Precinct Chair Training Manual - TCDP · Precinct Chair Training Manual ... Â Yet another method is to walk each street in your precinct, making a list with each house

Travis County

Democratic Party

Precinct Chair Training Manual

www.traviscountydemocrats.org [email protected]

May 2009

Welcome! Thank you for serving as a leader in the Travis County Democratic Party! As a Precinct Chair, you are an integral part of the success of the Democratic Party. Because you play such an important role, we have taken some time to create a Precinct Chair handbook that can guide you in your work. This manual is designed to guide Precinct Chairs through the development of their organization, offer tools and suggestions that can help maximize their success, and provide contacts and links that can provide further assistance and resources. We also understand that there are varied experience levels in this group. For those seasoned Precinct Chairs, use this guide as an opportunity to reflect on what you currently do and determine if there are any improvement areas. Also think about what great ideas you have implemented that could support other Precinct Chairs. For those new Precinct Chairs, use this guide as a resource to support you in your development. To make sure you don’t get overwhelmed as you read this handbook, remember these key points: First – Take one step at a time. You won’t get everything accomplished overnight. Each year you can work to put the pieces in place that will get you to a well-run, effective precinct organization. Second – Remember that you cannot do it alone. Great work happens when we bring people together for a common vision. Third – Keep your eyes on the prize. When you get frustrated or feel overwhelmed, remember our goal…an ever stronger Travis County Democratic Party! We hope you find this handbook useful and we welcome your suggestions as you discover new ways to do your job. In the meantime, please use this as a tool to manage and support the work you have ahead of you. Thank you for your work, your commitment, and your energy!

“Do all you can do, with what you have, with the time you have, in the place you are.” Nkosi Johnson

September 2,2009

Dear Precinct Chair,

Tho creation of Ehis manual involved the hard work of mmy of our precinct chairs, will rake thc time to read it, study it and execute the ideas irlcluded in ii. 'fhe best way to haw a strong Den~ocratic Party in Trayis County is not through spending lots of money on tclcvisiun, direct mail or radio. RcpubXicans will always have more money than wc do eo spend on such things. Our strength is in cmpuwering the grassroots network wross the county, and that srarts with the precinct chairs. I want to thank everyone involved in putting this manual together. 111 particular I wmt to thank. Barbara Coivin for chairing the effort involving Kathy Camell, Amy Thompson, Marvin Ileckcr, Kathy Albert and others. Barbara, Kathy, Anzy, Marvin and Kathy are shining examples of what amazing things precinct chairs can accomplish. 'l'harlk you.

1 look forward to working with all precinct chairs and activists as we build rhc Party over thc next few years to help the rcst oi'il'cxas put this state hack in Democratic hands. Please contact me ~ i t h any questions, ideas or ways that I can help you i'uifill your role as precinct chair. My emai l address is ag~\.iu',travise.o~n~~_dgj~_c~gif&.o_rg

f>cmocratieally -- yours,

(51 2J 477-76t'jC; = Fax (51 2) A77-3769 - P 6 Box 6842 3, A u s t l ~ ~ T cxas 781884263 )fi hVhi E : ~ V ~ S C ~ ~ ? R T Y ~ ~ M ~ C ~ C - ~ I S Org i n F 0 f i ~ t r 3 ~ ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ 1 ~ ~ " r y d e 3 m o c r ~ ~ s OICj

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CONTACT INFORMATION

5/13/2009 Contact Information Page 1 of 1

Travis County Democratic Party (TCDP)

Website: www.traviscountydemocrats.org Main Office: Phone: (512) 477-7500

Fax: (512) 477-7769

Address: 1311 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 684263 Austin, TX 78768-4263

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

General Contact E-mail: [email protected] Chair: Andy Brown [email protected] Staff: Executive Director: Sylvia Camarillo [email protected]

Assistant to the Director: Cindy Flint [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5/14/2009 Table of Contents Page 1 of 1

What you will find:

Welcome

A Word from the County Chair

Contacts

Chapter 1 – Understanding the Precinct Chair Role Precinct Chair Roles and Responsibilities

Chapter 2 – Know Your Precinct and Assemble Resources Precinct Boundaries, Maps, Overall Voting History, and Information to Help You Target Specific Voters

Chapter 3 – Analyze and Divide Your Precinct into Blocks Strategies for Different Population Densities

Chapter 4 – Build, Train and Manage Your Precinct Team Recruiting Your Team; Roles and Responsibilities

Chapter 5 – Get Out the Vote Timelines and Strategies for Effective GOTV

Chapter 6 – Communication Tools Building on Your Precinct Structure with Ongoing Communication

Appendices

CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING THE PRECINCT CHAIR ROLE

5/13/2009 Chapter 1 – Understanding the Precinct Chair Role Page 1 of 2

What is a Precinct Chair? Precinct Chairs are an integral part of the leadership structure of the Democratic Party at all levels and of the Travis County Democratic Party (TCDP) in particular. You are the face of the Democratic Party on a neighborhood level. Precinct Chairs organize their precincts to get the Party message to the individual voter, and help carry out the Party program to get voters to the polls on Election Day. Each Precinct Chair automatically serves as a member of the County Executive Committee (CEC), which is the governing body of the TCDP. You are expected to attend regular meetings of the CEC to conduct TCDP business, and to be familiar with CEC rules and procedures. Precinct Chairs serve on a variety of committees and task forces, and the CEC coordinates campaign efforts during election cycles. The Precinct Chair is a publicly elected party official, elected by the Democratic voters in a precinct each primary (March of even-numbered years) to a two-year term. Precinct Chairs must be registered to vote in their precincts, cannot have voted in the last Republican primary, must have voted in the Democratic primary, cannot endorse another party candidate in a race where a Democrat is on the ballot, and must be at least 18 years of age.

“Precinct Chairs are an integral part of the Travis County Democratic Party leadership structure and the

face of the TCDP on a neighborhood level.”

What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Precinct Chair? 1. Organize your precinct.

� Know your precinct and assemble resources.

� Build, train and manage your precinct team.

� Develop a system to communicate with voters and share your records and data base with the TCDP.

� Assist the TCDP with recruiting election judges, clerks and others to work the polls so you can be free to run your Precinct Convention and to lead in GOTV activities on Election Day.

� Get voters to the polls to support Democratic national, state and local candidates

2. Attend all CEC meetings, which are typically held at 6 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month, with certain exceptions during the year.

The CEC: � Canvasses the results of primary and primary runoff elections;

� Confirms appointments to precinct chair vacancies;

� Provides training and materials for Precinct Chairs;

� Studies issues and legislation and organizes support or opposition;

“Sticks in a bundle are

unbreakable.” Kenyan Proverb

CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING THE PRECINCT CHAIR ROLE

5/13/2009 Chapter 1 – Understanding the Precinct Chair Role Page 2 of 2

� Votes on endorsements and Party resolutions; and

� Plans and coordinates TCDP’s general election year campaigns. 3. Participate in TCDP activities and encourage others in your precinct to participate as

well. � Become a Sustaining Member of the TCDP by contributing as little as $10 a month to keep

the doors open and elect Democrats. For more information visit the TCDP office or go online at: http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/SustainingMembers.php.

