Brainstorming for Iowa Straw Poll
- Thread starter nayjevin
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tangent4ronpaul
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Get the local groups back. The population in IA is 3 million, or 1% of the population. We have 40,000 orphaned members from Meetups country wide. If a RP meetup starts within 50 miles of one of these peoples listed location, they get contacted by Meetup informing them of this. Done right, it wouldn't cost that much.
Currently there are 3 Meetups left in Iowa and it looks like about 150-175 members total.
At our peak, we had 24 Meetups in Iowa with ~1,000 members. I've got e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers for roughly half of the former organizers.
[Correction: we had 24 Meetups in IA, not 35. I had double entries for some to reflect assistant organizer info]
I'm not sure how many Iowans there are in C4L, but that site isn't really communication friendly.
The Iowa for Ron Paul 2012 Facebook group has 440 likes, presumably most live in Iowa, however being an early state a lot of them are not and just watching. We can post to that wall.
The IA4RONPAUL yahoo group looks like it was one of the ones Arron Bitterman deleted when he sabotaged/hijacked some of our groups there, but it's been re-created and we can probably get some people back by posting in the general RP group there.
I believe there was a IA group on MySpace, so maybe pick up some people there.
Yes, there is going to be some overlap from different sites, but it looks like we could kickstart things and get about 1,000 supporters back.
-t
Currently there are 3 Meetups left in Iowa and it looks like about 150-175 members total.
At our peak, we had 24 Meetups in Iowa with ~1,000 members. I've got e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers for roughly half of the former organizers.
[Correction: we had 24 Meetups in IA, not 35. I had double entries for some to reflect assistant organizer info]
I'm not sure how many Iowans there are in C4L, but that site isn't really communication friendly.
The Iowa for Ron Paul 2012 Facebook group has 440 likes, presumably most live in Iowa, however being an early state a lot of them are not and just watching. We can post to that wall.
The IA4RONPAUL yahoo group looks like it was one of the ones Arron Bitterman deleted when he sabotaged/hijacked some of our groups there, but it's been re-created and we can probably get some people back by posting in the general RP group there.
I believe there was a IA group on MySpace, so maybe pick up some people there.
Yes, there is going to be some overlap from different sites, but it looks like we could kickstart things and get about 1,000 supporters back.
-t
Last edited:
tangent4ronpaul
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Forgot a few - YAL, and others...
As an individual effort, people could search different sites for mention of "Ron Paul" and Iowa and try contacting them individually.
We need someplace for them to go, however.
if we set up a bunch of Meetups and meetup for Iowa organizers, we would have a network we can work with and organize with.
Rachel noted that that list of supporters she talked about is the campaigns list and they are not going to share it. if we are going to do anything in Iowa as to organizing, we are going to have to build our own network back up from the ashes of the old one.
This is actually a very dangerous precedent - as the campaign totally botched things last time, if they take communications with supporters, the grassroots are largely locked out. Lets face it - we were the campaign last time and to win, we need to be it again.
-t
As an individual effort, people could search different sites for mention of "Ron Paul" and Iowa and try contacting them individually.
We need someplace for them to go, however.
if we set up a bunch of Meetups and meetup for Iowa organizers, we would have a network we can work with and organize with.
Rachel noted that that list of supporters she talked about is the campaigns list and they are not going to share it. if we are going to do anything in Iowa as to organizing, we are going to have to build our own network back up from the ashes of the old one.
This is actually a very dangerous precedent - as the campaign totally botched things last time, if they take communications with supporters, the grassroots are largely locked out. Lets face it - we were the campaign last time and to win, we need to be it again.
-t
tangent4ronpaul
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These are the cities we had Meetups in. There were multiple groups in some cities. Largest Meetup was 164 Supporters, smallest was 4 supporters:
Des Moines
Iowa City
Davenport
Carroll
Cedar Falls
Cedar Rapids
Sioux City
Ames
Fairfield
Dubuque
Humbolt
Urbandale
Newton
Waterloo
Burlington
Hampton
Corning
Britt
Washington
Incidentally NH had 10 Meetups, SC 24 and UT 40. These numbers are probably a bit high due to duplicate entries to reflect assistant organizer info.
Des Moines
Iowa City
Davenport
Carroll
Cedar Falls
Cedar Rapids
Sioux City
Ames
Fairfield
Dubuque
Humbolt
Urbandale
Newton
Waterloo
Burlington
Hampton
Corning
Britt
Washington
Incidentally NH had 10 Meetups, SC 24 and UT 40. These numbers are probably a bit high due to duplicate entries to reflect assistant organizer info.
Last edited:
tangent4ronpaul
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At Nayjevins suggestion - BLIMP!
