INDEX PAGE
1. RECRUITMENT OF CANDIDATES
2. CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT
3. CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT
4. VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT
July 18, 2000
Dear NFRA Friend and Conservative Activist:
The National Federation of Republican Assemblies is dedicated to the return of the Republican Party to our constitutional principles and the cause of freedom. For too long the Power Wing of the Republican Party has cared more about winning than about governing. To them holding office is the greatest good. To the NFRA the greatest good is family and our constitutional rights.
To that end we will be publishing short hints for activists. The RINO's (Republican In Name Only) spend millions to promote their candidates--we don't have the money to compete on that level. So, we must be smart in our political action. Here is the Hint for the week:
This is a major topic. The purpose of the Hint this week is to give your campaign structure. Over the next few weeks I will go into each segment of a campaign in greater detail.
The more people involved with real responsibilities in your campaign the better.
As a friend of mine, Lorelei Kinder, taught me, TO GAIN POWER YOU DISTRIBUTE POWER. If you want to win it must be a team effort.
Importantly, you will then have a new crop of trained activists.
As the candidate, you can't do everything yourself. You have a job, to meet voters, raise money and talk with the media.
What are the main components of a campaign?
1. Staff (paid or unpaid)
a. Campaign manger--gives overall direction to a campaign and, with the candidate, sets strategy and sees to its implementation
b. Onsite manager--works full time at the headquarters and administers the campaign and campaign team
c. Volunteer chairman--goal is to maximize the number of volunteers in a campaign and make sure they have productive tasks
d. Research director--responsible for background on office, issues, opponents and district. Key is previous voting history of the district. Look at previous candidates, bond issues, initiatives or recall elections--lots of information can be used to help with the campaign strategy.
e. Finance Director--chief fundraiser for campaign, other than candidate. This person should have some connections with the moneyed community and the time to send letters and make phone calls for you. Should have assistant who sets up fund raising events.
f. Treasurer--keeps the books and makes the reports to government agencies
g. Scheduler--schedules candidate and surrogates for candidate. Makes sure candidates is at as many community events and meetings as possible. Designs list giving background, contact person, etc. of each event.
h. Precinct chairman--person, working in tandem with the volunteer chairman, makes sure that each precinct or ward is covered and that distribution material is available.
i. Absentee Ballot chairman--responsible for "banking" of votes through the absentee or early ballot.
h. GOTV--Get Out The Vote effort. This is started the day you announce by keeping a record of your supporters and on election day making sure they vote.
j. Sign Committee-- making sure as many signs as possible are up.
k. Coffee chairman--no not to serve coffee to volunteers, but to set up "meets and greets" throughout district. This should be an outgoing person who doesn't take no for an answer. Maybe a realtor, or PTA or church leader, someone who has contacts throughout the district.
l. Roll and Throw chairman--during the campaign you will want to go door to door to distribute literature. This can be done from a car, with the passenger throwing rolled up and rubber banded literature on the driveways or mail boxes of each home--works especially well in so called non partisan races.
m. Technology Committee--responsible for your web site, email communications and weekly updates to supporters.
n. Publicity--works with the media to let them know your side of the story and to get you interviews and write the press releases and Candidate Info Pack (background on the candidate, head shot for papers, position papers, etc.) and works the local talk shows to get you as a guest or your supporters talking about you.
o. Phone bank Chairman--responsible for finding free locations of numerous phones that can be used in the evening to call voters and identify supporters--real estate and insurance firms are a good start for potential sites. Any place that has lots of phones not being used in the evening from 6-9 (yes, those calls at dinner time we all hate--but must be placed)
There are more parts to a campaign, but this will give you a good start.
As you can tell, there is lots to do in a campaign--lots of opportunity to work for a good candidate and to learn campaign techniques. This is why an on going local Republican Assembly club is so important, people who are Principled Conservatives and trained activists who know what to do and can pick up a campaign immediately is of great value to the cause.
If you would like to form a Republican Assembly in your area, please contact Steve Frank at eagles@westworld.com and I will put you in touch with someone from your state.
The purpose of "coffees" is to meet folks you would not ordinarily meet.
Next week the subject is VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT.
With a vision of a grass roots campaign to battle the entrenched forces of Big Government and Big Money, the Republican Victory Fund is the means to give a voice to the people by giving them the finances to bring people of conscience into power.
Currently, the RVF has three programs with more to follow in which conservatives can participate that will allow them to increase Republican registration, target key races, promote values based government and yet not spend a dime out of their pocket other than their normal purchases. The first is AmeriVision Communication for long distance telephone service and as an ISP provider for a filtered, family safe on line connection. The second is the Republican Victory Fund Visa card through First USA Bank, currently offering an introductory rate 2.9%. The third is shopping on the Buy Right Mall.
You can access these services at the Republican Victory Fund web site at http://www.rvfund.com or by putting the Buy Right Mall into your favorites list at http://www.buyrightmall.com. Select from among the best products from well known suppliers with a proven track record for service, satisfaction, and security, all while assisting conservative Republican candidates and causes.
Every purchase made will earn income for the Republican Victory Fund and through them the grass roots conservatives in your state NOT the national party. No wasted gas, no parking problems, no crowds, and delivery world wide without standing in line at the Post Office. Welcome to the 21st century and buyrightmall.com.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends as long as full attribution is given to the supporting organizations.
The National Federation of Republican Assemblies and The Republican Victory Fund.
For more information on the NFRA, www.nf-ra.org
To contact me directly, steve@nf-ra.org