Just sharing some thoughts and observations.
The difference at this point in time is that LOCAL has a solid core of dedicated, committed people working in unison.
Even so they have suffered somewhat with the same malaise - apathy of potential new members. It takes time and nurturing to make such an organization grow. Drumming up additional membership in the early stages is the most difficult but necessary function. Without the interest any group will wither, no matter how noble the cause.
Hi guys. I'm Steve, Secretary of La Open Carry Awareness League (LOCAL). I am glad that you have seen our new website to be in inspiration. As Grapeshot pointed out, we have struggled to grow and evolve since we were founded. Let me assure you, it takes work. Open Carry is a small minority of the gun culture and is highly disputed in many circles. It will take time to find members and keep them. When we first strted meeting we had about 10 members show up at the Shoneys resturant. We worried that we would soon outgrow the meeting room. We were wrong. Three years later we still only have about 7 to 10 members for each monthly meeting. Sometimes less.
Like you we considered registering with the State as a 503c Inc or as an LLC. We even had a member who is self employeed bring his business lawyer to a meeting to talk to us about tax laws and the pros and cons of incorporating. In the end we, as a group, decided that we would not incorporate for the time being. We may do so in the future but at the moment LOCAL is a unincorporated, grass roots organization.
Other things we learned along the way you may want to know...
The website you saw? We started planning that not long after we formed in 2009. We took donations from members and set it aside to pay for it. We had two seperate members in two years take the job of coordinating getting the webpage built and failed before I voluntered to do it. I contacted the designer and worked with him and the rest of our membership on coming up with a design and then getting it put online.
Before we had a webpage we used a discussion forum but it was very limited and not user friendly or informative to those wanting to learn more about us or Open Carry. We asked our members for donations to pay to register our domain names (laopencarry dot com, dot org and dot us as well as Louisianaopencarry dot org, dot com and dot us). We had to pay to have the forum hosted too. We only had about 15 members and they all dug deep to help pay for these expenses.
We have tried to get out and get tables at gun shows to get our message out. As Grapshot mentioned, we have also suffered from lack of members, and that hindered us each time we tried to get enough volunteers for our tables. So after 3 years we still have not been able to man a gun show table. Hopefully we will accomplish this in 2012.
We came up with a trifold brochure/pamphlet and printed up hundreds of them on cheap, regular copy paper in Black and white print. Nothing fancy. No color ink or heavy weight paper. We just had a member print them on his zerox at work. Then we gave them to members to put out. We would go to gun shows and, since we didn't have a table, we would get the managers permission to put them on the entrance/exit table for people to take. Most shows have tables at the entrance or exits with fliers or calendars for upcoming shows and that's where we would put our pamphlets. We contacted CHP instructors and gun shops or ranges and asked them to put our pamplets in peoples hands. CHP instructors would include our pamphlets along with other handouts in classes. Gun Shops and ranges would put our brouchure on their counters where customers could pick them up. We also place our pamphlets on public billboards (right next to the Lost puppy fliers, etc) and other places where businesses allow space for free periodicals such as the Penny Trader magazines and free legal help fliers.
We contacted media and mailed out dozens of letters telling La based TV news directors, Newspaper editors and radio hosts about our group. We included a pamphlet with each letter. We went to our Secretary of State website, found lists of elected officials including Sheriff's, Constables, City and Court Marshals and many Police Chiefs. With this list we mailed out hundreds of letters and pamphlets to these LE officials telling them to train their staff on the legality of OC in Louisiana. We mailed similar letters to the commanders of each State Police troop and even some city police district commanders.
All of this work was done by less than 20 LOCAL members who donated money to by stamps, envelopes, printing and other expenses. As Grapeshot said, a small core group of willing, active members.
Don't discount the internet and social media. We put up a Facebook page and a Twitter account. We put meeting announcements not only on OCDO but several other gun discussion boards. We posted videos on Youtube.
At times I have been distressed by our lack of growth. I have found support from people on this forum like Grapeshot, who gave advice and moral support. We have had regular meetings in the southeast part of the state near New Orleans since the beginning. One of our members on the opposite side of the state, up in the Northeast, in Shreveport has tried to get a meeting organized and failed to get anyone to show up. He has found a new meeting place and is currently drumming up interest in another meeting. So we are still fighting the good fight.
Don't give up. Put the incorporation plans on the back burner, grow your group and get the word out. Then come back and revisit it. Look to others in other states and other groups (like VCDL) who have been there, done that. Learn what you can from them and keep your spirits up. We are right here with you.
Good Luck.
Steve Raacke,
Secretary,
LOCAL