Organizing tip of the week: the Three States of Being

Most of you know that this week 1Sky supporters are holding "Back to DC" actions. In order to really pull off any event, you must keep in mind the Three States of Being:

• Ready
  
  
• Friendly
  
  
• On point

Being ready means more than arriving to your event on time. Readiness means you’re truly prepared for your event (both the best and worst case scenarios). First off, use your organizing guide to confirm the agenda of the event and the materials you’ll need. Then, think about how many people you want at your action, how many signs you’ll need, etc and plan accordingly.

Being friendly sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how simple it is to forget when you’re working to pull off an action. You want to make sure that you’re appreciative to your fellow activists at the event, as well as any congressional staff or media that may show. This will ensure folks show up at your future events and boast about the current one!

Being on point is the most challenging of the three states. It’s easy to lose your message when the cameras are rolling or Senate staffers are asking tricky questions. So, practice! You want to know your talking points well enough that you’re able to convey them in your own words. Being on point also means having lots of signs with your message, so if someone takes a pic of your group, they know what your message is immediately.

Do your think that there are more states of being? Have suggestions for future tips/trainings? Let me know in the comments!