the republican county chairman’s battle plan! for building a winning county organization illinois...
TRANSCRIPT
The Republican County Chairman’s
Battle Plan!
For Building a Winning County Organization
Illinois State Central Committee Training Subcommittee & Demetra DeMonte, National Committeewoman for Illinois
“So you’ve been elected County Chairman.
Now what???”
Congratulations!
Or…if you’ve been a Chairman for a while sit back and relax…
We hope you’ll pick up a pearl or two. Keep a lookout for our “pearls”!
Before we begin…
This presentation is for both County Chairs and Township Chairs/Committeemen in the Collar and Cook Counties and Committeemen in Chicago…
Ward and Township Committeemen/ Chairmen have similar responsibilities as County Chairmen. Yet, there are some important differences:
Chicago is divided into Wards; Cook County and Collar Counties into Townships;
Chicago Ward Committeemen and Cook County Township Committeemen are elected by the Republican Primary Election voters every 4 years and they appoint their Precinct Captains in each of their respective Precincts generally every 4 years;
The Collar County Township Chairmen are elected by their Precinct Committeemen every 2 years who, themselves, are elected by the Republican Primary Election voters every 2 years;
Collar County Republican Township Chairmen and/or Republican County Chairmen fill vacant precincts;
Republican Township Organizations have varied autonomy from the Republican County Organizations;
Republican Township Committeemen/Chairmen possess various levels of Township authority/responsibilities; and
Republican Township Committeemen/Chairmen possess various levels of County authority/responsibilities.
Let’s Start with the Obvious!No matter what else we do...No matter how much fun we’re having…
First and foremost we’re here to elect Republicans!
The better organized we are the better results we’ll get!
Today’s Agenda
I. Building the County StructureII. Communication and VisibilityIII.Get Out the VoteIV.Fundraising
I. Building The County Structure
From the ground up!
Workable Bylaws: The County Chair is the CEO and the bylaws should reflect this
Set policy Direct affairs Conduct business Approve expenditures;
And in doing so, you should:
Seek the counsel of leadership team
To build a successful and winning organization your bylaws should enable you to:
Officers
Vice Chairman Preside in
absence of Chairman
Chairman Chief Executive Officer Chief Spokesman Chief Motivator
Secretary Record
meetings Keep records
Treasurer Prepare budget
with Chairman Receive and
keep monies Pay bills Maintain proper
financial books and records
File state financial reports as required
“You say toe-may-toe, I say toe-mah-toe”
Every state and county organizes differently with different titles
The titles here are symbolic
It is the positions, roles and responsibilities we need to focus on
Leadership Team
Executive Committee
Leadership Team = Executive Board = Executive Committee
No matter what you call it…
Everyone on it:
has a specific responsibility
has a project has ownership
Finance/Fundraising Precinct
Committeeman Recruitment
Precinct Committeeman Training
Candidate Recruitment
Volunteer Coordinator Headquarters Get Out The Vote Voter Registration
Early Voting/Absentee Ballots
Sign Distribution Coalitions Research/Statistics Targeting Recent
Move-ins Parades/Festivals/
Booths Publicity Newsletter, Website,
and Social Media Parliamentarian
Team Assignment Suggestions
Frequent Executive Committee Meetings: We recommend monthly Choose convenient time. Try to keep it the same
day and time each month, i.e., first Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Have an agenda
Track assignments and commitments
Keep meetings short, ideally one hour. Control your meetings!
Consider offering teleconferences for those unable to
attend; or when an in-person meeting is difficult
Team should leave meetings with a clear-cut knowledge
of decisions made and what is expected of them
A Written Plan…will help you get where you want to go!
Set realistic strategic goals Design a tactical plan to
accomplish your mission Goals should be calendar based Plan from Election Day
backwards Stay on schedule
Putting it in writing CAN help keep you on track!
Sub-Committees Help youExecute Large Projects
Get Out The VoteFundraisingRecruitmentCommunications
This allows others to: participate have ownership of a project learn or improve their leadership skills
Battle Plan
Let’s Divide to Conquer!