� Join the TCDP Finance Council for $84 a month or $1,000 annually and receive added recognition. Finance Council members receive prominent listing on our website and in our publications as well as at TCDP functions. Free general admission to TCDP-sponsored events is also a member benefit.

� Support the TCDP during election years through its Coordinated Campaign operation which pools the resources of Democratic candidates and coordinates the election effort from a centralized command center; and

� Serve on CEC committees or task forces. 4. Know the Rules and Procedures of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP), and the Travis

County Democratic Party (TCDP). � Visit http://www.txdemocrats.org/the_party/tdp_rules.

CHAPTER 2 KNOW YOUR PRECINCT AND ASSEMBLE RESOURCES

5/13/2009 Chapter 2 – Know Your Precinct and Assemble Resources Page 1 of 3

As the leader of your precinct, you need to be the resident expert.

Knowing boundaries, streets and addresses, the number of registered voters, the voting history of your precinct (as a whole and of the individuals living there) will be crucial to organizing effectively. Step One - Learn Precinct Boundaries from the TCDP

Where is your precinct located? What are the boundaries?

A map of your precinct can be obtained from the Travis County Democratic Party.

Â You can make a request by phone at 512-477-7500, or by email at [email protected].

Step Two - Get a Detailed Map from TCAD Once you have determined the boundaries of your precinct, the next step is finding the address of each residence where a voter might be located.

Using the list of streets on your boundaries map (see step one above), make a detailed map of your precinct, showing individual lots.

Â Detailed plat maps can be obtained from the Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD), located at 8314 Cross Park Drive, Austin Texas 78754. For more information go to www.traviscad.org.

Â Another resource might be your neighborhood homeowners associations who may already have existing plat maps.

Â Yet another method is to walk each street in your precinct, making a list with each house number noted. This list can later be coordinated with your Voter Activation Network (VAN) list (see Step Four below) to do your job of identifying Democrats and “Persuadable Independents (PIs)”.

Â Or, you may want to walk the precinct using the VAN list, noting addresses for which you do not have names. These may be unregistered voters who may or may not be eligible to vote. You can sometimes find out how they lean from your neighbors, or see clues such as bumper stickers. If they are likely to vote Democratic, register them. (Non-citizens cannot vote. Felons can vote if they are no longer on probation.)

Consider taking your completed plat map to a copy shop and having it enlarged and matted or laminated,

so you can take it to precinct meetings and other places where people might want to see it.

“We're still not where

we're going, but we're not

where we were.” Natash

Jasefowitz



Step Three - Determine the Number of Registered Voters and Get the Voting History of Your Precinct Get to know the voting history and character of your precinct.

Looking at trends can help measure the success of your precinct’s efforts and can help set a bar for the goals you want to accomplish.

Don’t forget… One of YOUR GOALS is to increase DEMOCRATIC voter

registration and turnout for your precinct.

Visit the County Clerk Election Division web site to find out how many registered voters have voted in past elections and how your precinct as a whole voted.

Â Go to http://www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/results.asp. Â Choose the year of the past election you want to use. For example, to check the statistics of

registered voters who voted in your precinct during the 2008 primary, the pdf file is: http://www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/20080304/files/Dem14pct.pdf.

To find out the current number of registered voters in your precinct, please call the Voter’s Registration Desk in the County Tax Assessor’s/Collector’s Office at 854-9473 or visit 5501 Airport Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78751.

You can also visit the Travis County Democratic Party's Precinct Information website to view the ranking and analysis of relevant precinct characteristics and how to reach nearby precinct chairs at http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/precinct_chair.php. Step Four - Get Access to the Voter Activation Network (VAN) list for your Precinct from the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) Knowing the voting record and contact data of each registered voter in your precinct will give you valuable information as you fulfill your goal of identifying who might vote Democratic.

The goal is to find both Democrats and Persuadable Independents. To support this, The Texas Democratic Party uses the VAN system to provide demographics you will need.

For more information on identifying potential Democratic voters, see the Block Captain Guide in Chapter 4.

Please note that The Travis County Democratic Party conducts periodic training to familiarize you with the VAN system. To find out about VAN trainings, contact the Travis County Democratic Party main office at 477-7500.

To request access to VAN, Go to http://texasvan.com. � Select "request an account" - This will take you to the "user account request" page.

“Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it’s something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles.” Abbie Hoffman



� Enter all required fields. For “title”, put Precinct Chair. For “organization”, put Travis County Democratic Party. In the “notes” section, give your county and precinct number. (Normally the TDP is able to approve and create accounts within 72 hours.)

� Within a few days, The TDP will email your username and password. This password must be updated every 90 days.

For questions, contact the TDP Voter File Coordinator, at (512) 478-9800. Step Five – Don’t Hesitate to Contact the Travis County Democratic Party for Any and All Questions Travis County Democratic Party: 477-7500 or [email protected].

CHAPTER 3 ANALYZE & DIVIDE YOUR PRECINCT INTO BLOCKS

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Whether your precinct is a few blocks in diameter or miles of country roads, the size and population density of your precinct will have an effect on how you manage it.

While walking all or part of an urban or suburban precinct is feasible, walking a rural or sparsely populated precinct can be difficult. So beware…the housing make-up of your precinct will determine how you divide up your tasks.

Voter ID is imperative. Once you have determined the type of precinct you live in, it is useful to divide it into workable subdivisions.

This can be based on major dividing streets, neighborhood boundaries, housing type (apartments vs. houses), or demographics. By dividing your precinct, you can get a sense of accomplishment without being overwhelmed.

“Once you have determined the type of precinct you live in, it is useful to divide it into workable

subdivisions.”

Low Density – precincts with lot sizes of more than a half acre and rural areas Walking these areas may not be possible. It will probably be more advantageous to use email and phone calls to set up invitations for coffee, wine and cheese, or other precinct social functions where you can organize and distribute literature.

Low density areas can be divided by streets or subdivisions. You will still need a team either by geographic region or subdivision in your precinct. Try meeting at different homes within different areas of the precinct to find new members. Medium Density – precincts with lot sizes of less than a half acre (can be urban or suburban) Walking these areas is feasible.

The number of Block Captains needed will be approximately 1 per 100 residents or 1 for each 50 houses (for more on block captains, see chapter 4).

In order to ensure that you identify all who are eligible to vote, it is suggested that you get a plat map of each street in your precinct (see chap 2) and divide your areas into blocks by number of houses, e.g. 50 per block captain. High Density - apartment complexes, college dorms, residential living for seniors. The number of Block Captains needed will be 1 for each 100 apartments which is approximately 150 voters.

