I believe in Barack Obama so much that I would love to write a check for $2,300. However, my bank account does not allow that so I'm doing the next best thing, I'm donating my house and my time. I know a lot of people are upset about FISA, but I'm supporting Obama for 174 other reasons and will continue to support him.
I am lucky to live in an area with several historic districts. Every couple of years, various organizations have very successful house tours of the home in my area. Generally, they sell about 450 to 600 tickets for the house tours. As I thought about that, I decided why not ask the neighbors if they would be willing to show their houses and gardens to raise money for Obama. So far, the response has been very positive.
This tuesday, I'm hosting a group of people that have volunteered to help organize this with me. In this diary, I'm going to discuss the fundraiser and solicit your advice for ideas on how we can improve it. Anyone is welcome to copy and recreate for your own fundraiser!
We are planning to have the house tour in early september when summer vacations are over, but early enough that the money can make a difference. The house tour will include about 10 houses built from 1850 to 1920.
Past house tours have sold about 450 to 600 tickets to people who love old homes. We are hoping that we can get many of that audience plus people who want to help Obama, but don't donate online or can't afford the large dollar fundraisers.
I plan to invite local democratic officials and candidates to participate by being stationed at various home where they can campaign and distribute literature. We will also have tables on front porches doing voter registration forms and have "change for Obama" jugs out to collect people's loose change.
The house tour program will include information about the houses and owners as well as information about Obama, Lautenberg, congressional candidates Pallone and Stender, and local counsel candidate who are running this year. We will include information about volunteering and donating with websites, phone numbers and local campaign offices. There will also be a nice write up about Act Blue since I love that site.
I'm considering selling Obama bumper stickers and yard signs (at cost). We are considering lemonade/water stands with baked goods for sale to raise additional money.
In terms of marketing the event, we are planning flyers on public message boards, train stations and bus stops. working with local progressive groups, democratic organizations, campaign committees, obama volunteer group, etc to distribute flyers to their members. We have a couple of local businesses that we believe will sell tickets as they have done for other house tours in the past.
how you can help
- Do you have any additional idea's on how to market this?
- We need some internet volunteers who understand and know how the obama groups work on the social networking sites and can help publicize event and help obtain local volunteers for event?
- I would like some advice on the legal requirements for the ticket sales/donations. what information must we collect and provide to the obama campaign, etc. we will definitely coordinate with the local campaign office, but it would be helpful to get some info early in the process.
- Anyone good at graphics or artwork? I would love for some modified obama graphic that includes "Plainfield House and Garden Tour to benefit Obama for President"
- Anyone in Central NJ who would like to volunteer in person is welcome!
- Any other suggestions or comments are welcome. I have listed the formal objects and committees we are setting up.
Below is the outline for how we are going to organize the fundraiser and some idea's we have developed. Again, please give any helpful feedback you can think of!
The Committee outline
The objectives for the fundraiser are as follows:
1. Raise money for Obama’s presidential campaign
2. Voter Registration Drive
3. Voter Education - home tour program to include information about federal, state and local democratic candidadte running this year, volunteer opportunities and donation opportunities.
We are going to have an organizing committe and each person on the organizing commitee will chair a sub-commitee. The sub committees are as follows:
Event Committee
Identify and recruit potential home owners willing to show their house and garden
Plan day of event logistics
Placement of campaign tables/booth
Markings at participating houses (balloons, etc)
Set up of day of event sales
Legal Committee
Handle any required permits
Research donor requirements and disclosure requirements
Information on signage, etc.
Outreach Committee
Reach out to other organizations for assistance on providing volunteers, selling tickets and marketing the event though internal mailing lists:
• Obama Campaign
• Linda Stender for Congress
• Pallone for Congress
• Plainfield Dem Organization
• Union Country Dem Organization
• Somerset Dem Organization
• Plainfield Equity and NJ Equity
• Stone wall Democrats
• Young Democrat organizations
• College Dems
Reach out to Obama supporters on the internet
• Mybarackobama.com
• Social Networking sites such as Facebook, myspace, etc
• Blue Jersey, Politikernj.com,
• other political websites
Volunteer Committee
Recruit and schedule volunteers –
• Participate on committees
• Day of event set up
• Act as guides at homes on the tour
• Staff voter registration and candidate information tables
Work with other committees to determine volunteer needs
Establish and maintain email network for volunteers to keep everyone informed of what is going on.
Organize thank you bar-b-que for volunteers and home owners
Program Committee (program and graphics)
• Develop Graphics for programs and event
• Create Program
o Write up house descriptions
o Information about Obama
o Voter information about local Dem candidates
o Volunteer Opportunities
o Act blue page
o List of sponsors
o List of volunteers
• Create Event Tickets
• Create Flyers and posters for Event
Marketing Committee
• Press Releases
o One set of press releases focusing on Historic Houses
o One set of press releases focusing on grass root efforts to campaign
o Materials for local campaigns to distribute to email lists
• Post materials on political websites (working with outreach committee)
• Arrange for ticket sale locations
o Local businesses
o Campaign offices
• Post flyers at train stations, stores, public message boards
• Annoying car window flyers
•
Finance Committee
• Manage Ticket sales
o Oversee and audit store/campaign office sales
o Day of Tours ticket sales
o Donation Stands – Change for Obama canisters
• Establish Account for collected funds
• Maintain required record keeping
• Seek sponsorships, in kind donations, etc.
Again, any suggestions or idea's welcome! our goal is 20k!