How to Plan An ACTION

...some things to consider

• What days of the week are good?

  • Think of religious observance days (ex: try note to schedule things on Fridays and Saturdays of Jewish holidays).

• Who is free to lead the Action? (see "Roles for Action" section)

  • Ideally one or more of the Steering Committee should be able to attend

• What times are good?

  • What people are you trying to reach/have show up (Older folks over 55 might be at available on the weekdays, but some working families may only be reachable between 5-8pm and on the weekends)

• Avoid collisions with other events.

  • Do not schedule an action when there is another Suffolk DSA event occurring.

• Location

  • Make sure action is in line with Suffolk DSA goals and strategies.

• Whenever possible use an Action Network RSVP page link when advertising the event — an Action Network RSVP is better than a Facebook Event RSVP because it can be set to automatically send a reminder email 24 hours before the event, and you’ll get the email addresses/phone numbers of those who signed up to use for follow ups

• For help contact: the Communications Committee (in Slack channel) or the Chapter Secretary for one-on-one training in Suffolk DSA's Action Network.

• Organizer: Responsible for location scouting, day-of logistics, and coordinating with everyone below. (This is YOU!)

• Leads: Responsible for supporting with the training at the beginning of the action and going out with 2 to 4 newer members/prospects. This can be leadership or people that have been to more than 1 action.

• Data Manager: Responsible for post-action data entry and management (or getting that info to the Secretary or another member of SC).

• Protest Marshal(s): Responsible for safety, de-escalation, and general logistics before, during, and after the action.

  1. 1. • Works with the Organizers and Leads, but SHOULD NOT be the same comrades.

Optional, but very helpful roles (if these are not designated it’s important that these responsibilities are carried out by the organizer or leads):

• Materials Coordinator: Responsible for preparing from the Materials list (below).

• Food/Water/PPE Coordinator: Responsible for arranging food/water/PPE the day of the action.

• Communications Coordinator: Responsible for phone banking and media/social media hype. They are responsible for confirming attendees and posting updates on the Facebook event.

Helpful Materials to Bring:

• Flyers/Literature

  1. Suffolk DSA literature (you can ask a member of Steering Committee, Communications, or Political Education Committees to send it to you if you don't have access. If you need to have literature printed for your event, get in touch with the Treasurer to see how to access chapter funds.)

  2. Action specific literature

• Pens

• Clipboards or folders

• Sign-in link (bit.ly/SCDSAEventSignIn)

• Buttons (or other merch)

• Petitions (if you are petitioning)

• Table if you are doing a street event

One-Two weeks before event starts:

• Advertise as much as possible!!

  • List Action Network event link on chapter website calendar and share Action Network link on social media

  • At DSA meetings

  • Anywhere and everywhere you can think of

• If there is anything on the Materials list that you don’t have access to, make sure to arrange to get it!

• Advertising is good but direct contact is where it's at! Do one of the following things to ensure maximum turnout at the event:

  • Use Spoke to text the general membership and prospective member list

  • Phone bank through the membership list, or past attendees to ask them to attend

• If you’re going to have leads (people who have done actions before and can help newbies) make sure you know who they are and have confirmed that they are planning to attend and know what their role will be

A few days before event:

• Download RSVP list from Action Network

• Send reminder texts to everyone who has RSVP

• If people can’t be on time, make sure you have contacts numbers and have them meet you where you will be (if this is a moving action/marching protest).

The day before the event:

• Send reminder texts if possible

• Materials list check

• If you are not leading the event alone, make sure to communicate with other leads that you are working with and have them show up to the even early with you

  • For smaller events, you will be doing most of this yourself

  • For larger events, you will want leads to help get people moving while you wait for stragglers before the action

• Confirm with your leads!

At the staging location beforehand

• Identify anyone who might be inexperienced

• Quick training (simulate conversation)

  • include general overview, and pair newbies with experienced people

• Take pictures (yes multiple)!!!

  • • SAFELY and only if you have consent from all parties in the photo.

• Make sure everyone who shows up signs in

  • • SAFELY. you can use bit.ly/SCDSAEventSignIn sheet for a simple sign-in for those interested in having a mobilizer contact them later or being on SCDSA's email list.

• Make sure you have everyone's cell phone number

During the action

• Keeping aware of everyone's status via signals/texts

• Make sure any late comers are given #s

Debrief/Return to staging area

• Talk about what went well and what didn't

• Next steps for another action (if known: date and time of next action, ask people to commit)

• (Optional) take picture