Education, Income, & Health
(Featuring 2015 Family Literacy Support
Community Service Themed Templates)
Statewide Action
TOOLKIT
2015
PENNSYLVANIA AFL-CIO STATEWIDE ACTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
2015 Action Theme - Family Literacy Support Community Service
Commitment Registration
2
Volunteer Recruitment
3
Tips
4
Checklist
5
Reporting
6
Messaging and Communication
Talking Points and Social Media
7
Media Advisory
8
Press Release
9
Flyer
10
Planning Template
11
Liability Waiver/Release Form
14
STATEWIDE ACTION
2015 COMMITMENT REGISTRATION
Join us by making a commitment now.
We don’t just talk the talk – WE TAKE ACTION!
Will your organization participate in the
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Statewide Action?
-----------------------------------------------------------------Yes, count us in.
We want to get involved in The Statewide Action Project!
What agency or other community partners will you work with?
______________________________________________________________________
Please provide any web or social media links for your Statewide Action activity:
Website_____________________________________________________________
Facebook____________________________________________________________
Twitter______________________________________________________________
Let us know who you are:
Organization______________________________
Contact Name_____________________________
Title_____________________________________
Email address_____________________________
Phone number____________________________
(Email to Carl Dillinger, cdillinger@paaflcio.org or fax to 717-231-2865)
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2015 STATEWIDE ACTION
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
Ask! The key to recruiting volunteers is that you must ask, in person if possible. Of course send
emails, announce at meetings, circulate sign-up sheets, post on your website, pass out flyers, use the
union bulletin board and use all the methods you can. But asking face to face is the best way to
recruit volunteers. Get help from a few people you can count on. Make a list of your potential
volunteers, divide the list, and start to ask people to help. Make sure the volunteers know the details,
what the job is, when it starts and ends, what they need to wear and what will be provided. Ask them
to wear their union shirts and hats or provide union branded shirts for the event in appreciation for
their participation.
Create competition. Keep a running list of volunteers committed from each union and announce it
at meetings, post it on your website and social media. Decide on some kind of special recognition
after the Statewide Action for the union with the most volunteers. Always give special thanks to the
leaders of unions that help the most.
Use social media. You and your committee can get traction for the project by posting it on the union
or CLC Facebook page, website, and Twitter as well as your personal social media accounts.
Take your sign-up sheet anywhere there are people. Union meetings, community meetings,
Labor walks, Labor phone banks, church and any opportunity where people get together is a chance
to get someone else involved in a good cause. ASK!
Make your case. This is a good cause! If you believe in what you are doing others will know. Be
righteous about the hardship working families have endured and the need for all of us to work
together to help. Use talking points and facts and figures to make your case, but your enthusiasm
and commitment will be the most powerful and persuasive tool.
Keep a good list of volunteer commitments. Make sure you have their contact information,
including email and cell phone. Also find out if they have any special needs, like physical
accommodations or food restrictions, so there are no problems the day of the event.
Confirm their participation. Within the week of the event, confirm their commitment to the project.
Use email if you want, but a call or face to face is best. An email reminder the day before the event
will help make sure everyone who has volunteered will show up. Remind them to wear their union
colors (hats, shirts, jackets).
Say Thank You! You will never say thank you enough. Thank your volunteers for listening, when
they say yes, at meetings (before and after the event), in the newsletter, on the website, on
Facebook, when they show up, when they leave, in an email and any chance you get. A personal
note or card sent in the mail after the event is a powerful expression of appreciation and will make a
real difference the next time you ask for volunteers.
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TIPS
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Make a plan early. Be as detailed as you can. Use the planning template in this Toolkit.
When available participate in Central Labor Council activity.
Ask your union and/or central labor council to endorse your project.
Work with your nearest AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison. They can help guide and
support you in your work. AFL-CIO Community Services Liaisons can be found at
http://www.paaflcio.org/?page_id=742
Identify community partners/agencies with expertise in the kind of work you want to do.
(Plugging into an existing operation is more effective than starting something new)
Get volunteer commitments. Make sure to keep a list, let them know they are on the list and
let them know people are counting on them.
Post your project on your CLC/union website, Facebook and Twitter. Ask members to post it
on their pages too.
Make sure volunteer needs are addressed. Food, refreshments, breaks, and other essentials
should be provided and special needs should be accommodated as a priority.
Name a coordinator to deal with volunteers and agency contacts, problems and overall
supervision of the project.
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2015 STATEWIDE ACTION
BEFORE THE EVENT CHECKLIST
 Press Advisory sent to the media (date of event)
 Coordinator confirmed and prepared
 Volunteers confirmed and informed of details (time, place, proper dress, wear union
hats, shirts, jackets, etc.)
 Agency confirmed (date, time, # of volunteers, coordinator, etc.)
