New Chapters

Guide to New Chapters

Overview

California College Republicans (CCR) will not exist without an extensive and strong network of schools that hold the state federation together and give it legitimacy. Moreover, the future of the Republican Party is not promising unless we begin now to recruit and train more Republicans. Creating new clubs and making sure those new clubs thrive will increase our effectiveness, further strengthen CCR, and ensure the future growth and success of the organization and the Republican Party.

Purpose

In order for a College Republican Chapter to be effective and have purpose, it should strive to:

  • Represent the Republican Party on Campus
  • Bring an ideological balance to campus debate
  • Recruit potential—and train existing—Republicans on college campuses
  • Help elect Republicans to office

Representing the Republican Party on Campus

It is the responsibility of the club and its officers to make sure that the Party is adequately represented on campus. Furthermore, clubs and members are responsible for engendering an environment that is conducive to pride in their Party’s goals and principles.

Clubs can best represent the Party on their campus by:

  • Speaking up in class
  • Registering Republicans to vote
  • Attending “Club Counsel” and student government meetings (sending a club representative)
  • Establishing and supporting a Republican slate or Republican students running for the University’s student government

Bringing Balance to Campus Debate

CR’s can counteract liberalism on their campus by:

  • Holding Rallies whenever major issues arise
  • Co-Sponsoring debates with leftist groups
  • Participating in Cultural Events
    • For Example: Bringing Republican Hispanic speakers to campus during Hispanic Heritage month etc.
  • Participating in annual events (i.e. 9/11 Remembrance, Conservative Coming Out Day)
  • Hosting Republican elected officials and have them speak about interesting issues that affect students (i.e. Tuition increases, Car Tax etc.)

Recruit potential—and train existing—Republicans on college campuses

This is the core purpose of the College Republicans—where the rubber hits the road. In fact, all things we do converge to realize this part of our mission. You can do this by diversifying those activities in which your club participates (more nuts and bolts are mentioned later):

  • Setting up membership tables
  • Speaking up in class
  • Bringing speakers
  • Hosting debates
  • Having community service events
  • Throwing parties
  • Walking precincts/Volunteering in Party activities
  • Attending training seminars
  • Starting a publication

Help Elect Republicans

Helping to elect Republicans is the best way to contribute to current successes of the Party and realize our principles. Here are some things that you can do to help:

  • Registering and introducing students to the Republican Party
  • Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
    • Precinct Walking
    • Phone banking
  • Organizing Grassroots activities with candidates and their campaigns
  • Connecting members with internship opportunities with local elected officials, candidates, and their county party during the election cycle.

Always remember that College Republicans are grassroots activists and volunteers, not politicians or policy makers.

Many of these activities can be coordinated regionally or with another nearby chapter. Club chairs should receive assistance from their Regional Vice-Chair in getting involved with these activities.

Starting a Club

Starting a club from scratch may seem overwhelming, but it is not too stressful as long as you follow a basic formula:

  1. Initial Recruitment
  2. Hold a First Meeting
  3. Become Recognized by the University

Initial Recruitment

While three or four people would be ideal, initial recruitment can be done with as little as one person. In order to run a successful recruiting effort, you need an adequate recruiting table. Every club will receive a tabling packet from CRNC. This packet contains such items as signs, literature, stickers, bottle openers, and membership forms.

The Following Items are Essential:

  • Membership forms
  • Flyers with club meeting times

The Following Items are Very Helpful

  • Voter Registration
  • Stickers/ Beer bottle openers
  • Candy to attract students
  • Literature about the Republican Party
  • Pamphlets from your local Republican elected officials and candidates
  • A banner identifying your club as College Republicans

Best to Avoid:

  • Items that support only one candidate in a primary
  • Controversial Propaganda (NRA materials, Pro-Choice/Pro-Life) – While it is perfectly acceptable for some clubs to take more conservative or moderate stances than others, materials at a recruiting table should be as neutral as possible as not to alienate potential members

How to Recruit:

  • Make sure that your table is in a very high traffic area during lunchtime
  • No Chairs Allowed!! Everyone should be standing. One person can be behind the table, but everyone else should be in front eagerly awaiting students to pass by.
  • Each recruiter should have their own clipboard with membership forms.
  • Make eye contact with a student, smile and ask “Are you a Republican” – This question gets right to the point. Asking, “would you like to join college republicans” can intimidate the student, and tends to be ambiguous.
    • If they are, they should be willing to sign up for the mailing list at a minimum
    • Let them know that you want to keep them informed and updated; tell them briefly about CR’s and invite them to a meeting.
    • If they are not registered to vote, invite them over to the table to register.
    • **If they are hostile, there is no point in continuing the conversation, as it will distract you from your job. However, if they say no but they are open minded, then that might be an opportunity to recruit/convert a Republican.

Things to Avoid:

  • Do not get into heated arguments or debates with liberals, unless you have others to staff the table. Although it can be fun, it also can be a waste of time.

The First Meeting

The First meeting is critical for a few reasons. First, the leadership for the year will be chosen at the first meeting. Secondly, how well the meeting goes will determine retention of members.

Keys to a Successful Meeting:

  • Advertise
    • The first meeting should be no more than a few days after you first start tabling
    • You should pass out flyers to all of the new members that you sign up
    • Email your new members to remind them (The day they signed up and the day before the meeting)
    • Strategically put posters up in various locations throughout your school
  • Hold the meeting in a convenient location and at a convenient time
    • If you are not yet recognized with the school you may not be able to get a room yet.
    • If you can’t get a room have it in a quite place that is easily accessible
    • Make sure the time is convenient: never on a Friday or during a major school event and preferably in the late afternoon or early evening. A Wednesday or Thursday is ideal. Set a time that you stick to at regular intervals.

    The Meeting:

    • Make sure that you arrive early (at least 20 minuets) – It is very unprofessional for the person running the meeting to not be there to greet the new members=Keep it short (No more than 45 minuets)At the beginning, go around and do introductions. This serves as a great icebreaker.Introduce College Republicans: The structure, CR’s purpose, give a California College Republican (CCR) update – Ideally this would be preformed by a CCR state officer (i.e. Regional Vice Chair)

      Outline the available officer positions (as described in a constitution template), and explain the commitment

      o Chair

      o Vice-Chair

      o Secretary

      o Treasurer

      Hold elections

      o It is fine if not all positions are filled, they can be filled at a later meeting

      End with some sort of refreshments. Soda and cookies are completely adequate. This encourages people to socialize, promoting camaraderie. Or, arrange for everyone to get drinks or food following the meeting

      The new leadership should meet to determine the next meeting, and discuss short-term plans.

      Becoming Recognized with the University

      Becoming recognized with the University is essential in order to receive fair treatment with the administration. While the benefits vary from school to school, the following is a list of some common benefits:

      * Free use of classrooms

      * Tabling privileges

      * Free office space

      * Financial Assistance with some activities

      * School web hosting

      * School Bank Account

      How to Become Recognized with the University

      It is very important that you do this as early as possible so that you can receive the aforementioned benefits. The required paperwork often takes a few days, if not a few weeks to go through the schools bureaucracy. While the requirements vary from school to school, the following is a list of some common requirements:

      * Copy of the Constitution

      * The signature of an advisor

      o Your advisor does not have to be someone who will take an active roll in your club

      o The advisor is someone that you get to sign documents such as:

      + Bank account withdrawals

      + Request for Facilities Use

      o Ideally the advisor would be a staunch Republican and would be willing to help out and give advice if asked. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Often you have to settle for a professor who is only willing to sign your documents.

      o The best places to look for an advisor are the Political Science Department, and the Business/Economics department

      * List of your officers and members