Some people are saying that our posts sound a little too “polished” or “branded,” or that things like sweatshirts are indicators that we are not budget conscious and are spending recklessly. 

So here’s the truth:

We’re a volunteer committee, not a marketing firm. Every message or response you see goes through a process – every day we make sure to check the conversation (we’re not on fb all day long), then we prioritize what to reply to, we write drafts, fact-check, make sure the language is clear and accurate, and that the whole group is comfortable standing behind it. That takes time and care, especially since most of us have full-time jobs and families outside this effort. 

The goal isn’t to “market” something; it’s to communicate clearly and responsibly with our community about a complex issue. 

Yes, we have branding, a website, flyers etc, and even committee member sweatshirts – as commented on in social media. 

We’re not hiding – we’re saying, “Here we are! Come engage!” Our branding is outreach – it’s a way to be both visible and recognizable while creating conversation. We’ve also been fortunate to have many generous supporters who have donated funds to help cover some of these things. 

The “glossy commissioner postcards” were organized and self funded by the individuals running for commissioner independently of Rally for the Rec. And speaking of sweatshirts – that wasn’t taxpayer money or campaign funds. One of our committee members wanted to do something fun for the group to celebrate our two years of hard work and to help us be more visible within the community. They paid for them personally. 

Sometimes a sweatshirt is just a sweatshirt…