
on and the guide will elaborate upon each process:
Who should be reading this?
This guide is intended for advocacy reps, members of the advocacy distributed team, and finally
chapter members who are leading campaign events on campus. The guide is also intended to
familiarize presidents with campaign spike activities, hence deepening their understanding of
what advocacy teams are putting into action on campuses and within city networks.
Ready? Set? Let’s Dive in!
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2. Getting the word out
While you are in the planning stages, be as creative in possible in promoting your events on
campus. Most of you are already familiar in posting Facebook events, using myEWB, and
sending through chapter newsletters -- and we put together some additional ways in drawing
new people to EWB who are interested in advocacy.
Eventbrite:
Eventbrite is a great tool that you can include as URL in all of your promotional materials. In
addition, you can select options to show the names of those who have already confirmed their
attendance, thus encouraging people to attend. Eventbrite is attractive and engaging because
you can play with the look and messaging. A sharp eventbrite looks really professional.
Here is a sample eventbrite invitation that you can use. Do feel free to play around and add
attractive photos! It increases the likelihood of people wanting to attend.
University department promotion:
Sending an email to university departments is a great way in finding keen individuals. You can
promote both campaign spike activities by sending an email to administrative representatives
within departments. Browse through departmental websites to find contact information.
Examples of departments which can draw interested persons:
● International Studies/Global Development
● Political Science/International Relations
● Public Policy
Click on this template for a sample letter to an administrator. Also feel free to customize the
letter. As a pro-tip, email each department administrator individually. The tone of the email
should be professional because it increases the likelihood of being sent across departments.
Include your title with the chapter or organization as well.
Reaching out to student clubs and associations:
Aid reform is more than just an EWB issue, and there are many great organizations with shared
values which can potentially add value. Many university campaigns such as Fair Trade Campus
pushes have come to fruition because many groups came together supporting sustainable
consumption.
Examples of clubs which can draw interested persons:
● Political Science Student Associations/International Relations Associations
● Oxfam Student Clubs
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Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)
Feel free to modify the sample letter to university administrators in reaching out to
organizations.
3. Member Learning Event
Background:
As advocacy is starting fresh this year with aid reform being the first campaign spike, we’re
desiring to equip chapters with an overview of our successes and policy recommendations.
As you promote the campaign spike on campus - it’s desirable for the member learning session
to serve as the first major intake session in executing the campaign. This can happen during the
week prior to October 15th, or during the week of the 15th.
Goal:
Our aim is to bring chapter members up to speed regarding EWB advocacy focus areas, more
particularly the aid reform campaign. We want to prepare members to host MP Phone-in events
and recruit new members.
We put together a member-learning Prezi for your session. The session is aimed to be one
hour covering the following:
● A brief overview of EWB
● Our past campaigns with aid reform
● Campaign spike details
In addition, we included facilitators notes for the presentation and an event sign-up sheet.
Please have copies of each handy when you run the ML session. The sign-up sheet in particular
is important in tracking people who attend. Please have all attendees sign-in during the session.
4. Phone-In Event
Background and Why Over the Phone?
On Oct 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th EWB chapters and networks across the country will be hosting
“phone-ins” where people will telephone MP offices at their nearest riding, requesting that we
want to see substantial reforms to Canada’s foreign assistance this year.
October 16th 2013 is when members of parliament return to the house of commons. That day,
the Harper Government is expected to give the throne speech. There will be lots of analysis
happening and the subsequent reaction to the speech will be covered by national media. Our
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intention is to influence the reaction to the throne speech, having Canada’s foreign aid become
a topic of discussion within the house of commons.
A telephone conversation is a direct, low resource way to engage MPs in the quickest way
possible. In some cases, a phone call to a MP’s office can be even more effective than writing a
letter. As a constituent, one phone call can stick out in an MP’s mind if you can demonstrate
being knowledgeable, that you respect his/her time, and that this issue is important to you.
MP offices are required to listen and take action from concerns that constituents raise.
Internally, MP offices typically have certain thresholds should they need to respond to various
issues. If riding offices receive 25 calls to their offices about one particular issue, the office will
contact the MP and will subsequently need to raise it within the house of commons. Our
intention is to match or exceed this threshold, and in turn recommend a course of action, that
which we’d like MP’s to take.
Leverage and Window:
October 17th 2013 is the U.N. recognized, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Many
countries offer statements and we can use this opportunity to embark upon a monumental push
in garnering public attention.
Goal:
Our aim is to have at least two chapters per province hosting a MP Phone-In session. Once 2530 calls have been received by the nearest MP Office – mission accomplished. Our goal is to
have MPs raise the issue of foreign aid reform within the house, and refer our policy
recommendations to ministers Baird, Paradis, and party critics.
Optional Reading Material:
Here are political party platforms along with links to each person responsible for international
development:
New Democratic Party (NDP): http://xfer.ndp.ca/2013/policybook/2013-04-17-PolicyBook_E.pdf
International Development Critic: Helen Laverdiere
Conservative Party of Canada:
http://www.conservative.ca/media/2012/06/ConservativePlatform2011_ENs.pdf
Minister of Foreign Affairs: John Baird
Minister of International Co-operation: Christian Paradis
Liberal: http://www.liberal.ca/files/2011/04/liberal_platform.pdf
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International Development Critic: Kirsty Duncan
Green:http://www.greenparty.ca/files/attachments/green-book-2011-en.pdf
Party Leader: Elizabeth May
Execution:
Phone-in events need to happen during daytime office hours. They can be over multiple days,
or within a single day - so long as they reach our goal of 25 quality telephone calls to the
nearest MP riding.
