UKIP Branch Startups Support

Alex McKee · 02-09-2005, 11:20 PM

Hey all,

I'd like to discuss something with you all.
UKIP, bereft of its prior standing, is feeling a little down. We're experiencing a post-election wind down but though the troops are tried and depressed the war is still imminent.

We urgently need to rebuild this party before the damage, the rot, becomes irreversible.

The party, and Roger, have made it clear that they want every constituency to have a branch (constituency association). However, it can't be that easy to set up a constituency association. So we need to make it easier.

I'm not entirely altruistic in all this - I want to get Tewkesbury Branch set up.

Can experienced branch officers, especially branch founders, please post here any advice you may have. Even better, can you e-mail it to mail@agmckee.co.uk

Many thanks,

Alex

AcidTrash · 28-09-2005, 07:56 PM

It's something that has been tried and defeated. YOu need to have public meetings and unless you already have a very active local UKIP organisation they are usually an embarrassment. Branches are pretty poinless given the remote nature of a lot of our northern membership. Trust me, trying to get branches operational is a depressing and fruitless task. Membership drives are more important. That way we get their money.

I've also found that branches are a great source for petty bickering and empire building. The sort of shabby dealings that caused so many valuable activists to resign. It's something that needs top down leadership and some very strict guidelines. Otherwise you end up with a bunch of egotists stealing the show and intimidating genuine helpers.

I for one, can't be bothered playing that game anymore when there are vastly more important things to do.

Alex McKee · 28-09-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcidTrash

It's something that has been tried and defeated. YOu need to have public meetings and unless you already have a very active local UKIP organisation they are usually an embarrassment. Branches are pretty poinless given the remote nature of a lot of our northern membership. Trust me, trying to get branches operational is a depressing and fruitless task. Membership drives are more important. That way we get their money.

I've also found that branches are a great source for petty bickering and empire building. The sort of shabby dealings that caused so many valuable activists to resign. It's something that needs top down leadership and some very strict guidelines. Otherwise you end up with a bunch of egotists stealing the show and intimidating genuine helpers.

I for one, can't be bothered playing that game anymore when there are vastly more important things to do.

Indeed. However, there is nothing wrong with having a pack of information to send to people who want to start a branch but don't know how to do it.

mkpdavies · 28-09-2005, 08:10 PM

There is a document on the yahoo ind-uk site on how to run a succesfull branch. I haven't read it properly yet, so not sure how good it is!

Alex McKee · 28-09-2005, 08:21 PM

Sorry but to say it is simplistic would be the understatement of the century:

excerpt:

Put general appeals in branch circulars, particularly before elections.

It's more of a tips list than a branch startup support :roll:

Oh well, t'was worth a look.

Alex

AcidTrash · 28-09-2005, 08:25 PM

Get the local members first. When you've got 200 of them you can worry about a branch. No members, no point.

B.A.Ware · 28-09-2005, 08:33 PM

When we started our branch Dennis Brooke's gave us a starter pack which had all the legal paper work declaration forms etc but very little else.

The basis of starting a branch is getting three officers and believe me that isn't easy, once you have these your regional organizer will ask the party chairman for recognition and thats when the form filling in starts

Job done the good thing is you will get a £100 to help you get underway.

AcidTrash · 28-09-2005, 08:37 PM

Get real dude. Making the structure of a branch doesn't make a branch. It's like declaring yourself king of an empty room. An impressive title but it doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme. Why waste 100 pounds UKIP doesn't have to spend when you could get more members and pay for it yourselves?

B.A.Ware · 28-09-2005, 08:49 PM

So you get all these members dude, how do you keep them on board, where do you meet up with them, how do you keep them informed and if you do meet up who organises it.
It’s a bit of a chicken and egg syndrome dude

And as for fancy titles I’m the chairman of my branch and I would gladly hand it over to anyone who wants it.

Alex McKee · 28-09-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcidTrash

Get the local members first. When you've got 200 of them you can worry about a branch. No members, no point.

Without a branch, technically you have no members and usually in fact you have no members. You can't get members until you have a branch that can take cash, hold meetings, set up projects and campaigns.

02-09-2005, 11:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Alex McKee Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gloucester Posts: 6,666	UKIP Branch Startups Support Hey all, I'd like to discuss something with you all. UKIP, bereft of its prior standing, is feeling a little down. We're experiencing a post-election wind down but though the troops are tried and depressed the war is still imminent. We urgently need to rebuild this party before the damage, the rot, becomes irreversible. The party, and Roger, have made it clear that they want every constituency to have a branch (constituency association). However, it can't be that easy to set up a constituency association. So we need to make it easier. I'm not entirely altruistic in all this - I want to get Tewkesbury Branch set up. Can experienced branch officers, especially branch founders, please post here any advice you may have. Even better, can you e-mail it to mail@agmckee.co.uk Many thanks, Alex

28-09-2005, 08:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,182 Party: Libertarian Party	There is a document on the yahoo ind-uk site on how to run a succesfull branch. I haven't read it properly yet, so not sure how good it is! __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

28-09-2005, 07:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
AcidTrash Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 81	It's something that has been tried and defeated. YOu need to have public meetings and unless you already have a very active local UKIP organisation they are usually an embarrassment. Branches are pretty poinless given the remote nature of a lot of our northern membership. Trust me, trying to get branches operational is a depressing and fruitless task. Membership drives are more important. That way we get their money. I've also found that branches are a great source for petty bickering and empire building. The sort of shabby dealings that caused so many valuable activists to resign. It's something that needs top down leadership and some very strict guidelines. Otherwise you end up with a bunch of egotists stealing the show and intimidating genuine helpers. I for one, can't be bothered playing that game anymore when there are vastly more important things to do.

28-09-2005, 08:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alex McKee Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gloucester Posts: 6,666	Sorry but to say it is simplistic would be the understatement of the century: excerpt: Put general appeals in branch circulars, particularly before elections. It's more of a tips list than a branch startup support :roll: Oh well, t'was worth a look. Alex

28-09-2005, 08:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
AcidTrash Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 81	Get the local members first. When you've got 200 of them you can worry about a branch. No members, no point.

28-09-2005, 08:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
B.A.Ware Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 4,640 Party: UKIP	When we started our branch Dennis Brooke's gave us a starter pack which had all the legal paper work declaration forms etc but very little else. The basis of starting a branch is getting three officers and believe me that isn't easy, once you have these your regional organizer will ask the party chairman for recognition and thats when the form filling in starts Job done the good thing is you will get a £100 to help you get underway.

28-09-2005, 08:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
AcidTrash Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 81	Get real dude. Making the structure of a branch doesn't make a branch. It's like declaring yourself king of an empty room. An impressive title but it doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme. Why waste 100 pounds UKIP doesn't have to spend when you could get more members and pay for it yourselves?

28-09-2005, 08:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
B.A.Ware Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 4,640 Party: UKIP	So you get all these members dude, how do you keep them on board, where do you meet up with them, how do you keep them informed and if you do meet up who organises it. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg syndrome dude And as for fancy titles I’m the chairman of my branch and I would gladly hand it over to anyone who wants it.