Guide for Organizing a "Countdown to Change" Rally

	Materials You'll Need New FAQ's will be added to the FAQ section on an ongoing basis. Event registration page for your rally ("Bob") Rally Organizing Tips Frequently Asked Question Media materials Sample speaker's script Signs Sample flyer to hand out (encouraging rally participants to call Congress; make sure you change the phone numbers to your own delegation) Sample chants Rally sign-in sheet Listen to the national host call recording: Dial 212-812-2800, press #1, and enter 49009 35109. Or listen online here. Need help? Check with your Organizer or Regional Coordinator, or email Support Corps at: countdown@moveon.org

[Click here for a large-text version of this guide]

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POLITICAL CONTEXT:

• For months, pundits have been saying the public option was dead. But we kept organizing: more than 35,000 MoveOn members turned out in August, we held events in 38 states targeting insurance companies in September, and we got some of our best media coverage yet in early October when we told progressive senators, "We're counting on you" and spotlighted insurance industry campaign contributions to conservative senators.
• We’re finally seeing the fruits of our labor. Versions of the public option were included in both the House and Senate health care bills.  With every action we organize, we push this Congress closer than we’ve ever been to real health care reform.
• And key votes have now happened! The House passed its version of the bill on Saturday, November 7th. The Senate will likely take up its bill shortly afterward.
• Majority Leader Harry Reid has decided to bring forward a bill that includes a public option -- but Big Insurance and their conservative allies are fighting hard to kill the public option. Because Republicans will try to block progress with filibusters at every turn, we'll need 60 votes to bring the bill to the Senate floor and to get an up-or-down vote.
• The health care fight has been moving slowly forward for months, but now we’re down to the wire, and we need a final push to line up the votes to win.

OUR PLAN:

• So we're planning our next actions for a critical moment after the final House vote and before the first Senate vote. We've got overwhelm the Senate with a grassroots show of support for real reform. At the same time, we'll thank House progressives for their votes and encourage them to keep standing up for change as the process moves forward, and we'll hold other representatives accountable for voting against the bill.
• We're organizing "Countdown to Change" rallies on November 12 and 13, a few days after the House vote. That's a very rapid turnaround after our last actions, but it's critical that we respond quickly after the House vote, and we also expect all our congressional targets to be home on recess on those dates—which creates a golden opportunity to make sure they hear our message.
• We want these actions to be big, so we’re coordinating with Health Care for America Now (HCAN), SEIU, and other partners to make sure our representatives and Senators know there is strong support for the public option in the communities they represent. MoveOn councils in all states will join together on this action, including those in the "Go Big" states that have been organizing intensive campaigns on their swing senators.

This guide will help you plan your rally, and it provides you the resources you'll need along the way. If you have questions, contact your Field Organizer or Regional Coordinator, or email Support Corps at countdown@moveon.org.

This guide is divided into a few simple sections:

1. What does this rally look like?
2. Frequently Asked Questions about this rally
3. Rally Organizing Tips
   

1. What does this rally look like?

The goal of these rallies is to thank those representatives who stood with the American people, call out those who stood with the insurance companies, and turn our attention to the Senate—calling on them to follow the House's lead and pass real health care reform with a strong public option.

This is a straight-forward event: it's a rally with speakers, signs, and chants.

Most rallies should be held outside House offices, since we expect to be reacting to the House vote. However, in a few targeted states -- CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, ND and AR -- you should hold your event outside your targeted Senate office. You'll ideally want a sizable turnout of members with signs making noise and cheering for the speakers (though you can have a successful event even with a small crowd). The event should last 30 to 60 min.

For media, and in order to ensure your local House and Senate offices are open during the event, your rally should be scheduled during the day--no earlier than 8:30 am and no later than 4:30 pm. Your event should ideally take place on Thursday, November 12th. But it's also OK to take place on Friday, November 13th.

You'll want to reach out to HCAN and SEIU partners immediately to start coordinating with them on the date, time, and other event details. Check with your Field Organizer or Regional Coordinator for local HCAN and SEIU affiliates' contact information. 

