Public Relations News: A New Goal for Granges During the Outbreak: Survival
By Terri Fassio, CT State Public Relations Co-Director
May 1, 2020 --
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus, Granges have been forced to close their doors for the foreseeable future. Crucial spring events and meetings have been canceled. Fundraising has been non-existent as folks are preoccupied with their own
problems, and much less flu than they were two months ago. No one knows what the summer holds. It’s difficult to plan Ag Fairs, other events and meetings and raise the necessary funds to keep your Grange operational when the members are all home. So what are Granges to do? First and foremost - keep in touch with your members. Call, email, and even the good old-fashioned handwritten letter will work. Second - hold virtual meetings. Third - Assess your situation, then develop a goal as a group and work towards it.
Here’s a few tips to help switch your Grange into survival mode -
Look for ways to reduce expenses. Example - Instead of paying a landscaper to mow the yard at the Grange Hall, recruit a member to volunteer to take on the task.
Consider a project that members can work towards at home, that can be turned into a fundraiser later in the year. For example, crafty members can be making items to sell at a Christmas Craft Bazaar.
Look for grants to help add to the treasury. There are many grants available for Granges if they are willing to put in the effort to complete the paperwork. E-mail the CT State Grange Foundation for info - info@ ctstategrangefoundation.org.
Try a virtual auction. Ask members to donate items, then use Facebook live to stream your live auction. Once payment is received by the Grange, recruit members to deliver the items.
Host a Bakeless Bake Sale. Come up with a “price” for each item - ie: cookies, cake, pie, etc, and have members “purchase” the items as a donation to your Grange. Just be clear that no physical baked goods will be exchanging hands.
Host a dinner with a twist. Come up with an easy menu to prepare - such as grinders or pasta. Set a date and a price. Sell dinner tickets, then recruit volunteers to deliver purchasers prepared meals. This is especially thoughtful for senior guests and others who may be nervous about the quarantine.
Host a virtual scavenger hunt, and ask for a donation for each person to participate. ($1 or $5) Set a date for the entry fees to be received and acknowledged by the coordinator. Come up with a list of 50 or more commonly found items in the home. Then on a set date distribute the list to the participants. Participants take a photo of the found items, and post it on your Grange’s Facebook page. The first person to collect all the items wins a small prize. All who took part will receive a certificate of participation emailed to them.
The possibilities are endless with a l ittle creativity and brainstorming. Be sure to show the impact of COVID-19 and/ or a recession will have on your Grange. Will demand for your Grange in the community increase? Gain empathy by being authentic and consistent in your Grange’s messaging to the public.
