Posted on 07/29/2004 6:26:17 AM PDT by trifona
I've been thinking about helping out the campaign in some capacity, but am unsure of what type of activities are usually and what type of time commitment are needed.
I live in Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is a crucial battleground area.
Any other Freepers out there who are also volunteers willing to shed some light on to as to what is needed?
Thanks.
Basically, what they need are foot soldiers. You can go to www.georgewbush.com to sign up.
Yes well I do know that. Just questioning activity types as well as time commitments.
You can also go to your local RNC office. I have helped stuff envelopes, work on phone banks (calling to remind folks about when to vote - not how to vote). Some will even walk door to door handing out campaign material.
They'll take whatever time you can give them. The Montgomery County group has phone banks and you can go for an hour here and an hour there. They also need people to canvass their neighborhood for voters, write letters to the editor, make sure their family and friends and neighbors are registered, and to especially plan to be very active the week before the election.
If you sign up you are on the email list. They send requests for various activities about once a week.
Encourage people to vote. My wife will be a first time voter this year and I know of about 25 new voters or voters who are voting republican for the first time.
Phonebanking.
Door-to-Door.
Recruit more volunteers.
Register voters.
Find out who your County BC'04 Chairman is and call him/her and ask to volunteer. Your County GOP Chair should know who this is. There are plenty of jobs to do: door to door, calling, GOTV, postcards, letters to the editor, register new voters, culling lists for independent voters, etc. The campaign is working on a major grassroots effort so your help will be greatly appreciated. Go for it!
There are a number of ways to volunteer for the Bush/Cheney campaign. His web site gives many ideas on what you can do.
Also check your local Bush campaign office. Thats what I did in during the 2000 campaign. It was the very first time I ever got actively involved with politics. You can man phone banks or go door to door, but thats not for everybody. I signed up to stand in front of Husky Stadium here in Seattle with a Bush sign. There was about 20 of us, so you had company. 2 hours was all that was required. Doing this must of got my name on a list someplace because after that I did receive Christmas cards from the Bush family every December afterward.
It was great fun. You did have to put up with a few leftist jerks making nasty comments, and countless fingers from people in cars passing by (we are talking Seattle), but you also got to meet many conservatives which made the whole thing worth it.
Also write letters to your paper. I have done this dozens of times. I am going to our big GOP picnic AUG 14th, which is where I will sign up for more activities this year.
Good luck, and have fun.
My wife bought me a tee shirt that says "REAL MEN WANT BUSH" I plan on wearing it to the races at MIS this weekend.
Republican turnout is the key to the election in Pennsylvania. Contact your local Republican Party if they are any good. On your own you can get a street list of voters in your precinct from the county registration office and call the Republicans on or near election day to remind them to vote. Also you might contact Senator Santorum's office. He is the state chairman for the Bush Reelection drive.
shirt that says "REAL MEN WANT BUSH" heheheh
I am bring my 3 year old son to the GOP picnic in Wasgington state, and he will be dressed in a very cute cowboy outfit we purchased in Jackson Hole Wyoming. He will be carrying a sign that reads; "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys", with a picture of Reagan and Bush in cowboy hats.
I've been working the phone banks are our local headquarters. Just contact your local, and they should be more than happy to have your help!
Despite the initial revulsion to phone banks, they can actually be quite fun. I most enjoy when I get hard core Dems on the line!
I had one say "I wouldn't vote for that man(Bush) for dog catcher!" I replied kindly, "That's good maam because he's running for President. Can we count on your vote then?" Her reply - Click. :)
I had another where the folks on the list had moved. The guy says "They don't live here anymore and I won't even talk to Republicans." I kindly replied, "You are right now sir, how does it feel?" CLICK.
Finally, I called one lady who, when asked if the President could count on her support, she replied "We are a house of Democrats." I replied, "Well, don't let that stop you. Many Democrats are voting for Bush." She laughed and I quickly added, "So, I guess we can cross you off the potential volunteer list?" She laughed again and said goodbye.
The best way to handle folks when phoning is to add a little humor. What is the worst they can do? Hang up. Big deal. :)
Good luck and GET INVOLVED.
If you have less than an hour, bring a rag and Windex and clean the place up. Make fresh coffee. Restock the literature. Empty the trash.
With more time you can help on the phone bank, or run errands. Restock the copy machine.
If you have lots of friends willing to give a few hours, find out if there is a mail out that needs to be folded and stuffed. Go as a group and do it together. Good fun and you get to visit with your friends.
Sign up to answer the phone the same couple of hours every day, or week. Find out how to register people while going about your normal day.
Everyone can do something.
Thanks for getting involved.
I signed up as a volunteer in Florida, and I've been assigned to work the phone bank. They just ask for a couple of hours (a month) after work or on Saturday.
You can also sign up as an internet volunteer, and recruit voters online.
Phone banking--making phone calls to identify Republicans and Bush voters, to register new voters in heavily-GOP areas, and (eventually) to convince swing voters to vote for Bush.
Door-to-door--doing the same stuff as you would on a phone call.
Communications--writing letters to the editor, calling talk radio programs, etc.
Events--manning tables at fairs and community gatherings to register voters and recruit volunteers, maybe marching in a parade now and then.
Delivering yard signs when they come out (supposed to be mid- to late August, at least in Washington).
And most important, getting out the vote--making sure that all those Republicans and Bush supporters you IDed and registered earlier actually get to the polls on Election Day or cast their absentee ballots. If your time is limited, this is the one thing you should sign up to do.
The Chester County GOP website "has been temporarily disabled." They may need a volunteer to run it. Here's the PA GOP Chester County page.
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