STARTER KIT Your Community CAN Make a Difference

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1 STARTER KIT Your Community CAN Make a Difference Paid for by Support Independent Maps. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website ( or for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.

2 A message from Independent Maps: We re fortunate to have many active volunteers throughout Illinois, and three of our most active volunteers in Champaign County Trent Shepard and Diane and Ed Wilhite created a toolkit for use by all of our volunteers. Because they ve gone the extra mile, all volunteers now can have a head start on successful local petition drives. The suggestions come from their experiences with a large group of volunteers in a mostly metropolitan region, but volunteers throughout Illinois will find useful advice and ideas to introduce in their home communities. The on-line toolkit includes a sample PowerPoint presentation for informational meetings, signs to post or carry at events, guidance for writing letters to newspapers and much more. The tips below will get you started, and you ll find more information on our website Organize a Team to Gather Signatures and Plan a Kickoff Meeting 1. Identify a group of 5-7 key people willing and able to sustain the leadership effort for the campaign in your community. Likely candidates: League of Women Voters officers Chamber of Commerce staff Former local politicos Local business leaders Local political activists/enthusiasts Political scientists from local higher education institutions Lawyers Participants in the last campaign Plan a public kickoff meeting inviting all area citizens interested in volunteering for the petition drive. Before announcing the kickoff meeting, please contact Independent Maps for help with the planning and the announcement to the news media. Call or send an to mail to: [email protected]. We ll help you announce the meeting to the news media. 2

3 2. Define the roles of the key people. Suggested roles: Chair or Co-chairs Liaison to key organizations/associations or key events Technical support ( , digital marketing materials, etc.) Media representative Public speakers Volunteer coordinator (follow-up with volunteer circulators) 3. Define your community (geographic area). 4. Define a meeting approach. Regular in-person meetings and frequency Ad-hoc based on calendar of events 5. Define a digital communication strategy. Google groups (everyone needs gmail account) List of s in a spreadsheet that can easily be shared or cut/paste Conference calls 6. Start a volunteer database with relevant contact information. 7. Start an organization/association contact database. 8. Review starter kit documentation. 9. Add non-leadership volunteers and identify their desired level of commitment. Signature collection independently Signature collection as part of planned events 3

4 Define a Strategy for your Community 1. Involve local members of organizations with a presence in your community League of Women Voters Chamber of Commerce Common Cause AARP Farm Bureau Service clubs 2. Create a calendar of events where mass signatures can be collected and decide on approach Farmer s markets Fairs, picnics, parades, outdoor concerts, park district events Sports events tailgates, ballgames, races, marathons, tournaments Community clean-up days Home shows, gun shows, antique shows, flea markets Conventions Garden walks Health fairs University/College events Voting sites (do it legally), political debates 3. Identify permanent sites where petitions are available for signature, pickup, and handoff with notarization Chamber of Commerce office Library Businesses Law offices 4. Identify temporary sites where petitions are available for signature, pickup, and handoff with notarization 5. Identify how to reach the public 4

5 Media outlets (newspaper, radio, television, internet) Speak to associations, clubs, public service groups, churches, health clubs Public postings on bulletin boards/web Businesses willing to have petitions available for signing/pickup/info Library forums/kiosks Schedule visits with University/College groups, dorms, sororities and fraternities Speak/visit retirement communities and clubs Educational events/forums customized for your community Booths at commercial enterprises such as restaurants/grocery stores Mingle at bars/ice cream shops 6. Define signature collection/review/submission process 7. Define goals and communication of attainment to team Associations/Groups to Contact 1. Service clubs often are interested in presentations from new speakers. (Exchange Clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis, Ambucs, Optimists, Elks, Lions, Jaycees) 2. Athletic team support groups 3. Farm Bureau (Prime Timers, Lady Landowners) 4. Senior citizen residences (assisted living, retirement home, independent living) 5. University and community college student groups 6. Gun clubs 7. Health clubs 8. Churches, synagogues 9. AARP 5

6 How to work with the Media 1. Contact the editorial staff of the newspaper and provide information and contacts within the campaign. Regularly call with updates. 2. Call in to call-in talk shows on local radio stations to share updates and announce events. 3. Have different individuals submit regular letters to the editor with a different angle each time. When possible, have individuals respected within the community submit the letters. 4. Request campaign events be listed in the event section of the newspaper. 5. Submit press releases on successful events/progress to the newspaper. 6. Contact the local TV stations to establish how to best share information on the campaign and get coverage on the nightly news. Sample Educational Event Agenda 1. Introductions 2. Amendment Presentation 3. Plea for Circulators 4. Signature Collection and Notarization Hints and Tips At large public events, it works well for each signature collector to have two clipboards with a pen tied to each clipboard. Ask new volunteers for a commitment, e.g. five pages of signatures Carry petitions to every organization, class, gym, or business you go to. Enlist additional petition gatherers and send them a standard introductory letter and meet them to provide petitions and answer questions. Watch the newspaper for local meetings you can approach. Arrange to speak at retirement homes/assisted living centers and enlist residents to pass petitions for you. 6

7 Hit the gym. People are often standing around and have the time to listen and sign. Set up an address where potential circulators can contact you. Also use it to gather information on organizations you can tap. Tackle universities and colleges by enlisting students (political organizations, future League of Women Voters, sororities, fraternities) Contact local politicians or ex-politicians who have connections and ideas. Use sponsors for educational events/signature gathering that has the most credibility in the community. For example, the League of Women Voters often draws good crowds. Get notaries to join the team. The best events to collect signatures are when people are hanging around/milling for fun. This would include bars, tailgates, farmer s markets, parades, etc. They have time to listen to you. 7