Guide for Organizing a "Cost of Delay"
Vigil
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Materials you'll need
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Guide for Vigil Hosts
In early November, we won a historic victory as the House passed landmark health care legislation that will expand health care coverage to 96% of Americans. Because of our grassroots organizing, the reform bill that passed included a national public option.
The bill that passed the House wasn't flawless -- among other problems, it contained a dangerous amendment against women's right to choose, which we will fight to remove. But it was an important milestone in the fight for real health care reform with a strong public option. Now, we need to ramp up public pressure on the Senate to pass real reform before the end of the year, and we need to keep shoring up our champs in the House to stand strong and not compromise.
Our "Cost of Delay" vigils will shine a spotlight on the number of Americans in our communities who can't afford to pay the costs of their medical bills and are being forced into bankruptcy. We'll show the Senate that we can't afford to wait for change -- and the pressure is on them to pass health care reform with a national public option this year.
If you have questions not answered in the FAQ below please e-mail costofdelay@moveon.org or call 1-800-831-6703 between 4 pm and 11 pm eastern to speak with a Support Corps Volunteer.
Frequently Asked Questions
New FAQ's will be added to the FAQ section on an ongoing basis.
Q: Which elected officials should we be focused on pressuring with our vigils?
A: In most places, vigils should focus on calling on Majority Leader Reid and your local senators to do everything in their power to make sure the final senate health care legislation includes a real public option. Note that a few places with Senators and House members who have been the strongest advocates for a public option will have slightly different message and talking points. And vigils in the most critical Senate swing states (CT, IN, LA, ME, NE, ND and AR) will also have different materials and focus on the need for the target senator to allow an up-or-down vote on health care legislation.
Q: What should the vigil location be?
A: Vigils should take place outdoors, in a public location. If there's an office nearby for a targeted senator, that's a great place to hold your event. Otherwise, pick a public, visible, central location where you think the media will be willing to show up.
Q: What criteria do vigils need to meet in order to get central email recruitment?
A: Only events taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 8th between 4 pm and 8 pm local time can get recruitment. This event will be most powerful if it takes place on the same
evening all over the country. In the interest of simplicity, our sign-up
tool does not have a way to schedule a different date -- and you are strongly encouraged to host your event at 5:30 pm local time so it happens at the same time all across the country.
Q: What flexibility is there in the program of the vigil?
A: The core of this event is a vigil highlighting the economic and human cost of our broken health care system, and calling on our target senators to take action to pass real health care reform now. If your Council wants to organize an additional event component, like a march, you can, but please make sure that the event posted in the online system is the vigil portion of your event.
Q: Can we hold a canned food drive as part of our vigil?
A: We know that many families are struggling to make ends meet as a result of spiraling health costs so a great way to add a service element to your vigil is to encourage event attendees to bring a canned good to donate. Although the canned food drive could be a good service component to your event, please don't include the food drive as a central part of the messaging of the program or for the media. We want to keep our vigil speakers' program and media-messaging focused on the message that the Senate needs to act now to pass real health care reform. Having one simple message for the media to pick up on will mean that we get better media coverage.
Q: What's our strategic analysis of the House legislation?
A: The bill that passed the House wasn't flawless -- among other problems, it contained a dangerous amendment against women's right to choose, which we will fight to remove. But it was an important milestone in the fight for real health care reform with a strong public option. That's why we need to pass real reform in the Senate and make sure our House champions don't back down.
We've also recorded a special strategic briefing on the campaign and our next steps to win real health care reform this year. You can listen to the recording online by clicking here.
Q: Can you help me find good speakers with stories about the costs of health care for my vigil?
A: Yes, when MoveOn members sign up for your vigil, they'll have a check box to fill out if they have a story and are willing to speak at your vigil. You should follow up with a phone call (or e-mail) to talk through their story and prepare them to speak for 2-3 minutes.
Q: Can you help me find doctors who will make good speakers for my vigil?
A: The National Physicians Alliance is a great resource for progressive medical professionals. If you're looking for a doctor to speak at your vigil, send them an email to see if someone is available to participate in your area.
Q: What is the central number we're focused on for these events and why?
A: There are 2,547 Americans who go bankrupt every day because they can't afford to pay their medical bills. So, even on our national day of action alone, 2,547 people will file for bankruptcy because they can't afford to pay their medical bills. (Here are a couple sources to provide context for this number: CNN and HCAN.)