KEY TO SUCCESSMaximize Results: Divide your county into areas
County Chairman
Area Coordinato
r
Precinct Committee
man
Precinct Committee
man
Precinct Committee
man
Area Coordinato
r
Precinct Committee
man
Precinct Committee
man
Precinct Committee
man
Area Coordinators
Area Coordinator = Territory ManagerThey are your “Go-to” people!
Duties of Area Coordinators Recruit Precinct Committeemen Coordinate Precinct Committeemen efforts Keep them informed of county activities Recruit volunteers Coordinate sign distribution Get Out The Vote efforts Organize venue & volunteers for phone
banks Promote Lincoln Day Dinner & fundraisers Responsible for festival booth & parade Host a county-wide Build Our Base (BOB) event in their area – recommend breakfast
Appoint Precinct Committeeman from Area
Spell out your expectations
Give them ownership
Hold them accountable
They will provide you with leadership and results!
Don’t be Afraid to Delegate to Area Coordinators
Precinct Committeemen Our Super Heroes!
“The most effective political work starts in the precincts!”
Precinct Committeemen own the ground and are the closest to the voters!
Can make a big difference in GOTV results, especially if they are well-liked by the voters!
Their personal efforts and endorsements speak volumes – much more than money the candidates spend!
But…they can be hard to find!
A Hardworking Precinct Committeeman…
Hardest Job of the County Chairman: Precinct Committeeman Recruitment
Solicit recommendations from Area Coordinators and Precinct Committeemen
Review voting lists for Hard R’s
Always be on the lookout at festivals and events
Ask young people. They have a lot of energy
and a lot to gain or lose!Just keep plugging away… it’s a never ending battle!
In a Nutshell…
Precinct Committeemen:
Walk the Precincts Meet the Voters Know the Voters Make Sure They Vote!
More Specifically:Precinct Committeemen Communicate with voters on
a regular basis
Identify and contact new residents
Register new voters
Circulate candidate petitions
Identify sign locations
Recruit Honest - Reliable Election Judges and Poll Watchers
“I’m honest and I’m reliable!”
They can help prevent:
fraud the need for lawyers recounts
But…Precinct Committeemen can’t always do it all… even if they are Super Heroes!
Ask them to recruit other Super Heroes! Precinct Volunteers!
How Committeemen can Divide their Precinct and Recruit Precinct Volunteers
• Get a map of their precinct • Get a list of Republican voters in their precinct • Walk precinct to introduce themselves to all
Republicans voters • Provide voters a signup sheet to get their e-mail
and other contact information • Find at least one enthusiastic Republican voter
for each street (or however committeeman will be dividing their precinct)
Suggested Duties of Precinct Volunteers
• Voter canvassing • Voter registration• Candidate petitions • Distributing absentee voting
information• Identifying election judges • Finding locations for yard signs • Sharing candidate information and • Getting out the neighborhood vote
on Election Day!
Benefits of Precinct Volunteers!
WIN ELECTIONS with neighbor to neighbor contacts
Get petitions done quickly & easily Doesn’t require $$$ Army makes it easier to do
fundraising More ground troops makes victory
easier and much likelier !
Nothing is more effective than neighbor-to-neighbor canvassing!
Train your Precinct Committeemen at County-Wide Workshops
At least once a year
More often if you have new committeemen
Training Manual for Precinct Committeemen
Battle plan For Building a Winning Precinct
Get Those Voters Registered!
Competition is healthy!
Rev up your people
Encourage and motivate
Keep a tally
Award prizes!
Have a Voter Registration Contest!
Television anyone? How about a weekend at a lakefront condo? Gift certificate?
Monthly Countywide BOB Event: A different location each month!
Area Coordinator: Provides venue Volunteers Invites local leaders/activists Chair sends email and/or postcards to:
Recommend:Saturday Breakfast8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.Keep it short!
Precinct Committeemen Elected Officials Candidates Volunteers Activists
Candidate Recruitment
You can’t have an election without candidates!
