Host a Harvest of Dignity House Party
Click here to download the PDF.
Ingredients:
- Harvest of Dignity and other farm worker fact sheets for #_______people*
- Donation slips for #______* (?)
- Harvest of Dignity film and/or a guest speaker from the FAN coalition*
- Sign up cards for #_______ (for the FAN representative’s organization)*
- Digital camera or video camera
- A way to watch video, if using: ( ) TV & DVD player ( ) computer/internet ( ) Other___
- Seating for #_____people
- Menu/Food items. Is it a potluck? What will you serve?
- Drinks: #____non-alcoholic and #____alcoholic
Action item! Decide how your group will take action to support state legislation to improve conditions for farmworkers. See the options on the reverse of this sheet, or come up with your own creative idea!
* The FAN coalition representative can bring these things.
Directions:
1. Decide how many people you’d like to have at the party, and pick a fundraising goal. # People:__________ Fundraising goal:____________
2. Having a party planning team can be helpful, especially for larger events!
3. Compile your invitation list, including 2 – 3 times as many as you would like to attend.
4. Decide on the menu. Make any needed arrangements for foods and beverages you’d like to have at your party at least a couple weeks in advance. You have some options: ( ) Buy things yourself, ( ) Assign guests to bring snacks and drinks, ( ) Make it a pot luck, ( ) Request donated food from local businesses.
5. Decide on the program. The main item for the program is the video and/or guest speaker. Sample Program for a 6:00 PM dinner:
6:00 Arrive/Mingle/Eat Make sure that everyone signs in!
6:30 Welcome & Main Event: Farmworker video and/or guest speaker. Info about Harvest of Dignity Campaign
7:15 Q&A Q&A with speaker, or discussion time after video.
7:30 Make a pitch Make a quick pitch to everyone to make a contribution (optional)
7:35 Action Item Everyone should take action before they leave! Be sure to take photos or video.
8:00 Thanks & closing
6. Send invitations: first a “Save the Date” a few weeks ahead of time, requesting an RSVP. Follow up with reminders each week, and then a few days before, and the day before. You can use ( ) mail, ( ) email, ( ) phone, ( ) Facebook, or any other method that your friends commonly use.
7. Party time!
Don’t host a party without taking action!The point of your party is not just to have fun and educate people about farmworkers – it’s a chance to make a difference! In order to truly improve conditions for farmworkers, we need to change the laws, and that means that lawmakers need to hear from you. Choose one of these ideas, or come up with your own!
1) Photos or video from your party. You will need: Camera/video camera, paper, markers.
-Make photo postcards! Ask participants to make a sign stating why they support farm workers, with their name and city at the bottom. Take a picture of each person with their sign. After the party, send your photos electronically to: harvestofdignity@gmail.com
-Make video postcards! Have each participant take 15 seconds on camera to say why they support farm workers. After the party, send your short videos electronically to: harvestofdignity@gmail.com
2) Letters to legislators. You will need: Talking points (attached), pens, envelopes and stamps, and contact information about your state legislators (look them up at www.ncleg.net)
Send your NC House and Senate members a letter from the participants at your party.
The letter should mention your church or organization if they have endorsed the campaign (use organizational letterhead), or it can be signed individually if you are not affiliated with an organization. After the party, please send an email to harvestofdignity@gmail.com to let us know how many letters were signed and sent out, and to which legislators.
3) Postcards to Legislators. Grab a stack of our awesome HOD postcards for allies to sign and return to FAN. We are gathering these on an ongoing basis to use with legislators.
4) Your ideas here – We also want to hear your ideas for engaging decision-makers about farm worker issues. Got a group of veteran activists or community leaders who want to take their action for farm workers to the next level? Let us know so we can make sure a FAN coalition member is there to strategize other, more involved actions with your guests!