From Scratch to Solidarity: Launching Your Local's Social Media

A beginner hour for volunteer executives: strategy, a local logo, example posts, graphics, quote cards, and a simple website ZIP.

Project this page or follow it on your own device. The numbered agenda is a 45 to 60 minute lunch-and-learn. Notes marked Facilitator are for the person at the front; Do this is for everyone else.

Also see

Facilitator
Share this browser tab, not the whole desktop. Use Quick links instead of typing addresses. Zoom to about 110 percent so type reads from the back of the room.

Do this
Keep this page open. When a tool is named, tap the matching Quick link and work in the same browser. Files you make stay on this device; you do not need an account.

What to bring

Have these ready before the hour starts so the first download is yours, not a demo.

A laptop, tablet, or phone with a current browser. A laptop is easier for typing; a phone is enough to follow along.
A digital copy of your local logo if you have one (PNG, JPG, or SVG). If you do not, Logo Builder makes a starter during the identity step.
A rough idea of your local's colours, from letterhead, a banner, or a printed notice. Exact colour codes are optional.
Your local number, if it appears on your materials.
Optional: one real announcement or quote you might post this week, so the practice is a real post, not a placeholder.

Quick links

Keep this box in view. Tap a tool when the agenda names it. Same five stops as the 20-minute live demo.

Demo this in about 20 minutes

A short live path: Logo Builder, Social Examples, Graphic Maker, Quote Card, then Website Template.

First week: platforms and posting rhythm

Strategy lives on First week, not on these numbered stops. The live path is Logo Builder, Social Examples, Graphic Maker, Quote Card, then Website Template. Print and Board Notice stay on First week.

Suggested outline

Times add up to about 50 minutes, with room for questions. If you have a full hour, linger on Graphic Maker. If you have 45 minutes, keep the downloads moving.

1.High-level social media strategy
12 min
Do this
Listen for three essentials: platforms you can sustain, a shared account that is not a personal account, and a posting rhythm that will not burn out the executive. First week is the written plan you leave with.
Facilitator
Open First week, then The Blueprint. Do not start inside a maker yet. Ask who holds the passwords today.
2.Creating your identity
8 min
Do this
Open Logo Builder. Set your local number and colours if needed, generate a circular logo, and download the PNG. This is the file you take home.
Facilitator
If the kit is empty, import the demo Brand Kit first. Share Logo Builder, not Brand Kit, as the identity beat. Show the PNG download succeeding.
3.Finding inspiration
8 min
Do this
Open Social Examples. Browse strike, AGM, and member-spotlight layouts so you are not staring at a blank screen. Tap one example to seed Graphic Maker when the next block starts.
Facilitator
This is the example gallery. Do not open Board Notice Maker unless someone asks about cork boards; point to the Union Boards guide instead.
4.Generating media content
12 min
Do this
Open Graphic Maker, pick a preset, and download a PNG. Then make a Quote Card. Graphic Maker is Facebook landscape and Instagram square; Image Resizer is how you hit other crops.
Facilitator
Pause on the photo consent dialog. Do not demo Pulse Poll publish. If a download fails, show a PNG you saved before the session. Skip Captions unless minutes remain.
5.Leave with a plan
5 min
Do this
You should have a logo PNG, one graphic, a quote card, and a Website Template ZIP. Open First week for the written plan. The practice checklist on Comms Resources is homework, not extra talking time.
Facilitator
Thank people. Show the ZIP download succeeding. Point to Comms Resources and stop on time. Skip GitHub Pages unless someone asks.

Next steps

Do these before the week is out, while the files are still on this device.

Bookmark Brand Kit in this browser so your colours are still here when you come back. If you share the computer, download the Brand Kit file from Brand Kit and keep it with your local records.
Keep the Logo Builder PNG with your local records, and use it on the Facebook cover only after whoever must approve identity has said yes.
Open the First week roadmap and attempt your first real post using the graphic and quote card you made today.
Open Website Template and download the ZIP when you want a simple local page you can host later.
When you have a quiet half hour, work through the practice checklist on Comms Resources.

Facilitator
Thank people. Remind them public Comms stay on the device. If something broke, the Feedback page on this site takes a note without a member mailing list.

