Dick Randolph introduces Mike Dunleavy at a fundraiser this week.
Randolph is a volunteer co-chair of the Dunleavy for Governor campaign.
VOLUNTEERS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
So many volunteers, and only 61 days until Alaska’s Primary Election is in the rear view mirror. It’s already a busy time, but the fun has just started. There are parades, postcards, and phone-calling ahead. In other words, the volunteering season is here.
The Alaskans for Dunleavy campaign has added over 100 volunteers in the past week alone, bringing the total to 600 statewide, from Ketchikan to Kotzebue.
That information was revealed during a “Meet Mike” event held at the home of former Mayor Dan and Lynette Sullivan in Anchorage on Wednesday. Every day, more and more volunteers are signing up, said campaign manager Brett Huber. It’s evidence of the strength of the grassroots support for Dunleavy, he said, and for a primary campaign is nearly unheard of in Alaska politics.
Dunleavy said that the best way for people to volunteer is to go to the website, AlaskansforDunleavy.com, where there’s a signup box with various options, such as knocking on doors, being part of the digital response team, making phone calls, displaying a yard sign, or hosting an event at your home.
Is a 600-person volunteer army too much of a good thing? The challenge for any campaign is to keep people busy doing things they like to do, or at least don’t mind doing. But campaigns are not glamorous ventures — they require a lot of elbow grease and phone calls. Many of the volunteers in this year’s campaign cycle may not have ever been part of a political campaign before.
For political candidates interested in getting better at managing a volunteer army, Must Read Alaska recommends reading:
A Guide to Managing a Volunteer Workforce, in Harvard Business Review.
If you’re thinking about whether volunteering on a political campaign is right for you, MRAK recommends reading:
http://www.politicalcampaigningtips.com/helping-others-the-best-thing-you-can-do-for-your-political-career/