Always be on the lookout for great people to build your farm team!
Be Proactive in Seeking your Perfect Candidate!
Do a demographic analysis
Create the perfect profile
Go out and find the ideal candidate!
But Before you Recruit them…Vet them! Are they qualified? Will they make a good candidate? Do they have voter support? Do they have donor support? Do they have the necessary drive to work and win? Are they loyal Republicans? Is there anything embarrassing in their background?
And Once you Recruit them… Help them Win!
Assist Candidates with:
County Coordinators
Fundraising
Donor Lists
Tell them how you will help them and
what you expect from them
Volunteers: They make it happen!
Build a family of people who want to get involved and who work well with others!
Encourage people of all ages
Contact Republican women's clubs
Contact Young Republicans, College Republicans and Teenage Republican groups
Invite homeschool families
Create internships
Showcase your strengths
Brag a little – tell them how great your organization is
People want to be part of a winning team!
Enthusiasm is Contagious! Be a Volunteer Magnet!
Keep your Team Engaged… Especially Between Elections
Special Projects
Monthly BOB Events
Holiday Parties
Promotes camaraderieKeeps them coming back for
more!
A Story in Building Camaraderie
Henry our designer!
Don former city mayor
Jim former county sheriff
We started with a drawing
Finished trolley
Rick and Ed at work
Another Great Camaraderie-Building Project: Stuff Stockings for our Troops!
Send out a press release It shows you have a caring organization
that is not just political!
Parties to Show Appreciation!
And… Engaged people are happy people!
They will encourage their friends and families to join in…increasing your volunteer base!
Even Grumpy’shappy!
Remember they are Volunteers!
Work with a smile
Let them do what they think they are best at
Don’t insist they do something that makes them uncomfortable
Praise a job well done!!
Give out Certificates to all
Volunteers Once a Year
Have a Volunteer of the Year or Volunteer of the Month Award
Reward them!!
Don’t Overload your Volunteers… It can Lead to Burnout!
Give them only what you think they can do. They will complete it and feel good aboutthemselves. And probably come back for more!
Coalition Outreach
An Important Part of theBattle Plan
Coalition Outreach is Important:
Because it can give us access into communities which may have not voted Republican – or have stopped voting for us - but may vote with us if we engage them
Because coalitions can deliver an army of volunteers
Because coalitions are a growing percentage
of the voting block
Women Republican
Women’s Clubs Tea Parties Hispanics Asian-Pacific
Americans African-
Americans Native-
Americans
Religious Groups
Young and College Republicans
Small Businesses
Veterans Gun
Enthusiasts Professions Farmers Seniors
Coalitions
A coalition is a group of people united in purpose
Strengthen their Conviction thatit’s Okay to Vote Republican!
We can engage in discussion and respectful dialogue while at the same
time staying true to our platform principles.
Obamacare Jobs and Economy Cost of living Education Constitution Individual freedom Less government regulation Energy Honesty & integrity in government Fiscal responsibility in government and…. Opportunity to realize the American
Dream!
Let’s Focus on Issues that Unite us!
Establishing Partnerships with Local Coalition Groups
Contact leaders of local groups Develop a respectful dialogue Show them you care – that you want
to help Ask what you can do for them
“Where have you been???” Coalition Leader
Coalition Leaders Attending Republican Workshop
Once we Develop a Relationship we can:
Communicate our message Recruit and energize their army of volunteers Encourage them to “Adopt a
Candidate” Open new fundraising doors Deliver votes!
We are not asking them to be Republicans. We are asking them to VOTE for
Republicans!
Make them a Partner by Inviting Coalition Leaders to be Part of your Leadership Team!
II. Communication and Visibility
First things first…Headquarters, HQ, center of operations, nerve center
Some think it’s an expensive luxury…
Others realize it’s an opportunity to create a bigger, better, winning organization!
Go for it!!
It’s a great place for:Working MeetingsTrainingSocial events FundraisersGOTV effortsAnd storing signs!
