Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

How to Set Up a Hotline!

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Activist HQ Donate to DU
 
qwlauren35 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-28-08 02:39 PM
Original message
How to Set Up a Hotline!
My apologies for posting this everywhere, but I think it's important...

I'm in the process of setting up a hotline for Baltimore City Residents to call in and get information about campaign activities. It's NOT CHEAP, but I fundamentally believe that Baltimore City residents with no Internet access deserve the opportunity to participate in this campaign.

While I'm not going to give out the number here (it's 10 cents per hit!), I'm happy to be contacted for the number by anyone in the greater Baltimore area: qwlauren35@aol.com.

Here's how I did it. Go to Verizon.com small business section and ask for a Message Board. It is a special "call forwarding" feature that gives you 3 minutes to present your message, and has no voice mail. The cost is around $54 PLUS ALL INCOMING CALLS!!! We had a lot of snafus, but it should really only take 2 days to set up... if you can make sure they know what you want!

On our hotline, we're going to put information about the website (for those who didn't know), the local, unofficial office location and meeting times, phonebanking opportunities, open meetings, voter registration training and public events where people will be canvassing, registering and/or "doing visibility". There will also be a phone number for those who want to get involved in specific events or want bulk materials for an event. I'll probably also give out my number to let people call in with events that they want posted. My focus will be Baltimore City, but I'll probably include activities within a 5-10 mile radius. We'll probably update it weekly.

If you think your area needs something like this, please get together with some people and put it together. As I said, it's not cheap. But if we're truly going to be "grassroots", then the non-Internet roots deserve a chance to get involved.
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
davidnc76 Donating Member (365 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-28-08 02:40 PM
Response to Original message
1. This sounds great!
Good luck with the hotline.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
jtrockville Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-28-08 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
2. Have you thought about submitting PSAs to the local cable channel?
Baltimore City has a public access cable channel (Channel 25): http://www.tv25baltimore.com/sponsorship.html

I'd guess a "get the vote out" announcement would qualify as a Public Service Announcement.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
qwlauren35 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-28-08 04:09 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. It would probably kill me financially, but it's probably a good idea.
Thanks!
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
jtrockville Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jul-28-08 04:53 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. This link doesn't mention a fee - you just need to submit a video:
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sun Dec 22nd 2024, 10:30 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Topic Forums » Activist HQ Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC