A Challenge
A Challenge for you from the Chair
Clearly, we need to build our party.
Goal #1
Our “HotLines” newsletter is currently reaching 377 people out of a potential nearly 20,000 registered Democrats in Linn County. That’s just under 2%. Your Executive Committee would like to see that number raised to a modest 5% (1,000) during 2008. To reach this goal for 2008 each of us currently receiving Hotlines will need to collect the names and email addresses of two Democrats who would like to receive our newsletter and see our website (www.linncodems.org). If everyone gives this a little effort I know we can reach this goal. Please help us get the word out to the community at large. There are many wonderful Democrats in Linn County! We are doing something! We need everyone’s help! Get your two names to Bob Heald at rch@peak.org as soon as possible. This can be our year. I all depends on us.
There will be a donkey lapel pin for each person who supplies five names with addresses and e-mails or contributes $50.00 or more.
Goal #2
The second challenge is money. As our treasurer, Terence Fry says, “We need MONEY.” (Can’t you picture him rubbing his fingers together?) Our treasurer is right. It does take money to build our base and wage successful political campaigns.
We’ve taken our Congress back. We’ve taken our state back. Now, it’s time to take our county back. In the 2006 campaigns our candidates were badly outspent by as much as 6 to 1. In the coming term, although it may be impractical to match the Republicans political money coffers in Linn County -- we can certainly narrow the gap. So, the second challenge for us in 2008 is to raise $20,000 . This may still be modest in Republican terms, but for the Linn County Democrats it will represent a huge step forward and will go a long way to help our candidates have a sporting chance in the next election cycle. Our funds will be used to:
> Focus on our core values, and increase our visibility via a variety of methods
> Clarify and ensure consistent messaging
> Strengthen the Linn County Organization and active grassroots participation.
> Wage a permanent campaign to help elect Democrats at local, county and state levels
> Build a solid base of people through training tomorrow's leaders
> Establish a permanent office location for the Linn County Democrats this year
> Help our candidates win by offering financial and other support
Here is an easy way for many of you to help us reach or goals. In every Hotline newsletter and our website is a blue “Contribute” button. After clicking the button, a page will open that allows you a number of ways to contribute. The Chairman and his wife chose the monthly payment option via credit card. The Democratic Party provides this service (appropriately called, ActBlue). If each household that currently receives HotLines contributes $5 to $10 monthly we will reach our goal for 2008. Our motto is give a little, give a lot, but please help to the limit of your ability.
Furthermore, the faster we reach goal #1 the easier it will be to reach goal #2. Remember, that each couple gets a $100 credit on their state tax bill which serves to reduce the financial stress. We can do it. Let’s pull together and we will reach these goals.
Loyd Henion
Chair, Linn County Democrats
541-926-4061 (home) or 541-619-7761 (cell)
