This is an email our  Development Director Jessica wrote to one of her friends who is not yet a member of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. The key to this is that it is personal and in her own voice.  You can use this as a jumping off point to talk to your own friends and family about KFTC.

Judd,

Hey. I hope things are well with you. It was so good to see you over the holidays and it would be great to plan a time to see each other again soon. I know I’ve talked a bunch about Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, the social justice organization that I’m involved with, and I’ve been wanting to ask you to become a member. It’s been really great for me to be involved with KFTC because it’s a way for me to be part of an organization that prioritizes building leadership in effected communities. That means that I can work on issues I care about, like the restoration of voting rights for former felons, and know that the strategy is led by people who are directly effected. Same with an issue that is as complicated as mountaintop removal. In a time when it’s hard to know how to approach an issue like this from Louisville or Lexington, or Savannah, GA for that matter, I can feel confident about my involvement knowing that folks who live below mined mountains are directing the strategy.

I’m looking forward to touching base with you about this and all of the things in your life right now. It’s been great to have this in my life and I’m pretty sure that you’ll enjoy it in the same way I have. Joining online is fast and easy, but don’t take my word for it, try it yourself. (http://www.kftc.org/donate) Let’s talk soon. I’ll try to call you in the next couple of days.

Jess

The good thing about this email is that it’s casual, and is honest. The strength of our organization is in our authenticity and passion for this work. It’s important that those qualities shine through in everything that we do, whether it’s a committee hearing in Frankfort or a membership recruitment ask.

The worst thing that can happen is that Judd says no. Maybe because giving to an organization is not in his budget or maybe he feels pulled in too many directions and wants to focus his activism on local issues to Savannah. Whatever it is, that’s alright.  No harm done. The good news is that this is a very easy goal to obtain.  She is looking to get just one new member and She's already made a list of six people who might be interested. She can just keep moving down the list. Chances are good that he’ll say yes, though and want to join the organization. Chances are also good that it will feel so good when he says yes that she’ll want to move on down her list anyway.