Campaign School in Portland OR on 23 February 2020 – Report

GPUS CCC material presented at the Campaign School are being edited and will be available soon on their website for GPUS candidates and Campaign Committees. 

These notes are a summary of the day’s events.  For further information contact GPWA participants Noah Martin, Alice B. Green, or Jody Grage.

Erin Fox from GPUS CCC – 4 Pillar icebreaker – good intro to organizing around issues

Need to start campaigns early since we have time rather than money – and start planning the next campaign, too

Two most important campaign positions – volunteer coordinator and fundraising coordinator

CivicCRM is free interactive database according to Erin

Support the candidate, welcome everybody – goal: to elect this Green

Best source of votes – disaffected voters

Target voters in low turnout precincts and those with low voter registration percentages and go where they are: organizations, churches, etc. 

Use of data can increase number of volunteers and amount of funding

Define winning, consider cost per vote; history of race – votes to win, cost; use volunteers, calls, etc.

WA – filing requires 1% of salary or 1 signature per $1; Top 2 primary limitation; major party achievable only by getting 5% or more or total vote in presidential election

Petition signatures – send thank you cards

Tabling – living room setup with rug and chairs in front of table, activity; box of office supplies

Canvassing – morning – seniors, 1-5 pm low-income housing, 5- 8 others; 80% of votes to first candidate that makes contact, 60% good contact later, 20% lit drop. 10% untrained canvasser; gated – contact manager to arrange a meeting with residents; phone before knocking works well; say you’ll advocate for an issue rather than promise to deliver it; work to get mentors/friends/teams – identify leaders in target areas and get them to carry on with the canvassing work

Phone banking – land line or cell – 8 cents per call, email 16-20 cents; need call center software such as CallHub which is pay as you go and integrates into NationBuilder; need headsets and quiet location; need administrative review; must record data accurately!; reporting and debriefing important

Field Edge - $100/month, integrates with NationBuilder or Google Sheets which is free

Finances – Zoom session availale soon

Budgets – Ideal, moderate, survival; first need is to raise money to raise more money

Treasure mapping; candidate is #1 fundraiser

Relational organizing – local 3 months, federal race 2 years

Conversion – supporter to organizer; events; snowflakes; the talk; influencers – house parties. neighbor post cards