 Parking accommodations arranged
 Press Release prepared, copies on hand
 Photographer arranged
 Food and refreshments arranged (for arrival, breaks, and lunch)
 Any transportation needs arranged
 Any tools, equipment, supplies, etc. arranged
 Union spokesperson recruited & provided with suggested talking points
 Agency spokesperson recruited
AFTER THE EVENT CHECKLIST
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Clean up event site as necessary
Volunteers thanked verbally and by email, letter, others
Press release sent to media (not in attendance at the event) with pictures
Send links to press coverage to editor@paaflcio.org and ___________________
Thank you requested from agency(ies)
Volunteers recognized at meetings, in newsletter, on website, etc.
Feedback requested from volunteers
Report filed with Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
Report provided to the central labor council/local union
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2015 STATEWIDE ACTION
REPORTING
The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO will be covering local events for our website, newsletters
and blog posts. We need your information and pictures to accurately report your
activity. Please complete the following information and email to editor@paaflcio.org or
fax to 717-231-2865.
CLC/Local Union____________________________________________________________
Contact: Name_______________________________________Title__________________
Address_____________________________________________________________
Phone_________________________Email_________________________________
Project Description _________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Partner Agency(ies) _________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Number of Volunteers_______________________________________________________
Number of Unions Participating_______________________________________________
What press outlets provided coverage?_________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Was the event posted on Facebook, Twitter, website, etc.? Please provide links.
__________________________________________________________________________
Please send pictures to editor@paaflcio.org. Pick out a few good pictures and identify
who is in the picture (name and union) and describe what they are doing. Action
pictures of people working on the project are best. You should get permission from
those in the picture before sharing it with us. (See Pg. 14 for Liability Waiver/Release
Form)
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2015 STATEWIDE ACTION
TALKING POINTS
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The Statewide Action is an effort to mobilize working families, neighbors, and friends to put “boots on
the ground” to participate in programs and services in need of support.

Unions have a long history of Community Service. The oldest tradition of early unions was to pass the
hat to help each other and our neighbors. We are here today, in that tradition, to support the (name of
the agency) which provides (type of assistance) to working families.

The solutions are political. Until policies are enacted to bring jobs home, rebuild our infrastructure and
invest in job creating programs which provide family sustaining jobs for the future, we must act. The
Statewide Action is about supporting agencies and programs in our community that support early
reading education.
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We came together today with the help of (names of local unions) and the (name of AFL-CIO Central
Labor Council) to take action by volunteering to help our friends and neighbors.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A Week Before your Event
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Create a Facebook event with Statewide Action specifics
Explain why this action is important on the event page (pictures, talking points)
Use Local Leadership to promote event online via Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
Use Volunteers to Share Event Page – Post Friend-to-Friend publicly asking for commitment
Post event details to local media Facebook pages (PennLive, Philly.com, Local TV stations)
Spread Facebook Event URL everywhere (websites, blogs, social media, nonprofit organizations,
religious organizations)
 Use Event Flyer as profile picture for Local Leadership, Friends, and Participants
 There should be at least 10 updates during the month or two before the action. (Message Inbox
Updates, Photo Posts, Switching Profile/Cover Picture to Event Flyer, Confirming those attending,
Friend-to-Friend Post, Facebook Chat invites, Media, Leadership, Email Blast, and a final push to
have participants share event)
During the Event
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Take Pictures, Post Pictures, Get your Picture taken by someone else
Make status updates of the details of your event (Time, Location, Who will be there with you)
Change Profile Picture/Cover to Event flyer
After personally thanking participants, post a thank you on their wall publicly, and post general
thank you to all volunteers on the events page
 Facebook Friend every attending participant to create a list of your go-to volunteers. This list will
help with future actions.
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(Print on your union letterhead)
MEDIA ADVISORY
Media Advisory for: (Day, and Date)
Contact: (Name and Phone Number)
Union Workers Join Head Start Agency to Support and Encourage Parents to Read to Young Children
(City, or Town, and State) – Members of area unions will be helping (name of local Head Start agency, pre-K institution,
elementary school or library) to encourage parents to read more books to children and help them to develop an
appreciation for reading. (Description of activity: Workers, community members, and Head Start Parents Committee
members will gather to assemble and paint book shelves for the local Head Start Center. The local hardware store
donated the lumber and fasteners. The local paint store donated brushes and paint. Carpenters Local number yyy precut
the lumber for each book shelving unit. The Central Labor Council’s Community Service Committee is stocking the book
shelves with collected 25 alphabet books, 25 rhyming books, 25 picture books, 5 wooden 3-D alphabet letter sets, and
25 boxes of crayons, pencils and paper. The Coalition of Labor Union Women chapter will be stocking the shelves with
five newly purchased games that help children learn alphabet letters. Your local union xxx number 1111 is providing four
mentors and the library’s mascot Super Reader Bee, all with clearances, to provide children’s activities while their
parents are engage in assembling the shelving units. Local zzz union number 2222 will be hosting a potluck luncheon for
workers, parents and children.) at the (location, of event as well as date and time.)
Family literacy is defined as home literacy activities that provide literacy skill-building opportunities for young children
while enhancing literacy skill development in all members of the family. While researching family literacy you will often
come across terms like, "literacy-rich homes," "family-focused reading" and the importance of building strong "homeschool communication." All of these components are essential for promoting family literacy activities and raising ready
readers.