These areas are best canvassed by leafleting or social gatherings. Please note: Do NOT put leaflets in mailboxes (that is illegal!); only on or under doors.

“The more I want to get something

done, the less I call it work.” Richard Bach

CHAPTER 4 BUILD, TRAIN AND MANAGE YOUR PRECINCT TEAM

5/13/2009 Chapter 4 – Build, Train and Manage Your Precinct Team Page 1 of 7

Your precinct most likely contains enthusiastic activists with special talents to help manage the needs of the precinct and increase the efficiency of your operation. And the division of labor will make the work easier and more fun. It is your job to recruit and build that team.

The detailed approach below is one suggested way of organizing your precinct work and is based on successful experiences of real precinct chairs. However, you should feel free to achieve the objective of organizing your precinct considering your own leadership style and precinct resources.

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE!

Just as winning an election cannot be done alone, organizing and winning a precinct has to be a team effort.

How Do I Recruit My Team? There are as many ways to find members for your team as there are Democrats. Getting started and sustaining a precinct organization will require some structure, which you can provide. Here are some ideas:

Get on the phone, email, walk your Precinct, and invite good Democrats to a Sunday afternoon meeting (your house, a local coffee shop). Talk about how they can get involved in the fun and exciting goal of electing Democrats at all levels of government.

� Look for your team among dedicated Democrats you already know. Ask your family, friends, and neighbors and also ask them for their recommendations.

� Take advantage of your existing network of neighborhood associations, school support groups, environmental groups, religious groups, clubs, and gatherings to let friends know you’re the neighborhood representative of the Travis County Democratic Party.

� Use the sign-in sheets from your Precinct Convention and Caucus. They are a great resource for finding committed Democrats. People who were elected to attend the County and State Conventions are also known activists and are usually willing to take on extra work on behalf of the Party. If you don’t currently have this information, contact the TCDP at 477-7500 or [email protected].

� Using the Voter Activation Network (VAN – see Chapter 2), identify people who have voted Democrat in the last two or three primaries (aka “Double Ds” and “Triple Ds”).

Two Key Elements of Your Team

ELEMENT #1 - PRECINCT STEERING COMMITTEE Unless you have unlimited time and talent yourself, assembling a team with special abilities to help you is imperative. You need people to share the work of your Precinct, to brainstorm with, and to take the pressure off of you when hard decisions must be made.

Here are some Steering Committee positions which have been found to be useful by other Precinct Chairs:

“We should not only use

the brains we have, but all

we can borrow.” Woodrow

Wilson



Block Captain Coordinator – Assists the Precinct Chair with recruiting and training Block Captains, including creating and updating a Block Captain Guide, and distributing leaflets, yard signs, etc. to the Block Captains.

Treasurer – Collects and keeps track of contributions for Precinct expenses, chairs fund raising for Precinct expenses (t-shirts, fridge magnets, etc. – for examples, see Appendices E and F), pays Precinct bills, and makes periodic reports.

Data Director – Obtains and manages the Precinct Voter Activation Network (VAN) list, participates in VAN training offered by TDP, distributes VAN lists to Block Captains, updates VAN lists with information collected by Block Captains. (see Chapter 2 for directions to obtain access to the VAN).

Early Voting Coordinator – Collects, from VAN, and communicates daily the names of people who have voted early and those who have voted by mail (VBM) to Precinct Block Captains (see Chapter 5). In the event you are unable to get the information from VAN, the daily list can also be obtained by contacting the County Clerk Election Division (call 854-3293 and ask to be put on the Clerk’s list).

Webmaster – Builds and maintains a web site for your precinct that may be used to post announcements, link to other democratic web sites, and contact information for the precinct. Ideally, the website should contain a searchable database of the block captains, with their names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and the Blocks for which they are responsible. The website may also have a password-protected area that is available to the block captains, which can contain materials helpful in performing their duties. For more information on how to build and manage a website, see Appendix D.

Social Committee – Plans and executes periodic all-precinct get-togethers. See the TCDP Resource Guide for House Parties included in this manual, Appendix B.

Democratic Precinct Election Team – The Democratic Election Judge, Alternate Judge, and Clerks cooperate with the Republican team in conducting all elections in a precinct during the year.

In all elections other than a primary… The presiding judge is from the party that received the most votes in your precinct for Governor in the last gubernatorial election. The alternate judge is from the other major party and assumes presiding judge role in his or her absence. Clerks should be recruited by the presiding judge.

During the primary… The rules for election judges are different. Please contact the TCDP for more information.

Overall… All election workers are required to attend training.

Judges pick up some election materials shortly before an election, mark early voters in the poll book, organize the set up of the election equipment and the operation of the election before polls open, and return the materials immediately after the polls close.

For more information regarding the duties and training of poll workers, go to: www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/workers_volunteers.asp.

“I understand democracy as something that gives the weak the same chance as the strong” Mahatma Gandhi

“Freedom is when the people can

speak. Democracy is

when the government

listens.” Alastair Farrugia



ELEMENT #2 - PRECINCT BLOCK CAPTAINS Precinct Block Captains will be in charge of contacting and organizing smaller groups of voters and volunteers in their own neighborhoods within your precinct. These volunteers will be your best tool to reach out to all parts of your precinct to identify and mobilize your fellow Democrats.

Consider your Precinct Block Captains as the first feet on the ground, the first knuckles on the door.

To support your Precinct Block Captains in their work, following is a training guide that can be provided to them.



Precinct Block Captain Training Guide What Is A Block Captain’s Job?

The GOAL of a block captain is to GET OUT THE VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

Following are three steps to help you achieve that goal: STEP #1 – Find the Democrats and Persuadable Independents in Your Block To do this, follow the action items outlined here: � Put house numbers on each lot on the detailed map of your Block that you receive

from your Precinct Chair.

� Get the most recent VAN list from your Precinct Chair or your Precinct Data Director (Your VAN list is the document you will use to enter all the info you will gather).

Now you’re ready to find those Democrats (Ds) and Persuadable Independents (PIs).

� Take your map or walk your Block and make sure EVERY house number in your

Block appears on the VAN list. If the house number isn’t on the VAN list use the “Non-registered Voters and Others” form (see Appendix G) and fill in the same categories of information found on the VAN list.

� Find out who is in each of those houses on your map and update your VAN list. Talk to neighbors, knock on the door to get the info you need – be creative (see below).

Special Note: You will have to verify the info contained in the VAN list. IT MAY HAVE ERRORS! If you can’t verify the info any other way, you can phone or knock on doors (See Appendix H for a script.) If you need help canvassing, call your Precinct Chair.

