If you want to see STAR Voting used in your area, building local momentum is the first step.

Please email us to get started!

Local meetups and official chapter meetings can be as small or as elaborate as the organizer wants. Want to just meet with a couple of friends at a coffee shop and brainstorm? That counts! 

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

 

Pregame:

Questions to ask yourself before you get started:

  1. Do you have a short list of interested people? Staff also will have a larger email and phone list of people in your area. 
  2. Are you already volunteering and plugged in? There are lots of ways to help with action items you can do solo or on our committees. Having the lay of the land is important before you start onboarding others. 
  3. Are you committed to following up with the project over the next six months at least? Starting a chapter requires a handful of committed people who will stick with it and keep critical mass.  

 

Host your first meet up!

STEP 1: Plan your event. 

Find a location, decide what you'd like to cover in the meeting or meetup, and draft a rough agenda.

  • Location, location, location: If you're going remote then we have a zoom link for you. If you want to meet in person, pick a space that's not too big or too small, where people will be comfortable and able to hear each other. A good space will work with a handful of people but has room for up to a dozen. Somewhere inviting where you can get a few tables together or reserve a private room is ideal. Libraries often have spaces that are good for larger groups. People's homes are another great option.
  • Focus: Meetings can be focused and action oriented or casual community building educational experiences. Know your audience and tailor your event's vibe based on the people you think are most likely to come. Make sure people know if food and drinks will be available or not, or if the event is a potluck. 
  • Create an agenda: Use our agenda template and pick a couple items from the list below to add to it.  
    • Go around and have everyone say their name and answer a prompt question, like what inspired them to get involved.
    • Hold an "Intro to STAR Voting" talk
    • Have an orientation on what the Equal Vote Coalition is and what we do
    • Decide if you'd like to make this a regular monthly or bi-weekly meeting
    • Show one of our videos
    • Host a demo election using bettervoting.com
    • Go over intro level action items like writing your legislators and how to write an op-ed
    • Bring in a guest speaker
    • Introduce the ambassador program where members outreach to local groups
    • Talk about chapter goals and potentially hold a vote to become an official chapter
    • Give people opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, and help make plans 
    • Plan an outreach campaign; emailing groups, politicians, or influencers
    • gauge interest around launching a ballot initiative.
    • Take some pictures in the middle of your event when the most people are there! 

 

STEP 2: Create the Event Listing

Create a Google Calendar event for your first meeting, write the event description, and invite [email protected] to attend. Send [email protected] an email and include the event photo or cover image if you have one. We can also help finalize the event description at this point. Staff will give you editing permissions for the "Equal Vote" Google Calendar and as soon as that's done you'll be able to update your event to be hosted on the "Equal Vote" calendar. Doing this will automatically make your event show up on the Equal Vote website calendar page as well. (There is a slight delay.)

 

STEP 3: Invite Guests!

Staff will add the event to our website's events page. Then, if desired, staff can see if we have other people signed up in your area who you'd like to invite and add their emails to the google calendar event. You'll also want to invite your friends, family, neighbors, and people from other local groups or organizations. When you invite people, ask them if they have ideas of where to find other like minded people. Build your network!

 

STEP 4: Advertise!

A good event is planned and advertised at least 2 weeks out. More is better. Here's an ideal outreach schedule:

  • 1 month before: Share your event on social media and email people with the invite. Invite others to help organize or plan the event if needed. Talk to people you see in person and tell them about your event! Calling, texting, and talking to people in person is always better than a general email or text blast. You can also cross post it on social platforms like meetup.com or even list it in your newspapers public calendar depending how big you want to go.
  • 2 weeks before: Share your event on social media and email people with a reminder. Hopefully other groups or organizers will also share your event. Tell people about your event in person!
  • 1 week before: Text, call or email people individually so you are sure you are getting through. People are so inundated with volunteer opportunities, make sure people know this one is a personal invitation and not a form letter. Post about your event. 
  • A day or 2 before: Text reminders. Ask your friends and co-hosts to come early and help you set up so that you aren't the only one there when your guests arrive.

Remember, more is more, but less is better than nothing!

 

Make it Official:

So your group decided to become an Equal Vote chapter? We've developed a five point chapter leadership model that our chapter leaders and steering committee can use to set up good systems and division of labor.

 

Follow up with another event:

Events: Host a demo election, a presentation on voting methods, a candidate forum, a fundraiser, a debate, or a panel discussion.

Actions: Show up and raise the issue at a local town hall, city hall meeting, or at your public county meetings. Look for events with a public comment period on the agenda. Set up a table at another group's event, at a farmers market, or at a street fair and talk to people.

Meetups: Host a potluck, steering committee meeting, video screening, or mini-zine making party!

Mini-zine Making Parties: Mini-zines are our core handout. To date we've passed out around 20k in one on one conversations. Our STAR Voting mini-zines are about the size of a business card and are an 8 page mini-magazine with everything you need to know in a nutshell. Two pieces of paper, held together with a single staple, zines are fun to make, and fun to read. Messaging made with love! You can order bundles of zines ready-made from us here, or follow the instructions here to make your own zines if you want to have a ton on hand for passing out at protests, rallys, or in person events going forward.

People often go away from meetings hosted by political groups feeling like they didn't do anything that will actually make a difference. Never again! Any boring old meeting can easily become an engaging action where volunteers can show up and make a difference right away. Just break out the zine-making kit!