MCDP Precinct Organization Training 2012

TRAINING FOR

MARCH 6

PRECINCT MEETINGS

CHARLOTTE, NC

Mecklenburg County Democratic Party

Agenda

Precinct Packages

Precinct Meeting Instructions

NC Democratic National Convention Delegate Selection Process

Meeting Tips

Important Upcoming Dates


Contents of Precinct Package

Precinct Meeting Instructions

Precinct Officer duties

Precinct Meeting signs

Meeting Agenda

Form to record meeting attendees and certify meeting

Letters from Gov. Perdue and NCDP Chair, David Parker

Letter from Organizing for America

Neighborhood Headquarters program information

Instructions on “how to become a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention”

List of Active Democrats in Your Precinct

Partial list of Democratic Voters in your precinct


Precinct Meeting Details

When Must Meeting Be Held?

Must occur on Tue, Mar 6 and begin no earlier than 6:00 pm and no later than 7:30 pm

Is an alternative date available?

If a quorum of 5 registered democrats is not reached at scheduled Mar 6 meeting or due to inclement weather, meeting can be rescheduled for Sat, Mar 10 with meeting being held between 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Where can meeting be held?

At the polling place for that precinct or at another public location approved in advance by the county chair with notice posted at the polling place.



What happens if a meeting is not held on Mar 6 or Mar 10 or a quorum (minimum number of democrats necessary to hold a precinct meeting) not reached?

Delegates will not be recognized at the county convention

Can multiple precincts meet at the same location?

Must be agreed to in advance by the county Chair, and by the precinct chair or acting precinct chair of the affected precincts.


Tips to Reach a Quorum

What are some tips to reach a quorum?

Contact democrats included in your precinct package by phone and email if you have it

Make follow-up calls 1 to 2 days before the meeting date to remind them

Call people using phonevites.com with 25 free calls.

Ask the people you contact to contact 5 more people in your precinct

Try to get at least 10 people committed to attend to ensure you end up with 5+ people

Contact democrats in your neighborhood to attend

Collect email addresses from meeting attendees to continue communication



What occurs at the meeting?

The election of active Democrats from the precinct as delegates to the county convention

You can elect up to 2 times as many delegates as the votes you have for the county convention (i.e. you have 6 votes then you can elect 12 delegates)

Elected delegates don’t have to be present at the meeting

If you elect less than your precinct votes, you will lose votes in a weighted elected

Proposing and adopting resolutions for consideration at the county convention.

Election of officers “if” there are any officer vacancies

Collection of Sustaining Fund


What is the Sustaining Fund Used For?

Each county has a goal in this annual program to contribute $0.10 for every vote cast in the county for Governor in the last gubernatorial election. Contributions to the

Sustaining Fund helps NCDP to do the following:

Employ State Party staff in critical areas of communications, political outreach and data management

Communicate our message to the public and rapidly respond to Republican attacks

Maintain and update the State Party website and support local county party websites

Provide our county parties with an updated, online voter file

Recruit and train candidates

Provide support and expertise to local parties

Protect voter rights

In previous years, MCDP like other larger counties (i.e. Wake) have kept their sustaining fund to help operate their offices and other expenses

MCDP Needs support in addition to NCDP


Donating to the MCDP

The MCDP is asking each precinct to raise $1,200…above and beyond the sustaining fund

What have previous donations to the MCDP been used for?

Pay for rent, staff

Basic Office Operations, keeping office open 6 – 7 days a week near election time

Coordinated Campaign efforts (manager, lunches for poll workers, radio ads, et)

Helped win 22 out of 25 seats in Mecklenburg County in 2011

City council was swept by a 9-2 margin Democrat to Republican.

Unprecedented endorsement in the school board race made us successful in electing two Democrats at large

In 2011 reached 24,000 doors, made 35,356 calls and distributed 67,000 voter guides

Ways to raise $1,200

Ask for additional donations at March 6 Meeting

12 precinct members donate $100 each

Host a House Party

$20 in 2012 (Give $20 for 12 months)


Unorganized Precincts

Can unorganized precincts organize during Mar 6 meeting?

An acting chair must be named by the county chair, Aisha Dew, in advance of the meeting

A location for meeting must be publicized

The acting precinct chair shall preside over the special meeting

The Meeting must have a quorum of 5 democrats

What can occur at this meeting

1. A meeting must first be held to elect Officers (Chair, vice-chair, secretary/treasurer); can be done on March 6

If held on March 6, that meeting must be adjourned before the official delegate selection meeting can begin

You will need to have a separate set of sign in sheets and meeting certification for this meeting

2. Second meeting will follow the agenda in the precinct package


Tips for a Successful Meeting

1. Start your meetings, presentations and training sessions with an ice-breaker or warm-up activity.

2. Never underestimate the power of food at a meeting. Food relaxes the atmosphere, helps make people feel comfortable, helps people sustain positive energy levels and builds the camaraderie of the team.

3. Organize the physical environment so people are attentive to the meeting content. Make sure there are seats for all attendees. Make sure visuals are visible and that people can hear.

4. Formulate the agenda carefully.

5. Start on time and end on time. Allot each speaker the amount of time necessary to cover their topic. Hold them to their time limit - nicely.


Important Convention Dates

March 6 Precinct Meetings

March 17 NCDP Fundraiser

April 13 MCDP Fundraiser

April 14 County Conventions

April 27 Deadline for filing Notice of Candidacy forms for district level delegate or alternate

May 19 District Conventions

June 1 Deadline for filing Notice of Candidacy forms for at-large and/or party leader/elected official delegate or alternate positions

June 16 State Convention in Raleigh. Mandatory meeting of national delegates and alternates immediately following the State Convention

September 3-7 Democratic National Convention, Time Warner Arena, Charlotte, NC


Important Election Dates

2012 PRIMARY ELECTION

March 19 - First Day Absentee (By Mail)

April 13 - Deadline for Primary Registration

April 19 - First Day Absentee (ONE STOP)

May 1 - Last Day Absentee (By-Mail)

May 5 - Last Day Absentee (ONE STOP)

May 7 - Last Day to Return Absentee Ballots

May 8 - PRIMARY ELECTION

June 26 - 2nd Primary (if necessary)

2012 GENERAL ELECTION

September 7 - First Day Absentee (By Mail)

October 12 - Deadline for Registration

October 18 - First Day Absentee (ONE STOP)

October 30 - Last Day Absentee (By Mail)

November 3 Last Day Absentee (ONE STOP)

November 5 5:00 PM Last Day to Return Absentee Ballots

Tuesday, November 6 6:30 AM-7:30 PM GENERAL ELECTION


MCDP Precinct Organization Training 2012

Documents

Transcript of MCDP Precinct Organization Training 2012