|
|
Being a Good CVP
Introduction
Communications is a world full of meeting new people, being the backbone of your chapter, lots of
fun, responsibility and work! There are a few key powers that a super-duper Communications Vice
President (CVP) should have. Throughout this page, you're going to learn the skills and some tips
on becoming the ULTIMATE CVP!!
Sections:
The first step of becoming a Communications superhero is knowing...
What Being A CVP Is
Communications VP's must be the stronghold for the entire structure of everything! It is your job
to use your powers to let your chapter know about events, fund-raisers, and other topics
involving USY. With this responsibility, you must come through for your team, the rest of your
board, and make sure that everybody knows everything. You have to sell USY to the common person
and get them to become a USY guru, and then hopefully they can bring in some of their friends.
Great communication + members = a rockin' chapter! You're responsible for letting people know
about all your events, and if they don't know about it, how can they come? With them not coming,
how can you raise money? Even this question boggles the mind of the strongest super CVPs. Without
you, your chapter wouldn't work or function, so work hard! Without you, there is no USY!
Your first mission is to secure your chapter with the utmost, most organized, perfect
communications ever! To complete this mission you must work hard and make your chapter strong!
You are the backbone of your chapter, and even though it might seem like the grunt work, you are
important. So take care of...
Your Chapter
There are 12 very important powers that you can possible have if you try hard to be the ultimate
CVP! These powers make people come to USY and really enjoy it! Use these powers often and your
chapter will explode with membership. But make them fun and interesting for people to look at.
Communications isn't boring! You should use powers such as...
1.) Flyers
Would you believe that a few pieces of paper are one of your most powerful weapons? Flyers are
one of the most effective ways to get USYers involved. Most average people get hooked on fancy
colors, fonts, and pictures to amuse them and that fact might make them interested. The
non-average person is already involved in USY. Sending out flyers to homes is a key skill, that
can be fun as well, to get keep your chapter informed! When you make your flyers, you want to
make sure that the flyers are as powerful as possible. You want them to contain as much
information in them as possible. Times, who to RSVP to, where it is, and make it short but sweet!
Nobody wants to read paragraphs on the event! Flyers are very influential; use them for every
event!
2.) Calendar/Opening Teaser
On the topic of sending out your flyers, you can include a calendar within your mailing.
Calendars give the USYers a detailed schedule for them to go to USY events. Calendars are a
powerful tool to use. You can put events, birthdays, holidays, shabbos times, and games on them
to make them interesting! An opening teaser gets the USYer hooked without even opening the
mailing. It lets them read what information is inside. Almost like having X-Ray vision! (Even
regular USYers have super powers!) Make them fun!
3.) Phone Chain
Phone chains are great! But they're only great when all of your other superhero board members
help out! Phone chains are an effective way of keeping people informed and at the same time
getting to know the person you are calling. When you're on the phone, you want to speak clearly,
know what your talking about, and be confident! Also, don't call on Shabbat or Holidays!
Even if the person doesn't seem too interested in USY, don't give up superhero! Use your
powers to get them interested and soon enough they will end up coming! Don't give up until they
specifically ask for you to stop calling them. Then enough is enough. Another tip with this: call
back, even if you left a message. Make sure that you speak with the person you're trying to call.
Be friendly with them too. When you call it doesn't all have to be about USY. Get to know the
person you're calling. Learn what they're into. Maybe you can meet somebody really interesting!
Try to learn what they are interested in, what they like about USY, and what they would like to
see more in USY or what they would like to get involved in. Phone chains are a lot of work, but
if you get your board to help you it's a lot easier!!! Some gadgets that we super CVP's use
during a phone call are:
- Speaking clearly
- Knowing what you're talking about
- Preparing what you're going to say
- Not calling on Shabbat or Holidays
- Don't give up until they SPECIFICALLY ASK YOU NOT TO CALL THEM ANY MORE!
- Call back even if you leave a message
- Be friendly and learn about the person you're calling
4.) E-mail/Listserv System
The next step in becoming the ultimate CVP is using an e-mail or listserv system! E-mails can be
fun and still can send the message in a fun way that will keep the USYer interested. When you
send your emails, make them interesting, add funny fonts and pictures if you want to spice up the
email to make it more powerful. The smartest super CVPs send out their emails 4-7 days before an
event to remind the USYers about the upcoming event. Keep them interesting, and the USYer will be
interested! Most USYers would rather receive e-mail then snail mail due to the fact that it's so
much easier to deal with.
