Grassroots Lobbying: Tabling
Tabling Event (noun) Planned occasion where volunteers or organizers greet the public, engage them in their cause, and ask that they take further action towards their cause.
Do These Things
Have Fun. When you are tabling, be enthusiastic and friendly. Stand in front of your table and engage with passers-by - make eye contact, say hello and smile.
Choose a location with lots of foot traffic and a time when people aren’t rushing (for example, a farmer’s market)
Have at least 2 people at your stand
Rehearse your message, to give yourself confidence with your material. An elevator pitch is the key message that you could give someone if you were in an elevator with them, i.e. what you could say in 60 seconds. With busy people, it might be all the time that you have to catch their attention, so have something ready for a short message.
Make Your Stand Attractive. Your stand needs to draw people in. Think about what will attract people to your table and what visitors are likely to pick up once you have their attention. Statistics can be displayed prominently, so that passers-by will stop and read and give you time to engage with them. Have posters, flyers, postcards etc and other information. Make it readable from a distance and colourful.
Bring people to you. You can have give-aways, competitions or games. If you have games or colouring competitions for children, it brings the parents and children to your table and gives you time to talk to the parents while the children are occupied.
Stay in Touch. Consider having a computer with a Google Form, a spreadsheet, or a sign-up sheet with pens to record the names and email addresses of interested people. Make sure that your forms aren’t blank – people don’t like to be the first. You can always put your own details on the form.
Include a Call to Action. Offer specific ways that people can take action to support your cause. Asking people to sign a petition or an open letter or fill out a postcard calls for their immediate action. Ask them to join CCL too.
Social Media event Promotion. Social media is so important to let people know about your event. Try for 3 posts: a few days in advance, during the event, and afterward. Remember to take lots of photos so you can add them to your post.
Try Not To Do These Things
Stay stuck behind the table; we recommend that you stay in front and move around your immediate vicinity
Be afraid to approach people. If you go out of your way to talk to people, few will resent this
Be discouraged if a person isn't interested or is even antagonistic. Don’t spend your time engaging with someone who is opposed to our views; there will be others who are interested
Possible Conversations for Tabling on Climate Change
1) Putting the dividend first (present the person with a copy of the ACD Cheque)
“Quick question... would you be interested in receiving a payment every month as a reward for helping reverse climate change?
This would be the monthly deposit made to each household for the first year of the Australian Climate Dividend, and it would steadily rise each year.
Seems strange that getting paid would help reduce emissions, doesn’t it? Let me quickly explain how it works...”
2) Explaining the virtuous cycle (produce the ACD Poster)
“The Australian Climate Dividend puts a small but steadily rising fee on fossil fuels at the source.
This turns pollution into dollars, which flow to Australian households as a monthly dividend (or rebate) - this could be in the form of a cheque or direct deposit.
You and I can spend our dividends on whatever we like! But as low-carbon goods and services become increasingly cheaper, the dividend goes further. And, because it's a steadily rising fee, the dividend increases each year until emissions start falling.
Our spending of the dividend creates a virtuous cycle that reverses climate change, boosts the economy and creates jobs in a low carbon future; whilst giving polluters sufficient time to transition.”
3) Demanding the dividend (asking them to fill in an ACD Postcard)
“Sounds too good to be true? Well, the only thing stopping us from receiving our monthly dividend is political will from our government to legislate it.
One of the most impactful things you can do is write a message to your Member of Parliament.
Could you spare 2 minutes to fill in a postcard to your MP?
We have a few suggestions you might like to use (produce the list of reasons flyer).”
4) Joining CCL
“We are a non-profit, volunteer based organisation and if you can spare an hour or two a month we'd love to have you on board to help us advocate for climate solutions.”
The resources we mention in this article are available to all CCL members.
