new member orientation 031008

Massachusetts Republican Massachusetts Republican State CommitteeState Committee

New Member OrientationNew Member Orientation

March 10, 2008March 10, 2008

WelcomeWelcome

Congratulations on your Election!Congratulations on your Election!• The Massachusetts Republican State The Massachusetts Republican State

Committee is recognized as the governing Committee is recognized as the governing authority of the Republican Party in authority of the Republican Party in MassachusettsMassachusetts

• Its 80 Members are elected at the Presidential Its 80 Members are elected at the Presidential Primary every four yearsPrimary every four years

• While state law allows both parties to increase While state law allows both parties to increase their membership over and above the 80 their membership over and above the 80 elected members, Republicans have not done elected members, Republicans have not done this (Democrats in Massachusetts increase this (Democrats in Massachusetts increase their membership to over 200 members)their membership to over 200 members)

MeetingsMeetings

MeetingsMeetings• Held at least 4 times each yearHeld at least 4 times each year• Process governed by our own bylaws Process governed by our own bylaws

first, and then by Roberts Rules of Order first, and then by Roberts Rules of Order revisedrevised

• Additional meetings can be called by the Additional meetings can be called by the chairman, or by any 15 memberschairman, or by any 15 members

StaffStaff

Paid StaffPaid Staff• Chairman – Peter TorkildsenChairman – Peter Torkildsen• Executive Director – Rob WillingtonExecutive Director – Rob Willington• Communications Director – Barney KellerCommunications Director – Barney Keller• Fundraising Consultant – Steve RocheFundraising Consultant – Steve Roche• Fundraising Director – Lyndsay JonesFundraising Director – Lyndsay Jones• Fundraising Asst – Brent Kasper (Coop Fundraising Asst – Brent Kasper (Coop

Student)Student)

National CommitteeNational Committee

Each State has three representatives Each State has three representatives on the Republican National on the Republican National CommitteeCommittee• Chair – Peter TorkildsenChair – Peter Torkildsen• Committeeman – Ron KaufmanCommitteeman – Ron Kaufman• Committeewoman – Jody DowCommitteewoman – Jody Dow

PurposePurpose

The Purpose of the Massachusetts The Purpose of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee is Republican State Committee is defined in our bylaws.defined in our bylaws.

In summary, we exist to elect In summary, we exist to elect Republicans to officeRepublicans to office

To help elect Republicans, we have To help elect Republicans, we have both written and unwritten both written and unwritten responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Members – WrittenMembers – WrittenResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Written Responsibilities are found in Written Responsibilities are found in our bylaws, in Article II.our bylaws, in Article II.

They include serving as the They include serving as the legislative component of the Party, legislative component of the Party, being responsible for organizing your being responsible for organizing your town and ward committees, and town and ward committees, and actively recruiting candidates for actively recruiting candidates for officeoffice

UnwrittenUnwritten

Be our “Eyes and Ears”Be our “Eyes and Ears” To Build The Grassroots, We To Build The Grassroots, We

Have To Communicate With Have To Communicate With The Grassroots.The Grassroots.

Massachusetts Republican Party

Tools to HelpTools to Help

MassRootsAction.comMassRootsAction.com RTC PacketsRTC Packets Sample Two Year PlanSample Two Year Plan Simple Guide to BloggingSimple Guide to Blogging Voter VaultVoter Vault

MassRootsAction.comMassRootsAction.com

Your Private Training WebsiteYour Private Training Website• Updated informationUpdated information• Access to all Town and Ward Committee Access to all Town and Ward Committee

members and contact informationmembers and contact information


PDF’s, Videos, Power Points, Election History, Maps, Blog Posts and more…PDF’s, Videos, Power Points, Election History, Maps, Blog Posts and more… You can help us by updating your local Republican Committee information You can help us by updating your local Republican Committee information

– name, address, phone, AND email– name, address, phone, AND email

MassRootsAction.comMassRootsAction.com


RTC PacketsRTC Packets

Action PacketAction Packet Two Year PlanTwo Year Plan Guide To Simple Guide To Simple

BloggingBlogging


Action PacketAction Packet

•Only 13 Pages (not a book!)Only 13 Pages (not a book!)

•Simple bullet points.Simple bullet points.

•Easy instructions.Easy instructions.

•Can plan and execute now!Can plan and execute now!


IntroductionIntroduction

• Committee Mentality is Deadly!Committee Mentality is Deadly!

• Transform R.T.C. to mean Republican Town Transform R.T.C. to mean Republican Town Campaign!Campaign!

• Write a Campaign Plan!Write a Campaign Plan!

• Set Goals.Set Goals.