Your HQ is your Base of Operation
Don’t be afraid to go into “hostile” territory! Be where the battle is!
Create a happy work environmentwith a clean office, coffee and snacks
Is there someone in your community who has an empty office or building they can donate or rent at a reduced rate?
Do you have a business relationship with someone who would like to help you?
Even if you can’t have a headquarters all year round, try to have one in the months before an election.
Can’t Afford a Headquarters???
Communicate with your Team Regularlywith Emails, Post Cards and Phones
What’s happening in the county Reminders of upcoming meetings and
events Thank you notes or calls
By keeping your people informed…you will keep them involved!
They will feel part of the group and know you consider them a vital part of the team!
And don’t forget to keep your elected officials in the loop!
Keep them informed of all meetings,events, parades, festivals!
Most officials want to attend to your events but they can’t if they don’t know about them!
Officers and Executive Committee Precinct Committeemen Volunteers Activists Elected officials Donors/prospective donors People who attend events
Keep your contacts current!
Make your life easier by finding an energetic computer savvy volunteer!
You Need a Database to Track All of Your Contacts
It’s easyIt’s fastIt’s free!
With a single stroke you can connect to one or thousands…but not so much that they get ignored.
Be sure to include what the email is about in the subject line. This will help avoid your email going into Spam folders!
Blast those Emails!!
Now Let’s Communicate with Your County-Wide Audience
Social Media Helps Us Communicate to Hundreds…even Thousands! Younger audiences look for your Facebook
page and website and when they can’t find them they often get discouraged or think the organization’s not worthwhile
Brings in volunteers and new members
Invaluable in maintaining a stream of information
It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should
have enough information so that people know
you exist and how to contact you!
SOCIAL MEDIA
1. Facebook 2. Twitter 3. Website – Static 4. Website – Full Featured
Each option requires care and feeding!
Ask your computer savvy volunteer to help you with this!
Easy to use for news, events, invitations, photos
Wide open for followers to post comments
Administration is relatively easy (i.e. removing offensive posts)
Use for short updates and messages
WEBSITE – STATIC Easy to use for news and event
announcements Many companies can provide easy
to use templates (graphic artist or programmer not required) for as little as $15/month
Donations via service like PayPal usually supported
Normally the content is created by the County Chairman or a delegated volunteer
Seldom allows posts from visitors from the site (Blog hosting is a separate type of commercial service)
WEBSITE – FULL FEATURED
• Used for news, event announcements and RSVP and payment, soliciting volunteer, donations and donation renewals, voter history information, a principal contact for each voter (precinct committeeman), email blasts (filtered) and a comprehensive database
• Commercially available “Constituency Relationship Management” services provide website hosting, e-mail blasts, people databases, etc. for as little as $19/month depending upon the number of people in the database
• Graphic artist and/or programmer not required
Astute computer savvy volunteer can handle this.
Newsletters
Email or mail regularlyMail a copy for those without a
computerAds can help pay for this
Great for: Communicating news Promoting events Recruiting volunteers Ginning up enthusiasm It takes time but is worth
it!
Using the Media as a Tool
T.V. interviews Radio interviews Letters to the editor Op-eds Press releases Invite them to events and special announcements
Use the media to help you - And it’s free!!
So when you Open your Office…Call the local news!!
If the Media asks you for an Interview:Get ready…get set…then go! Find out in advance what they want to
discuss. Determine MAIN point you want to
communicate. Relax… it’s okay to not answer a
question if you don’t know the answer. Tell them you’ll get back to them later.
If you don’t want to read it in print, or hear it
on the news – don’t say it! NEVER LIE. If you’d rather not speak to the reporter,
ask for the questions and then respond by email.
When you’re Being Interviewed: Use the ABC method
Just remember your ABC’s!
A - Answer the question truthfully
B - Bridge to what you want to talk about
C - Communicate your message
Be Visible in your County
Get to know your county by travelling around your county!
Parades: The ultimate in visibility!
Try to walk or ride in all of them!
Besides being visible, they’re fun!
And a great way to connect with your team and promote team spirit!
