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This pin and all program supplies are available from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.
Suggested Group Activity
Restaurants and markets often pack food in paper bags. Your group can decorate those bags to send a message not to litter.
Suggested Prerequisite
Completing the Citizen Advocate Patch Program® or the Patriotism Advocate Patch Program® is a suggested prerequisite for earning your Citizen Delegate Pin. Your advocate experience will help provide you with the knowledge needed to become a delegate for civic involvement in your community. You can also opt to complete the Citizen Advocate requirements during the time you earn this Delegate pin.
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Requirement 1: Choose It!
Points to Consider When Choosing a Civic Service Project:
- What percentage of Americans vote? Helpful Link: Voting and Registration
- How is age and race a factor for voter turn out? Helpful Link: Black voter turnout fell in 2016, even as a record number of Americans cast ballots
- Why don’t more young people vote? Helpful Link: 4 Reasons Young People Don’t Vote… and What To Do About It
- What are your Local, State and Federal Laws? Helpful Link: The Differences between Federal, State, and Local Laws
- How are new laws made? Helpful Link: How to Propose a Law
- What is an Ordinance? Helpful Link: A condensed look at the ordinance process.
- What freedoms are Americans guaranteed by the Bill of Rights? Helpful Link: The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 – 10)
- What is the current immigration policy? Helpful Link: How the United States Immigration System Works
- What country do U.S. citizens come from? Helpful Link: Here’s Everyone Who’s Immigrated to the U.S. Since 1820
- How does someone become a U.S. citizen? Helpful Link: Citizenship Through Naturalization
- What role does the government play in the economy? Helpful Link:
What do governments actually do? - How is tax collected in your community? Helpful Link: The State of State (and Local) Tax Policy
- How is that money spent? Helpful Link: Policy Basics: Where Do Our State Tax Dollars Go?
Some Ideas:
- Set up a program that matches tutors with immigrants working towards nationalization or assimilation.
- Organize a community-based voter turn out initiative.
- Set up ride sharing to the polls especially for seniors and the disabled.
- Create regular town meetings to discuss improvements in your community.
- Organize an event for local politicians to present their views.
- Set up a web page to gather information for community members.
- Campaign for budget changes in your community.
Project considerations:
- What are your skills and talents?
- Do you need a mentor or adviser? Who will it be?
- Will there be legal or permit issues to resolve?
- How many others can you recruit to help?
- Will your volunteers need special skills or training?
- How many hours can you devote to the project?
- Will there be a project deadline?
- How much money will you be able to raise for the project?
- Can you get a sponsor to help with the costs?
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Requirement 2: Plan it!
Goal Setting
Setting goals will help give you a long-term vision and short-term motivation. It helps you to organize your thoughts and determine exactly what needs to be done.
- Decide exactly what you want to accomplish and give your project a name.
- Break it down into smaller steps.
- Set up a timeline.
Recruit Volunteers
Although smaller projects can be done alone, many projects will require a team. As the project delegate, one of your most important roles will be building a successful team. Helpful Link: 7 Super Steps to Recruit Volunteers.
- Find a mentor with experience in your project area.
- Enlist an Advocate to help you recruit volunteers. Consider using a volunteer release form especially if you are working with children. Helpful Link: Volunteer Release Form
- Decide which jobs you can do alone.
- Will you have teams?
- How many people will you need for each team?
Budgeting
Budgeting allows you to create a spending plan for your project. Sticking to your budget ensures that you will have enough money for the things you need to complete it. If you copied the table above you will see there is a section for budgeting.
Raise Money
There are many ways to raise money. If you are working with an organization such as Girl Scouts* check first to see what is allowed. Helpful Link: A Beginner’s Guide to Fundraising
- Consider GoFundMe, CrowdRise, DonorsChoose, or Kickstarter.
- Organize an event like a car wash, bake sale, or benefit dinner to raise awareness around your fundraiser.
- Host an event such as a walkathon, run, or bike rides.
- Ask local businesses and community members to donate items for a silent auction or a live auction.
- Sales of customized products like tee shirts, pens, and buttons will not only raise funds but generate awareness about your project.
- Invite the local media to your fundraiser or at least supply them with a photo and caption after the event.
Specific ideas for Civic Fundraising
Get clever with your ideas. Think of things related to your cause. It will help bring awareness and set up a “fun” atmosphere, while raising the money you need to complete your cause.
- Make and sell “I love [insert your town]” car magnets.
- Have a bake sale and name the goodies after local locations such as Main Street Meringues or Downtown Devil’s Food
- Organize a community party with local bands. Ask the bands to pass around a bucket for donations toward your cause.
- Give recognition gifts for sponsorships. Set donation levels such as $20 for a citizen pin or $40 for a tee shirt.
- Host a car wash for donations. Get the local kids involved on a hot day.
- Get a local politician or well known community member to sit in a dunk tank. Charge for community members to throw at the target
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Requirement 3: Do It!
You should now be ready to put your plan into action. Join in during your project to supervise and provide assistance at all levels.
After completing the plan, remember to thank the community.
Ways to say Thank You:
- Personally thank individuals and businesses who helped. A handwritten letter is always nice. Helpful link: How to write a thank you letter.
- Thank the community as a whole with posters.
- Create a follow up press release and include the names of individuals and businesses who participated. Helpful link: How to write a press release.
- Give certificates of appreciation.
- Thank the community as a whole on social media.
Congratulations on completing your citizen action project! The Citizen Delegate pin makes a great reward for completing your project. It also makes a great gift to program sponsors and mentors.
See all our current Delegate level pin programs:
Related Fun Patch Ideas:
Note: Many of the links provided to assist with completing our Patch Program®s are external and do not imply an endorsement or recommendation. At the time of publication, external content was vetted to the best of our ability. Your views and ideas may vary and we do not intend for you to substitute our opinions for yours. Research the topic thoroughly before beginning a project. As always, make sure children access the internet only under safe-surfing conditions.
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