Volunteering for the campaign

[FriedChicken]

I noticed that they specifically have "phoning from home" as one of the main areas to volunteer. I'm impressed by this.
Has anyone here been in touch with any volunteer coordinators yet, perhaps in the early states?

I had more time in 2012 than I do this go round, so I was a little more antsy to get started doing stuff. But I like how, it appears anyway, Rand's campaign is a little more on top of utilizing volunteer labor.
When I signed up for Ron's campaign I remember being very disappointed that they didn't put me to work until MUCH later - and that was after I had decided to stop waiting on them and join up with grassroots efforts.

Do we have any sort of idea yet how well this campaign is communicating with its volunteers?
I think if Rand can channel an ounce of the energy that was at Ron's disposal and funnel it into highly productive and organized ventures it could be a big difference.

Especially if he finds a way to make volunteers who live in unimportant states like Indiana, as I do, productive members of the team despite their geographic locations.

 

[francisco]

I noticed that they specifically have "phoning from home" as one of the main areas to volunteer. I'm impressed by this.
Has anyone here been in touch with any volunteer coordinators yet, perhaps in the early states?
...

...Do we have any sort of idea yet how well this campaign is communicating with its volunteers? ...

I think if Rand can channel an ounce of the energy that was at Ron's disposal and funnel it into highly productive and organized ventures it could be a big difference.

Especially if he finds a way to make volunteers who live in unimportant states like Indiana, as I do, productive members of the team despite their geographic locations.

I, too, filled out the volunteer forms and I'm anxious to get started.

We need to keep each other updated as information comes in

 

[Xenliad]

I signed up for the phone banking. How do they keep trolls from sneaking in?

 

[KCIndy]

I signed up for the phone banking. How do they keep trolls from sneaking in?

Good question. I can only guess that random calls might be monitored, especially those of new volunteers who are just beginning to make calls. But it's a great point. I hope someone is watching out for exactly that sort of thing.

 

[orenbus]

Side question: Out of curiosity, does anyone know if prior to 2008 there were campaigns inviting volunteers to phone "from home" as opposed to from a campaign office, or did the "from home" part become a new development in political campaigning?

 

[JohnnyBizzoy]

Do we have any sort of idea yet how well this campaign is communicating with its volunteers?

I would also like to know when and if I can expect to hear back from the Rand Paul campaign. I joined this forum just to ask this question because I've been combing through internet links for days trying to find out information about his campaign operations here in Dallas/North Texas, where I live. I signed up to volunteer on his page and didn't hear back for a few days. Then I signed up again with a more "resume-like" entry, and I heard back instantly, and they basically just emailed me once and that was it. Then I gave a $25 contribution, and now I get emails every other day asking for more contributions, which I will dole out slowly and in $10 increments, as I am not a rich man. So I know the fundraising efforts are in full swing, but what about the door to door, phone from home, and other street-level coordination? I've got a lot of experience supervising folks, and coordinating large groups of volunteers for shows, festivals, and other live events. I want to be more active, I am tired of waiting. Can anyone help me figure out how to get started with his campaign? Or is it just not up and running yet to even make use of the time and effort I am willing to give it? Because if it is not, I CAN GET IT UP AND RUNNING. So, any help or guidance on this would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[FriedChicken]

so far I haven't heard from the campaign other than news and donation stuff.

I wouldn't expect to see big volunteer efforts going on yet because you don't want to win the soft support/peak too early.
however it seems a waist to not put the labor towards something.
even if its phone banking for general election swing states (saving Iowa and new Hampshire for later) to try to help push his numbers up against Hillary.
( which will help with the nomination).

I don't know. the campaign has just started so it's a little soon to get impatient.
I just really hope that they have a great volunteer program - not being critical but it needs to be way better than 2008/12

 

[orenbus]

One thing to remember is (and this is a lesson learned with bitter tears) that the campaign doesn't go anywhere without a win in Iowa or New Hampshire or both.

Right now the official campaign's main focus is going to be on raising funds and funneling resources into those two states as it should be, and of course getting Rand Paul as much face time with the locals through retail campaigning. I get what you guys are saying and in 08' I was saying the same thing, but the reality is clear. For those of us that are located in Super Tuesday states and scheduled after we'll have to fend for ourselves for a while and see if the green light is given after the early states numbers come in. At that point you can expect engagement and a mad scramble by the official campaign, respected organizers by state and precinct would ideally be identified by you guys in those areas. Until then the best thing to do is build your local network of like minded supporters, figure out what it takes to get Rand Paul on your state ballot, do the local politicking thing, try to work on a shoe-string budget so that most of our focus stays on NH/Iowa, but be ready with some semblance of a basic infrastructure that you have built so it's easier once you are ready to go full focus when the call comes, until then you are the grassroots.

