[nabs-l] Question about canvassing.

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi Cindy,
I had the same issue although I was inside standing by a table. My goal was 
to catch and engage students and other passers-by to stop at our table and 
donate to the cause and/or buy a sweet product; it was a bake sale. I found 
that I played a marginal role because I could not get their attention. I 
have some vision and can even make eye contact, but that is when the person 
is standing or sitting still. If they are rushing by me not looking to talk 
to me, I also find it hard to get their attention. Same issue when asking 
for help; by the time I ask a question, they have walked far enough away 
that they are not listening.

The main advice I have is to perhaps hold up a sign about your
cause. I also think this is where good nonverbal communication comes in. If 
someone showed you a motion for "come here" or something like that, maybe 
that would get their attention. Also, probably what you are wearing will 
help. Often, clothing does the talking. People just do not want to stop for 
random things. But if your clothes indicate your purpose, maybe they will 
have a look. So, will you be wearing a t shirt or hat or something to 
indicate you are a volunteer with this cause? If you have some wearable 
advertisement, this might help attract attention.

Good luck.
Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Cynthia Bennett
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 12:21 AM
To: Jobs for the Blind ; National Asociation of Blind Students
Subject: [nabs-l] Question about canvassing.

Most of my in-person fundraising experience has occurred at
blindness-related events. But now I have a potential opportunity where
I would canvas. This means that I would stand on a street, locations
change on a daily basis, and it is my responsibility to engage
passersby about a cause in the hopes of signing up members of the
cause and therefore raising money. My conversation skills are very
good, and I am also good at gaging peoples’ interest once the
conversation has started. But I have some fears that I would love some
advice about. Typically, canvassers make eye contact with people when
they are about 30 feet away. My first alert that anyone is around will
be talking or footsteps. Just from my own observations from my
experience when I need to ask a question on the street, often times,
by the time I have finished my question and by the time the person
realizes that I have engaged them in conversation, they are actually a
few steps past me. So, do you have any strategies for engaging people
sooner? This may not be an issue since the person will quickly realize
that I am blind, but it will also be easier for them to continue on
their way without speaking to me whereas they may have stopped if I
had engaged them before they pass me. This position has strict
fundraising quotas, so engaging people in conversation properly is
essential.

I am so used to having a table to use as a center for engaging people
at events the NFB has done in public, but I feel that this position
really relies on me as a person since I don’t have anything else but
myself.

Even though this opportunity is not ideal, I think I could learn some
great skills, and it is immediately available because I know the
director of the office. But it is also not something I want to do long
term. So if I accept it as and opportunity, I want to have some
concrete methods for attempting to do the job successfully so my short
time there can be profitable for the causes and for myself.

I appreciate any feedback you can offer.

-- 
Cynthia Bennett
B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington

clb5590 at gmail.com
828.989.5383

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