activist conference
TRANSCRIPT
RTC TrainingWorking Today, Winning Tomorrow.
Thank You For Coming
RTC Packets
Action Packet.
Two Year Plan.
Guide To Simple Blogging.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Action Packet
•Only 13 Pages (not a book!)
•Simple bullet points.
•Easy instructions.
•Can plan and execute now!
Massachusetts Republican Party
Introduction• Committee Mentality is Deadly!
• Transform R.T.C. into a Republican Town Campaign!
• Write a Campaign Plan!
• Set Goals.
• Establish Benchmarks To Track Progress.
• Give Specific Instructions On How To Meet Benchmarks.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics
Contact every Republican and ask for financial support at least once each year; re-solicit known donors at least one additional time each year.
Sponsor or participate in a charity event once per year.
Donate fifty cents for every Republican in your town to Republican candidates.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics Plus Identify Voters!
• Build Coordinates of Town in Voter Vault for Future Candidates.
• Voting Issues?- Education, Taxes, Health Care...
• Work now to give future GOP candidates time.
• Right now you have data in your mind - yards that put up Healey signs, friends that are gun owners or social conservatives etc...
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics Plus Collect Signatures!
•Get candidates on the ballot - they should not have to resort to paying for signatures.
•Initiative petitions are great for voter i.d.
•Know the guidelines for a signature to be certified!
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics PlusOrganize Online!
• Get a blog - use blogger.com and read the MassGOP Guide to Simple Blogging.
• Influence debate - you are the only GOP voice at your municipal level.
• Keep an eye on your Democrat incumbents.
• Promote RTC activity, post pictures and give credit to your hard working members.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics PlusRegister Republicans!
• What is % of R’s, U’s, and D’s?
• Set a goal of registering X amount of voters by X date.
• Welcome those that recently moved to your community with a registration card.
• For those turning 18, send a Birthday Card!
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics PlusRun Candidates!
•The best legislative candidates are those that have served at the municipal level!
•Elect Republicans to School Committee, Board of Selectman etc...
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics PlusChallenge Incumbent Democrats!
• Review the red flags to look out for in guide.
• Write press releases from your GOP committee.
• Write letters to the editor as individuals.
• Monitor voting record.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics Plus
Train Your Members!
• Attend Mass GOP Training Seminars.
• Sign Holding vs Phone Banking/Door to Door? Not everything is equal.
• Invest limited volunteer time wisely.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Check Out My Example of Holding
Signs...
45 Volunteer Hours!!!!
Check Out My Example of Holding
Signs...
45 Volunteer Hours!!!!
The Basics Plus
Keep Morale High
•Conduct one or two social events per year.
•Christmas/Holiday parties.
•Summer BBQ’s.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics Plus
Use Voter Vault!
• Get username and pass from Mass GOP.
• Become trained on Voter Vault.
• Voter ID/Mailing Lists/Phone Banking etc...
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics PlusWork With Friends
•Friends will help you first.
•Look to allies in your town - anti property tax groups, gun clubs etc.
•Use your County Club.
•Keep everyone informed with your activities.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics Plus
Expand and Identify Membership!
•4/4 Republicans.
•U’s that vote in GOP primaries.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Basics PlusWrite a Campaign Plan!
•Calendar events, activities.
•When to make calls?
•How many volunteer hours are needed?
•How much money is needed?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Questions?
The Basics - 3 Items.
The Basics Plus - 15 Items.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Two - Year Plan
✓Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan!
Massachusetts Republican Party
Spring 2007•Elect Municipal Republican
Candidates.
•Pre-Summer Donation Letter to Republicans.
•Create Republican Town Committee web page and blog.
• Initiate Republican Town Committee blog.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Summer 2007
•Identify Voters.
•Conduct Charity Event.
•Attend Campaign Training for your Members.
•Host Summer BBQ.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Fall 2007•Identify Voters.
•Re-Solicitation Letter to Previous Donors.
•Register Republican Drive.
•Collect Signatures for Potential Statewide Initiative Petition (Sept 19 - Nov 21).
Massachusetts Republican Party
Winter 2007/2008
•Identify Voters.
•Recruit Legislative Candidate(s).
•Initiate Signature Collection Plan for Candidates.
•Host Christmas or holiday party.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Spring 2008• Identify Voters.
•Elect Municipal Republican Candidates.
•Pre-Summer Donation Letter to Republicans.
•Complete Signature Plan for Candidates.
•Collect signatures for public policy initiatives.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Summer 2008
•Identify Voters.
•Work for Candidate(s).
•Donate to Candidate(s).
Massachusetts Republican Party
Fall 2008
•Identify Voters
•Work for Candidate(s)
•Donate to Candidate(s)
•Host BBQ.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Winter 2008/2009•Identify Voters.
•Recruit Legislative Candidate(s).
•Conduct Charity Event.
•Host Christmas or Holiday Party.
•Attend Swearing-In of newly elected GOP legislator.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Spring 2009•Start Two-Year Plan
Again.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Questions?
Two Year Plan
Massachusetts Republican Party
Simple Blogging
There are over 70 Million Blogs in the world!