Q: When is the national host call for the vigils?
A: In happened on Thursday, December 3rd. Listen to the national host call recording by phone: Dial 212-812-2800, press #1, and enter 04749 76750 or listen online here.
Q: What signs are appropriate to help us make this event even bigger and more visible?
A: The main focus everywhere will be lots of signs supporting the public option, telling the Senate that We Can't Afford to Wait, and highlighting the 2,547 Americans who go bankrupt every day because they can't afford to pay their medical bills.
You're also encouraged to bring additional signs depending on which legislators your event will focus on:
- Everywhere: Download our large "2,547 Bankrupt Today" graphic. And, in addition to the large sign and smaller signs above, get creative and think of a way to visually represent the number 2,547 (the number of Americans who go bankrupt every day because they can't afford to pay their medical bills).
- House and Senate progressive champions: Download our large football helmet graphic, encouraging champs to keep fighting for the public option, and follow the instructions there on getting a local printer to print it at a large size for you. You can also present an actual football helmet to your target.
- Senate swing votes (CT, IN, LA, ME, NE, ND and AR): Download our new "Don't Let Big Insurance Stop Health Care Reform" graphic and follow the instructions there on getting a local printer to print it at a large size for you. You can also bring an actual stop-light prop which you can purchase here.
Q: What if someone at my vigil wants to speak about the war in Afghanistan?
A: MoveOn members took action earlier this week on Afghanistan. But, to make sure the media and our elected officials hear the message from our vigils, we need to stay focused on the message that we need real health care reform with a public option. (For more information on Afghanistan, click here to read what MoveOn members think of the war and check out our petition for a firm timeline to bring the troops home.)
Step-by-Step Vigil Organizing Tips
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Pick a location and register.
The very first step in coordinating a vigil is to pick a location. Great places to hold your vigil could include in front of your senator's office, in a public place downtown, in front of a health insurance company headquarters, or in another public place that has plenty of room for people to gather. As soon as you have picked a suitable location, register your event with us at this link:
http://pol.moveon.org/event/costofdelay/
This will help us keep track of how many vigils are being organized, and we'll invite other MoveOn members to your vigil if you register it.
Depending on the place you choose, it's possible you will need a permit. Call your local police department, sheriff, or city hall to find out if you're not sure.
Please DO respect the local laws and regulations. In some rural and suburban areas in the country, a local mall, supermarket, or other big store is often the most desirable place to reach a lot of people. However, public gatherings are usually not permitted at those privately-owned places. If you want to hold your vigil at such a location, make sure to call the management in advance and get permission. -
Invite others to the vigil.
Use the vigil host page to invite friends, family, colleagues and others:
http://political.moveon.org/event/costofdelay/hosts
If you're on a MoveOn Council, use your Council page to call other MoveOn members in your area. (If you're not sure how, check with your Field Organizer or Regional Coordinator.)
Tip: You can also use your host tools to see who has RSVPed, contact your attendees or update your contact information. -
Join our national host call.
On Thursday, December 3rd at 9pm ET / 8pm CT / 7pm MT / 6pm PT. To join the call, dial 212-812-2800 and enter 6031 9796. And if you can be online during the call (this is optional), go to: https://www.spiderphone.com/60319796
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Print out the signs.
We've created some downloadable placards that you can print. These signs will indicate to people passing by what this vigil is all about. As the event coordinator, you should also print out 20+ extras (or ask someone else to), in case some people don't bring their own.
(They will be available in the "Materials you'll need for your vigil" section above.)
If you have a family member who is suffering from health care problems,
please bring a picture of them. These images can be extremely
powerful--and they remind us all that this is about real people who are
without the health care they need or are at risk of losing their health
care coverage.
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Invite the press.
You can multiply your event's impact on your representatives by doing a bit of simple media outreach.
Check out our media guide for step-by-step instructions on attracting local media. We've also put together a sample advisory that you should tailor and send to local reporters, talking points to help you speak to any members of the press that do attend, and a script to make reminder calls to reporters.
(They will be available in the "Materials you'll need for your vigil" section above.)
One important note: It's critical that you take time to contact media before the day of your event, and that you make reminder calls to reporters.
