Outreach Idea

[brendan.ritter]

There have been some suggestions that our primarily flier and mailing list based outreach may not be totally effective. 

While I thank Chris on providing the estimate for sending out mailers, I wanted to suggest a more time intensive, but less capital intensive option:

It seems like one way to spread the word would be to set up a table in front/inside of the subway and answer questions anyone had as well as let them know when meetings would be. This could also humanize the introduction process (which, observing the reddit comments, might be a good thing)

In suggesting this, I am also volunteering to:
1) Man the table
2) Provide the table and chairs
3) Look into getting some branded stuff to decorate the table.

IMO the last needed thing might be to anticipate and put together a FAQ doc so that the people manning the table are all on the same page regarding important issues. 

[Zachary Yaro]

That sounds like a great idea!  If we have the supplies, could also table at city events in the neighborhood just like city staff do to introduce more residents to 311, SBAC, CPC, PTAC, etc.

I agree having some sort of brief page for folks tabling for the first time would be good, so it doesn't feel so daunting representing the DSNC to all the folks who come through the square!

Do you know whether there is a communication channel or meeting schedule yet for the Outreach Committee?  That seems like the place to plan the materials?

Zachary Yaro

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[Christopher Beland]

Tabling would be awesome! In addition to the Red Line entrance and special events, some people have suggested having a table at the local schools (all of which are slightly outside our inner boundary) since it seems parents with children in the Somerville school district are under-represented in the active DSNC membership.

The Outreach Committee has a Google Drive folder here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XOpyEuXdE0lDK_U2z4XxBU3Sp8fslIFw

Our new member application form and whatnot is there. Feel free to upload any materials you think would be helpful; this would be a good place to start an FAQ for outreach table volunteers. We can also use the 2026 folder for event-specific documents.

The Outreach Committee doesn't have an email list or anything yet, but if one of you wants to pick a platform and make a space for us, I can supply the contact info of the volunteers who have been postering. I'd say an email list like dnsc-o...@googlegroups.com would be fine; it just requires a bit of moderation to keep out spammers. If we want something more real-time because we'll actually be physically at events and trying to find each other, maybe a Discord or Slack would be helpful.

I agree some sort of meeting would help to plan this out. (One big question is whether people are willing to do a general awareness and membership drive, or if we want to target specific events like our board and officer election or a CBA vote.) I'm getting overloaded with organizational tasks, and I think other folks have more constrained schedules than I do, so if one of you would be willing to figure out the best time and platform to meet, that would be awesome. I am out of town Feb 24 - Mar 5, but otherwise free most of the time and happy to participate in a supporting role.

-B.

[Marilyn]

We met a lot of people during polling at the library. Many were moms with kids in tow. A table there would be good. I also suggested the Winter Farmers Market. It is not Davis specific but maybe one or more of the other neighborhood councils would want to share a table. Davis market starts in April which is not far away.

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[Reebee Garofalo]

Perhaps a table at the Senior Center. 

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[Ashish Shrestha]

This won't be relevant for a few months, and I don't know if it was done in the past, but tabling at the Davis Square Farmers Market would be a good idea.  Also festivals, e.g. HonkFest.

[Elaine Almquist]

These are all wonderful ideas!

Best,

Elaine

Elaine F. Almquist

(she/her/hers)

BlueSky @EAlmquist  Instagram: @EFAlmquist
Phone: 978.375.2448

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[Zachary Yaro]

I am not insisting on organizing Outreach Committee meetings.  It just sounded as though the Outreach Committee was already formed and meeting, and I wanted to figure out how to get looped in on that.  Maybe just a section of DavisSquareNC.org/contact with committee information?

Zachary Yaro