5.) Website
Everybody now a days has access to the Internet. It's a common thing to use and have. For this
reason alone, you should try to use a website as a power to get the USYers informed. Chapter
websites, just like any website, can keep the USYer informed and entertained. On your super
website, you can put the calendar up, officer bios, SA/TO projects, surveys, music, pictures, and
anything else that your might come up with you crazy CVP!
6.) Make Visits to Hebrew School/Junior Congregation
If you have a Hebrew School or Junior Congregation in your synagogue, pay them a visit. Share
your powers with them! Tell them how amazing USY is! Be interesting when you do this. Us CVPs
aren't boring! Bring food, music (not on Shabbat), games or whatever. If you have a lower school
with younger kids, don't hesitate! They could possibly be Kadimanicks, turned USYers, turned
superhero's of USY if they try! You can't start too early to bring people into USY/Kadima. This
job you might want to incorporate your partner in heroism, your Membership VP to help you!
7.) Bulletin Board
A bulletin board should be someplace that people will see right away and will catch their eye
because it's so amazing! Use bright colors, keep it updated, and make it fun with pictures
(pictures of events that will make them enthusiastic and say "Look they're having fun!") and
what-not. Also put in flyers from the latest mailing to keep it updated and have a calendar as
well!
8.) Synagogue Announcements
Most Synagogues typically make their announcements Friday night or Saturday morning after
services are concluding. At this time, you or another brave USYer can go up and make an
announcement of an upcoming event or something about USY. Even if a USY or yourself is present at
the service, tell somebody important at your synagogue (most likely the Rabbi) that you would
like an announcement to be made. Write out what you would like to be said, then hand it over and
that's it!
9.) Newsletters
Newsletters aren't only fun, but informational! Within this document you can publish, interviews,
games, pictures, facts, trivia, and anything else that you can think of! Even something that
you're interested in! Let's say sports and movies; you could have a sport column or a movie
review section. Try to get involved USYers (possibly your fellow superheros on board with you)
to write for this newsletter to show how amazing of a time they had and to try to get newbies
involved!
If you don't feel like making an entire newsletter, which you should anyway, this is the
easier way out. But as a superhero you should work hard to make your own! So don't give up, but
if you want to, you can put some USY stuff in your...
10.) Synagogue Newsletter
In your Synagogue's newsletter, you can include a small calendar, upcoming events, or if there is
room to have a USYers or yourself write about some of their experiences. Make it short, but
noticeable so if somebody is flipping through they can say "Wow, look at that! Looks interesting,
better get involved!"
Some average USYers just can't handle themselves and need help from those old people they live
with. This will also get those old people to get their uninvolved kid to go to USY events which
will eventually make that uninvolved kid want to go to events! You should make...
11.) Parental Contacts
Parents do have a large impact on a USYers life. With this, they can "force" their teen to do
things they may not want to do at first, but eventually after going and getting involved they
will enjoy it! Keep parents informed with events by sending out a mailing to the parents or going
to Sisterhood or Men's Club meetings possibly. A great idea could possibly be is to have a
chapter event with the parents that both USYers and parents could enjoy!
12.) Word of Mouth
This is a skillful power that can be used anytime, anywhere! Remember, wherever you go, you are a
dugmot, an example! You are USY! So spread the word about it wherever you go! If you speak about
it to somebody and I just say how wonderful it is, you can easy persuade somebody into attending
an event!
Your final lesson, young CVP...
And those, my friends, are your 12 very powerful instruments that you will be using throughout
the year. But with all your powers, comes greater responsibility. Use these techniques wisely and
make them fun! Remember, you are the backbone of your superhero team! Without you, nothing would
be accomplished! Even though it's a lot of work, stick with it and in the end you will realize
all the hard work that you just did will benefit your chapter.
Remember, this is a very very very difficult task that you have undertaken! For that, you are
appreciated! If you need help, ask! Ask your board; ask me even! I hope that you, my young CVP,
will take these powers under your wings and rise above and be THE ULTIMATE CVP!
|
|
|