• Establish Benchmarks To Track Progress.Establish Benchmarks To Track Progress.

• Give Specific Instructions On How To Meet Give Specific Instructions On How To Meet Benchmarks.Benchmarks.


The BasicsThe Basics

1.1. Contact every Republican and ask for financial Contact every Republican and ask for financial support at least once each year; re-solicit known support at least once each year; re-solicit known donors at least one additional time each year.donors at least one additional time each year.

2.2. Sponsor or participate in a charity event once Sponsor or participate in a charity event once per year.per year.

3.3. Donate fifty cents for every Republican in your Donate fifty cents for every Republican in your town to Republican candidates of your choice.town to Republican candidates of your choice.


The Basics PlusThe Basics Plus

4. Identify Voters!4. Identify Voters!

• Build Coordinates of Town in Voter Vault for Future Build Coordinates of Town in Voter Vault for Future Candidates.Candidates.

• Voting Issues?- Education, Taxes, Health Care...Voting Issues?- Education, Taxes, Health Care...

• Work now to give future GOP candidates Work now to give future GOP candidates timetime..

• Right now you have data in your mind - yards that Right now you have data in your mind - yards that put up Healey signs, friends that are gun owners put up Healey signs, friends that are gun owners or social conservatives etc...or social conservatives etc...



5. Collect Signatures!5. Collect Signatures!

•Get candidates on the ballot - they Get candidates on the ballot - they should not have to resort to paying should not have to resort to paying for signatures.for signatures.

• Initiative petitions are great for Initiative petitions are great for voter i.d.voter i.d.

•Know the guidelines for a signature Know the guidelines for a signature to be certified!to be certified!



6. Organize Online!6. Organize Online!• Get a blog - use blogger.com and read the Get a blog - use blogger.com and read the

MassGOP Guide to Simple Blogging.MassGOP Guide to Simple Blogging.

• Influence debate - you are the only GOP voice Influence debate - you are the only GOP voice at your municipal level.at your municipal level.

• Keep an eye on your Democrat incumbents.Keep an eye on your Democrat incumbents.

• Promote RTC activity, post pictures and give Promote RTC activity, post pictures and give credit to your hard working members.credit to your hard working members.



7. Register Republicans!7. Register Republicans!

• What is % of R’s, U’s, and D’s?What is % of R’s, U’s, and D’s?

• Set a goal of registering X amount of voters by X Set a goal of registering X amount of voters by X date.date.

• Welcome those that recently moved to your Welcome those that recently moved to your community with a registration card.community with a registration card.

• For those turning 18, send a Birthday Card!For those turning 18, send a Birthday Card!



8. Run Candidates!8. Run Candidates!

• Many good legislative candidates are Many good legislative candidates are those that have served at the municipal those that have served at the municipal level!level!

• Elect Republicans to School Committee, Elect Republicans to School Committee, Board of Selectman etc...Board of Selectman etc...

• Even if they don’t run for State Rep, Even if they don’t run for State Rep, State Senate, etc. they can help the State Senate, etc. they can help the Republicans that do run!Republicans that do run!



9. Challenge Incumbent Democrats!9. Challenge Incumbent Democrats!

• Review the red flags to look out for in Review the red flags to look out for in guide.guide.

• Write press releases from your GOP Write press releases from your GOP committee.committee.

• Write letters to the editor as individuals.Write letters to the editor as individuals.

• Monitor voting record.Monitor voting record.



10. Train Your Members!10. Train Your Members!

• Attend Mass GOP Training Seminars.Attend Mass GOP Training Seminars.

• Sign Holding vs Phone Banking/Door Sign Holding vs Phone Banking/Door to Door? Not everything is equal.to Door? Not everything is equal.

• Invest limited volunteer time wisely.Invest limited volunteer time wisely.


Check Out My Example of

Holding Signs...

45 Volunteer Hours!!!!

Check Out My Example of

Holding Signs...

45 Volunteer Hours!!!!


11. Keep Morale High11. Keep Morale High

•Conduct one or two social events Conduct one or two social events per year.per year.

•Christmas/Holiday parties.Christmas/Holiday parties.

•Summer BBQ’s.Summer BBQ’s.



12. Use Voter Vault!12. Use Voter Vault!

•Get username and password from Get username and password from Mass GOP.Mass GOP.

•Become trained on Voter Vault.Become trained on Voter Vault.

•Voter ID/Mailing Lists/Phone Banking Voter ID/Mailing Lists/Phone Banking etc...etc...



13. Work With Friends13. Work With Friends

•Friends will help you first.Friends will help you first.

•Look to allies in your town - anti Look to allies in your town - anti property tax groups, gun clubs etc.property tax groups, gun clubs etc.

