Time, Talent, Treasure
Service Looks Different for Everyone!
We work with a lot of groups on how best to engage with elected officials. This tip resonates because everyone has either time, talent, or treasure that can be repurposed to help someone around them.
Let’s use recent events to highlight government overreach as an example - and then overlay with how elected officials can tap in:
You don’t like crowds, so going to an event isn’t your jam. But you’re:
An artist or a hobby calligrapher: Donate your skills to a sign-making party! Every event’s Facebook page will have contacts and conversations about pre-events, where to drop off signs and materials.
A Social Media Maven: Use your fast fingers to spread the word, highlight individual stories of attendees and what they’re doing to prepare, seek out new audiences for the event and promote.
An accountant who also likes to bake: Bring your delicacies to nourish sign-makers or event go-ers.
A mom with a stash of “just-in-case” posterboard, markers, and puff paint: Go thee and be the belle of the sign ball!
An avid collector of county fair yardsticks: We’re imagining all the important messages we could have hoisted, had those yardsticks not become sibling swords…
Any good candidate will seek out local businesses and constituents to highlight:
The Artist: Design an invitation and collateral for a town hall or fundraising event.
The Media Maven: Get the candidate’s word out by developing messaging, helping manage their accounts and communities.
The Accountant: Every candidate needs a campaign treasurer. It’s not hard work - just tracking the contributions and expenses and reporting them - and it’s VERY important (and incredibly helpful) work.
The posterboard mom: Guaranteed you have mom friends
The County Fair Collector:
A few other ideas - are you a:
Business owner? Host a commercial yard sign on the property.
Musician? Offer to provide entertainment for a fundraising event - piano, strings, singing, etc.
Enjoy outdoor work? You can place yard and commercial signs - bring your hammer and zip ties!
What are some creative ways you’ve used your time, talents, or treasure to serve those around you?
Happy serving,
Stephanie Sharp
About Serve60Sharp
Serve60Sharp is a weekly, read-in-60-seconds newsletter, which provides readers with actionable ideas to serve their communities.