Let Them Know You’ve Arrived with Something Special! Trolley with clanging bell and music!
Showcase GOP logo!
Karaoke anyone??
Give out candy!
Promote Uniqueness: local appeal, local music and local dress
Parades Hawaiian
Style!!
Parades…Western Style!!
Floats to Showcase Love of Country and Candidates!
Festivals: Showcase your County!
Pop Up Tent with Logo
Display Board
A Festival Tent gives you access to thousands of potential voters! Provides candidates with a venue to meet voters
Opportunity to recruit volunteers and precinct committeemen
Opportunity to sell merchandise
Festival Tent Goodie Giveaways!
Ask candidates to provide pens, bumper stickers and nail files! And then…
Buy candy
Have helium canister to blow up GOP balloons!
How about removable GOP tattoos?
Give out miniature flags
Pocket size copies of Constitution
III. Get Out The Vote
It’s why we’re here, the reason we
have an office, website, visibility and communication!
We communicate our message
We identify which voters support our candidates
We make sure they’re registered
We make sure they vote!!
In a Nutshell…
FIRST THINGS FIRST… WALK LISTS AND VOTER HISTORY
Options 1. County Clerk 2. GOP Data Center Website3. Advantage Mobile Application
• Depending on the precinct committeeman or volunteer, a county may use any or all of these options
WALK LIST FROM COUNTY CLERK
• All Registered Voters• Indicates Voting History• Typical for County Chairman to
provide for headquarters and precinct committeemen
WALK LIST FROM GOP DATA CENTER WEBSITE
• Simpler report – easily summarized by household
• Sorting options ideal for various tasks (i.e. Odd & even house numbers for walking the precinct)
• Summarizes Voting History (1 = Hard Republican, 2 = Soft Republican, … 5 = Hard Democrat)
• Chairman (or volunteer) can filter the voters printed on report (i.e. Only Hard Republicans for petition signatures)
• Contact your State Republican Party to apply!
WALK LIST FROM ADVANTAGE MOBILE APP
USING DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO WIN ELECTIONS
• The IL GOP is making landmark advances in campaigns and elections. Advantage Mobile is a smarter and more effective way to do voter contact. It takes the power of big data and puts it in the hands of grassroots volunteers.
• Download is free• Walk lists for a volunteer are created by
local party coordinators
Target New Republican Move-Ins... the Easy Way
1. Access list of recent property sales
2. Cross reference with voter records to determine party affiliation
3. Contact Republicans
4. Register them!
Put Out Lots of Signs… Signs demonstrate support and help your candidates advertise!
Why do some people drink Coke and not Pepsi? Taste? Maybe. But it could be the advertising!
Phone Banks With Real Results How about Local People Calling
Local People??
People are more likely to pick up the phone if their Caller ID shows a local number!
Conduct Phone Banks All Around the County!
Chairman supplies
• phone lists• script for all
calls
Area Coordinators supply
• local venue • local volunteers• snacks
Consider pre-paid phones so volunteers can call from home
Call hard R’s last
Phone Banks can be trouble! Especially robo calls. Use caution!
Robo calls might be better used to invite voters to an event, like a meet-
and-greet with candidatesor to remind voters to vote
Personal Communication Mailing Personal letter mailed to every Republican household and targeted independents
Can be key to your success,especially when you use a “hook”!
Give them a reason,a “hook”, to come out and vote!
Provide helpful voting information.
Include Highlighted Sample Ballot for their “Convenience”
Many of our voters told us they brought the sample ballot into the voting booth to assist them!
Include Candidate Literature
Candidates must provide Size and weight limits
Great way for candidates to get their literature out at no mailing expense to them!
Use Envelope Voters Will Want to Open!
It Can Work!
Re-elected all local incumbents Gave Bruce Rauner 62.3% of the
vote for Governor Re-elected a Congressman with
75.69% of the vote
2014 Tazewell County GOP Results
Have the following phone
numbers on speed dial: Clerk’s Office State Party Office Election Lawyer
Provide rides to polling place
Election Day Tips
Speed dial
Need a ride?
