General conservative groups can set up an appreciation quilt for our troops and veterans. The quilt will be made up of squares of construction paper, with each square naming a soldier or a veteran. n

The Appreciation Quilt is a positive event that draws almost universal support from the community and will give the student body a good impression of your group.  Encourage members of your campus group(s) and other students to create a quilt square in honor of a family member or friend that has served our country.  

The best time to hold is event is on or around a patriotic holiday.    

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

1. Collect the materials needed for the event.  The most essential items required for this project are construction paper and markers.  Collections of the names of veterans and people currently serving is a must.  You should also have a table, informational flyers, and signs. If you choose to make signs, make sure they are tasteful and respectful.  Avoid overt political messages, which are not appropriate for this event.

2. Reserve space on campus for the event. Contact the Student Activities Office and attempt to reserve the most high-traffic area available. 

3. Invite allied organizations.  Ask other patriotic or conservative organizations on campus or in the outside community to contribute names of honorees and money for the purchase of supplies or to set up a booth by your informational table.  This is a great way to strengthen cooperation between different groups in the conservative movement, and to increase attendance and volunteers in the form of members of the other groups.

4. Advertise!  Success depends on how well you publicize your event, so you should advertise early and often. This doesn’t necessarily mean paid advertising; “earned media” may work even better for you. Click here to learn several important publicity measures to use before, during, and after the event.

5.    Prepare for opposition. Keep a video camera available at all times, and record any aggression -– both verbal and physical. For more information on how to deal with opposition on campus, reference "Fight Back." If some behaves belligerently, ask why he or she objects to your exercise of your right to free speech to memorialize those killed on September 11th.  

6. Create a schedule.  Have members of your group volunteer as much time as possible to man your informational table and monitor your display.

7. Create the quilt. As students walk by, encourage them to create a quilt square. Continue this throughout the day.  Let them know when the final project will be displayed.

8. Set up your exhibit.  After you have collected enough quilt squares, determine when where you will display the finished product.  Be sure to include information on the project’s purpose when you assemble and display it.

9. Advertise! (again) The fact that your event is over does not mean that your public relations work is done. Earned media can be extremely useful to you. Click here to learn several important follow-up publicity measures to do after the event is finished.