(Taken from the January 25, 2006 Act! Speak! Build! Week e-newsletter.)
Plan together. Make sure the affiliate is aware of your event plans. See if the affiliate is planning any educational or advocacy events around the same time. See if the affiliate has feedback on the goals you have for Act! Speak! Build! Week.
Designate a member of your group to be a liaison to the affiliate. Ask the affiliate if there is one person there to whom you can direct your communication.
Schedule a regular time to meet and discuss current activities and workday schedules.
Share mailings you receive from Habitat’s Youth Programs department, such as this Act! Speak! Build! Week e-newsletter or the Youth Programs Update e-newsletter, to increase open communication. (Subscribe to the Youth Programs Update by sending a blank e-mail to join-ypupdate@lists.habitatforhumanity.org.)
Discuss expectations of Act! Speak! Build! Week. Would you like the affiliate to attend an event? Would the affiliate like group members to come to a meeting to learn about the local efforts of Habitat for Humanity?
Plan ahead and define expectations so that the affiliate and chapter have a better understanding of each other’s work.
Collaborate with your affiliate if they are able. See if they would like to send someone to speak at an event or supply you with brochures so that people will have their contact information to build or donate.
To find the contact information for the Habitat affiliate nearest you, use the affiliate search engine on the Habitat Web site.
For more ideas and information, see the Advocacy Toolkit.