Have poll watchers check in throughout
the day to determine voter turnout,
especially in strong Republican areas
If counts are low, have office volunteers call
those voters who are your supporters, but
haven’t voted yet, to remind them to vote!
And don’t forget to Monitor the Election Countywide!
Show Appreciation to yourJudges and Poll Watchers
Suggest Committeemen bring donuts or cookies
Even better…
Get donors to sponsor lunch!
Something to Consider to Minimize Duplication and Maximize EffortPerhaps... County Organizations should focus primarily on the base
Candidates should focus primarily
on swing voters
Check with your State Party and candidates and see what they
think!!
In Illinois, Bill Brady needed just 3 more votes per precinct to win the Governor’s race
Romney needed just 13 more votes per precinct to win Florida
Election Day: Better Organization = Better Results
One of the Hardest Jobs of the Chairman
All this sounds great…but how do we pay for it?
IV. FUNDRAISING
Major Fund Drive $$$$ Mail Fund Drive $$$ Developing and Keeping High Level Donors
$$$ Lincoln Day Dinner $$$ Other Fundraising Event $$ to $$$ House Parties $$ to $$$ Mail Fund Drive $$ Republican Club $ to $$ Merchandise $ to $$ Auction $ to $$ Raffle $ to $$ Ads $ to $$
* My personal experience
Effective Ways to Raise Money *
Major Fund Drive in a Nutshell: : Donors need a reason to invest.
Show them your written plan.
Your reputation proceeds you. Donors will invest if they believe in you.
Use “hook” to gently lure them in!
After drive, let donors know the results of their investment.
Organizing a Major Fund Drive: Document in writing your plan of action and
how how you intend to spend the funds
Put together a County-Wide Fund Drive Committee
Determine fundraising goal and donor levels
Prepare list of prospective donor targets
Divide donor list, selecting member best suited to personally visit prospective donor
When visiting prospective donor bring written plan
Then use a “hook” to make the “final sale”. All donors will be invited to a very special donor appreciation event, at a special venue, with a VIP guest
Have frequent meetings to track progress
Members who bring in donors can come to event gratis
A Major Fund Drive Can Bring in Major $$$$ if you have:
a good enough reason
a good enough “hook”
are organized
a motivated, effective, hard working team!!
Mail Fund Drive
Raising money for special project
More effective with incentive award
Typically lower donor amounts
Cost of mailing can be expensive
It can work if you give a good reason
Don’t forget to use a “hook”!
Invitation with “Hook”
Be Part of Tazewell County Republican History!Yes, I want to help build the Trolley Car! Please accept my donation of: ________
Your donation of $50.00 or more will be recognized by having your name engraved on a commemorative plaque to be displayed on the trolley car and at the Tazewell County GOP Headquarters!_____________________________________________________________________________Name Address__________________________________________________________________City State Zip Code__________________________________________________________________Telephone Number E-Mail Address
Please make your check payable to: THE TAZEWELL COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE and mail to our Tazewell GOP Headquarters at 1000 Court Street Pekin, Illinois 61554 (or use the enclosed courtesy envelope). Thank You!
Developing (and Keeping!) High Dollar Donors
Step 1: Create Awareness of the Mission Step 2: Invite Partnership with the MissionStep 3: Build the RelationshipStep 4: Continual Contact and Gratitude
CREATE AWARENESS OF THE MISSION
• USE FREE MEDIA – Local online newspapers, letters to the Editor
• FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND CONSTANT ONLINE OUTREACH
• SPREAD THE WORD wherever you go and as you CREATE AWARENESS OF THE MISSION, so you are ready for the next step….
Invite Partnership with the Mission
• Ask to meet “face to face” with your teammate and the “prospect” (Two heads are better than one!)
• Describe your mission and what you are doing, with specifics.
• Invite your prospect to partner with the mission. DO NOT ASK FOR MONEY.
• Ask: “Is what we have been talking about of interest to you?” Then be quiet and listen to what the donor’s interests are.
