[nabs-l] Question about canvassing.

[Arielle Silverman]

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
>
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