GROUP SOLICITATION

• What is it?
• Role of the Senior Management Individual
• How to Organize a Group Solicitation
• The Group Solicitation Meeting Agenda
• The Close
• Collecting the Cards

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What is it?

1. Group Solicitation is the solicitation of pledges at a series of group meetings.  Each meeting should be restricted to 20-30 employees.
2. This method, properly employed, could generate a 30% to 50% increase in results where few, if any, pledges existed in the past.

Role of the Senior Management Individual

1. Endorse the campaign in writing.
2. Personally solicit his/her top managers and where possible, all of his/her managers.

How to Organize a Group Solicitation

1. Solicit top managers first.
2. Break employees into groups of 20 to 30.  Schedule meetings 45 minutes apart allowing 30 minutes for each meeting.
3. Schedule a training meeting for your captains.
4. Select a quiet room which will accommodate the group comfortably.
5. Secure the following materials and equipment:
   1. Pledge cards
   2. Brochures
   3. Table for pledge cards
   4. Podium
   5. Campaign video & VCR with monitor
6. Organize a tour for your employees at one of the SECC supported agencies.  Ensure that at least one person in each of your preplanned meetings attends a tour.  Include his/her testimonial in your agenda or invite a representative from one of the agencies to speak at your meeting.
7. Identify people within your organization who have been beneficiaries of a SECC supported agency.  Ask them to share their experience.

The Group Solicitation Meeting Agenda

1. Opening by senior management (2 minutes)
2. Support statement by labor leadership (if applicable) (2 minutes)
3. Remarks by an employee who has attended a tour (1 minute)
4. Remarks by the meeting chairperson (2 to 3 minutes)
5. SECC video (15 minutes)
6. Closing by top management (1 minute)

The Close

1. Keep it brief.
2. Ask for the gift.

Collecting the Cards

1. Have 2 or 3 people available to help collect the cards.
2. Ensure that the person conducting the meeting assists in the collection.
3. Turn cards face down and say thank you.

Last Updated: Monday December 17 2007