� Find out the political persuasion of the people in your Block. Check the voting record on your VAN list. Did they vote D in past Primaries? Did they attend the Democratic Precinct Convention (Caucus) or were they a delegate to the county or state conventions? Do they have a mixed party voting record? They may be Persuadable Independents (PIs). Fill in the party affiliation on the VAN list. 9 Once you have found a D or PI, verify name, address and other info, get their email

address and enter on your VAN list.

9 If you find a D or a D- leaning potential voter who is not registered, provide a Voter Registration card and add that person to your VAN list. Emphasize to the voter that the application must be mailed to the address provided on the card to arrive before the date specified. While you must register anyone who asks, you are not required to offer to register everyone. Therefore you will not want to offer to register Republicans.



The following graph shows the importance of the independent vote:

Source: American National Election Studies: Center for Public Policy, University of Houston, Texas Polls.

� Not able to determine the party affiliation of everyone on your map? Here’s where

you get creative. Remember: We are not trying to convert anyone! No arguing (unless you feel like it). - 9 Ask your D neighbors who the Ds are in your BLOCK.

9 Invite the unknowns to a get together (see Step #3 - Help your neighbors get to know each other) and talk about politics, issues, etc. Listen for clues on their positions and political leanings as you canvass or phone.

9 Show progressive DVD’s and invite the unknowns – they’ll probably turn you down if they’re Republicans.

9 Put on your precinct T-shirt (if your precinct has them) and knock on their doors. Give them your precinct fridge magnet (if your precinct has them) or other printed contact information.

Tell them who you are, and that you’re looking for “Ds” and “Independents leaning toward D”. If they’re “Rs”, they’ll most likely tell you. Indicate that on your VAN list and never speak to them again (only kidding, but once you know they’re an “R”, you will not be contacting them again – our job is to identify people who will vote our way in the election).

If you’re not comfy doing this, ask your Precinct Chair – he or she will do it for you or walk with you.

9 Look for key indicators that let you know if a person is a Democrat. Examples may include bumper stickers, yard signs, etc.



STEP #2 – Gather Helpers to Get Out the Vote To do this, follow the action items outlined here: � Once you find the Ds and PIs, ask them how they’d like to help at election time and

give them your Precinct’s contact information. 9 Would they like a yard sign? Help leave leaflets on D’s door knobs? Telephone D’s to

remind them to vote? Host a social gathering? Help canvass? Give rides to the polls? Be a Co-Block Captain? Indicate this on your VAN list.

************************************************************************ Volunteer Key for NOTES section on VAN list:

S sign in yard L leafleting H host for social gatherings C canvass T telephone

Some might be interested in being a poll worker on Election Day. Feel free to use the NOTES section for other comments such as: “asking voters who are 65 or older if they would like a vote-by-mail application, if they need a ride to the polls, etc.”

************************************************************************

� Periodically you should provide copies of your updated VAN list with the new data you have collected to your Precinct Chair. Continue to gather info and get your updated VAN list to the Precinct Chair on a regular basis.

� GET YOUR Ds and PIs TO THE POLLS! 9 Your Precinct Chair or Early Voting Coordinator will be sending you daily reports telling

you who voted early and by mail. 9 On the day before the election, you (along with the helpers you’ve found) must contact

all Ds and PIs on your Block who have not voted and find out what you can do to get them to the polls.

STEP #3 – Help Your Dem and PI Neighbors Get to Know Each Other To do this, follow the action items outlined here: � Invite your neighbors to social gatherings. If you’re not a party giver, look for

neighbors who like to do that. 9 Pizza and movie parties – Help your Precinct Chair build a library of progressive DVDs

which are available to be checked out. 9 Pot lucks 9 Book clubs



9 Precinct-wide parties, picnics, etc. 9 Fund raisers for your favorite candidates 9 Participate and lead neighborhood observances of National Night Out on the first

Tuesday in October. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/nno.htm 9 Participate in neighborhood activities and homeowner association activities

� Invite candidates who are running for office to your social functions! They’re always

ready to meet the voters and they’ll help draw a crowd. If you do invite candidates, you might want to have your function posted on your Precinct website.

CHAPTER 5 GETTING OUT THE VOTE

5/13/2009 Chapter 5 – Getting Out The Vote Page 1 of 4

Understanding the Important Timelines In major election years, by September 1 at the latest, you or your Block Captains should have identified all Democrats (Ds) and Persuadable Independents (PIs) in the Precinct. Encourage that final push before October 1.

Work on your plan to make sure the Ds and PIs are registered to vote and then get them to the polls. There are three ways your voters may cast a ballot:

1. Ballot by Mail 2. Early voting at designated locations 3. Voting on election day in their precincts

The following dates are critical for registration and voting in general elections:

These dates change for each election cycle.

You can find the exact dates by which you must obtain a ballot by mail or register to vote at this site: www.traviscountytax.org/govoters.do. Scroll down to “upcoming elections”, and the deadlines are there. 1. The first day to apply for ballot by mail for the General Election is 60 days prior

to the election. Make sure to provide applications and instructions to Democratic voters over 65 who live at home or in nursing homes, assisted and independent living residences in your precinct starting 60 days prior to the election.

For more information on ballot by mail, including application and instructions, see Appendix M. For an example of a reminder leaflet for you or your Block Captains to deliver to Ds and PIs, see Appendix I.

2. The last day to register to vote in the General Election is 30 days prior to the

election. For more information on registering to vote, see Appendix N. For an example of a reminder leaflet for you or your Block Captains to deliver to D’s and PIs, see Appendix I.

3. The first day of early voting for the General Election is 15 days prior to the election and early voting continues through the Friday prior to the election.

For more information on early voting, see Appendix O. For an example of a reminder leaflet for you or your Block Captains to deliver to Ds and PIs, see Appendix I.

4. The last day for the County Clerk to receive applications for ballot by mail for the General Election is 7 days prior to the election.

5. The last day of Early Voting for the General Election is the Friday prior to the election.

6. GENERAL ELECTION DAY! First Tuesday in November.

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all” John Kennedy

“Responsibility is the price every man must pay for freedom.” Edith Hamilton



Please remember to verify these dates with the website listed above. For dates related to Primaries and other elections, please visit the same website.

Tools of Persuasion Getting out the Vote can involve a number of techniques and tools to ensure your precinct residents are informed and know the important deadlines. 1. Talk to the voters. More than TV ads, more than emails and yard signs, a FACE TO

FACE CONVERSATION with someone who is similar to the voter is more effective in persuading him or her to vote for our candidate.

Voter Contact Effectiveness

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

1

Direct MailLiterature DropPhone CallDoor Knock

2. Hold social events. Small group discussions, barbeques, pot lucks and film nights

(especially progressive movies) will help at this point. Having neighbor to neighbor contacts is very effective, much more so than any other type of outreach.

