# 1:1 Invite — Text Message Template

**Format:** SMS or Signal. Keep it short, personal, and specific to the person you're texting — never a mass blast.

**When to send:** Within 7 days of a new member signing up, within 14 days of someone filling out the interest survey, or anytime someone steps up at a meeting.

**From:** A real organizer the person has met — or one who's been warmly handed off.

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## The template (under 320 characters — fits in one SMS)

> Hi [first name], it's [your name] from [org name]. We met at [house meeting / base meeting / rally — name the place]. I'd love to grab 30 min — coffee, a walk, or a call — to hear more about what brought you to this work. Free [day option 1] or [day option 2]? — [your first name]

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## Why each piece is there

| Piece | Why |
|---|---|
| "Hi [first name]" | Direct address. No "Hey there" or "Hey friend." |
| "it's [your name] from [org name]" | They might not have your number saved. Identify yourself in the first six words. |
| "We met at [specific event]" | Anchors the relationship in a real moment. Not "I saw you signed up." |
| "I'd love to grab 30 min" | Names the time bound. 30 min, not "a coffee" with no end. |
| "coffee, a walk, or a call" | Three formats. Disabled, working-parent, and introverted folks get a way in. |
| "to hear more about what brought you to this work" | Frames it as listening, not recruiting. |
| Two specific day options | Not "let me know your availability." That puts the labor on them. You picked twice. |
| Signed with first name | Reply-able. A human you can text back. |

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## Variations by context

### After someone filled out the interest survey
> Hi [first name], [your name] from [org name]. Got your survey — what you wrote about [the specific thing they wrote about] really stayed with me. Free for 30 min this week — Tues 6pm or Sat morning? Coffee, walk, or call works. — [your first name]

### After someone hosted their first house meeting
> [First name] — that house meeting was something. Nine people, three new hosts. I want to debrief and dream a little about what's next. 45 min next week — Wed evening or Sun afternoon? — [your first name]

### After someone you don't know well steps up at a meeting
> Hi [first name] — [your name] from [org name]. What you said tonight about [the thing they said] is exactly what we need more of. Can I take you to coffee in the next two weeks? Sat or Sun mornings work for me — what about you? — [your first name]

### Re-engagement (someone who's been quiet 60+ days)
> Hi [first name], it's [your name]. Been a minute. No agenda, no ask — just want to check in and hear how you're doing. 20 min on the phone next week? — [your first name]

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## What NOT to do

- **Don't send the same text to ten people at once.** Send each one separately. If you don't have time for that, you don't have time to organize them.
- **Don't ask "are you free to chat?"** That's a yes/no door. Offer two days.
- **Don't ask for a 1:1 by email if you have their phone number.** Email gets ignored; text gets read. (Reverse if they told you on the interest survey they prefer email.)
- **Don't open with the ask before the relationship.** This is not "we have a phone bank Thursday, can you come?" That's a different text.
- **Don't disclose what you'll talk about in detail.** Some ambiguity is on purpose — you're building trust, not running an intake.

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## What to do after they say yes

1. Confirm time and place by reply text within an hour.
2. Add to your 1:1 tracker (a Google Sheet is fine — Action Network has a Custom Field for `next_1to1_date`).
3. The day before: send a one-line confirmation text.
4. After the 1:1: use the `1-1-conversation-guide.md` (during) and `1-1-debrief.md` (after).

## What to do if they don't respond

- 5 days: send one follow-up — "Hi [first name], wanted to make sure this didn't get lost. Still good for either of those days?"
- 12 days: a third text changes from "schedule" to "no pressure" — "No worries if the timing's off. I'm around when you are."
- After that: leave it. Don't badger. The door stays open.

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## Why this is structured this way

- **Texts get read.** Email open rates for nonprofits hover around 20%. Text open rates are over 95%. Bob Moses and SNCC organizers walked to people's homes because that's where people were — today, that's the text message.
- **Two specific days, not "your availability,"** because asking someone with three kids and two jobs to "send their availability" is asking them to do organizing labor for you. You do that labor.
- **Three meeting formats (coffee, walk, call)** because access is part of the relationship. The walking 1:1 is a Highlander tradition — Septima Clark organized teachers on porches and walks.
- **"What brought you to this work"** is the Ella Baker question. Not "what can you do for the campaign" — "who are you, and why are you here?"
- **30 minutes, named upfront.** Trust grows when you keep your time agreements. Promise 30, end at 30, ask for more time only if they want it.

— Module 3, *Base Building From Scratch*