Our members are doing a great job - like long-time member Vickie Terry who has worked with SOCM over the years to end mountaintop removal in Campbell County.

Vickie recorded her story for SOCM and StoryCorps in 2010, and spoke about the legacy she wanted to leave for her children and grandchildren. Listen to Vickie's story here.  Vickie recruited her granddaughter Diamond (who was eleven at that time), who shared Vickie's passion on the issues affecting them, to join the march on the Zeb Mountain and to lobby in DC.  Together Vickie and Diamond have now recruited Vickie's daughter April, making this a family of three generations who are continuing the work in fighting for justice in their communities.

And like our Knoxville Chapter members, Daniel, Flo and Travis who have asked that we extend our campaign deadline so that they can continue recruiting more friends and family.

As a way of thanking them, and encouraging them to continue the good work, we are extending our campaign. 

The rules are simple - join or renew your membership and start recruiting! The members who recruit the most new members will receive a prize (generously donated by a SOCM member). First place prize is a $100 visa gift card, second place prize is a $50 visa gift card and third place prize is a $25 visa gift card. 

The new deadline is July 27th, and the winners will be announced on August 3rd.  

Watch for updates on the campaign on our Facebook page, Twitter feed and on our website (where you can watch members, Shelby Wright and Micah-Sage Bolden, talk about the reasons they joined SOCM together).  

SOCM members learn new skills

Got a great story for The SOCM Sentinel, the

 E-news or our blog but not sure how to go about writing it?

 

Want to learn how to "Facebook" with other SOCM members and grow your chapter or committee?  

 

Ever sent a tweet?   Know your photos or videos would be great for SOCM but need just that little bit of help knowing how to edit them? 

 

Wondered how to write a letter to the editor or talk to a local journalist?

 

Come along to one of our upcoming regional media trainings on the first two Saturdays in June.  All sessions are free (including meals).

 

Long-time member Boomer Winfrey will teach us about what a story is and how to tell is,  how to put messages together, how to write press releases, letters to the editor, developing relationships with reporters and being a spokesperson. 

 

Community Media Organizing Project Coordinator, William Isom, will lead us in one-to-one and small group sessions on new / social media.  Long-time member Cathie Bird will help in the new / social media sessions in Knoxville with how to use Facebook, Twitter and SOCM's blog to promote your chapter, committee and SOCM's work.  In the Murfreesboro sessions, new member Matt Ferry will teach us how to take and edit videos to help tell our story in a more visual way.

 

At the end of the day, Boomer will lead us all in a media event / PR campaign exercise that will let us put all that we've learned into action so that we can take it back to our chapter or committee and plan our next PR campaign.

 

Our June 6th training will be held at MTSU in Murfreesboro (9am-6pm CDT) and you can sign up for that here.

 

Our June 13th training will be held at the CWA Union Hall, 1415 Elm Street, Knoxville (9am - 6pm EDT), and you can sign up for that here.

 

If you're not a SOCM member and are interested in attending, you can sign up as a SOCM member and pay your dues on the day. We are offering limited membership dues reduction for these events.

 

For more information, please contact SOCM at info@socm.org or call 865-249-7488.