Week Nine: Are You Having Enough Fun?
Much of the work done by conservative activists of all ages is far too inward-looking and parochial. As a result it is far from welcoming to potential new members.
The last thing anybody who is considering joining a political party wants to hear is a litany of gripes aimed at that party’s leadership or, worse, that branch’s officers and members. Just as when you enter a shop you want to be greeted by staff with a cheery demeanour so it is with any organisation that you are considering to join.
If when you are set to welcome new members at a recruitment stall or even a social, fundraising or speaker event, you must eschew the temptation to give vent to the many (perhaps justified) frustrations from which you may be suffering. It is a profoundly unattractive trait of conservatives (and, to be fair, the English in general!) to moan rather than to exhibit the welcoming and optimistic approach of Americans or Irish. It is only when considering the inherent truth of this that you realise the accuracy of Australians branding us as whinging poms!
When welcoming new members – or prospective new members – it is imperative that those individuals, whatever their age, are embraced into the conservative movement with enthusiasm. If people are made to feel welcome, they are more likely to get involved and to stay involved.
When I first joined the Conservative Party, I went to YC events. These were great fun. The booze flowed, debate took place, policies were discussed and your presence was welcomed. By contrast the senior constituency associations that I joined were thoroughly unwelcoming – and this is a problem that continues today in too many parts of the country. Is it any surprise that there are too few young activists if they are treated like slave labour?
This week why not give your activists a treat. On Wednesday 11 March, YBF is hosting a parliamentary rally from 2pm at the House of Commons. The rally is being addressed by, among others, Michael Gove, Ann Widdecombe, John Redwood, Greg Hands and a host of leaders of the wider conservative movement itself. The YBF rally, which is free of charge but where spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis by emailing christian@ybf.org.uk, is a great event to reward your best activists and to showcase the spectrum of conservative views and talent to your newer members (many of whom may not have ever been to Parliament before).
Make events fun – that is the lesson for this week. What we are doing as conservative activists is of the utmost importance for the future of our nation. But we can do it with humour too!