GreenfieldGOP.com is the only blog with a Republican perspective in Greenfield.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Blogging Principles• provide local answers to local questions and issues.
• promote events sponsored by your GOP committee/candidates.
• debate international, national, and local issues.
• promote contrary and interesting opinions - a personality, or sense of humor helps
• avoid personal attacks.
• avoid being wholly negative - always suggest a positive alternative.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Getting Started
• Nominate a blog director for your RTC.
• We suggest blogger.com - free and easy.
• Create account.
• Write introductory post.
• Add Links (neighboring RTC’s are good).
Massachusetts Republican Party
Blogging Tactics•Pictures/Videos - show energy of an
event or the action of a campaign.
•Comments - allow readers to interact.
•Polls - conduct informal polls.
•Multiple Authors - open your blog up to every member of the RTC.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Topics to Blog
• Recent Headlines.
• Debates.
• Liberalism, why is it bad?
• Projects/Events Sponsored by RTC.
• Recognize the doers.
• Attack Democrat Incumbent.
• Defend Republican Incumbent.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Questions?
Guide To Simple Blogging
Massachusetts Republican Party
RTC Group Project
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D.
All Voters Are People
Not All People Are Voters.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Simple, but campaigns TOO OFTEN
ignore this principle.
The Reality of Signs
% of people driving by are not old enough to vote.
% of people driving by are not registered to vote.
% of people driving by are not citizens and thus can’t vote.
% of people driving by are registered but don’t actually vote.
% of voters driving by live in a neighboring district.
% of voters are already committed for/against you.
% of voters drove by and could not read the signs
% of voters that are undecided read your sign.
How many “beeps” and “thumbs-ups” do you misinterpret as the last point?
Massachusetts Republican Party
If all you eat is Dessert, things won’t go well for you. A Dessert goes AFTER your main course.
Signs and Sign waiving should only conclude the fundamentals of a campaign. It’s NOT a substitute for your meal.
Signs are for Dessert
Massachusetts Republican Party
2 ways to campaign
Hand out campaign flyers, newspaper advertisements, cable tv ads, billboards,
shake hands at the supermarket.
Election Day - crack open the champagne, turn on the news, cross your fingers and hope for the best.
This is the WRONG way.
PUSHING INFO ONTO VOTERS
Massachusetts Republican Party
2 ways to campaignDetermine Number of Votes To Win (based on previous elections that are similar)
Find Those Voters.
Keep Track Of YOUR Voters.
Remind Voters To Vote On/Near Election Day.
This is the RIGHT way.
There is no finger crossing or “hoping” it’s HARD work.
PULLING INFO FROM VOTERS
Voter I.D.
“To Identify A Voter Is To Know The Preference(s)
Of A Voter”
Know Thy Voter
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D.
๏Identify VOTING issues, not just any miscellaneous opinion.
๏Establish Target Pools for Persuasion.
๏Establish GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Base.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Phone Calls - Door Knocking - List Acquisition
Voter I.D.By Issue:
Education? High Taxes? Clean Environment? Anti Gambling? etc
There are issues, and then there are VOTING issues.
What incites MOVEMENT in a particular voter?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D.By Candidate:
Pro Perry, Und Perry, Anti Perry?
Who Do We Mobilize To Vote?
Who Do We Pursade?
Who Do We Ignore?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D.
PhonesDoor KnockingPaper PetitionsInternet Petitions
Your Tool Box To Collect Data:
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D. via phoneHi, this is Rob from the Smith Campaign calling with a few quick questions?
1) What is the most important issue to you?
2) Do you support Smith for State Representative?
Yes No Und
3) Would you like an absentee ballot?
4) Would you like a yard sign?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D. via Door“Hi, I’m a volunteer for the Smith Campaign and I just wanted to give you his brochure. As a voter, what is on your mind?
Have you made up your mind in this election?”
Note Clues: NRA Sticker, Military, Private School, Old Glory, Bumper Stickers etc.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D. via EventsRaffle a $ gift certificate to the 99 restaurant.
Name: Phone: Email:Address:
Do you generally lean Republican or Democrat?
What issue do you care about THE most?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D. via Events cont...Tell Beacon Hill What YOU Think!
Name: Phone: Email:
Address:
The MOST important issue facing The MOST important issue facing Massachusetts IS....Massachusetts IS....
High Taxes_ Environment Crime_ Education_High Taxes_ Environment Crime_ Education_
Health Care_ Roads/Bridges_ Gambling_Health Care_ Roads/Bridges_ Gambling_Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D. via WebOnline Petitions to capitalize on recent news and collect data.
Tap Into: Headlines to capitalize on
Anger or Support
Tap Into: Headlines to capitalize on
Anger or Support
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter I.D.
Questions?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics“Amateurs study strategy, experts study logistics.”
-Napoleon Bonaparte“the planning, implementation, and
coordination of the details of a business or other operation.”
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics
Details People vs Big Picture People
Which Are You?Know Your Weaknesses
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics
Cell Phones - use free minutes on weekends!
Phone Bank Locations?
✓Real Estate Offices
✓Law Offices
✓Travel Agencies
Phone Bank Locations?