Here's more on what you can include in your event program:

• Powerful speakers at your event could include veterans, people with personal stories about suffering from our broken health care system, and local elected officials.
• In addition to having speakers, you can have someone lead the crowd in songs and chants.
• You can also encourage everyone at the end of the event to take out their cell phones and call their senator.
• If you are targeting a progressive champ House Rep, it's a great idea to deliver actual boxing gloves to symbolize that we're counting on them to fight for real reform with a strong public option.

Members of Congress will be home from Washington on the date of the rallies. If you have a progressive champ in the House or Senate, invite them to attend!

For your rally's message, use the talking points that are linked from the Media Materials page.

Your signs will depend on your target -- here's what we suggest:

• House and Senate progressive champions: Download our large boxing gloves 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 actual physical boxing gloves to your target.
• Senate swing votes (CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, ND and AR): Download our new "Whose side are you on?" graphic (available here by Sunday 11/8) and follow the instructions there on getting a local printer to print it at a large size for you.
• Everywhere else: The main focus in most places will be lots of signs supporting the public option. You are also encouraged to make handmade signs that name your senator and say "We're counting on you" or "Whose side are you on?" as appropriate. (You'll be targeting your representative but we also want to use these events to call on senators to vote the right way.) Finally, our partners at HCAN & SEIU may bring scorecard visuals to the event, showing whether your target voted right or wrong on the bill.

 

2. Frequently Asked Questions

***NEW FAQ's WILL BE ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS LIST ON AN ONGOING BASIS***

Q: When are the key deadlines for posting my event in Bob? And when will key materials be posted?
A: You should get your event posted online as soon as possible. Here are the deadlines:

Big emails

Mon 11/9: Attend recruit #1
Wed 11/11: Attend recruit #2

Deadlines to get your event posted online
Deadline #1: Fri 11/6, 3pm ET (Preferred deadline -- allows enough time to work out any problems before the event recruit on Monday.)
Deadline #2: Sun 11/8, 5pm ET (Final deadline in order to get 2 central recruitment emails.)
Final deadline: Tues 11/10, 5pm ET (Final deadline in order to get a central recruitment email.)

Materials
Tues 11/3 (or before): Bob, Organizing Story, Guide, FAQ, vetting guidelines
Mon 11/9: Signs, most media materials, sample host remarks
Tues 11/10: National Host Call, 9pm ET / 6pm PT, on (212) 812-2800 and enter 6031 9796
Weds 11/11: Talking points (based on House vote)

Q: What's the date of the rallies? How much flexibility is there?
A: We encourage all Councils to hold their rally on November 12th. That's our national day of action. Rallies on 11/12 have better chances at getting local, state, and national media. If the Council Coordinator can't participate on that day, is there someone else who can step up and take leadership? BUT, if a Council definitely can't hold an event on the 12th, we'll do central recruitment for rallies on Friday November 13th. (Friday is generally a worse day for media. And the weekends are bad for both the office being open AND media.)

Definitely don't do your event on Wednesday, November 11th, since that's Veterans Day.

Q: What are the allowable TIMES of this event?
A: Events should begin between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

Q: Who are we targeting with this action?

A: All senators and representatives need to hear from us. But we'll try focus in on one or two elected officials at every rally. We especially want to make sure we prioritize the following targets:

• House and Senate progressive champions. We need them to stand fast for a bill that includes a strong public option when the House and Senate bills are being merged in conference committee.
• Senate swing votes. Senators from CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, ND and AR are seen as some of the most on-the-fence swing votes. We need them to support an up-or-down vote on the health care bill ("cloture") at the very least -- and we need them to vote for a bill that includes a strong public option.

Q: What should we do at the rally? What's the program?

A: Check the "Speakers" and "During Your Rally" sections in the detailed organizing tips for details.

Q: What if we don't have a House office nearby?
A: Councils with House offices nearby should generally hold their event there. However, in a few targeted states -- CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, ND and AR -- you should hold your event outside your targeted Senate office.