Here's a suggested timeline for media outreach:
- Send out your media advisory in the morning on Monday, December 7th and make follow-up calls the same day.
- Bring a copy of your media advisory to the event on Tuesday, December 8th
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At the event.
Here is a sample agenda and schedule for your vigil.
- Arrive an hour early if possible (definitely be sure to be there 15-20 minutes early). Your vigil should start at 5:30 pm (or your designated time between 4 and 8 pm.
- Find your speakers and Emcee (if that's someone other than the host) to answer any last-minute questions.
- Have a designated person pass out extra signs and candles to attendees who didn't bring their own.
- The host or another designated attendee should distribute media advisories to any press at the event, and get their contact information.
- Place your signs in prominent locations.
- When you're ready to begin, gather everyone up in a central location to hear the speakers.
- The Host or Emcee should welcome everyone to the event, talk about the purpose of the event, and introduce each speaker.
- Introduce a few local speakers to tell their stories about the costs of our current health care system and why they can't afford to wait for the Senate to pass real health care reform. (We suggest 3 speakers). Ask each speaker to please keep their remarks to less than 5 minutes. Some of the stories they are telling will be very emotional, so it's important to ask them to keep their remarks brief beforehand--and to be gentle but firm about asking people to bring their stories to a close when they've passed the 5 minute mark.
- Close with comments about how this is a powerful reminder of why we
can't afford to wait for real health care reform with a public option.
(We'll provide suggested talking points in the materials section.)
Here are some other things you could add to your vigil to make it more powerful.
- Ask attendees to break into small groups and share the story of a family member or friend who they are at the vigil for.
- Set up luminary bags along the road or in a circle around the vigil.
- Create a gathering of all of the candles in one place at the end of the vigil.
- Set up a large poster or wall where people can post pictures or write their stories for why health care is so important.
Bring extra candles.
We'll be asking people to bring their own candles, but as a coordinator you should always have some extra on hand just in case. Hardware stores often sell "Plumber's Candles" that work well. Another thing to watch out for is falling wax. When wax drips onto the ground and dries it can be slippery and dangerous, and it's generally a good idea to prevent wax from dripping on the ground. The best solution is to bring your candle in a lantern or holder because these also protect your candles from blowing out in the wind. You can find inexpensive candle holders at the drug store, or you can use some cups or glasses from your house and place small votives or tea lights in them. If you're using tapered candles a great solution is to poke a small hole in the center of a cupcake wrapper and slide it over your candle before you light it-- that way the cupcake wrapper will catch the wax as it drips. You can find cupcake wrappers at your grocery store.
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Dealing with right-wing protesters.
When you go to your vigil, there's a chance you'll encounter protests from right-wingers opposed to health care reform. Be sure to stay grounded in your vigil's message and goals. Don't react or allow yourself to be thrown off. Responding to disrupters allows them to frame the issue. Stay calm, and stick to your core program.
Here are some key tips to help you be prepared for your vigil:- Bring more people than the other side has. Recruit! Recruit! Recruit! It should be obvious to everyone-including press-that you represent the majority. This is crucial. Ask your friends and family to come with you!
- If possible, get a permit. This will allow you to control the location of the event and potentially call the authorities if protesters are unruly.
- Arrive early--an hour ahead if you can--and claim the best spots for your placards and candles. Get familiar with the location beforehand, and make a staging plan.
- Stay calm and avoid confrontation. Remember, these are silent vigils to put a human face on the health care crisis. Avoid feeding into the hostile atmosphere that right-wing disrupters are attempting to create. Stay cool, calm and respectful.
- Be on the look-out for reporters. Check with your local host to see if there's a media coordinator at the event and direct any reporters towards that person. If you end up talking to a reporter, and they ask questions that focus on right-wing disruptions, don't take the bait--bridge to talk about the issues!
- Above all, stick to your prepared agenda and don't be reactive to attempted disruptions. Our job is to make sure the vigil and need for health care reform are the story -- that's how we'll win.
Fill out a quick post-vigil survey and send in your photos.
- The surveys are really important--they help us understand what works and what doesn't. We want to make our future events better and easier for you. This is the best way to let us know how to do that. The survey link is here: (Coming Soon)
- Bring a digital camera and take lots of pictures. This event will only impact politicians and the press if we can show them what happened. Send your best photos to costofdelayphoto@moveon.org.