Build the Relationship
• Your prospect says: “No, not interested.” Move on.
• Your prospect says: “It’s kind of interesting, but I am not interested at this time.” Ask to re-contact her in a few (weeks, months). Follow up!
• Your prospect says: “Yes, I am interested in your mission.” Continue the discussions, which may be five minutes or over the course of several weeks/months. What aspects of the mission does he want to support?
• Use your “wish list” and ensure appropriate variety in $$ amounts
… and when they donate… (like Chicago voting) … Thank Donors Early and Often!
• In person (ideal) • By phone • Always follow up in writing.
YOUR DONORS ARE GOLDEN!
A few final thoughts…
• Development is NOT finding the “rich guy” and just asking for money.
• Development is NOT even focused on bringing dollars in the door at the very start.
• Discipline and focus in creating consistent awareness (think “Coca-Cola”), teaming up for a “face to face” with the prospect and having a collaborative, enthusiastic conversation about HIS interests in your mission, not what you think YOU need.
• Development IS FIRST AND FOREMOST about creating a relationship and expressing gratitude early and often!
Fundraising Events Lincoln/ Reagan Day Dinner
Barbeque/Cookouts
Wine Tasting at a Vineyard
Barn Dance
Fish Fry
Pig Roast
Luau
Cruise
Golf Outing
Skeet Shooting
Wine Tasting at a Vineyard
Cruise
Festival in the Vineyard Sangamon County Golf Outing
Champaign County Fall Festival
Having Fun While Fundraising!!
Kendall County Annual Pig Roast & Family Picnic
“Festival at the Harbor” Sunday, September 16th
Every County has a SpecialPlace…Find it…Use it!
Find your special venueBeautiful homeHistoric buildingGardenVineyardShip/Harbor/Water frontBarnRanch
Invite special guest Large event or small exclusive event Give incentives to fundraisers
Organizing a Successful Event
Have a large committee – the bigger the better!
Committee should be county-wide Assign responsibilities Expect accountability Everyone sells tables and tickets Contest for best sellers Frequent meetings to track progress
In dealing with venue ask for TOTAL cost per person: food, tax, tip or any additional charges.
Marketing Strategy Early payments = best tables Tables of 10 not 8 All tickets paid in advance No comps – except to fellow chairmen No refunds Be known for well-run events with short
speeches Congratulate top 3 ticket sellers at event
Lincoln Day Dinners
1200+ Attendees
Sell Political Merchandise
Healthy markup - It’s a fundraiser not Walmart!
Live Auction
Flag flown over important ship or building
Autographed book by VIP in the news!
VIP
Tickets to Sports Events
Theater Tickets
Something Priceless!
Dessertsto be actioned off
BEFORE dinner is served
?
Other Ways to Raise Money
JewelryVacationFirearm Tickets to sports eventsHand Sewn QuiltGift Certificates50-50Something “Priceless” Republican Clubs
Sell Advertisements inEvent Programs and/or Newsletters
Silent Auction and/or Raffle
Other Ideas…
It all adds up to real $$$$$$!
Closing Comments
Motivate Inspire Communicate Delegate responsibly and expect
accountability Build strong personal relationships Make tough but fair decisions Recognize and applaud others for
their outstanding efforts Have personal integrity
Be a Leader Who Others Will Want to Follow
Reputation: Key to your Success Never promise more than you can deliver
Over deliver…it will surprise and impress! Return phone calls Be accessible Be truthful Know the issues you are talking about In dealing with difficult situations don’t
forget what mom told you: “Honey is better than vinegar!”
Guard your reputation like the treasure it is. Once lost it will be hard to retrieve.
You are not Alone! Share your best practices
Participate in state-wide County Chairmen meetings and conference calls
Stay connected with the State Party and Elected Officials
Let’s not reinvent the wheel We’re much too busy!
KEEP THE FAITH
One person can make a difference!
STAY POSITIVE
Last,
but certainly not least…
Enjoy and Have Fun!!!
