Grassroots Actions

Jump To... Get Out The Vote! How To Find Events Festival Booths Setting Up The Booth Parades Are Great! Build A Float

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Get Out The Vote!

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Are you looking for efficient, cost effective, and fun ways to put your candidate in front of the public? Festivals, fairs, shows and parades are great campaign venues! Festival-goers are generally unhurried, approachable, and willing to give any vendor a moment of their time. By attending shows and festivals you can get your message to thousands of people for a fairly modest expense. In Lexington County, SC we have reached an estimated 70,000 voters in person at a cost of approximately $350, plus literature. And we've picked up enthusiastic volunteers in the process.

How To Find Events

Go online. Search for "festivals" and "parades" in your city or state. Get a calendar of community events by contacting your local Chamber of Commerce or checking their website. Pay attention to billboards. Be on the lookout for gun shows, home school conventions, veteran events, state fairs, and any other public event that draws a crowd. Wherever the crowds are, we should show up too!


Festival Booths

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A booth provides a great way to interact with voters in a comfortable atmosphere that invades neither their time nor private space. Booths offer an opportunity to meet voters, give them information, form a relationship, and collect contact information from which you might build a volunteer base that can become the heartbeat of your local grassroots campaign. Booth reservation generally requires pre-registration and a fee. Sign up early to assure yourself a space and avoid late fees.

Setting Up The Booth

You will need:

• A large, attention-grabbing sign or banner that sends your main message
• Literature, bumper stickers, yard signs See http://baldwin08.com/Get-Stuff!.cfm
• Ink pen and sign-up sheet to collect contact info
• Tables--the 6ft. folding banquet tables work well
• Table cloths that reach the ground (to hide your personal effects and inventory)
• A couple collapsible chairs
• At least two people to set up, break down, and man the booth. If you have a parade and booth combination event, be sure one person remains at the booth during the parade as well as immediately after to handle the post-parade "rush."
• For outdoor events-you'll want a covering of some kind to protect you and your visitors from sun and rain. Someone you know may be able to lend you a tent/canopy such as the ones pictured here: http://www.hutshop.com/ or http://www.acecanopy.com/garden-canopies.html (These are examples only, not referrals to these specific companies.) However…..if you cannot get your hands on a tent or tables, you can still deliver your message with a great sign, a TV table and chair, a beach umbrella, and a bunch of fliers.

Optional but helpful in attracting "shoppers":

• A laptop (if electricity is available) for playing YouTubes or DVD's such as "Freedom to Fascism" Offer a list of DVD's or YouTube sites, Chuck Baldwin websites etc.
• T-shirts to sell (contact: patricia@sc-constitution.com if you're interested in selling adult size "Stop the North American Union" t-shirts)
• A bowl of wrapped candy placed out of reach of tots or kids in strollers

Wind is your worst enemy at outdoor events, so be sure your tent is anchored securely and your papers are clipped together or otherwise weighed down. Check to make sure your booth presents no tripping hazards or head bonkers. When you've finished setting up your booth, step back and see how it looks to those approaching from any direction. Signs to attract attention should be large and easily read. Do not make people work to figure out what you're there for. If they do not stop, you have about three seconds to deliver your message as they walk by. Make it count.


Parades Are Great!

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A parade entry can consist of as few as four adults: one driver, one rider with kids, and two walkers to hand out literature. Participation in a parade may-but generally does not-involve a fee. Early registration will likely get you a spot closer to the front where folks are still fresh and paying attention. If you miss the registration deadline, you can often still join the parade just by showing up.

Build A Float

A float can be as simple as a small wagon or bicycle, a car, truck, or truck and trailer. The main objective for a float is getting your candidate's name out in front of the community in an entertaining and personable manner. It needn't be elaborate to be effective! Use whatever patriotic decorations your people already have on hand, or look for inexpensive décor at your local party, craft or dollar store. Plan your decorating scheme, and arrive at the staging area in plenty of time to assemble your float.

Following is the list of materials used for the float in the attached picture:

• Truck
• Trailer
• 17 straw bales--$5.00 each at farm supply or hardware store
• 1 roll of blue plastic for the skirt (great for hiding an old trailer!)--$10.00 at party store
• 3 packages of red fringe--$2.99 each at party store
• 3 packages of banner--$2.99 each at party store
• clear cellulose packing size tape--$4.00 at office supply store
• sparkly stars--$5.00 for 50 at party store
• 34 American flags--$1.99 each at party store
• two 10'x 2' vinyl banners--$75 each at sign shop
• yard signs--borrow from yards or purchase at http://baldwin08.com/Get-Stuff!.cfm
• candy for handing out--buy in bulk from a warehouse baskets or sacks for carrying candy
• one megaphone

When the parade is over, dismantle your float and add the décor to your booth.
REUSE EVERYTHING AGAIN & AGAIN!! (Except the candy :)
Use your imagination and have fun!
And remember……no one should leave the festival without knowing that the Constitution Party exists, and that our candidate for president of the United States of AMERICA is: CHUCK BALDWIN!!