Post-Screening: Following Up, Taking Action and Making Change
Congratulations. You’ve hosted a successful event for The Freedom Files, don’t let the momentum dwindle. Now that you’ve introduced people to the most urgent civil liberties issues, make sure you sustain the momentum. Here are some tips to help you follow up with and activate event attendees.
Follow up
Before too much time passes, follow up with your guests in some way. If it was a small event, give everyone on your list a phone call or send an email or note. If you had a large event, choose a select number of people to contact or ask a friend or volunteer to contact others on the list.
Tell them how glad you are that they participated. Ask for feedback on the event — and be ready for constructive criticism or tips for next time! If you already have plans for a second screening or another event, give them a heads up now and ask if they will commit to being there. Ask them to give you the names and contact information for any friends they think might like to be added to your list.
Sustain and Utilize Your Activist Base
The sign-in sheet from your event can be one of your most valuable organizing tools. Maybe the screening inspired someone you already know. Maybe you met someone you didn’t know before. Maybe you’ve established contact with a key leader in your community or an organization that you can ally with in the future. On all current civil liberties issues, you can monitor www.aclu.org to find out if any actions are needed, and call on your community of activists to take part.
The next time you plan a screening event for The Freedom Files or another action in your community, the people on your sign-in sheet will be the first people you invite. And asking them to invite a friend is a great way to build your base of activists.
Toot Your Horn
Screening The Freedom Files is powerful because it can inspire people in your community. And the ACLU is part of a large network of individuals and groups organizing events and other actions across the country. Be a part of that network by sharing your news, photos, tips, and questions with us and others in your community.
Tell Us — Tell us how The Freedom Files impacted your guests or your community. Send us your press releases. Send photos. Let us know what you have planned next and how we can offer support. Email us at info@aclu.tv.
Tell Others — You can also share news about your event with your own community. Draft an article that describes your event, including the number of people who attended and any plans you’ve set for future action. Suggest ways that people can get involved and provide a way for them to get in touch with you. Send your article as a letter-to-the-editor to your local or neighborhood newspaper or for print in a community newsletter.
Continue to Organize for Action
Stay part of the growing movement of concerned citizens and civil liberties activists taking action to defend our Constitutional liberties. With your new network of community activists, you can plan a range of activities and events:
- Start or join a chapter in your area
- Return to www.aclu.tv to take action online
- Submit letters-to-the-editor to your local newspaper to express your views to the larger community
- Organize a public rally, lecture series, civil liberties film screening or other event
- Plan follow-up screenings for other episodes of The Freedom Files!
NOTE:
From a community or grassroots organization?
If you represent an organization (community- or faith-based, library or grassroots group) and plan to draw more than 25 people to your screening, please contact info@aclu.tv. We have reserved some DVD’s for organizational screenings, and can help you have a successful event.