3. Call potential voters. Next most effective is a phone call. Immediately AFTER the

first day of early voting, start reminding people by phone that early voting has started.

The more of our voters who vote early, the less likely we are to lose them to unforeseen happenings on Election Day.

Lists of those who have voted will be available on the VAN and from the election registrar daily after the polls have closed (see Chapter 4). Each voter who hasn't voted in the first few days should be called at least once to be reminded to vote early. And those who still have not voted by the day before the end of early voting should definitely receive calls prior to the end of early voting. You might want to form several call teams, one for a few days after early voting starts and one for the day before and the last day of early voting.

“The most important political office is that of the private citizen.” Louis D Brandeis



More than TV ads, more than emails and yard signs, a FACE TO FACE CONVERSATION with someone who is similar to the voter is more effective in persuading him

or her to vote for our candidate. Next most effective is a phone call. Having neighbor to neighbor contacts is very effective, much more so than

any other type of outreach.

Sample Get Out the Vote Phone Script

Good (evening, afternoon, morning), Mr. Jones. This is Kathy, your Democratic (block captain, precinct chair, neighbor down the street, etc). After looking at the voting records, I see you haven't voted yet.

WAIT and listen for his explanation - perhaps he is having trouble deciding on a down-ballot candidate, perhaps he has been traveling.

If he doesn't offer a reason, you might ask, "Is there something I can help you with?"

Questions he might have could relate to a ride, a question about the candidates, or a question about an issue. Also, he may have voted and it is not yet in the system.

Listen for his concern and address it.

End with, "Can Candidate X (whoever was his strongest candidate) count on you to vote early for her/him? Would you like a reminder?"

Make a note if he/she wants a reminder to call back.

Don't forget to say “Thank you”. 4. Deliver literature at the homes of the voters. With support from the candidate

campaigns, you can access materials to get the word out. Each candidate and campaign, depending on financing, does this differently. Following are some examples:

Push Cards At a minimum, there are push cards (cards which can be pushed into the door jamb describing the candidate and why one should vote for him/her) available to be delivered to each persuadable voter.

Door Hangers Often the coordinated campaign provides clear plastic bags to hang on the doorknob. These bags can include candidate or issue literature and other items that let people know what is at stake in the November elections.

Note: It is labor saving if all local candidates' literature is included in one bag.

An effective technique of making contact with persuadable voters is to put a sticker on the bag with a note from you, which should include:

� early voting dates � dates to apply for mail-in ballot � dates for election day

“The ultimate authority resides in the people alone.” James Madison



You might want to add a sentence telling them why you like the candidate.

Buying and printing labels containing election dates and polling locations, and pasting them on the outside of the bag is tedious and time consuming, but several hundred can be done in one evening with a group of about 8 volunteers.

A handwritten note with your name and contact are nice additions. These should ideally go to the persuadables at the beginning of GOTV season.

Start distributing 2 weeks before the first day of early voting and continue through Election Day.

Other items you could include in these bags are invitations to “meet and greet” parties with the candidates or informal information sharing sessions. Do not assume that people will reply to these written invitations. If you want to know who is coming, you must call and usually a few days before. Usually invite twice as many as you want to see.

5. Distribute yard signs, bumper stickers, badges and other campaign materials to

Democrats in your precinct.

Voters associate prompt follow-through with the regard the candidate has for them, so be diligent in giving them what they asked for in a timely manner.

CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION TOOLS

5/13/2009 Chapter 6 – Communication Tools Page 1 of 3

Note: This chapter is intended as a quick reference or an overview of some of the precinct communication tools that are referenced in other sections of this manual. No doubt, there are volunteers in your precinct who have expertise or special skills to use these guidelines and to help build a solid foundation for effective communication and increased involvement within your precinct.

Precinct Records and Database It is very important for every Precinct to create, update and maintain its own records and database about its voters, leaders and volunteers.

Whether kept manually or electronically, managing this information is CRITICAL to the success of building an effective precinct organization; and to a smooth transition with changes in precinct leadership and volunteers over time!

Precinct Records should include information about all of the Democratic voters in the precinct, as well as information about independent, undecided, and other voter categories.

The Precinct Records should include a section for Precinct Leadership, including contact information for the Chair, the Steering Committee, the Block Captains and other specially designated persons.

The listing for each voter should include the usual basic contact information (name, address, phone numbers, and email address), plus other information such as age, gender, political group memberships, volunteer preferences, and special skills or resources.

“Whether kept manually or electronically, managing this information is critical to the success of building an

effective precinct organization; and to a smooth transition with changes in precinct leadership and volunteers over

time!”

Information for this database may be obtained from a variety of sources including the Texas VAN, precinct convention and other precinct event sign-in sheets, precinct canvassing, etc.

In return, the precinct records and compiled voter information may be shared with the TCDP, the Coordinated Campaign and/or the TDP as needed.

Precinct records may be created and maintained in a manual format; however, an electronic format (such as Excel) can be more easily shared with others, and provides additional functionality such as sorting and reporting.

Finding a knowledgeable Data Director with computer skills (and hopefully database experience) is key to getting the most out of your precinct information.

Precinct Email and Chat Groups: Each Precinct should establish an email distribution system as one of the methods for communicating with leadership, volunteers and voters.

“A liberal is a man or a

woman or a child who

looks forward to a better day, a more

tranquil night, and a bright,

infinite future” Leonard

Bernstein



Setting up some type of electronic chat system offers added dimension to precinct communication. This is another case for finding computer-skilled volunteers in each precinct.

Hint: The first time you send emails to your precinct; blind copy all recipients and provide them an opportunity to “opt out” on future emails.

A common approach is to establish a Yahoo Group or Google Group. Members are invited to join, and can set up preferences for how often they want to be notified of new messages. Designated members are allowed access to a website to view conversation “threads” between and amongst members.

The Group Administrator can manage and control access to the Group and can designate other Administrators to assist if needed. It is important to be cautious about access to sensitive strategy or other proprietary information by opponents.

Precinct Website: Establishing and promoting a Precinct Website provides contact and event information, and important links, for precinct Democrats and for independent and undecided voters who want to know more or become involved.

A second, password-protected web page layer can provide other resource information “for Democrats only”. Precinct Leafleting: Delivering inexpensive flyers is an effective method of disseminating information to each Democrat and/or to persuadable voters.

All precinct leaflets and other delivered materials should follow the same format and style, to establish repeat recognition and help ensure maximum response.

Reminder: It is ILLEGAL to place anything on or in a mailbox. Telephone Calls: The effectiveness of leaflets, emails and other postings can be enhanced by following up with a personal phone call. Phone calls are also effective for last-minute notification of events or deadlines, and for canvassing voters. Proper planning and discretion should be used to avoid voters receiving redundant or too frequent phone calls. The use of written scripts helps provide consistency of message and proper presentation of information.