The Dark Knight
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LOL. put all the money you would spend on a blimp towards buses for the ames straw poll
a few ideas
first of all make a new email just for the purpose of individual or grassroots(GR) organizing, not only will it help keep your contacts sorted but can be advertizing in itself. for example, I just created [email protected] (hv for hudson valley NY) that way, they get a glimpse of the name before they read or delete it... although we are not spammers, it is a numbers game afterall.
secondly, those of us that are interested in working Iowa from afar should "gather" together online and coordinate our efforts. Its a GR effort, but let's not be wasteful or do double work....so somebody, please create a FB page or website or whatever.
and finally, we just brainstorm and go systematically through every large online "gathering" place that we can think of.
Craigslist, for example... we can create personal ads there with various messages as long as they fit within the TOS and do not turn people off...we want their vote afterall, right? or on the flipside, we can systematically respond to people who post ads there and work our way into conversations...don't just hit them with a crass "hey vote for RP!" this will turn people off...start off with a nice comment about something that they are selling "hey,nice lawn tractor...." or you could grab their attention with something more provocative, but it must also be enticing....such as "how would you like a nice 32% raise?" and when they ask what exactly you are talking about, then you can explain about RP's proposal to end income tax and how it could realistically be done...by super-downsizing our overseas military commitments...etc etc...you get the idea.
so the online coordinator can direct these efforts, so that farmer bob doesnt get the same five comments "hey nice lawn tractor..."
and thats just Craigslist... then there's match.com same concept as above, but it can be a little more free lance. It wouldn't need the same bean-counting direction as a site such as CL with it's rigid categories, but should still have some kind of organizational structure so that there's a feedback of info and we can maximize our efforts. Perhaps there's a pickup line that just hooks Iowans in like crazy,for example. There should be a central online coordinator who can disseminate that info.....a site like Match, just needs a few good looking chatty people to make profiles there, and of course respond to Iowans who are already on that site. With all the college age people in the R3VOLution, there should be enough volunteers who can do this, and who knows maybe they make some personal relations this way, a side bene. So break out the bikinis girls, and work more on those 6packs guys...
I would caution however, to never lie or misrepresent yourself or our cause in anyway...we have the moral high ground. Let's keep it that way.
first of all make a new email just for the purpose of individual or grassroots(GR) organizing, not only will it help keep your contacts sorted but can be advertizing in itself. for example, I just created [email protected] (hv for hudson valley NY) that way, they get a glimpse of the name before they read or delete it... although we are not spammers, it is a numbers game afterall.
secondly, those of us that are interested in working Iowa from afar should "gather" together online and coordinate our efforts. Its a GR effort, but let's not be wasteful or do double work....so somebody, please create a FB page or website or whatever.
and finally, we just brainstorm and go systematically through every large online "gathering" place that we can think of.
Craigslist, for example... we can create personal ads there with various messages as long as they fit within the TOS and do not turn people off...we want their vote afterall, right? or on the flipside, we can systematically respond to people who post ads there and work our way into conversations...don't just hit them with a crass "hey vote for RP!" this will turn people off...start off with a nice comment about something that they are selling "hey,nice lawn tractor...." or you could grab their attention with something more provocative, but it must also be enticing....such as "how would you like a nice 32% raise?" and when they ask what exactly you are talking about, then you can explain about RP's proposal to end income tax and how it could realistically be done...by super-downsizing our overseas military commitments...etc etc...you get the idea.
so the online coordinator can direct these efforts, so that farmer bob doesnt get the same five comments "hey nice lawn tractor..."
and thats just Craigslist... then there's match.com same concept as above, but it can be a little more free lance. It wouldn't need the same bean-counting direction as a site such as CL with it's rigid categories, but should still have some kind of organizational structure so that there's a feedback of info and we can maximize our efforts. Perhaps there's a pickup line that just hooks Iowans in like crazy,for example. There should be a central online coordinator who can disseminate that info.....a site like Match, just needs a few good looking chatty people to make profiles there, and of course respond to Iowans who are already on that site. With all the college age people in the R3VOLution, there should be enough volunteers who can do this, and who knows maybe they make some personal relations this way, a side bene. So break out the bikinis girls, and work more on those 6packs guys...
I would caution however, to never lie or misrepresent yourself or our cause in anyway...we have the moral high ground. Let's keep it that way.
tangent4ronpaul
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ahem... The cart before horse issue....
nayjevin
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Ron has opened a campaign HQ in Ankeny IA.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?291376-Ron-Paul-First-to-Open-Campaign-HQ-in-Ankeny-Iowa
We will learn soon what the official strategy will be, (likely GOTV and phonebanking at minimum) and can adapt our grassroots actions to pick up where that leaves off.