Sources & references

External resources cited in this guide. National and government URLs often move; if a link 404s, search from that organization’s home page. OPSEU / SEFPO pages on opseu.org may block automated checks — open those links in a browser before you share them in a workshop.

OPSEU / SEFPO graphics, logos & letterhead
National About hub. Graphics downloads move when the national site reorganizes — Brand Assets on this site mirrors logos and colour specs.
OPSEU / SEFPO Local 243 website (reference)
Live example local site built by Local 243 volunteers (local243.org redirects here). The Website Template tool is a simplified, parameterised version of this GitHub Pages site.
GitHub Pages documentation
Free static site hosting used by the exported website ZIP. No server or database required.
Facebook Groups (local comms channel)
Many locals use a closed Facebook group as their primary member channel.
WCAG 2.1 (W3C)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - contrast checker and alt-text guidance in this toolbox target Level AA.

From Scratch to Solidarity: Launching Your Local's Social Media

A beginner hour for volunteer executives: strategy, a local logo, example posts, graphics, quote cards, and a simple website ZIP.

Project this page or follow it on your own device. The numbered agenda is a 45 to 60 minute lunch-and-learn. Notes marked Facilitator are for the person at the front; Do this is for everyone else.

What to bring

Have these ready before the hour starts so the first download is yours, not a demo.

A laptop, tablet, or phone with a current browser. A laptop is easier for typing; a phone is enough to follow along.

A digital copy of your local logo if you have one (PNG, JPG, or SVG). If you do not, Logo Builder makes a starter during the identity step.

A rough idea of your local's colours, from letterhead, a banner, or a printed notice. Exact colour codes are optional.

Your local number, if it appears on your materials.

Optional: one real announcement or quote you might post this week, so the practice is a real post, not a placeholder.

Suggested outline

Times add up to about 50 minutes, with room for questions. If you have a full hour, linger on Graphic Maker. If you have 45 minutes, keep the downloads moving.

1.High-level social media strategy

12 min

Do this
Listen for three essentials: platforms you can sustain, a shared account that is not a personal account, and a posting rhythm that will not burn out the executive. First week is the written plan you leave with.

Facilitator
Open First week, then The Blueprint. Do not start inside a maker yet. Ask who holds the passwords today.

2.Creating your identity

8 min

Do this
Open Logo Builder. Set your local number and colours if needed, generate a circular logo, and download the PNG. This is the file you take home.

Facilitator
If the kit is empty, import the demo Brand Kit first. Share Logo Builder, not Brand Kit, as the identity beat. Show the PNG download succeeding.

3.Finding inspiration

8 min

Do this
Open Social Examples. Browse strike, AGM, and member-spotlight layouts so you are not staring at a blank screen. Tap one example to seed Graphic Maker when the next block starts.

Facilitator
This is the example gallery. Do not open Board Notice Maker unless someone asks about cork boards; point to the Union Boards guide instead.

4.Generating media content

12 min

Do this
Open Graphic Maker, pick a preset, and download a PNG. Then make a Quote Card. Graphic Maker is Facebook landscape and Instagram square; Image Resizer is how you hit other crops.

Facilitator
Pause on the photo consent dialog. Do not demo Pulse Poll publish. If a download fails, show a PNG you saved before the session. Skip Captions unless minutes remain.

5.Leave with a plan

5 min

Do this
You should have a logo PNG, one graphic, a quote card, and a Website Template ZIP. Open First week for the written plan. The practice checklist on Comms Resources is homework, not extra talking time.

Facilitator
Thank people. Show the ZIP download succeeding. Point to Comms Resources and stop on time. Skip GitHub Pages unless someone asks.

Next steps

Do these before the week is out, while the files are still on this device.

Bookmark Brand Kit in this browser so your colours are still here when you come back. If you share the computer, download the Brand Kit file from Brand Kit and keep it with your local records.

Keep the Logo Builder PNG with your local records, and use it on the Facebook cover only after whoever must approve identity has said yes.

Open the First week roadmap and attempt your first real post using the graphic and quote card you made today.

Open Website Template and download the ZIP when you want a simple local page you can host later.

When you have a quiet half hour, work through the practice checklist on Comms Resources.

Facilitator

Thank people. Remind them public Comms stay on the device. If something broke, the Feedback page on this site takes a note without a member mailing list.