"One-Stop Shop" for Real Voices for Change Organizing Resources

Our Campaign Story:

This August could go down in history as one of the make-or-break moments for the Obama agenda. America's health care and energy challenges are only becoming more urgent. And Congress has taken the first big steps towards passing major legislation aimed at solving these problems.

But Republicans are on the attack, trying to pin the blame for these problems on Obama. Some Democrats are starting to look ahead to the 2010 mid-term elections, wondering whether they should fight for the president's agenda or not.

In this tumultuous moment, members of Congress will be home for the entire month during the annual August recess. That's why MoveOn is launching Real Voices for Change, a month-long push to make sure that wherever senators and representatives go, we're there to remind them that their constituents want real change on health care and energy.

Organizing Materials

Here are the materials for organizing the Real Voices for Change campaign in your area, as well as the talking points for our top issues:

• Click here to listen to a training recording about town halls

• Click here for tips on getting your message across, and avoiding conflict with right-wing protesters.

• **NEW** Materials for "We Can't Afford to Wait" Health Care Vigils:

  
  
  • ORGANIZING STORY:

  Every day, thousands of people lose their health care coverage and millions more struggle with the unbearable cost of health care or don't have any care at all. So, as our senators and representatives prepare to return to Washington, we're hosting vigils to highlight the effects our health care crisis has on real people, and call on Congress to act right now to pass health care reform with a real public health insurance option -- the heart of reform that will help expand coverage and bring down costs for all of us.

  • Vigil Organizing GUIDE
    
    
  • MAIL AND MATERIALS TIMELINE:
    • Wed, 8/26: Email hosts so they can confirm they're a legit host
    • Wed, 8/26: Vetting Round 1 due
    • Thurs 8/27: Email Attendee Recruit
    • Sat, 8/31 Email Host Call reminder
    • Sunday 8/30: Final Vetting Round 2 due
    • Sun, 8/30 9 PM Host Call
    • Mon, 8/31 Email Attendee Kicker
    • Tue, 9/1 E-Mail Attendee call reminder
    • Tue, 9/1 9 PM Attendee Call
    • Wed, 9/2 E-Mail: Attendee Reminder
    • Wed, 9/2 Vigils
  
  
  • Info for NATIONAL HOST AND ATTENDEE CONFERENCE CALLS:

  We're holding two important calls to help prepare hosts and attendees for this event.

  • To listen to a recording of our national conference call for hosts:

    • Dial 212-812-2800, press #1 on your phone, and enter recording code 45821 26412

    Or, to listen online, click here: http://www.spiderphone.com/RealCast/4582126412/c_RAM.ram

    (You need RealPlayer to listen to the recording online. If you don't already have it, download it here. It's free.)
    
    
  • The attendees' national conference call is on Tuesday night, 9/1, at: 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. PT. We'll post information on how to access the attendee call soon, and we'll email all registered attendees when that information is available.

  • LETTER attesting to MoveOn's status as a political action committee, and citing our liability insurance (helpful for getting a permit)

  
  
  • Media materials
    • Talking points
    • Media guide
    • Advisory
    • Reporter script
    
    
  • Strategies for success - tips for dealing with right-wing disrupters
  
  
  • Host script - Sample Host Script
  
  
  • Organizing "to-do" checklist

 

• Real Voices for Change organizing guide

• *NEW** Media advisory for rallies and other non-townhall events (here's the special version for health care champs)

• Real Voices for Change priority issues and targets

• Talking points on health care

• Talking points on clean energy

• Contact tracking form (fill this out for every contact!)

• **NEW** LARGE SIGNS that say "Public Option = Affordable Health Care" (great for bird-dogging)
  
  

"Real Voices for Change" Tactics

Here are several how-to guides for tactics that your council can use to turn up the heat on your targets during the August Congressional recess:

• Birddogging

• Letters to the editor

• Flyering

• Canvassing

• District meetings

• Editorials

• Op-eds

Additional Organizing Resources

Here are materials on general organizing and campaign strategy that you can use for Real Voices for Change:

• Guide for outreach in your community

• Guide for researching your Congressional target

Materials from older actions

• "Next Steps" Meeting Agenda and Worksheet

Media and video reporting for your Council