to ask for your help with a ridiculous but genuine question (life's not fair)

[NameChangedAsEmbarrsd]

I'm so embarrassed to ask this.

I have long coveted a specific local community role - without being outing think of something like a high status, competitve trusteeship. It's not quite that but its not political and its closer to that sort of role. I am very well qualified for this role. I have applied twice over a long period (vacancies don't come up often) and both times the person appointed was 'famous' but far less qualified than me.

I have been told by a person in the know that in order to be in with a shout I need to be a recognisable name - which leads me to my question: How can I become name-recognisable quickly with least effort? It's not quite the same as how can I be famous. I just need to get a local recognisable status. I really don't want to do this but I really want the role I covet so am prepared to have a go.

I'm not political so don't want to stand as a councillor and think political involvement would skew my chances. Has anyone got any ideas or tips? Or should I just accept that life is unfair and give up on my dream.

I'm dying inside that I've asked this question. Which probably means I'm not capable of achieving recognition anyway.

Lead a local campaign - it doesn’t need to be political as such (e.g. save our local XXXX) but it will mean you become known locally amongst councillors, in the local paper/ social media if you do it well.

Raise some money for a charity and tell the local paper

Charity - look for the highest profile charity in your area and throw your heart and soul into it. Volunteer for any press interaction and get yourself social media savvy.

For no effort, you would need to be either very very lucky or very very unlucky in some way that makes it worth the local press reporting on your fortune or misfortune.

Luck aside, the things that will get you in the papers are going to be effort.

Be the organiser of a big fundraiser event e.g. a large-scale McMillan Coffee Morning (badger a local business into paying for marquee hire and lots of publicity) or a Great Get Together Street Party. Spearhead a campaign to get the local potholes properly sorted out.

Start and moderate (fun!) a local Facebook page

How can I become name-recognisable quickly with least effort?

Short answer is you can't, you will need to put in a lot of effort to get widely known quickly, and you can't then expect the local media, councillors or population to recognise you long term and instantly remember you when these vacancies arise, particularly as you say yourself these vacancies don't come up often.

If you want to become someone well known and well thought of locally you are going to have to make a sustained effort over the long term to remain in the spotlight. You can do this by being a force for good, campaigning on local issues and that doesn't have to be political, volunteering, charity fund raising, etc., etc.

Life may well be unfair but no-one ever said it would be and moaning about it won't get you what you want.

I think it takes quite a lot of effort and commitment to become "famous" locally - the most well-known local person that I know has put a huge amount into promoting her community organisation (and herself as its figurehead). It's good to have a friend who can nominate you for things too, as it's a lot easier having someone blow your trumpet for you than do it yourself.

Crossposted with RedDogsBeg who put it all more eloquently!

School governor/leading light on PTA
Breastfeeding peer supporter or volunteering at local children’s charity
Interfaith group leader (organise coffee for the local rabbis, imams and vicars and publicise that you’ve done so)
Cubs/Brownie leader
Campaign to tidy up/get funds for your local neglected green space. Could combine this with a forest school or kids group thing
Start a micro local newsheet or paper

Just thinking of the sorts of people who are known here locally, this is what they do.

I agree, there's no way of doing this without putting effort in. You need to join in with as many community events as possible, plus as others have said, instigate some yourself. Could you start a community newsletter?

‘Start and moderate (fun!) a local Facebook page’

This would probably be a good idea actually. The local one to us has a few figures that have become quite ‘known’ but not always in a good way. There are 3 of them that seem to bicker about community projects etc and have quite a profile even if people disagree.

Brownie or Guide Leader. Everyone knows my name in our smallish town.

In my local area, you'd want to be super active on the local FB groups, be active on a local campaign or two (lots of pics in the local paper, more reasons to post on SM) and volunteer to help at all the big events - and post about them on SM.
I got to know a lot of people locally by running a big charity event, but I know that many more people know the 'complaining about the traffic' lady or the 'stop the community hall' bloke as they have a reason to be talking about it all the time.

Depends who selects this role though - is it a large number of people, or a committee? If a committee you would need to do stuff to demonstrate commitment and skill to them rather than the general community.

How famous were the other people who got the post? Do you live in a gorgeous place that's overrun with celebrity locals?

I'm guessing you'd like to be a mayor? That's the only thing I can think of. We have 2 in our small town. Neither was famous though.

I agree with all the suggestions to do charity work. With winter coming up, you could throw yourself into a campaign to help the local homeless people.

Good luck.

Write a CF story on MN and hope for the tabloids to pick it up?

To add to previous: initiate and run high-profile community project e.g. town-twinning or arts festival.

Or marry the vicar.

The people in my community that are relatively well known are the people on the Facebook page:
-Sharing news about local travel news and road improvements

• sharing job adverts
• sharing local consultations
• sharing news of local funds/awards/events
• managing the local youth club
• managing park run
• managing the neighbourhood watch
• managing some community engagement projects to reduce anti social behaviour
• running crafting clubs

Or they are known through the pub scene. That’s the one that has the least effort (or most enjoyable effort anyway) but might not be what you’re looking for!

Something that would probably have a big impact at this time of year (depending on the demographics of your area obviously) would be to run a fuel poverty campaign. So work with Age UK or other organisations, energy saving companies, the water company and promote energy and water saving by getting the companies to give out free savings devices. Some of these comp ies might also have social tariffs for residents that are struggling with their bills and you could get them on to those tariffs. However, if these positions come up infrequently you probably need some year round or a summer and winter campaign.

Open a v successful shop that fills a niche- everyone knows the artisan baker where I live!
(Does help that their products are delicious and they're absolutely lovely people too)

One thing that is puzzling me NameChangedAsEmbarrsd is why you haven't made any effort to raise your profile locally after your first attempt at gaining a role you claim to covet? You knew you were qualified but missed out due to not being well known the first time round and yet you have done nothing to correct this reason for the committee/whoever not giving you the role. They clearly see your lack of being 'known' as an obstacle despite your qualifications, there is clearly more to this role than just qualifications.

Are you sure you really want this role? If you are not prepared or willing to put yourself out to get it, or to 'play the game' then I'm not entirely sure the role is for you or if you understand what it entails or whether you just like the idea of it rather than the reality of it.

Is the role a Lord Lieutenant?