In the section “Getting Started” we’ll discuss the best ways to make contact, but this will be the list from which you create the next three. Positive responses from this list should be removed from the ICL go into the Master Contact List (MLC). Negative Responses should be removed from the ICL and go into the Do Not Contact List (DNCL). Anyone who is especially enthusiastic should be removed from this list and added to both the MCL and the Core Contact List (CCL).
Master Contact List (MCL)
Your MCL is a list of contacts to constantly draw from. Basically, it’s anybody who responded positively to being contacted. It doesn’t mean they’re going to be your most or least effective activists. You may or may not ever see them at a meetup or event. They may never do anything more than sharing a post or letting a friend know that your affiliate exists. This is your pool of volunteers, activists, and voters to pull from.
Core Contact List (CCL)
Your CCL will consist of members who are actively involved. This list will be ever changing, but many will stick around. These are the people your affiliate can count on to put in the hours and sweat to be successful. Make note of who likes to be involved virtually (creating and sharing content for your social media pages), who likes to help organize events, who doesn’t mind cold-calling. Make sure to note special abilities like marketing, campaign management, event planning, and potential candidates. This list is the group of people who make up the foundation of your affiliate. This is your team.
Do not Contact List
You’re going to get some negative responses. Okay, let’s be honest… You’re going to get a lot of negative responses. Don’t be discouraged. Just put them on your DNCL and move on. Make sure to remove them from any other list.
Resources
- Sample Affiliate Constitution
- Sample Affiliate Bylaws
- Affiliate Checklists
- Obtaining an EIN (Employee Identification Number)
- 527 Organization Information