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National Alliance of HUD Tenants

A multi-cultural, tenant-controlled alliance of tenant organizations in privately-owned, multifamily
HUD-assisted housing. Hundreds of tenant associations representing thousands of tenants in every
region of the country are already involved, working together to:
Preserve affordable housing * Protect tenant's rights * Promote tenant ownership and control

National Alliance of HUD Tenants
42 Seaverns Avenue
Boston, MA 02130
tel: (617) 267-9564
fax: (617) 522-4857
naht@saveourhomes.org

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GOALS FOR A ONE TO ONE MEETING

The goal of this meeting -- 30 minutes to one hour -- is to find out more about the person you are visiting. You are not selling them your organization. You are there to find out about them. Are they a likely leader? Can you get them interested? What are they concerned about?

10 Simple Guidelines

  1. Say your name and your organization
  2. Make any connection through things you see in the home -- pictures of children, nick-nacks, --anything that might give you some more information about them.
  3. Ask about their concerns.
  4. Ask about their contacts.
  5. Ask about their other organizational affiliations? Ask how busy they are with those.
  6. Ask why they care about the issues they do care about.
  7. Listen 80% of the time. Talk no more than 20% of the time.
  8. Accept offers of food or drink, unless you have some extremeobjection. Breaking bread bonds.
  9. Ask some basic questions about their values. for example, “Why do they think the situation is the way it is?”, “Do you think there is something basically wrong with our society today?” “Why do you think that is?” the idea here is to get some idea of their basic values.
  10. Ask for some commitment. Have a menu of things you can ask them to do. Some appropriate next step for them. Possibilities include:

* Attend a meeting * Host a “coffee” or “house meeting” in their home, that is, invite some of their neighbors, friends, or relatives over to talk about the organization, their concerns, etc * Go with you to meet a neighbor they know * Ask someone else to fill out a survey * Make phone calls * volunteer at the office * Stuff envelopes * Make cookies or food for a meeting * Come early to a meeting to sign people in, set up etc. *

10 QUICK TIPS

  • Listen 80% of the time.
  • Ask open ended questions.
  • Ask for some specific commitment, and tell them how you will follow up on their commitment.
  • Match their interests with those of the organization. You are looking for a match.
  • Ask about their experience. find out what have they done in the past that is similar to what you are asking them to now.
  • Find out how much time do they have for your organization.
  • Ask what they like to do.
  • Uncover what work in your organization is going to help them develop their gifts.
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