How to draw in Members for a local PP group?

[Tweak]

Uh, and more members here too.

Any ideas?

[Wayne]

The only thing that I can think of is to send out inventations to anyone that you know. There are a few folks that I know on THR that are gay but they haven't posted in awhile (hopefully due to they are fine but need to find a board that will be more their thing) and one on FFF (one that they don't know is gay so don't say anything over there).

Wayne

[Kacer]

Well, as for HERE, I'm gonna see that we have a bit more "developed" site, I figure in a week, maybe 2.

Then I'm gonna "hit" (announce) this place on several dozen glbt groups I'm on, w/a "link" to here.

As of NOW, I ONLY sent notifies to all of the Ohio PP Chapter yahoo Groups, The Louisville, KY group and the Tacoma, WA chapter.

Then I figure we'll have a "personality" very roughly established and the new members can enhance that rather than show up, think, "gee, there's nothing here...." and then never return. :/

Also if we can somehow get some "press" ... haven't figured THAT one 100% out yet.... but I'm hoping NRA News or Gun Week might do a "blurb"... maybe an "honorable mention" in First Freedom or something

Whenever COPP gets any press, I'll see if I can't also "plug" this site ....

As for CHAPTERS, I've always seen a rise in numbers/interest after getting articles in either the "alternative" papers or the mainstream ones. (VERY smal bumps from the national GLBT Mags, kinda surprised me....I figured THAT would draw the most attention.

Press Releases are ALWAYS good to generate interest of the media. Thereby letting more folk know that your group EXISTS.

Shoot, the PP had been around for about 3 years before I even HEARD of them and THEN it was my straight buddy Charlie who told ME - granted, I had been a tad busy recovering from MS - still, it was a tad embarassing.

[Wayne]

I have the board in my sig line of THR. I'm still not sure what my position is on FFF so I can't change it (my sig line), and I will try to drop off cards in the local GLBT community here.

The only problem is that most of the Community here are so anti-gun (and most don't know why, it's 'Just the way it is' ) that it's hard to make them understand that they don't have to be in groups where they cry about being beat up or bashed, that they, like me, have the means to protect ourselves. You wouldn't believe the anger that was turned upon me at the last meeting that I was "allowed" to attend because we had a gay bashing on campus (I don't go to the college but they do have a GLBT group that I attended) because I bought up the fact that Oregon law allows CCW folks to carry on campus (no matter the rules of the university) and that it was up to them that this didn't happen again. They started to tell me that I was worse then the thug that beat the hell out of the member! And when they found out that I carried (and was carrying) I was told to leave and never return .

This was when I was trying to start up a PP chapter here in Eugene (and still trying but even got the cold shoulder from PFLAG).

Wayne

[StonerStudent]

I feel your pain Wayne.....Kacer and I tried educating the people at 365gay awhile back [JEEZ] That was a waste of time and bandwidth.


oh well......keep on plugging ;D

[Boadecia]

I know Alan Gottleib and can write to him about the site once it gets up and running a bit more. I know SAF has been working with the SF PP chapter over the proposed gun ban there.

[Tweak]

so print is preferred method?

[Kacer]

Tweak said:

so print is preferred method?

I've found it to be so with regard to The COPP (Central Ohio Pink Pistols) Chapter. The other thing we did was pass out invites to our first shoot (July 24th I think?) at tthe Gay Pride Parade ... Stonewall didn't LIKE it but they couldn't STOP us either <weg>. That's NOT to say they didn't TRY.

Know the law backward and forward if you do this and carry a "cheat sheet"

We obtained FULL COLOR - BOTH SIDES 5000 qty For I believe it was under $300 - they were postcard side - 4X6. Somewhere around here I have the name of the place if ya want. IM me.

We also had funds from pro-firearms groups in the area and purchased 2 ads that ran "Pride Month" (IME when most folks make SURE they pick them up) THAT cost a pretty penny, but, IMO was worth it. We ran 1 in an "alternative" gay-friendly newspaper and the other in the biggest (I think) Gay rag (Gay People's Chronical out of Cleveland) which was also a "boost" also really helped kick Cleveland off a lot sooner than I had planned (because we got a TON of media interest - TeeVee even as well as a pretty positive article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

In FACT I REALLY want to do some BIG stuff in Cleveland `cause CPD has gone and ticked me off (NOT A SMART thing to do ) And IMO, it SHOULD generate a LOT of media interest and CPD gets freakin' SQUAT! I mean I wouldn't even SPIT on the building if it were ON FIRE! Kind of ticked

(Course it will be publicity that disses the CPD so they might NOT want to "cover" it anyway... but I'll bet that OTHER media outlets will want to! ;D