As a general rule all phone calls should be made between the hours of 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. And on Sunday, do not call before noon.

“Let the people know the truth and the country is safe” Abraham Lincoln

“I’m not that concerned about professional politicians, because I always believe that we can only change the world by grassroots movements.” Yoko Ono



Precinct Swag: Investing in T-shirts, refrigerator magnets, bumper stickers and/or signage is a fun way to promote pride in the precinct organization, increase awareness of Democratic presence and activities in the precinct, and disseminate information.

Refer to Appendix E and F for design ideas for t-shirts and refrigerator magnets. Precinct Scripts: To ensure uniformity of message and maximum impact, the Precinct leadership, with assistance from the VAN, TCDP, and/or other sources, should create scripts for Block Captains and volunteers to use when canvassing, block walking, and getting out the vote activities.

See Appendix H for a sample canvass script. Information Sources The following are sources for calendars, candidate and elected officials lists, contact information, scripts, and more…

www.txdemocrats.org

www.traviscountydemocrats.org

www.texasvan.com

Appendix A

Appendix B

Travis County Democratic Party Precinct Level Fundraising

Resource Guide for House Parties

Updated 2009

[email protected]

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Table of Contents Precinct Level Fundraising House Parties: What & Why?

• Introduction & Objectives • The Challenge to Precinct Chairs • The “Reason” for Your House Party • The Call to Action

House Party Planning: Who? • The Hosts and Co-Hosts • The Guest Speaker • The Guests

House Party Planning: When & Where?

• Picking the Date • Picking the Place

House Party Planning: How?

• Invitation Technology • Setup & Welcome • Food & Drink • Making the Ask

Planning /Task Timeline for Event Expenses / Contributions Guidelines Forms & Reference Material

• In-Kind Contributions Form • Make a Donation to the TCDP Form

o Page 1: Information for one-time donation o Page 2: Information to set up regular payments (checking, debit or

credit) • Sample Invitation Wording • Template for Sign-In Sheet

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Precinct Level Fundraising House Parties: WHAT & WHY?

Introduction & Objectives A neighborhood house party is a great way to build enthusiasm within your precinct and address specific goals you may currently have. By hosting a house party, you can: * Bring together Democrats in your neighborhood; develop and activist list * Continue the momentum and interest begun by events such as your Precinct Caucus or other major milestones * Build support for a candidate * Raise funds for a candidate or for the TCDP The Challenge to Precinct Chairs Periodically, such as during a coordinated campaign, TCDP will ask precinct chairs to host house party events.

• For example, you might host a party in the summer of election year to raise Coordinated Campaign awareness, funding and volunteers.

• You might host a party in the fall of election year to raise involvement in Get out the Vote.

These events can be precinct-specific, or more than one precinct chair can cooperate on an event to share the work and increase excitement through high attendance. If your precinct is geographically next to a precinct that has no chair, you might invite activists from that precinct to attend and to invite their neighbors. One way to identify activists in nearby precincts is to speak with precinct captains in your precinct who have worked with the major candidates in the most recent presidential primary. They are likely to know who the captains in neighboring precincts were. The TCDP can also help with contacts. The “Reason” for Your House Party Yes, you want to raise money, awareness, and recruit volunteers to elect Democrats. But, how do you make people want to come to the party? Every party needs a “reason,” and here are some ways to frame the reason for your party, using the example of a party to promote TCDP and get Democrats involved in a current coordinated campaign. Your Core Agenda: Get Democrats Involved Your Invitation: Enjoy a casual evening with neighborhood Democrats. Come learn about what TCDP is doing to elect Democrats this year, and explore how you can be involved.

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Your Program or Speaker: Invite the guests to meet someone & learn something. Your speaker is someone who can speak knowledgeably and passionately about the Coordinated Campaign and who can inspire people to get involved with their donations, time, and energy. This speaker might be you, another Democrat in your area, or someone from the TCDP’s Coordinated Campaign (contact TCDP for guest speakers). Delegation leadership event. Get all your Delegates and Alternates to come to a reunion and to bring their friends. Again, focus on electing Democrats from top to bottom of the ballot is key. Stress their opportunity to take an active role. Enhance the event with a creative theme of your own invention – examples: “turn the neighborhood blue”, “cooking up victory” potluck supper, “party for the Party,” or other. The Call to Action Will you be setting a specific “ask” for your event? Do you want to recommend a donation (for example, $50 per couple)? Or, do you have an event-based goal, such as $1000 raised by the event? If you want to recommend a donation, you’ll make that “ask” on the invitation. If you’d like to keep the financial goals more flexible and implied (“learn how you can help,”) then you will be relying more on a presentation during the event to inspire donations, volunteer signup, and other participation. Additionally, the amount of money you expect to raise at the event will be one factor determining how much money you plan to spend on the event. Each event should have a “call to action,” and you will want to decide in advance how you wish to present the call. When collecting political donations, there are certain guidelines you need to follow. Guidelines and some helpful forms are included toward the end of this booklet. It makes a lot of sense to be very flexible about “per person” donations for a grass roots event like this. A person who can give very little money may prove to be a great volunteer and advocate for the party in valuable ways.

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House Party Planning: WHO? Hosts and Co-Hosts You could be the only host of your House Party, but sometimes inviting one or more co-hosts to plan with you from the ground up can really help. Here are some good reasons to involve co-hosts.

• Safety in Numbers. Aren’t we all just a little bit shy about parties? A team can help.

• Unity. If a recent primary was hard-fought, inviting leadership from the opposite delegation(s) to take a leadership role with you will pay big dividends in unity.

• Resource Sharing. Two or more precinct chairs might work together on a house party event to share the work and expenses. If you have space, an event with higher attendance can be more exciting and impactful. One precinct may have a club room that can be shared for a joint event.

• Building the Invitation List. People are more likely to come to an event when they know the host. Having more hosts will help you build a larger invitation list as well as help build attendance among those invited.

• Sponsorship. For some types of fundraising events, the “host committee” is a group that has committed in advance to supporting the event with a certain dollar amount of donations (or other resources).

The Guest Speaker Your party has a purpose – to educate, inform, and involve. There should be a guest speaker. It could be a candidate, a party official, including yourself, or other. Early recruitment of a guest speaker is one more attraction to get people to your party. When setting up the party room, be sure to identify a space where someone can give a presentation. Depending on the size of your party, this could be a stage with a microphone, or it could be a corner of your living room with a few chairs circled around it. If you have a guest speaker, coordinate with them in advance to see what their needs are. Examples of their needs could be: a place to set up a flip chart; an electrical outlet for a computer display; a screen or an area of blank wall to project PowerPoint onto. If you are unable to accommodate their exact request, you can discuss alternative options. It really pays to ask early and ask often about guest speaker needs. Some candidates have fairly inexperienced staff members who may not have thought through the speaker’s requirements. Pushing a little to get a concrete sense of the candidate’s presentation support needs will go a long way toward eliminating last minute surprises or embarrassment. (Everyone looking at you and saying “where’s the presentation screen?”)