In planning, you will need the following ingredients:
1. Full access to a quiet room with internet access which is suitable in making a phone call
where both parties can clearly and effortlessly hear each other.
2. Having internet access, laptops, and mobile phones fully charged and ready, along with
access to power.
3. A lead (or leads) who can stay throughout the entire event, manage calls, answer
questions, and help people at the phone-in.
The lead/leads are the point-people who will be responsible for all the following:
1. Having people sign-in using the event sign-up sheet.
2. Spot training using the member-learning Prezi (if they haven’t seen it already).
3. Reviewing the MP Phone-In talking points with the caller so he/she has a good
understanding of what is expected.
4. Ensure all callers complete the MP Phone-In feedback form once their call is finished.
5. Responses for the feedback form can be seen here.
Tips Organizing Great Phone-In Session:
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Book a quiet room for (2-3 hours) during daytime for MP Phone-In sessions. This can be
a meeting room, or study room. A quiet spot allowing people coming in and out is
perfect.
A “drop-in” style format where callers can be briefed, make the call, and enter feedback
while in the room is ideal because leads can be present in supporting the caller with
questions.
Should the room become too noisy, conduct briefs inside, and encourage callers to find
a space outside, returning to the room to fill out the feedback form.
There may be people arriving who have not attended the Member Learning session. In
this instance, we recommend running thoroughly reviewing talking points with the caller,
also referring to the Prezi when necessary.
Aim for the estimated turnaround time for a caller to be 15 minutes. 5-6 minutes of
briefing, 5 minute call, 5 minutes for feedback form. Allow more time for briefing and
answering questions should the caller be new to EWB and this process.
When possible try to group briefings together, so afterwards calls can be made
sequentially.
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The tone for calls should be pleasant, direct and short.
Have fun! Experiment with tactics to see what works - the calls are a wonderful
opportunity to engage with a political process!
I’ve never done this before - what can I expect when calling?
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Locate your MP riding by entering your EWB chapter postal code into this Elections
Canada website and click on “Search”.
When you arrive at the next page, click on “Get More Information on Your Member of
Parliament”.
You will be directed to the MPs home page. Afterward make note of the telephone
number from their constituency address. This is the number you want to call.
When you do call, a staff person will answer. This is most likely an executive assistant.
Kindly introduce yourself, and keep the talking points in mind. The person on the other
line may refer you to a case manager; however, because you are inquiring about a
political process, you most likely speak with the executive assistant.
Be polite, personable, and improvise a little.
What are we saying in a nutshell:
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Welcome back to parliament.
Why we are calling.
Why foreign aid is important.
Three-point plan in reforming foreign aid.
Request that idea be presented in the house once parliament resumes business
coinciding with the international day for the elimination of poverty on October 17th 2013.
Request MPs refer the issue to minister Baird, or minister Paradis. In addition, request
that MPs refer the issue to their own party critic.
Other things to take into consideration:
1. ‘Gas Lighting’ on behalf of office staffer.
Gas Lighting is when office staffers deliberately change the subject in an attempt to avoid the
question that’s being asked, thus adding more considerations which can spiral out of context. To
nip this in the bud, stick to the issue.
2. Background check your MP.
Most MPs have specialities and different portfolios for certain issues. As a recommendation
research beforehand which aid bills they have endorsed. Check Trello (ask a DT member for
this information).
Following Up:
After each conversation follow-up with your MP via Twitter!
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To find your MP Twitter handle - check out Poltwitter this is a neat tool in which you can track all
tweets and facebook posts from political parties. You simply need to enter your chapters postal
code, or the name of the MP.
Each tweet you send should include all of the following:
1. @EWB - to refer back to the organization and EWB’ers can retweet.
2. @HonJohnBaird - we have to let our Minister for Foreign Affairs know.
3. @christianparad - we also have to let our Minister for International Co-operation know.
4. #fixaid - the hashtag we’re using to to track our events’ reach across Canada and
synchronize and track our communication.
5. #cdnpoli - a high traffic hashtag for any political news.
You can also repurpose these sample tweets:
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[@insert MP handle] Welcome back! Can you fix our aid? bit.ly/19byfeu
@HonJohnBaird @christianparad @EWB #cdnpoli #fixaid
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Just called [@insert MP handle] to fix Canada’s foreign aid bit.ly/19byfeu
@HonJohnBaird @christianparad @EWB #cdnpoli #fixaid
5. Tracking and Trello Management
Tracking and Measurement:
Leads, please keep the sign-up sheets and enter the data from both member-learning and MP
Phone calls into this survey after all campaign events are over. Our aim to have the best
possible baseline data to analyze our impact and plan for future campaigns.
The survey responses end up in this form
Trello Management (For Advocacy Reps, DT Members, and NO Staff):
Once all data is entered into surveys - the distributed team will be hosting a Trello teaching
session where NO staff members and advocacy reps will be entering all backdata into the
system. Baseline data for the win!
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