TASK 02:
April 15 Tea Parties

 
OVERVIEW: 

On April 15^th, 2009 hundreds of independently organized public protest gatherings across the nation will be held to protest in defense of Liberty, generally, and more specifically against the government financial bailouts. 

These protests are the result of television news commentators Glen Beck (FOX News) and Rick Santelli (CNBC). 

Earlier “Tea Party” events have already attracted thousands of angry citizens to some of the events including events in downtown St. Louis and Cincinnati.  

These Tea Party events present a golden opportunity for the WTP organization to “boot-strap” from in support of the Continental Congress 2009 initiative. 

We need to inject a serious presence regarding CC2009 to those gathered at the Tea Parties and provide them with information about our historic event and our organization’s mission.   

TASK: 

1.  Research to find the scheduled Tea Parties in your area.  Click here for full a full list of Tea Party event locations. Here is Google link to another list which shows Tea Party events on a map. Most states have multiple Tea Parties scheduled. 

2.  Contact your state CC2009 team members and county coordinators by email AND phone, as necessary, and inform them of this important initiative.  These will likely be your source of key volunteers for this exercise.  Utilize the new state TalkShoe conference call capability to conduct a phone conference call.  

3.  Obtain firm commitments from these key volunteers to man and organize WTP representation at these events. 

3b. Key volunteers should also commit to procuring copies the needed flyers, CC2009 "tri-fold" brochure, etc. 

See special April 15th, 1-page "Tea Party" Flyer  (emphasis on bailouts & income tax)
See $$ Low Cost Flyer Copying @ STAPLES --  around 4 cents/page!  Click for details & discount #

(Costs can be shared later by all participating volunteers)  The number of copies anticipated will vary significantly from location to location, but given the advance Internet “buzz” about these gatherings, hundreds, if not thousands of copies should be made. (Remember that extra copies can be used at subsequent events or otherwise distributed in support of CC2009)  Suggest contacting the “official” Tea Party organizers directly to get a handle on anticipated size. 

4.  Using the WTP Congress e-mailer system (See Coordinator Resource Center) send out a bulk email blast to all known WTP supporters in your state.  Include contact info and phone #s for all key volunteers. Have people who plan to assist the key volunteers at the Tea Party events contact their local key volunteer directly in advance of the event.  Do this at least twice in the week preceding the Tea Party events.  

5.  Have each key volunteer establish a specific meeting place and time to meet at the Tea Party event and distribute copies of CC2009/WTP printed materials to WTP participants.  Have the key volunteer direct the participants as to how to divide the crowd and canvass those assembled effectively. 

6.  State Coordinators should follow up with each key volunteer days before the Tea Party events both as a reminder and as a means of assuring preparation & execution of the Tea Party task. 

7.  Encourage volunteers to capture video or digital photos and send their best to the WTP office (info@givemeliberty.org). 

8.  State Coordinator should ALSO put news of his state’s Tea Party events on the Congress state web page as a news item. (See Coordinator Resource Center) 

9.  After the Tea Party events, SC should contact the key volunteers and assess their execution of the task.  State Coordinator should then post news of the event on their state WTP Congress web page as a news item. 

10.  Encourage people to donate to your state via WTP’s new PayPal “state-specific” donation function.  Funds gathered will be used to both help offset costs (e.g., copy/printer costs) and subsidize CC2009 delegates participation in the CC2009 assembly.  Subject to WTP procedures, policy and management discretion, original receipts accompanied by a request for reimbursement, funds raised via these PayPal accounts will be applied toward (at least partial) reimbursement of allowed expenses. 

11.  Encourage key volunteers or particpants, if they so desire, to request of the Tea Party organizer the opportunity to address the crowd directly.  It might be of great value to personally brief Tea Party organizers about CC2009 well in advance so they can schedule a WTP representative to speak as part of the formal agenda. 

12.  GENERAL:  All participants should be dressed appropriately for the Tea Party event, conveying the seriousness of our organization and mission in defense of the Constitution. Any person speaking on behalf of WTP should dress in office-appropriate attire (suit jacket, tie, dress, etc.)

13. WARNING:  As with all large public gatherings, the potential for unruly/violent behavior by provocateurs or participants is always a possibility.  WTP supporters should immediately exit the event area if such a danger arises.