[GailA]

FTH any suggestion on organizing a rally you can pass on? Our local GOP leader wimpped out..he's busy with a GOP fund raiser the 22nd, his plate is full it seems as he is also a state coordinator. Didn't have any other names to suggest.

[FreeTheHostages]

The FRN website has a whole *bunch* of advice on doing one.

I think the idea of the weekend of March 22nd is to have a lot of little rallies nationwide, so there shouldn't be "size" pressure.

Here in DC, we focus on a stage, a sound system, and a good press list, as well as *trying* to do coalition building. This often means college kids or military-affiliated people for this cause (although in DC the college Republicans are not well-organized the the military guys are, well, a little busy!).

My big advice is: find ways for it not to cost $: get a permit for a public space or park with a stage. And realize that each even is a building event: worry on getting the turnout, don't worry too much on spending $.

Ways to have a good rally and a good turnout certainly dovetail on one issue: who is the keynote speaker. In this respect, fame counts and coalition building matters. If there's some conservative talk radio hero in your part who would be willing to headline and publicize the event in exchange for joint credit (and you guys doing the advance work on the sound system and the press release and all the unglamorous stuff), I'd say Go for it!

People who have more specific suggestions on how to do a rally include BobJ (who does the FRN stuff) and I believe Doctor Raoul once compiled a good list of rules and dos-and-don'ts for rallies.

[FreeTheHostages]

You should also go to your state chapter ping list here at Free republic -- putting something up with the keyword for your state -- asking for suggested keynote speakers.

A good rally starts with a good keynote speaker, a good location, and a good plan to get some people to actually come.