Ethics in Government

STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL COMMON CAUSE HOUSE PARTY

 

For June 27 - Clean Money Day

"The Big Buy - Tom Delay's Stolen Congress"


Clean Money Movie Night House Party Kit

 

Register Your Party Online

 


ONE: SET UP YOUR PARTY


You will need:

 

  • A location: Good locations can hold at least 8-20 people, with a decent size TV and a DVD player.  The larger the place, the better. If a church or synagogue will give you a free room, that could work too.
  • Guests: We definitely recommend making the house party open to the public. It's a great way to meet new friends.  It's also great to invite old friends, colleagues or acquaintances.  Think of about 40 people you know who you could invite - you can usually expect that about a third will be able to come.
  • Helpers: Two people partnering to host an event is best, especially where one has a good size place and the other a large list of friends, or maybe where each of you have 20-30 friends, colleagues, acquaintances as potential invitees.  If you are hosting your own party, it would be good to recruit one or two friends willing to come over early to help set up, and at least one or two to stay after and help clean up.
  • Snacks (optional): The house party would cost you anywhere from no money (if you make it pot luck) to $20-30 (if you offer drinks).  You can offer food, too, but it's not necessary.
  • The DVD: Can't watch the movie without the movie, right?  You can get it one of two ways:
    - Buy it online: If you're able to buy a copy online, it will allow us to focus our resources in other areas.  This is definitely encouraged, because $5 of every DVD bought through this link goes to Common Cause.
    - We can send you a copy: We also have a limited number of DVDs that we can send to hosts, at no cost to you.  Since you're opening up your home to help win this campaign, it's the least we can do.  If you want a copy, please email us at HouseParty@commoncause.org with "Big Buy DVD" in the subject line.
  • Register your party:  Once you have a location, you can register your party online.  Be sure to register through this link, because there are a lot of groups involved in this effort, and this link lets us know who the Common Cause members are!  When choosing a time for your party, bear in mind that the movie is about 75 minutes long and that you should call into one of the nationwide house parties (at 7pm central time or again at 7pm pacific time).  Whether you watch the movie first and then call in, or vice versa, is up to you - it depends on what you think would best for your party guests. 

 

 

TWO: GET PEOPLE TO YOUR PARTY


Once you have registered your party on the website, use the website to invite attendees.  You will have access to your own event page, and you can invite guests by directing them there.

 

Be creative and get the word out!  Recruit some friends to be your "host committee" and work with them to ensure that news of your event is spread broadly.  Personal follow-up is absolutely crucial.  After your initial round of invitations have been made, send additional emails or make phone calls to people who have not yet responded. 

 

Encourage your guests to RSVP online, so that you can easily keep track of your expected guests.  If they cannot come to the party but are interested in the campaign, encourage them to sign up for our email action list at: http://www.commoncause.org/CauseNetSignUp.

 

 

THREE: THROW YOUR PARTY

Before your party begins make sure that:

 

  • All computer or audio-visual equipment works. 
  • Make sure your check-in table is set up with your sign-in sheet, name tags, and flyers about Common Cause or the campaign.
  • You and your host committee have decided who will be doing what during the party - make sure someone's staffing the check-in table, someone else has the DVD, etc.

During your party welcome your guests and get to know them.  Many may be neighbors, and all of them could be new friends.

 

There will be two nationwide conference calls: one at 7pm central time, and another at 7pm pacific time.  The calls will feature "Big Buy" director Robert Greenwald, Common Cause president Chellie Pingree, author/commentator Jim Hightower, and other reform leaders to discuss the problem and its solutions.