If a Council outside of CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, and AR has a Senate office but no House office nearby, it's fine to hold your event at the Senate office.

Councils without either kind of office nearby can choose a location that will help reinforce the message of the event, or some visible public location. For instance, they could hold their event in a central location in town (ie, such as City Hall, the major municipal park, or square, etc).

Q: What if the closest senate office building includes offices for BOTH of my senators?

A: If your closest senate office building includes offices for BOTH of your senators, or for other members of congress, that's completely fine -- you can still hold your event there. But in most states, one senator is more strategic for us to target, so you'll want to keep the message and content of your rally focused on that single target senator. That's important in order to get a crystal-clear message out to the media and the senator him or herself.

Q: Can I have multiple House champ targets if I'm in a big city?

A: If you're in a big city that has multiple progressive champs on health care, you can target more than one of them with your event. However, you should choose one Rep who's your primary target -- and hold your event outside of their office. You can thank or call on others as well.

Q: What if I don't have a swing senator or House member? Is this event still useful for my situation?

A: Absolutely. It's vital that we put pressure on every member of the House and Senate in this pivotal moment. We need to shore up champs in both chambers; pressure swings; and make opponents pay a political price. Here are some examples of how grassroots organizing in the past month has helped move targets across the spectrum:

• California MoveOn Councils helped encourage Sen. Dianne Feinstein to come out in public and strong support of a robust public option.
• North Dakota MoveOn Councils forced Sen. Kent Conrad to publicly justify his voting record and personally respond to our questions and comments. This organizing has recently generated multiple editorials and articles in the most prominent media outlets in the state.
• Utah MoveOn Councils' "Whose Side Are You On?" rallies prompted a response from Sen. Orrin Hatch on national television (MSNBC).

And our national organizing, in communities ranging from deep red to deep blue, has helped change the national political equation. For months, people said that the public option was dead. The fact that it has been included in both House and Senate bills has been attributed to progressive grassroots pressure by people including Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.

Q: What is the exact ask at these events?
A: Here are some suggestions. But remember, the "Ask" is DIFFERENT from the PUBLIC MESSAGE at your event. Here are some suggested "asks" that you could use if you're talking directly with a representative, senator, or his or her staff. But you should always consult your TALKING POINTS for the core message of your event, and use those talking points when you're talking with members of the media or making your spoken remarks at the event.

Here are some sample asks, depending on your target:

House Members:

Ask to House members who voted “yes” on the bill (including champs):

"We thank Rep. X for voting for health care with a public option. We’re winning because our Reps made history by standing with regular Americans for real health care reform, and standing against the private insurance companies. Will you (re)commit to fight to make sure that the final health care bill includes a national public option, available on day one, just like the House bill?"  

Ask to House members who voted “no” on the bill:
"We’re disappointed that Rep X has sided with the insurance companies instead of regular Americans who need affordable health care. You have another chance to do right by your constituents when the bill comes back to the House. Will you commit to vote for a bill with a strong public option next time it comes back to the House?"

Senators

Ask for Senators who are supportive of the health care bill:

"We thank you for being a supporter of health care reform with a public option...

• "Will you continue to stand strong and fight for real reform with a public option when the Senate votes on their version of the health care bill in the coming weeks?"
• "Will you lobby your colleagues that are swings on the health care bill?"

Ask for Senators who are usually swing or opposed on the health care bill: "Whose Side Are You On when it comes to health care for our families and this state? Will you vote for the health care bill when it comes up for a vote in the Senate?"

Ask for key Senators (eg. CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, ND and AR):
"Will you commit NOT to block the health care reform bill in the Senate from getting an up-or-down vote?"
"Will you support the health care bill?"

Q: When is the national host call?
A: It happened on Tuesday, November 10th. Listen to the national host call recording: Dial 212-812-2800, press #1, and enter 49009 35109. Or listen online here.

Q: How can I make sure my event gets online recruitment?

