Peer Pressure Was Intense Today
Posted on October 15th, 2008 by Cynthia D'Amour
To blog about poverty.
Today is Blog Action Day.
- Bloggers are encouraged to blog about some aspect of poverty.
- It’s a worldwide effort.
I had planned to talk about something else today.
- But the pressure started escalating yesterday.
- And was strong-arming rampant today.
- In group blasts and by individuals.
I’ve got mixed feelings about the discussions.
- Of course, poverty is an important issue.
- I’m not sure focus sans concerted call to action is going to make a big impact.
I decided to write about the actual day instead.
- Almost 10,000 bloggers had registered as blogging on poverty today.
- People are proudly displaying badges showing they are part of the voice.
- Bloggers invited those without blogs to participate in the discussion.
Here’s what I wonder - why is Blog Action Day so big?
- And chapters moan about no volunteers?
- Leaders struggle to get members to meetings?
- Only handful of members actively enjoy and promote advocacy efforts?
What’s the difference?
- A simple graphic people can show? (Like the “proud member of” logos?)
- An important issue? (Is your chapter’s mission milk-toast?)
- An aggressive word of mouth campaign and invitation to play? (Hmmmm…?)
Or maybe I’m just missing something?
Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you get your members as excited and committed as the bloggers involved in Blog Action Day?
Filed under: Getting More Members Involved, Recruiting New Members
Being one of those that touted participating in Blog Action Day, I think the reason I got excited was that it was a way to involve one of my passions in changing the world. Did I change the world? Not at all.
What did happen though is it gave me a chance to look at what I do (or in the case of my blog post, don’t do) to change poverty in the city I live in. I noticed that I ignore the poverty that is around me and have become jaded about it. I am desensitized.
Blog Action Day taught me to reflect on how *I* can change what is happening. What I can do in my daily life. Hopefully others were inspired to make a change in themselves, only then will things actually change.
With regards to chapter leaders, I think your own excitement inspires excitement in others. When you get truly excited by something, it makes it easier to get other people involved. (Also BAD’s copy was really good and focused. I thought I couldn’t write it any better, so instead I quoted them!)
Of course, if you’re really excited about something and you get shot down, it’s kind of heartbreaking. Such is life, you’ve got to move on.
And for a little shameless self-promotion, here’s one of my 2-BAD’08 posts: http://tinyurl.com/4v7cdz
Hi Lynn,
I agree with you about enthusiasm. Do you think most chapter leaders have it, share it and find it works for them?
I think the enthusiasm need to be combined with the welcoming offering of opportunity - something that would be fun to do together vs. need to do becasue it’s the right thing or even worse how we’ve always done it.
So what’s the missing piece for most volunteer leaders?
Cyn
The danger with enthusiasm is when it turns into leaders TELLING others what to do as opposed to inviting them join in on the fun.
I have a lot of problems with associations that tell their members that they SHOULD do such and such. Your members are there voluntarily, so instead of turning your culture into a culture of “we should”, how about creating a culture of “we can”.
I see a shift in the way members now interact with their associations. It is about what the association does for them the individual, how it improves their business and how does the association improve the world around them. At the same time, the member wants a voice, wants to feel heard. I think by listening and responding you will inspire your members to be involved in a way that they feel comfortable and improve your return on engagement.
Well said Lynn.
It can be challenging for those who belive people should do the right thing just because - and resent having to sell an opportunity or change just to make someone else happy.
About ten years ago I did a program for ASAE about what younger members.
At the end, a CEO told me my program was nice - and asked if I had another version where I could teach his younger members about how to be more accepting of how it’s always be done - they needed to learn to wait their turn to have their way.
I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.
He’s since retired.
Wow!
That’s my only response.