✓Real Estate Offices
✓Law Offices
✓Travel Agencies
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics
Phone Bankers - Who Are They?
✓Candidates personal network
✓Republican activists.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics•Scripts?
•What does it say?
•What data do you want?
•Used Voter Vault?
•Stop Calling Time Policy?
•Who creates/prints scripts?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics•GOAL: campaign needs 10,000 Positive ID’s.
•AVG. 3/10 calls are complete 1/10 calls are positive
•100,000 Raw Calls Must Be Made
•100 Phone Banks
•1,000 calls per phone bank.
•10 People make 100 calls per volunteer per shift.
Massachusetts Republican Party
LogisticsTraining? - don’t assume people know what a
“phone bank” is.
Do your volunteers know how to call?
Few volunteers LOVE to make calls so make it less painful.
Compete - most phone calls wins ipod shuffle.
Make It Fun, but minimize chatter.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics
What to do with phone completed scripts?
Who inputs it into VoterVault?
When is it put into Voter Vault?
Massachusetts Republican Party
LogisticsDoor To Door
Maps & Walking List? Voter Vault?
Clipboards? Cell?
Apparel/Identifier? Vehicles/Local Drivers?
Proper Apparel - rain jackets?
Sneakers or Dress Shoes?Analysis - how many doors knocked? Number of
Complete ID’s?
Massachusetts Republican Party
LogisticsEVENTS
Define Your Goals. Do you want to
Register Voters?Voter ID?
Massachusetts Republican Party
LogisticsEVENTSRegister Voters
NEED A SCREEN QUESTION: “Do You Support Bush’s War On Terrorism? Do you lean Republican or Democrat?
Are you a registered to vote AT YOUR CURRENT RESIDENCE?
Who got the Registration Cards? Where did they get them?
Who is returning them and when?Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics EVENTS
Voter IDVolunteers - NOT behind a table. Actively
approaching people.
What is the opening pitch? Each Volunteer should have at least 2 clipboards.
CONSIDER event - Religious event, Gun Show, Town Day, etc...
What are the individual volunteer goals at the event?
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics•How large?
Determine number of vols needed.
• Is it Legal?
•Entrances/Exits?
•Portable Bathrooms?
•Food Lines?
EVENTS
•Who Drives?
•Pay for Parking?
•Start Time? Early
•Consider Draw & your district
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics•When were volunteers trained for Event?
•Do they understand purpose and know terrain?
•Volunteers understand candidates positions?
• Is Volunteer well presented? Wearing a yankees hat? Wearing tie/jacket with dress shoes in 90 degrees?
•Do Volunteers need food and drinks?
Massachusetts Republican Party
LogisticsExpect PROBLEMS
Complications should not surprise you but being ill prepared for them SHOULD surprise you.
Formulate Emergency Process: Cell Phone Numbers for Staff and Volunteers should be distributed.
EVERYTHING you use should have backups.
Vehicles, Volunteers, Phone Bank Locations, Materials etc.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Logistics
Organized Chaos - minimize chaos and maximize organized.
You don’t need to be Karl Rove.
You need TIME and DISCIPLINE to work on the DETAILS.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter Vault
Developed by the RNC
Free!
No Longer Have To Go To Town Halls for Data.
Can Add/Extract Valuable Data.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter Vault• Begins with basic data - R’s, U’s, D’s and how often
they vote: 0,1,2,3,4.
• Gives You Ability To Add VALUE to Data to use for current and FUTURE elections.
Yard Sign Location
Snowmobile OwnerGun Owner Top Issue
Taxes
Top Issue Environment
Pro 2004 St. Rep. Candidate
Over 90 Affiliations To Use!
Social Conservative
Marriage Signers
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter VaultCreate Phone Lists and Mailing
Labels
based on data to Target.Target Your Message Just Like Companies Do With Products.
+ =
Massachusetts Republican Party
Voter Vault
www.VoterVault.com for Live Demonstration
G.O.T.V.
•GOTV is NOT:
Mass Voter Contact
One Contact Only
One Day Only
GOTV IS:
Targeted
Direct/Personal
Multiple Contacts
Several Days
Massachusetts Republican Party
G.O.T.V.
Massachusetts Republican Party
•All 9,000 Doors are Knocked and Called.
•Election Day - Poll Checkers equipped with list of 12,892 from 7AM to 1PM.
•1PM List Sent To Phone Bank To Call Those That Have Yet To Vote.
• Candidate Smith Needs 11,000 votes for State Rep.
• Candidate Smith ID’d 12,892 Pro Voters.
• 12,892 Voters is 9,000 House Holds.
G.O.T.V.•Voter ID - Finds Your Pro Voters!
•GOTV - Pulls Them Out To Vote!
•On Election Day: Poll Checkers Equipped With Pro List.
•Phone Bankers Calling Those That DID NOT Vote.
•Sign Holders? - last priority.
Massachusetts Republican Party
G.O.T.V.
•Volunteer Intensive - Door Knockers, Phone Bankers.
•Preparation - Poll Checking Lists, Phone Bank Locations.
•72 Hours is now 96 Hours.
Summary
Massachusetts Republican Party
Thank You.
Massachusetts Republican Party
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