 

[FriedChicken]

makes good sense for on the ground work.
I definitely don't think the campaign should do anything in my state, but it seems productive to have willing people in late states phone bank or some other effort to help with winning early primaries.

 

[randpaul2016]

waiting for them to sell little cards for door to door like Ron Paul did

 

[rich34]

One thing to remember is (and this is a lesson learned with bitter tears) that the campaign doesn't go anywhere without a win in Iowa or New Hampshire or both.

Right now the official campaign's main focus is going to be on raising funds and funneling resources into those two states as it should be, and of course getting Rand Paul as much face time with the locals through retail campaigning. I get what you guys are saying and in 08' I was saying the same thing, but the reality is clear. For those of us that are located in Super Tuesday states and scheduled after we'll have to fend for ourselves for a while and see if the green light is given after the early states numbers come in. At that point you can expect engagement and a mad scramble by the official campaign, respected organizers by state and precinct would ideally be identified by you guys in those areas. Until then the best thing to do is build your local network of like minded supporters, figure out what it takes to get Rand Paul on your state ballot, do the local politicking thing, try to work on a shoe-string budget so that most of our focus stays on NH/Iowa, but be ready with some semblance of a basic infrastructure that you have built so it's easier once you are ready to go full focus when the call comes, until then you are the grassroots.

It would make since though that if you did make calls to swing states like Colorado and have stronger polling against Hillary you could strenghten the perception in early states that he's the strongest/best suited candiate to beat Hillary or whoever it may be.

 

[KCIndy]

Side question: Out of curiosity, does anyone know if prior to 2008 there were campaigns inviting volunteers to phone "from home" as opposed to from a campaign office, or did the "from home" part become a new development in political campaigning?

To the best of my knowledge and recollection, the "phone from home" thing was actually started by the Ron Paul campaign for the 2012 election cycle. At least, I don't remember it in '08 and I was pretty active in that one as well.

And I don't remember ANY other campaign using it previously.

 

[orenbus]

To the best of my knowledge and recollection, the "phone from home" thing was actually started by the Ron Paul campaign for the 2012 election cycle. At least, I don't remember it in '08 and I was pretty active in that one as well.

And I don't remember ANY other campaign using it previously.

No there was definetly an 08' one, it ended up being controversial because the grassroots first started building their own systems which suppoters were using. Then the official campaign came in late with one and indirectly suggested the organizers of the others should stop running them.

Someone help me here, I'm getting old. Operation..... (starts with an S)

 

[FriedChicken]

No there was definetly an 08' one, it ended up being controversial because the grassroots first started building their own systems which suppoters were using. Then the official campaign came in late with one and indirectly suggested the organizers of the others should stop running them.

Someone help me here, I'm getting old. Operation..... (starts with an S)

lol, that's exactly how I would describe what happened in 2012 too.

I prefer working with the official campaign as much as I can, but to be honest I thought 2012 could have utilized their volunteer army so much better.
there were so many people, many of them had great skills, who were anxious to help and weren't given any jobs till AFTER they organized themselves and were told to abandon the projects they had already funded and had already started working on.

I would think collecting data and doing polls would be valuable this early on.
finding out who their top two candidates are, if they plan to caucus, what issues are most important, if they have plans or have ever attended Ames before.

if the campaign thinks its worth the money maybe ask if they're interested in receiving an info pack on where Rand is on critical issues.


in 2012 their training was non existent. I think it would be great to have an online training course you have to complete before being involved in the program.

 

[orenbus]

Okay it was killing me, had to go back through my old emails.

Was called Operation Spooner.

It was a project from grassroots based out of Texas prior to the 07' Iowa Straw Poll.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?5537-Operation-Spooner-Iowa-Outreach

 

[randpaul2016]

Do you need a list of your neighborhood Voters (called a Precinct List)? Please let me know. We are beta testing the new system with the phone banking and walking lists. Make sure to get Rand Paul Super Brochures to pass out. If you have questions, please call Curt at 941-896-7770 or go to ForeverFree.com

brochures for door to door!!!
http://www.foreverfree.com/