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Your Guests In past years, some precinct chairs have had to “cold-contact” people for these types of events, using generic voting rolls and contact lists from campaigns. While the generic lists are still a resource, the huge turnout in 2008’s primary season gave us an advantage that hopefully most precincts have built upon: a list of people who participated in the primary and caucus. Precinct organizations techniques as taught in TCDP’s Training Programs in 2009-2010 are another great source of names. Precinct chairs who have organized their precinct and made use of VAN will have a well-screened list. Although it is still possible to “cold contact” people via a mailing to a large precinct mailing list, experience shows that most of the people who come to these events do so because they have received a more personal invitation from someone they know. If you do a general mailing, try to personalize it as much as you can by referencing something you have in common. Here again, having more than one host will help as it raises the chances of referencing someone they know.

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House Party Planning: WHEN & WHERE?

Picking the Date Check the Community calendar. Ideally, the date of a house party will avoid things like the first evening of high school football season. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid potentially offending attendees by scheduling events on religious holidays. Other things to consider when picking the date will be:

• Coordinating with the TCDP and with any candidate campaign or Democratic clubs you are interested in working with. Are there any events in conflict with your event? Are there opportunities to dovetail? Do you want to be listed on their calendar? Can you get them to provide a speaker?

• Providing enough lead time for people to receive and respond to invitations, and for you to confirm attendance. Here’s where invitation technology such as Evite (discussed below) is your friend.

Picking the Place The obvious place for a house party is your home, or the home of a co-hosting neighbor. The location need not be fancy. (If you are thinking about things like Valet Parking, you are in advanced territory and don’t need the help of this guide!)However, you may want to be thinking in advance about some logistical issues. If there are specific parking recommendations that you want to make, including those in the invitation will save you and your guests a lot of time. If you are hosting a multi-precinct party or very large event, you can consider other options.

• A community park or club house, such as one affiliated with a homeowners association.

• The club house of a local apartment complex, the meeting room of a country club, or other organization’s space, depending on contacts you may have.

• A pub, restaurant, or theater. • You may be able to get free space if you ask. • Again, some precinct chairs might want to consider partnering with another

chair and combining their precincts.

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House Party Planning: HOW? Invitation Technology A 2004 edition of this guide talked about mailing a letter to a large Precinct mailing list. Times have changed! Since postage can be expensive with low response, Evite or other resource to invite people online is a better choice:

• Remember the old “phone trees”? Inviting your list of activists and getting them to use the “invite more people” option.

• Eliminate printing, postage and office supplies. • Deliver invitations instantly (by computer). • Your chance of getting RSVPs increases exponentially. Set up your Evite to

automatically collect and tabulate RSVPs for you, in real time.

The Evite resource can be found at www.Evite.com. If you have people helping with the party, be sure to include their names and affiliations (with their permission) prominently on the invitation. In addition to providing credit where due, the additional names will help encourage attendance. If you have any logistical guidelines “such as please park on the street,” including those on the invitation really helps. Even using Evite, it is useful to include some kind of contact phone number or email in case people have questions. Setup and Welcome Even if you have a casual cocktail-type party, you will need two really important areas set up.

• A Check-In Table. This is where guests will fill out a name tag and sign in with their contact information. This table should be staffed by a greeter if at all possible. Donations can also be taken here, and flyers or other literature made available.

• A Presentation Area. This might be a corner of your room with a flip chart

and some chairs. Somewhere that a guest speaker – or you as host – can talk about the coordinated campaign and other agenda topics.

Always have blank nametags available for people to fill out and encourage people to wear them. It makes people so much more confident. Blank, stick-on nametags can be found at any office supply store. For a really high-end party, it is a nice touch to have pre-printed name tags and some kind of clip-on badge. Don’t even try this unless you have someone at the name tag table full time working name tags, or unless you have a VERY small party.

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Without staffing, it only takes about 30 seconds for the entire pile of name tags to get out of order and become a large, messy pile. And then everyone is just writing their own names on tags again as if you had never printed them. The Food and Drink It is easy to get bogged down in providing food and drink that takes up too much of your time as the host. Unless you are hosting some kind of high-dollar event (which is beyond the scope of this house party plan), and want it catered, the best guideline is to keep it simple. Self-serve finger food is always a good choice. Consider chips and dips, other finger goods, and/or deli trays from your local market. Plenty of paper napkins may be sufficient for finger food. With finger food, you can minimize serve ware. Where serve ware is needed, paper and plastic utensils (if your environmental views permit), work well. For drinks, well-labeled and well-placed ice chests with canned soda, bottled water, and if desired, beer, will allow guests to serve themselves. Putting the ice chests just outside a patio door or in other well drained area will preserve your floors. Ice chests make chilling, storing, and serving a one-step process. Lots of people have an ice chest for soda, another for water, another for beer. Add a label to each of these so that guests can find beverages easily. Be sure to have trash receptacles available and clearly marked so that cleanup is self-serve too. And, of course, a Democratic event must have recycling. If you must get fancy with the food and drink, go ahead, but for almost all of us, the best thing you can do to ensure success as a host is to be relaxed and on hand for your guests, interacting with them on Democratic topics. Most of us have a tendency to buy way too much food and drink. We think of all those people, but not about how busy they are talking instead of chewing. Having an advance plan for handling leftovers may save you some stress. Back to Your Objective – Making the Ask Don’t forget to use this event to education, inform, involve, and to ask for money and volunteers for the coordinated campaign. You may want to have a dedicated volunteer at the check-in table taking donations and information. Be sure to have plenty of pens on hand!

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Suggested Planning Timeline for Event A prior edition of this book featured a much shorter (minimum) timeline. The prior edition’s timeline was driven by coordinated campaign requirements, not by the ideal way to run an event. Here’s a timeline that is a bit more relaxed: Six to Eight Weeks prior to event

• Define the goal and scope of the event. • Recruit co-hosts • Choose date, time and place, with co-host input • Recruit committed speakers and/or entertainment • Develop invitation list • Post Event with TCDP and democratic clubs, if desired • Create communication points for your “ask”

Four to Five Weeks prior to event

• Distribute invites to lists • Plan Refreshments

Two to Three Weeks prior to Event • Extend additional invitations as needed • Begin to compile list of everyone who says they will attend • Obtain literature on candidates, bumper stickers, and signs (merchandise) • Obtain volunteer commitment, re-confirm candidate, speaker or

entertainment One Week prior to Event

• Check RSVP list. Send reminder if needed. • Re-Confirm candidate, speaker or entertainment

One to Two Days prior to Event

• Purchase refreshments • Purchase name tags • Clean house

Conducting the Event

• Name tags for everyone • Greet everyone at door • Specific place for contribution table • Everyone sign roster – get those contacts • Ask guests to sign up to volunteer • Ask for contributions – Fill out Donor Form for every contribution • Have plenty of PENS on hand! • Ask for sustaining memberships • Have fun and talk about politics

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Right after the Event (within 3 days) • Get with co-hosts and beneficiaries (candidate or coordinated campaign) to

share contribution lists and volunteer lists • Record your own in-kind expenses for the event, and report these to the

appropriate source. For events that benefit the Travis County Democratic Party, see “Expenses and Contributions Guidelines and Policies” in this document.

