Organizing & Messaging
We’re building community, canvassing in every district and looking for 2020 candidates now! For more details, check out our Organizing Strategy.
You are the most important messenger! You are the front line when it comes to representing Democrats and sharing our values. For tips on messaging, check out our Messaging Guide.
The best messaging evokes Democratic frames. What’s a frame? It’s our vision of the world we all want to live in. For specific language tips, check out our Framing Guide.
Quick tips:
- Never leave material inside mailboxes. Doing so breaks federal law.
- Put your best foot forward. Always be professional, even when you’re not on someone’s doorstep. Having a loud phone call as you walk between doors can be off-putting.
- Beware dogs. Shake fences/gates to see if there are any dogs. Have your foot ready at a screen door to block a dog that might leap out.
- You can and should skip houses that give you a bad feeling. You won’t be judged. Safety first!
- Go to the bathroom before you canvass and keep conversations on the porch. Never enter a residence even if the conversation is going well. Remember that you’re not just putting yourself at risk; we’re implicated in everything you do.
- When you hear a ‘Not interested,’ cordially thank them for their time and go. We want to be known for our civility.
- When you hear some interest, try to engage them further. We’re not just trying to make sure that people are on our side, we’re trying to recruit. Ask them if they’d be interested in becoming more involved. Ask if they have any questions for you. Ask them what first got them interested in this candidate/issue. If they have a question you can’t answer, give them contact information for the Rutland County Democrats and/or offer to take their information and have us follow up with an answer via email or phone.
Let us know what you think of all of this! We want to incorporate your feedback so that we’re being as effective as possible.
And thank you for everything you do to promote Democrats and the work that we do!