Riding Association

Introduction

This handbook provides volunteers and RAs with the information and resources necessary to carry out activities in their communities that contribute to election readiness. It provides some overall guidance for organizational and administrative practices, as well as outlines key responsibilities in regards to tracking capacity building.

Purpose

As RAs organize, decisions should be made with both RA tactics and legacy in mind. Some RA Execs stay on for many years cultivating their Election Readiness skills. When they eventually choose to step back, or support in a different capacity, we want to ensure that those skills, insights, and institutional knowledge doesn’t leave with them.

RA Execs should ensure that all information is stored in a way that is accessible and clear. In this way, Execs can “stand on the shoulders of giants” to see further into Election Readiness strategy and continue building. We provide ways to do this within this Guide.

Strategy, built by: Tactics & Tasks

The Strategy: Have Green supporters join Riding Associations (or Regional Riding Associations) in order to build election-readiness skills and capacity so that they may work towards electing Green MLA(s) in their riding (or region).

To achieve this strategy, we are going to implement these key tactics and associated tasks that include, but are not limited to:

Tactic	Tasks
Recruit, Manage, and Engage Volunteers	Ensure your RA Working Spreadsheet is continually added to each RA Meeting (more info here). Ensure your tab of the RA Stats Tracker is filled out during the first week of each month (more info here). Hold Executive Meetings monthly, with Executive members given at least one week notice. Hold an Annual General Meetings every 12 months to update members on RA activities and elect Executive members if needed. Following the  format laid out in AGM Guide || RA || 2026. Your RA’s tracking sheets, Meeting Minutes, etc will all be stored in your RA Drive in the BC Greens Drive. To access this Drive once onboarded, you must use the email you provided in your RA’s Agreement, Toolbox & Checklist.
Identify Green Voters and Supporters	Engage in various outreach activities to identify and connect with BC Green supporters, including: Door canvassing; Phone canvassing; Attending community events; Hosting events and regular meetings; Advocating for key issues provincially and locally; If it isn’t recorded in Gvote, it didn't happen! We lean on the data in Gvote come election time to connect with supporters to assure they vote, so make sure all data is stored in Gvote (and the Working Sheet if needed).
Build an Election-Ready Team	When an election is called, you may become a part of the campaign team, help train them, or carry on as a key volunteer. All actions should be directed towards learning and building the skills necessary to elect Greens. Become comfortable using Gvote and our Google Drive(s). These two resources will be leaned on heavily during Elections and when training volunteers. Teach rather than do! In order to build capacity, we need support through effective delegation. Resist the urge to do things for people and instead teach them. Think in a growth mindset. Sending an invite to a few people won't get the same reach as using Gvote to send the email, and having the event posted on the website. Leverage the tools we have to constantly be reaching out as far as we can. Be data-nerds! Every interaction is information. Whether it's tracking RSVPs or noting down a volunteers skills, it all needs to be tracked in Gvote to better build as a team. Act like election time is around the corner. By learning BC Green systems and skills, as well as understanding some BC Election rules,  you are preparing yourself for leading teams in future elections. Reach out to value-aligned organizations to build relationships, be of service, and recruit. Let’s work together! Remember the Goal: Electing BC Greens. With each decision think - how is this helping to elect more BC Greens? If you aren’t sure, is the tactic a good one?
Raise Local Funds for the Next Election	Conduct fundraising efforts through a variety of channels, including phone calls, emails, hosting events, and social media. This money helps the candidate travel around to meet the community, pays for supplies for the campaign (like lawn signs), pays campaign staff, and much more!
Foster a Green Community (Internally)	Share personal stories and the underlying "why" behind your mission to strengthen the RA’s ties and deepen engagement. Volunteers don’t always come out because they want to build signs for example, but they will come out to spend time with the Green friends and work to elect someone they know and trust! Build strong connections with Green members through: Phone calls & emails Let Greens in your community know you’re active on the ground! Explain what you are doing and ask for their involvement. Events: Host and attend events, then host again inviting folks you met at the events you attended ;) Social Media Share BC Green Party, Leader, and MLA social media posts on the RA's social media accounts.
Community Outreach and Involvement (Externally)	Help expand and strengthen the BC Green network within your community. You know your community best. We need your eyes and ears on the ground to keep us informed as to who can help us with our mission. Identifying local organizations and events in your community and listing them in your RAs Working Spreadsheet regularly. This helps to broaden our reach or find stakeholders to connect with for policy development or advocacy work; Collaborating with groups and events that align with our values; Let community leaders know that we are active and looking to work together. Even if we don’t yet represent them Provincially, they should know we are still working on making things better.
Advocate on Topics of Local Importance	Advocacy efforts may include sending emails, posting on social media, promoting petitions, attending community events, and supporting advocacy groups in their initiatives — all while actively contributing to positive change. You will get updated via email with new advocacy opportunities and/or you can find petitions, surveys, and other engagement resources on both the BC Greens Website and in the BC Green Resources Drive.
Identify and Support Prospective Candidates	Leverage all of the above activities, along with additional strategies, to identify and support community leaders, advocates, and changemakers as potential candidates. Keep track of all prospects in your RA’s Working Spreadsheet. You know folks in your community better than we do, introduce us!

RA Benefits

As a Riding Association, you are recognized as an official branch of the BC Green Party. Forming an official RA has the following benefits:

• RAs are featured on the BC Greens Website.
• RAs are involved in the official Candidate Nomination process within the RAs riding(s).
• RAs have access to RA Funds through emailing organize@bcgreens.ca
• RAs receive guidance and training on how to reach specific statistics that determine the tier of your riding/campaign come election time;
  • These metrics are reached by carrying out different RA activities and initiatives.
  • Due to tiers being determined by statistics, they are under your control! If you want to move up, you have the control of that with the right skills, data tracking, and leveraging of systems.

• Overall, the benefits of being part of your riding’s RA is that you get to directly contribute to making your community a better place to live for you and your family, neighbors, friends. Be proud of that!

List of Riding Associations

• Victoria Regional Riding Association