GROWING YOUR COALITION MEMBERSHIP
Should there be a minimum size of acreage allowed into your coalition? In general, the answer is no. The reality is that all acreage adds up and the more contiguous blocks of acreage you can have, the more attractive your coalition will be to gas companies. Multiple parcels of small acreage could be what stands between a gas well and the transmission line. While New York State has a compulsory integration, it is in the gas companies interest to secure as much acreage as possible without going through compulsory integration, therefore, landowner coalitions should use this to their advantage by trying to get as much contiguous acreage as possible.
Rather than alienating potential members, coalitions should not set a minimum acreage and should encourage the formation of contiguous blocks of land.
Advertising and marketing your landowner coalition can play an important role in gaining new members and helping your coalition to be successful. Advertising and marketing can also play an important role in creating large blocks of contiguous acres as part of your membership.
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The following are examples of advertising and marketing strategies to help your coalition be successful:
- The best group promotion available is neighbors talking to neighbors.
- Websites – it goes without saying that having a landowner coalition website in this day and age is an absolute MUST. A website can provide a means for information sharing, communications, and advertising for your coalition.
- Coalition Fliers – Posting fliers with cut out tabs with web addresses and phone numbers is a great and inexpensive way to help promote your coalition. Such fliers can be hung up in public places such as bulletin boards found in post offices, grocery stores, gas stations, churches - anywhere there are public bulletin boards, etc and can go a long way in helping to promote your coalition. Here is an example of a flier that you can customize for your own landowner coalition.
- Business Cards – Can be a very effective and economical way to get the word out about your landowner coalition. Business cards can easily be handed out when talking to neighbors or potential members, can be left in public places or in places like gas stations or other stores (always ask the store manager first).
Because of the significant economic impact that natural gas development can have on a local economy, area merchants may be more than willing to let you hang up or place materials like business cards and flyers in their stores.
- Newspapers ads can be a great way to reach a very large audience quickly, but may be cost prohibitive as a long term strategy, however, newspaper ads can be very effective when utilized. When you contact your local newspaper advertising contact, let them know you are advertising for a community group and in many cases they will give you a discount on ad costs.
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| Newsletters and magazines for other membership organizations may offer free classified advertising in their membership newspaper. Check with any organizations you are a member of – especially local organizations – to see if they offer any free advertising opportunities.
NOTE: One of the many membership benefits of the New York Farm Bureau is members are allowed a free classified ad in the Farm Bureau membership newspaper – Grassroots. This is an excellent way to help promote your landowner coalition!
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- Educational Events – One goal for any landowner coalition should be to host and provide educational events for their membership and potential new members. These workshops serve a dual purpose of educating your members as well as helping to get your landowner coalition name out in the community. Many local school auditoriums are available for use.
Speakers can include members from within the coalition – giving coalition updates and news, as well as working with professionals from local environmental organizations (DEC, USDA, Soil and Water Conservation, etc) as well as educational groups such as cooperative extension. Check with your town, county, and state government and environmental officials as well as contacts from other organizations such as the Farm Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and other landowner coalitions – all may be willing to provide speakers on various topics.
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OTHER RESOURCES
Additional resources on growing your membership include:
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