I'll provide more input when I have some more time... keep those ideas comin!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?291376-Ron-Paul-First-to-Open-Campaign-HQ-in-Ankeny-Iowa
We will learn soon what the official strategy will be, (likely GOTV and phonebanking at minimum) and can adapt our grassroots actions to pick up where that leaves off.
I'll provide more input when I have some more time... keep those ideas comin!
nayjevin
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Suggestions for individuals:
- audit personal strengths / weaknesses
- develop plan of action in light of this
- coordinate with like minds (this may mean friends, others who have a similar plan of action, the official campaign, other grassroots projects, or acting alone)
- determine area of operation with maximum effectiveness in mind
Now for some details:
- audit personal strengths / weaknesses
Are you a good speaker? Writer? Are you tenacious and determined? Do you understand technology? Do you see the big picture? Are you able to take a simple task and focus on it and it only for long periods of time? Are you skilled at organizing people? Are you skilled at organizing ideas? Do you have marketing experience? Are you a fundraiser? Do you have a venue for spreading the message (storefront, church, facebook, t-shirt company)?
- develop plan of action in light of this
Determine your skills and available resources, make a plan of action that suits them.
Perhaps you are completely broke and cannot talk to people. There is still a place for you. Perhaps you cannot and will not follow instructions. Perhaps you have no friends. There is still a place for you. Perhaps you frighten people. There's still a place for you
- coordinate with like minds (this may mean friends, others who have a similar plan of action, the official campaign, other grassroots projects, or acting alone)
Find people you will be able to work with. The official campaign will likely always be looking for people to help with GOTV efforts and phonebanking. From my experience these are often very friendly and gregarious folk, and helping here is striking the root from the perspective of tried and true campaigning tactics.
There may also be some grassroots efforts in your area that have a plan of action ready to go which suits your interests and skills.
You may also feel uncomfortable in groups or feel that talking to people does not suit you. Is there something you can do on your own? Are there people of like mind in your area you are comfortable working with? Is there anyone on the forum with whom you'd like to work? Contact these people and start brainstorming.
Or work alone! Create videos, talk to neighbors and get out the vote in your home area. Create what you can create and find someone to help you get the word out to the people who can use it. Message me and I can help you find folks who are good at this.
- determine area of operation with maximum effectiveness in mind
Iowa is hugely important, because of its 'First in Nation' status. Results in early states set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Therefore effort toward wins in these states has a greater effect than wins in the later states.
That said, your proximity to the place you put effort is a consideration. If one were in Florida, it might be determined that South Carolina is a better place to travel to. If one were in Belgium, traveling to Iowa would have a great cost. Any effort would need to overcome this cost to be better than working locally, or working over the Internet.
====================================
I went to New Hampshire in 2007 with Operation Live Free or Die, an effort to bring supporters from all over to the early primary state to help win. Our efforts were not fruitless, the networking and personal experience was great, the showing was impressive, the purely marketing 'touches' generated in the FSP state for Ron Paul and liberty in general were many. However, had I spent the same amount of time working to ensure financial stability and generating contacts in my local area, I would be alot further along today toward victory in my home county than I am. In sum I'm glad I went once, wouldn't discourage anyone from doing something similar themselves, but wouldn't go again myself.
Resources toward such a project must be balanced with a consideration of what could be done locally instead. And this all should be balanced with how important your home precinct is vs. any precinct in Iowa, or another early state - given the nature of the current electoral calendar and process.
=============
So, where are you going to work, and what are you going to do? If you choose to focus on Iowa, because of your proximity or ability to use the internet to negate distance constraints, develop a plan of action with all this in mind. Try to find others who share a passion for this plan of action - that might be one other forum member, several of your meetup group members, some larger grassroots campaign coordinated over the internet, or the official campaign itself.
- audit personal strengths / weaknesses
- develop plan of action in light of this
- coordinate with like minds (this may mean friends, others who have a similar plan of action, the official campaign, other grassroots projects, or acting alone)
- determine area of operation with maximum effectiveness in mind
Now for some details:
- audit personal strengths / weaknesses
Are you a good speaker? Writer? Are you tenacious and determined? Do you understand technology? Do you see the big picture? Are you able to take a simple task and focus on it and it only for long periods of time? Are you skilled at organizing people? Are you skilled at organizing ideas? Do you have marketing experience? Are you a fundraiser? Do you have a venue for spreading the message (storefront, church, facebook, t-shirt company)?
- develop plan of action in light of this
Determine your skills and available resources, make a plan of action that suits them.