The (event) is part of a statewide action underway by union members all across Pennsylvania in conjunction with local
United Way Agencies to support the improvement of children’s reading skills. The emphasis is on preparing for the
future by concentrating on development of early reading skills.
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(Print on union letterhead)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: (Day, and Date)
Contact: (Name, Title, and Phone)
Union Workers Join Head Start Agency to Support and Encourage Parents to Read to Young Children
(City or Town, and State) - Union workers and other community volunteers took a day off to share their appreciation for
early reading and to encourage and support parents to pick up a book, read with their young children and gain a better
appreciation of reading and learning together.
(Quote from union volunteer/spokesperson) “We decided that this year we would put the emphasis on development of
children’s early reading skill as a basic building block of learning. Reading readiness skills begin to develop very early in
life. This critical skill goes beyond knowing the ABC’s. Our community is working together supporting children’s reading
readiness which can lead to improved outcomes.
Today’s event is one of many being carried out by unions and their members all across Pennsylvania as the labor
movement puts the emphasis on reading readiness which will provide children with skills to get the best education they
can.
The activities were organized by (name of local union, Central Labor Council, Area Labor Federation) in conjunction with
local United Way Agencies. The program is being coordinated around the State by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s
Community Services Department.
The events are also drawing attention to communitywide support for improved educational outcomes resulting in a
more competitive workforce.
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Come out to help!
Education, Income, & Health
2015 Statewide Action
Sponsored by: ____________________________________________
Event Time: ______________________________________________
Event Place:______________________________________________
Contact:_________________________________________________
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1010
2015 STATEWIDE ACTION
PLANNING TEMPLATE
Local Union or CLC sponsor:
__________________________________________
Contact information:
Name
___________________________________________
Town/City
___________________________________________
Union or CLC
___________________________________________
Email
___________________________________________
Phone
___________________________________________
Cell
___________________________________________
Project Description: ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Agencies you are working with:
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Number of Volunteers (targeted):
__________________________________________
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Recruitment Plan:
How will members be recruited? (check all that apply)
____ Meetings
____ Mailing
____ Email
____ Phone calls
____ Flyers
____ Webpage
____ Facebook
____ Twitter
Other________________________________________________________________
Tell us how you will confirm participation with volunteers including start time, end time,
appropriate dress (union hats, shirts, jackets), supplies needed, coordinators name and
contact number, assignments, etc.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
How will you remind them the week of the event?
_______________________________________________________________________
Event Plan:
Start time____________________
End time_______________________
What food and drink will be provided? (coffee, doughnuts, lunch, cold drinks, etc.)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Who is the on-site coordinator
___________________________________________
Spokesperson for Media
___________________________________________
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What is the plan in case of an emergency?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Who will take pictures?_______________________________________________________
Publicity Plan:
Develop a press list for sending advisories, press releases and follow up calls to the
media? Ask your Community Services Liaison or the United Way for help or call Jim
Deegan at 717-231-2867.
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Send a press advisory a few weeks prior to event
Recruit a designated spokesperson to speak to the press.
Ask the agency to also supply a spokesperson.
Have a Press Release on the day of the event
Send the Press Release immediately after the event with pictures
Issue a blog post to editor@paaflcio.org and __________________________________
Post to Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram during and after the event
Post on CLC/union website
Notify national/international unions involved
Ask agency for a press release and to post the event on their website
How will you thank the volunteers and unions that participated? (check all that apply)
____ Email
____ Letter
____ Certificate
____ List on website, newsletter, etc.
Other ______________________________________________________________________
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Liability Waiver/Release Form
Please complete and return by:____________________________________________________________
UNION/LOCAL: _____________________________
VETERAN?
□Yes
VOLUNTEER NAME: _________________________
□ No
EMPLOYED?
CELL PHONE: _____________________________
□Yes
□No
E-MAIL: __________________________________
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, NOTIFY: _____________________________________________________
PHONE: CELL __________________ WORK: ___________________ HOME: ____________________
T-SHIRT SIZE:
□L □ XL □ 2XL □3XL
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN ANY OF THESE AREAS, PLEASE INDICATE:
□Carpentry
□Electrical Work
□General handyman
□ Plumbing
□Roofing
□Other (please list): _____________________________________________
□Project Leader on Site
DATE AVAILABLE_________________________
TIME AVAILABLE_________________________
DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN
ASSIGNING YOU TO A PROJECT?
(i.e. back or neck injury, severe allergies, pregnancy, etc.) IF SO, PLEASE LIST:
________________________________________________________________________________________
RELEASE
I, (print name)_____________________________________, agree to participate in the Statewide Action
activities sponsored by the ____________________ and release _______________, its participating
agencies, and sponsors for any liability arising out of participation in the program. I understand that I will be
performing volunteer services for agencies at locations designated by the host agency. I authorize the
_____________________ and the agency where I am assigned to use photographs taken during the
Statewide Action for its various publications and/or website.
Date: _______________
________________________________________
Volunteer's Signature
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