democratic party

Your weekly R.I. Democratic Party newsletter

Upcoming Events
Click here to see the calendar
******* New Trainings *******
Public Speaking – RSVP
Tues, Sep 14 5 pm – 6:30 pm
In this Zoom training, Kate will review best practices for speaking in public including body language, presentation, how to decide what to wear, telling your story and making a compelling argument.
VAN – RSVP
Wed, Sep 15 5 pm – 7 pm
In this Zoom training, Jake will walk you through the essential VAN skills needed to conduct a campaign and maintain contact with your constituency.
This training will be identical to the Sep 25th training.
Fundraising – RSVP
Wed,Sep 22, 5 pm – 7 pm
In this Zoom training, Kate will review the elements of an ask, and the best practice for raising money inside the election cycle.
VAN – RSVP
Sat, Sep 25 10 am – 12 pm
In this Zoom training, Jake will walk you through the essential VAN skills needed to conduct a campaign and maintain contact with your constituency.
This training will be identical to the Sep 15th training.
Additional readings and guides can be found at https://help.ngpvan.com/van/s/
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Fundraisers
R.I. Representative Mary Messier
Tuesday, Sep 14, 6 pm – 8 pm
Patricks Pub
381 Smith St, Providence, RI
R.I. Senator Ana Quezada
Thursday, Sep 16, 6 pm – 8 pm
La Brasa Bar & Grill
187 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI
Magaziner Annual Bristol BBQ
Sunday, Sep 19, 5 pm – 7 pm
The Lobster Pot
119 Hope St, Bristol, RI
************* New Event ******************
R.I. Senator Jeanine Calkin
Wednesday, Sep 22, 6 pm – 8 pm
Riffraff Bookstore & Bar
60 Valley St #107A, Providence, RI
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R.I. Senator Valarie Lawson
Tuesday, Sep 28, 6 pm – 8 pm
Madeira Restaurant
288 Warren Ave, East Providence, RI
R.I. Senator V Susan Sosnowski
Monday, Sep 27, 6 pm – 8 pm
Matunuck Oyster Bar
629 Succotash Road, Wakefield, RI
R.I. Senator Roger Picard
Monday, Oct 4, 6 pm – 8 pm
Ladder 133
133 Douglas Ave, Providence, RI
************* New Events *****************
Building the R.I. Democratic Party
Wednesday, Oct 6, 5 pm – 7 pm
R.I. Representative Julie Casamiro
Wednesday, Oct 13, 5 pm – 7 pm
Back 40 Restaurant
20 South County Trl, North Kingstown
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A Note from the Chair
RI Democratic Party Chairman Joseph McNamara
On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on our nation, we remember the thousands of people we lost that day: friends, loved ones, and heroes who died while trying to save lives. A number of Rhode Islanders’ lives were cut short.
That fateful day set in motion a cascade of events that would forever change America’s role in the world. The act of remembering will evolve and even bring out complicated emotions as we near the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan. But for those families who lost someone, it will feel like just yesterday.
I want to thank our first responders of the past and present for their service and leave you with this quote:
“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”
– Barack Obama
Special Election:
State Senate District 3
State Senate District 3 covers the eastern part of Providence. If you’re unsure of your district, you can check here.
Important Dates
Tues, Sep 14 – Mail Ballot Application Deadline for Primary
Wed, Sep 15 – Mon, Oct 4 – Early In-Person Voting for the Primary
Tues, Oct 5 – PRIMARY
Tues, Nov 2 – GENERAL ELECTION
Call for Volunteers
As the Party begins to build and grow we are looking for volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks: organizing events, writing, or research. If you are looking for a way to devote some of your time to important projects that will impact Rhode Island, drop Kate a note at KCM@ridemocrats.org
City & Town Committees
Click here to see the calendar
Don’t see your town committee meeting? Check the website for contact information
National Democratic Training Committee: Upcoming Events
Panel Discussion: So you Want to Run for Office?
Monday, Sep 20, 2 pm – 3 pm ET – RSVP
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and other special panelists will share their insights, on-the-ground experiences, and answer any of your burning questions in this interactive session!
Uniting Diverse Communities Through Civic Engagement
Wednesday, Sep 22, 6 pm – 6:45 pm ET – RSVP
Join former senior advisor in the Obama administration and current board chair of Civic Nation, Valerie Jarrett, for an interactive presentation on uniting your community around a common cause.
Campaign Corner: Fundraising
As the summer winds down and fall begins, this is a great time to assess your campaign bank account and make plans for increasing the bottom line. Without adequate resources, campaigns can’t purchase the targeted methods of voter communication that can get them elected. The time to start raising is now.
Without a doubt, the most effective and efficient method of fundraising is getting on the phone. Go through your call history, and your text and email history and call all the people you have spoken to who have not given to your campaign (or not given the maximum amount). Here is a review of the fundraising process.
Fundraising is communicating to potential donors, in a clear and precise way, how they benefit from
your campaign.
MOST IMPORTANT:
  • The bulk of your funds will be raised on the phone.
  • Ask for a specific amount: “Can you contribute $100 today?” then go silent while you wait for a response
The foundation of your campaign is your Personal Circle: friends, family, and colleagues. They benefit because they love you and you are important to them.
Your Ideological Circle includes people who share your values or a cause. They benefit because you will be a voice for them.
The potential donors in the Ax-to-Grind circle give because you aren’t the opponent. They will support anyone but the opponent. You need to prove some viability for these donors, and they take more time to convince than the potential donors in the first inner two circles.
The best fundraising plan includes a healthy mix of tools: phone calls (call time) events, house parties, face to face solicitations, email, web-based and traditional mail.
The art and science of making an effective ask:
  1. Establish rapport
  2. Tell them how they benefit
  3. Prove you can win
  4. Get them invested
  5. Ask. Be specific.
  6. Zip it up and listen
  7. Collect
  8. Show appreciation
  9. RESOLICIT
Here are some resources for researching donors: www.FEC.govwww.opensecrets.com
Note: you’re not allowed to solicit directly from FEC reports.
200 Metro Center Blvd., Suite 2, Warwick, R.I. | 401.272.3367 | www.ridemocrats.org
Chair Joseph M. McNamara
Kate Coyne McCoy | Senior Advisor | 401.578.0210 (c) | kcm@ridemocrats.org
Jake Jackson | Data Director | jjackson@ridemocrats.org
Victoria Gu | Communications Coordinator | vgu@ridemocrats.org