Captains and vice-captains: guide for leaders getting started with SupporterBase

Captains and vice-captains are the drivers of community action in SupporterBase. They are trusted and committed volunteers who lead their own local groups, take responsibility for communications, coordinate local events and organise campaign actions.

To get started as a captain or vice-captain, you will need to:

1. Accept your invitation. Your organisation’s point person will assign you as a captain or vice-captain for your group(s) in SupporterBase. You will then receive an automated email inviting you to create your account (check your junk folder if nothing comes through, or any other email addresses you have). Click the link in that invitation email, and fill in the form to create your account and set a password.

2. Accept the terms of use. As part of the initial login process you may also be prompted to accept your organisation’s terms of use (if they have set this requirement). These are specific to the rules and regulations of each organisation, and cover topics such as supporter privacy and accuracy, how best to represent the organisation, security, etc.

3. Update your profile. To update your profile, including to change your password or logout, go to the left-hand side navigation and select the captain icon with your name, which should display the sub-menu items Change Password, Update Profile and Sign Out.

   • Within the Update Profile option, you can edit your display name, preferred contact email address and phone number. These contact details are important because:
     • You will receive all SupporterBase email notifications at your chosen email address.
     • When using SupporterBase to call supporters, you will first be connected via an automated call to your chosen mobile phone number. For further information on making calls to supporters, see our documentation on phone calls.
   • If you have the captain level of access, then the Update Profile section will also include a checkbox where you can select whether or not to receive approval notifications via email. Notifications include requests by vice-captains to approve bulk communications and events. (NOTE: this option is not available to vice-captains, who do not have permission to approve requests).
   • Familiarise yourself with SupporterBase and the way your organisation uses it. In addition to our support documentation, your organisation may have prepared their own custom user guide to ensure captains and vice-captains use SupporterBase in a manner consistent with their own values and strategy - including on issues such as how to draft effective communications and engage with supporters.

4. Start organising!