• Submit all the contributions you collected – with “Donor Form” attached, to Travis County Democratic Party (or candidate) within 3 business days of event.

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TCDP Expenses and Contributions Guidelines and Policies

Hosting a political event and collecting political contributions from others are two tasks which each require some paperwork. You will need to report your own expenses as an in-kind contribution to the party. You will also need to be sure that when collecting money from others you are also collecting information needed to comply with campaign financing law. Your Own Event Expenses

• Use the attached expense sheet to disclose your in-kind contribution to the county party of all your expenses. These expenses will include any postage, food and beverages, and related out-of-pocket expenses. These expenses are NOT reimbursed, but rather are considered a political donation that you have made.

Collecting Donations from Your Guests

• Donors should make all checks payable to the Travis County Democratic Party and attach each check to the Donor Form.

• TCDP also has a secure, online form allowing credit/debit card donations: https://secure2.fmp.com/tcdp/donate.php.

• Any cash received (no more than $50 in actual cash from an individual or family) must be stapled to the Donor Form. More than $50 can be donated via check or credit/debit card.

• All Donor Forms with contributions attached and Expense Sheet must be turned in to the County Party within 3 business days of the event.

• Do not reimburse yourself for expenses. (These are treated as in-kind contributions for the event)

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Travis County Democratic Party Precinct Fundraising Event Expense Disclosure

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

This document is used by hosts to report party expenses, which count as a political donation.

Date of Event ___________________________ Address of Event ___________________________ Precinct # _______________________ Name: _________________________________ Address: __________________________________ Telephone #: ________________________________ Email: ____________________________________ Occupation: _______________________________ Employer: ________________________________ Expenses: Type Amount Postage Printing/Copying Mailing Lists Food Other Total Political contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your contributions may be used in connection with a federal election and is subject to federal contribution limits and prohibitions. The County Party also accepts non-federal political contributions in accordance with Texas law. Please indicate if your contribution cannot be used federally.

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Make A Donation To The Travis County Democratic Party The Travis County Democratic Party is funded and operates by donations of local Democrats and progressives like you. We are a separate entity from the state and national parties and depend on you to fund our website, our e-mail service, office and staff, coordinated campaigns and much more. To become a Member of the Travis County Democratic Party or make a one-time donation please fill out the form below. First Name: ____________________________________________________ Last Name: ____________________________________________________ Occupation: _______________________ Employer: ____________________

Statement of occupation & employer is required by law. Address: ______________________________________________________ Address 2: ______________________________________________________ City: ______________________ State: ______ Zip: ________________ E-Mail: ________________________________________________________ Home Phone: ___________________ Work Phone: ___________________ Cell Phone: ______________________________________________________ As you make your donation, please consider becoming a Member: Sustaining Membership = minimum of $120 annual contribution (or $10/month) Finance Council Membership = minimum of $1000 annual contribution (or $84/month) PLEASE CHOOSE ONE: □ This is for TCDP membership OR □ This is a one-time donation. Political contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your contributions may be used in connection with a federal election and is subject to federal contribution limits and prohibitions. The County Party also accepts non-federal political contributions in accordance with Texas law. Please indicate if your contribution cannot be used federally. To use a credit card, or for monthly or annual debit contributions, please continue. Please select one of the following □ Monthly □ Annually By checking one of the above boxes, this is your authorization for the Travis County Democratic Party to honor your checking account draft or credit card amount until you cancel in writing. Your contribution may be used in conjunction with a federal election and is subject to federal contribution limits and prohibitions. The County party also accepts non-federal contributions in accordance with Texas law. Please indicate if your contribution cannot be used federally. □ My membership contribution is from a professional corporation or campaign account and cannot be used for federal elections □ My membership dues may be used in conjunction with federal elections You may contribute through either your checking account (preferred option) or credit card. Please phone our office at 477-7500 if you have questions. Method of Payment: □ Check □ MasterCard □ Visa

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Name as it appears on either checking account or credit card: ________________________________________ If using your checking account, please fill out both the routing number and account number. If using your credit card, please fill out the card number and expiration date. Bank Routing Number: ______________________________________________ This is the first set of numbers at the bottom left of a check. It is always a 9-digit number and is located between the l: :l symbols. Bank Account Number: _____________________________________________ These are the numbers following the routing number at the bottom of a check. OR Credit Card Number: ____________________________________ Expiration Date: ________________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________________ Contribution Amount for your monthly or annual contributions ($10 Minimum): _________________ Political contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your contributions may be used in connection with a federal election and is subject to federal contribution limits and prohibitions. The County Party also accepts non-federal political contributions in accordance with Texas law. Please indicate if your contribution cannot be used federally.

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Sample Invitation Wording

Name Address City, State, Zip Dear NAME, We have had an exciting Democratic primary season in Texas, and it has been wonderful to see so many active Democrats in this area. But, the excitement is just beginning. Now let’s look forward to electing Democrats in November, at all levels of the ballot. Please join me and other Democrats in our neighborhood for a casual evening get-together to learn about Travis County’ Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign and how you can get involved. There will be refreshments and lots of good conversation. We’ll have a guest speaker NAME, and information on TOPIC, and other RESOURCES. A recommended donation of $XX will support the county party. Time: Date: Location: RSVP: We look forward to seeing you on DATE. If you have any questions or would like to help now, please contact NAME at EMAIL/PHONE. Cordially, Your Name Other Host Other Host Other Host

Political contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your contributions may be used in connection with a federal election and is subject to federal contribution limits and prohibitions. The County Party also accepts non-federal political contributions in accordance with Texas law. Please indicate if your

contribution cannot be used federally.

17

Template for Check-In Form

If you use an electronic invitation format such as Evite, you can capture attendee names and emails before the

event, and then use your meeting check-in to only add information, make corrections, and add people to an already-started form. Below is one example.

Last First email address city zip phone

will volunteer in neighborhood?

will volunteer at Cap Campaign office? donation?

TCDP member? Other

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Appendix F

Appendix G

Appendix H

Appendix I

Appendix K

Appendix L

Appendix M

Appendix N

Appendix O

Precinct Chair Training Manual - TCDP · Precinct Chair Training Manual ... Â Yet another method is to walk each street in your precinct, making a list with each house

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