A: Please make sure your Rally is registered in MoveOn's online system as soon as possible. Deadlines to get your event posted online:

• Deadline #1: Fri 11/6, 3pm ET (Preferred deadline -- allows enough time to work out any problems before the event recruit on Monday.)
• Deadline #2: Sun 11/8, 5pm ET (Final deadline in order to get 2 central recruitment emails.)
• Final deadline: Tues 11/10, 5pm ET (Final deadline in order to get a central recruitment email.)

As long as it meets our core criteria, and is posted by one of the deadlines, MoveOn can send an email to active MoveOn members in the area advertising your event. Here are the criteria it must meet in order to get a central recruitment email:

• The event must be a rally.
• It must begin between 8:30am and 4:30pm.
  
• It should be in a public place, preferably outside of a local congressional office.
• It must take place on the national day of action -- November 12th or 13th. (Definitely don't do your event on Wednesday, November 11th, since that's Veterans Day.)
• When you register your event online, make sure you pick the "target." This should be the top targeted senator for your state, UNLESS you have a progressive champ in the House. Check with your Field Organizer or Regional Coordinator if you're not sure who you should pick.
• Double-check that you enter the correct zip code. (That's how we determine which members nearby.)

Q: Should we get permits for this event?
A: In most communities, you don't need a permit to stand on public property, including public sidewalks. But depending on the location of your event, you may want to check with local authorities ahead of time. Many senate offices are in federal buildings that do require permits for "public sidewalks" outside (i.e., in Chicago, Seattle, NYC, and Rochester). If you're unsure, you should check with local authorities. If you have a sound system, you are more likely to need to arrange a permit. (In some communities, having a sound system is the trigger for requiring a permit.)

Q: Should we get a sound system?
A: If you're in a large city where you've had large crowds in the past, it's probably wise to arrange a sound system ahead of time. (And if you do, make sure to check into getting a permit, since having a sound system is often the trigger that requires a permit.) If you're not sure, check with your Field Organizer or Regional Coordinator

Q: What if I don't know which of my senators to target?
A: Check with your Organizer or Regional Coordinator, or email countdown@moveon.org.

Q: What signs are appropriate to help us make this event even bigger and more visible?
A: It depends who your main target is:

• House and Senate progressive champions: Download our large boxing gloves 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 actual physical boxing gloves to your target.
• Senate swing votes (CT, IN, LA, ME, MT, NE, ND and AR): Download our new "Whose side are you on?" graphic and follow the instructions there on getting a local printer to print it at a large size for you. You can also print out a letter-size version on your home printer.
• Everywhere else: The main focus in most places will be lots of signs supporting the public option. You are also encouraged to make handmade signs that name your senator and say "We're counting on you" (for supportive senators) or "Whose side are you on?" (for swings and oppositional senators). (You'll be targeting your representative but we also want to use these events to call on senators to vote the right way.) Finally, our partners at HCAN & SEIU may bring scorecard visuals to the event, showing whether your target voted right or wrong on the bill.

You can also get creative and use other visual objects that you think would be strategic to get your message across. For instance, if your senator is a real champion on health care reform (and only in that case), you could present them with a blown-up award. But make sure you're talking with your Field Organizer or Regional Coordinator about any ideas you have along these lines.

Q: How can I figure out if my representative voted yes or no on the health care bill?

A: You can find out here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/votes/house/healthcare/index.html?hpid=topnews

Q: What if our representative voted yes on the bill, but also voted for Rep. Stupak's anti-choice amendment? Should we change our rally message?

A: You can find out whether your rep voted for the so-called Stupak amendment here. If your representative voted for the Stupak amendment as well as for the final bill, and if you get asked by a member of the media about this vote, you can say something like: "We're very happy Rep. X stood with his constituents and the American people in voting for the House health care bill. We're disappointed with the inclusion of the dangerous anti-choice amendment, though, and will be working with our friends in the choice community to ensure that that is stricken from the final bill."

 

3. Rally Organizing Tips

Click here for detailed tips on what to do before, during, and after your rally!