[nabs-l] Question about canvassing.

[Cynthia Bennett]

It's fine. To be more specific, I would wear a shirt representing the
cause. I have a couple of other potential opportunities that might pan
out in the next couple of weeks, so I am going to wait on those
answers until I make a decision about this since canvassers are always
needed, but I thought asking could at least generate discussion.

Cindy

On 9/17/12, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Cindy,
> That's a tough one. Will you have a sign to hold or if not, could you
> make an inexpensive one? That might help engage people although I know
> there's still the issue of folks being less likely to walk away if you
> make eye contact with them from a distance. Perhaps a sign coupled
> with assertively verbaly engaging people as they walk by could help.
> Or, might you be paired up with another canvasser?
> Sorry I can't be more helpful.
> Arielle
>
> On 9/17/12, Cynthia Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/clb5590%40gmail.com
>


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

clb5590 at gmail.com
828.989.5383