Perhaps you are completely broke and cannot talk to people. There is still a place for you. Perhaps you cannot and will not follow instructions. Perhaps you have no friends. There is still a place for you. Perhaps you frighten people. There's still a place for you
- coordinate with like minds (this may mean friends, others who have a similar plan of action, the official campaign, other grassroots projects, or acting alone)
Find people you will be able to work with. The official campaign will likely always be looking for people to help with GOTV efforts and phonebanking. From my experience these are often very friendly and gregarious folk, and helping here is striking the root from the perspective of tried and true campaigning tactics.
There may also be some grassroots efforts in your area that have a plan of action ready to go which suits your interests and skills.
You may also feel uncomfortable in groups or feel that talking to people does not suit you. Is there something you can do on your own? Are there people of like mind in your area you are comfortable working with? Is there anyone on the forum with whom you'd like to work? Contact these people and start brainstorming.
Or work alone! Create videos, talk to neighbors and get out the vote in your home area. Create what you can create and find someone to help you get the word out to the people who can use it. Message me and I can help you find folks who are good at this.
- determine area of operation with maximum effectiveness in mind
Iowa is hugely important, because of its 'First in Nation' status. Results in early states set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Therefore effort toward wins in these states has a greater effect than wins in the later states.
That said, your proximity to the place you put effort is a consideration. If one were in Florida, it might be determined that South Carolina is a better place to travel to. If one were in Belgium, traveling to Iowa would have a great cost. Any effort would need to overcome this cost to be better than working locally, or working over the Internet.
====================================
I went to New Hampshire in 2007 with Operation Live Free or Die, an effort to bring supporters from all over to the early primary state to help win. Our efforts were not fruitless, the networking and personal experience was great, the showing was impressive, the purely marketing 'touches' generated in the FSP state for Ron Paul and liberty in general were many. However, had I spent the same amount of time working to ensure financial stability and generating contacts in my local area, I would be alot further along today toward victory in my home county than I am. In sum I'm glad I went once, wouldn't discourage anyone from doing something similar themselves, but wouldn't go again myself.
Resources toward such a project must be balanced with a consideration of what could be done locally instead. And this all should be balanced with how important your home precinct is vs. any precinct in Iowa, or another early state - given the nature of the current electoral calendar and process.
=============
So, where are you going to work, and what are you going to do? If you choose to focus on Iowa, because of your proximity or ability to use the internet to negate distance constraints, develop a plan of action with all this in mind. Try to find others who share a passion for this plan of action - that might be one other forum member, several of your meetup group members, some larger grassroots campaign coordinated over the internet, or the official campaign itself.
Last edited:
Dave Aiello
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We have a good idea where they're leaving off.
While I agree, I will disagree with your inference that bottom-up also defines the best way to motivate 5000 Ron Paul supporters to get to the Iowa straw poll.
nayjevin
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Where is that and based on what evidence?
Why is that and based on what evidence? (I already asked this in your thread and no one provided any)
Dave Aiello
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Not sure how this is hard for you to wrap your head around. If you don't have a means to effectively herd 5000 sheep, they will not herd themselves. You are inferring that we repeat our efforts from 2008 and expect different results. No buses, bottom-up, 5th place. They call it insanity when you do the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome.
nayjevin
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By your definition then, you are acting insane - as I have had to clarify that I am not against buses, and not against planning -- many, many times.
I have debunked all of your reasoning, if it can be called that. I did so in a thread you began, and you've admitted to not reading it. That is likely why you're having trouble.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?289316-Update-Just-spoke-to-bus-companies
Our supporters are not sheep. Some will be better at creating plans of action, some better at following them with tenacity. But neither type is better than the other - the only important matter is the degree to which they are informed and active.
nayjevin
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Lack of buses can't be said to be the direct cause of a fifth place finish. Not having enough voters at the straw poll is the reason.
If we change nothing we will do better than last time - because we have more supporters.
It is the person who wishes to lead who has the burden of proof. Show us, RonPaulNation (not here, but in your thread) why we should follow you and your planning.
If we change nothing we will do better than last time - because we have more supporters.
It is the person who wishes to lead who has the burden of proof. Show us, RonPaulNation (not here, but in your thread) why we should follow you and your planning.
Sweman
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That's an extraordinary statement, that Ron Paul supporters are herded sheep. I don't think I've ever heard that before, and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for joining the movement.
FriedChicken
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I even read that in my Rudy voice. lol.
Would it be a good idea to form commitees or focus groups to get some of these ideas off the ground? I'd be thrilled to help with a lot of these ideas but I don't want to re-invent the wheel and if others have already started (say getting meet-ups reactivated) I don't want to be working behind them but with them in an organized way. I won't be able to travel to Iowa so I'm really wanting to help in as many non-local ways as possible.
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