•Use your County Club.Use your County Club.

•Keep everyone informed with your Keep everyone informed with your activities.activities.



14. Expand and Identify 14. Expand and Identify Membership!Membership!

•4/4 Republicans.4/4 Republicans.

•U’s that vote in GOP primaries (near U’s that vote in GOP primaries (near record turnout on Feb 5, 2008!).record turnout on Feb 5, 2008!).



15. Write a Campaign Plan!15. Write a Campaign Plan!

•Calendar events, activities.Calendar events, activities.

•When to make calls?When to make calls?

•How many volunteer hours are How many volunteer hours are needed?needed?

•How much money is needed?How much money is needed?

•By writing a plan now, you will help By writing a plan now, you will help your candidates that much moreyour candidates that much more


Questions?Questions?

The Basics - 3 Items.The Basics - 3 Items.

The Basics Plus - 15 The Basics Plus - 15 Items.Items.


Two - Year PlanTwo - Year Plan

✓Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan!Plan!

✓We are already in year two for this We are already in year two for this cycle, but you can see what type of cycle, but you can see what type of work can be done in an off year, work can be done in an off year, and what needs to be done this and what needs to be done this yearyear


Simple BloggingSimple Blogging

There are over 70 Million There are over 70 Million Blogs in the world!Blogs in the world!

MethuenGOP.blogspotcom is MethuenGOP.blogspotcom is the only blogthe only blog with a Republican with a Republican perspective in Methuen.perspective in Methuen.


Blogging PrinciplesBlogging Principles

• provide local answers to local questions and issues.provide local answers to local questions and issues.

• promote events sponsored by your GOP promote events sponsored by your GOP committee/candidates.committee/candidates.

• debate international, national, and local issues.debate international, national, and local issues.

• promote contrary and interesting opinions - a personality, promote contrary and interesting opinions - a personality, or sense of humor helpsor sense of humor helps

• avoid personal attacks.avoid personal attacks.

• avoid being wholly negative - always suggest a positive avoid being wholly negative - always suggest a positive alternative.alternative.


Getting StartedGetting Started

•Nominate a blog director for your Nominate a blog director for your RTC.RTC.

•We suggest blogger.com - free and We suggest blogger.com - free and easy.easy.

•Create account.Create account.

•Write introductory post.Write introductory post.

•Add Links (neighboring RTC’s are Add Links (neighboring RTC’s are good).good).


Blogging TacticsBlogging Tactics

•Pictures/Videos - show energy of an Pictures/Videos - show energy of an event or the action of a campaign.event or the action of a campaign.

•Comments - allow readers to Comments - allow readers to interact. interact.

•Polls - conduct informal polls.Polls - conduct informal polls.

•Multiple Authors - open your blog Multiple Authors - open your blog up to every member of the RTC.up to every member of the RTC.


Topics to BlogTopics to Blog

• Recent Headlines.Recent Headlines.

• Debates.Debates.

• Liberalism, why is it bad?Liberalism, why is it bad?

• Projects/Events Sponsored by RTC.Projects/Events Sponsored by RTC.

• Recognize the doers.Recognize the doers.

• Criticize the Democrat Incumbent for not Criticize the Democrat Incumbent for not doing the job.doing the job.

• Support Republican Incumbent.Support Republican Incumbent.


Questions?Questions?

Guide To Simple Guide To Simple BloggingBlogging


Voter Registration Voter Registration ProspectsProspects

• Use Voter Vault to:Use Voter Vault to:1.1. Identify Republicans from other states who Identify Republicans from other states who

have moved to your community, but not yet have moved to your community, but not yet registered to voteregistered to vote

2.2. Identify U’s who voted in the Republican Identify U’s who voted in the Republican Primary on Feb. 5Primary on Feb. 5

3.3. Reach out to these potential Republicans with Reach out to these potential Republicans with a voter registration card and an invitation to a voter registration card and an invitation to join the local Republican Committee.join the local Republican Committee.


Voter Vault DayVoter Vault Day

Start Identifying Phone Bank Start Identifying Phone Bank LocationsLocations

Start To Recruit MembersStart To Recruit Members Work With GOP Incumbent NetworksWork With GOP Incumbent Networks Identifying voters now by their most Identifying voters now by their most

important issue will help all important issue will help all Republican candidates this Fall!Republican candidates this Fall!


Thank youThank you

Thank you for choosing to become a Thank you for choosing to become a Member of the Massachusetts Member of the Massachusetts Republican State CommitteeRepublican State Committee

The challenges we face are The challenges we face are significantsignificant

With your help, we will restore two With your help, we will restore two party competition to Massachusetts!party competition to Massachusetts!

new member orientation 031008

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