Prescription for a Healthy County Party

The points listed here are a brief outline of the goals, tasks and activities displayed by strong, active County Parties.

This prescription can be used to ‘jump-start’ a County Party to achieve new levels of success.

Meet regularly in non-election years, and monthly during election years.
Try to have 10 or more people attending every meeting.
Invite guest speakers and plan engaging activities at meetings to attract more attendees.
Plan social get-togethers for area Democrats in public venues to attract newcomers who want to meet like-minded people.
Attend meetings and events where under-represented people gather and learn what their concerns and motivations are and invite them to be involved.
Conduct voter registration actions at local schools and seek out politically-minded students for volunteering.

Draft an annual budget: Set goals for the year and make a plan for how to raise needed funds. People are often more willing to donate when they know how the money will be put to use.
Plan a new fundraising event each year, in addition to the tried-and-true barbecue or picnic. Try new ways to invite and attract new people.
Ask for donations at every meeting and gathering to cover costs and more, by offering a reminder that their contributions are the only means for funding party activities and supporting candidates.
Donate the maximum allowable amount to their candidates every year.

Recruit tech-savvy volunteers (sometimes a great leadership opportunity for high school and college students) to manage the County Party website and/or social media.
Understand the value of their website as a communication and organizing tool.
Actively push information to voters using all available media: their website, Facebook page, Twitter, letters-to-the-editor, local newspaper columns, printed materials, and email.
Make news by holding candidate forums and issues discussions, and posting the details in real time on Facebook and Twitter.
Have an active letter-writing campaign that collaborates on sending letters to local and statewide publications pro-actively or in response to letters written by political opponents.

Recruit and support Democratic candidates for local offices (partisan and nonpartisan) — commissions, school board, city council, etc. — to build the bench of candidates for higher office.
Understand the value of canvassing (by phone and door knocking) to identify the political leanings of voters listed in the VAN as “NAV/no data/unknown” to streamline future campaign efforts and reach all those prone to vote for Democratic candidates.
Build and regularly update a contact list of area volunteers and ask for their help in recruiting others.
Conduct voter registration drives in apartments, senior housing, high schools, colleges, and during public events to engage with new voters and promote the importance of political action.

Conduct regular phone banks and door knocks to reach voters and identify supporters throughout the election cycle.
Provide volunteers to other Democratic candidates and groups needing help with their canvassing efforts.
Understand the great value the VAN provides to local, legislative, statewide, and national campaigns for reaching supporters, potential volunteers and likely Democratic voters.
Emphasize the need for county officers and activists to acquire skills in using the VAN.
Educate candidates on the need to better target their voter contact efforts by using the VAN to easily find likely supporters and adding new information as it is gathered.

Look for and attend trainings that will increase the skills and success of your county party leaders and activists
Train activists in techniques for canvassing by phone and at the doors.
Ensure that officers, PCPs, and activists are well-versed in party rules and in Campaign Finance regulations.
Offer orientation sessions for new PCPs.
Provide training for volunteers doing VAN data entry.
Train volunteers in procedures used at meetings for credentials, resolutions, etc.

Take action to improve your group’s performance year to year, looking for ways to do things better. Or, try something entirely new!
Set concrete goals and deadlines for volunteer recruitment, money raised, website visits, Facebook ‘likes,’ etc. Celebrate success and then raise the bar higher!
Compete and win against Republicans in other ways when winning elections is difficult: a bigger and better booth at the County Fair, more lawn signs per square mile, best locations for meetings, better website, more letters-to-the-editor, etc.
Encourage leadership by rotating responsibilities among the officers and other volunteers to keep everyone engaged, energized and ready to tackle new challenges and opportunities.