CD Outreach

Outreach to Democrats.com Members

Every member of Democrats.com can post announcements using our "local" system:
http://democrats.com/local  
Just click [Post] next to your Congressional District, County, or State, whichever is appropriate.
Your announcement will appear on the "local" page for all Democrats.com members in the appropriate area.

If you would like to organize our members in your Congressional District, we can also give you permission to email them directly from our system - just tell us what you'd like to organize here:
http://democrats.com/contact

Outreach to Local Activist Groups

Reaching out to progressive allies is fun because you get to meet committed activists who share your values.

But it can also be a challenge to find the groups, and to find the right activists within the groups who would like to work with us.

Below is a list of national groups that have local chapters. We have provided the best links we know of to help you find chapters in your area.

There is no requirement to contact any of these groups - these are just meant to be helpful suggestions.

If you do reach out to these groups, you might find it helpful to put links to their local chapters on your CD web page - both to help you keep track of your outreach efforts, and to make it possible for other members of your chapter to help. Ask your Web coordinator to help if you want to post these local links.

On the example page (http://democrats.com/ny-07) we put the names of the local chapters and linked to the best web page about that chapter.

1. National Groups with Local Chapters

• ACLU: click on your state, then look for a link to local chapters, and introduce yourself by email or phone to the local director
• Bill of Rights Defense Committees: scroll down to your state, look for cities or towns in your area, and introduce yourself by email to the organizers
• Citizen Action: click on your site, click to the state chapter web site, look for cities or towns in your area, and introduce yourself by email to the organizers
• CodePink: pull down your state, look for cities or towns in your area, and introduce yourself by email to the organizers
• Democracy for America (formerly Dean for America): Search by zip code for nearest group, which will appear at the top of the list below the map. Click "view group" to read about its activities, and "join group" to contact the organizers
• ImpeachBush.Meetup.com: Find your local group, join, post an announcement on the message board, and attend the next meeting with flyers
• Moveon Operation Democracy: Search by zip code for nearest team, then join and introduce yourself to the team organizer
• NOW: Click on your state, find your county, and introduce yourself by email.
• Progressive Democrats of America: scroll down the page to find the "point person" for your CD and introduce yourself by email. If there is no "point person" then pull down the state from the "Select Area" link at the top left and look for local chapters. You can also contact the state coordinator at the bottom of the page.
• United for Peace and Justice: click on your state, look for cities or towns in your area, and introduce yourself by email to the organizers.

2. Political party outreach

• Democratic Party: click your state on the map, then click the very small "State Party Website" link, then look for the local committee list, then find your local committee, then email or call the Chair (or the Chair's assistant) to put you in touch with the most progressive activists in the party
• Green Party:
• Libertarian Party:

3. Grassroots outreach ideas (adapted from ACLU)

• Place an ad in local newspapers asking those interested in impeachment to contact you. 
• Post flyers - including your contact info - in coffee shops, libraries, bookstores and local businesses. 
• Post a message on the local pages of Craig's List (www.craigslist.org/about/cities)  
• Browse local Meetups to find progressive-leaning groups
• Read your local papers to find people and groups with similar interests
• Check the local pages for events related to progessive issues such as author talks, lectures and fundraisers - attend, bring flyers, and chat with others
• Some libraries and/or bookstores have book groups that discuss current events
• Reach out to friends, family and coworkers: do they share your interest in impeachment? Do they have any useful contacts?
• Reach out to professionals whose work may be relevant, such as professors, activists and nonprofit staffers. They may be aware of resources that you have not yet come across