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Need input on Libraryseeds

Started by Col Barrett, June 16, 2011, 01:15:14 PM

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Col Barrett

Fellow Appleseeders,

Can I please get some feedback from yall as to who is leading the efforts on Libraryseeds in your state?

I have already done a couple of these and have found they are rather simple and not extremely time demanding. The event itself is typically no more than an hour and a half to share the three strikes, a power liberty benediction and a pitch for Appleseed. As for advertising for the event, you can download the cool 3 strikes poster here: http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=2077.msg174789#msg174789 , or request some copies be added to your shoot boss's shoot box at the next shoot. These can be posted at a minimum on the bulletin board at the library, over water fountains or maybe beside the door of the meeting room.

In addition to the posters, see if the library has a newsletter that our event can be added to. Try and have a second event in place so that you can tell your audience if they appreciated the message and thought others should hear it, then they should bring someone next month on x date. Also, a small ad can be run in local papers announcing the event, try and have this done at least once two weeks before, if not 2-3 times if the paper will allow. A sample of the press release can be found here: http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=2077.msg22285#msg22285 Remember, most newspapers need something to fill their pages so it doesn't look empty and the nonprofit angle is a good way to get in the paper for free. Don't forget to invite the librarians, their families, home school groups and your neighbors!

Once you invest the hours of getting templates together and contacts at the local newspapers then this becomes pretty easy stuff. I don't think it is out of the question that each member could share the story AT LEAST once a month at one library, if not once at two libraries a month. This will exponentially increase our exposure and get more people to hear the real story behind our program.

Please let me know who in your state has already made efforts or plans to on this front and what they have found does/does not work. I would like to collect info on this and see what kind of difference this makes in our program.

Remember, these can spin off from the libraries and requests may come to speak at senior living centers, church groups, home school groups, tea party meetings etc.

Please post here or PM me with any questions.

Mark Davis

There is no one leading the Library seed movement in Montana.

I was scheduled to give the story to a senior living center last spring but came down with the flu just days before.
Just got rescheduled to speak for 45 minutes a night on July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

Also my gun club has been getting some of the story at the quaterly meetings, the attendees are so wound up in their shooting game that they have no time to attend appleseed.

The local library has a sign on the door that says "NO FIREARMS".
That makes the place unsafe as only criminals will have guns, so I do not go there.

Col Barrett

Clodhopper,

I understand your views on libraries due to their no firearms policies. Unfortunately, we have similar laws here in GA. As you mentioned, it sounds like you are taking some other avenues to try and get the word out. Please put together a small AAR on the other engagements you have to help us determine if they are effective in sharing the message with other Americans.

As far as libraries go, if you can get past the no firearms rules, I think these can become a fertile ground to grow new Appleseeders. I don't want to sound like a smart alack, but I think your odds of encountering a threat at a library are pretty slim and the chance to share the message with others far outweighs those odds. As for us here in GA, we will continue to meet as often as possible at our local libraries and share the message, because it is something worth dying for in my opinion.

Best of luck to you in whatever route you choose to take, but please let us know if you are successfully bringing people out to hear the message and if you think they are either inviting others for future engagements or you are seeing them at Appleseeds in the future.