ZOMG!!! I just signed up to be a precinct chair!

[Subdivisions]

What do I do!?

I have never felt compelled to go any farther before than knocking a few doors and phone banking, and voting. But I was watching Obama last night and he lit a fire under my ass. So, I went down to my Dem headquarters office today to see if anyone was there (there hasn't been anyone there the times I've tried before)and they were open in anticipation of the Texas primaries on March 4. And, it just so happens that my precinct doesn't yet have a chair. I just went to get some signs, stickers and buttons and suddenly it looks like I'm going to be the Precinct Chair!

I'm looking at the paperwork now. What is it like to be a Precinct Chair? Does it take alot of time...make your phone ring off the hook? How big of a responsibility is it? I've promised to step aside if someone more familiar with the duties comes forward but I have to say that I don't mind learning.

Who here is already or has been a Precinct Chair?


Edited to add: CRAP! I just realized I posted this in the wrong forum. I meant to post in GD-P. I apologize to the insanity escapees here who have been avoiding GD-P and ask the mods to move this thread if they so choose.

[crispini]

1. Fabulous!

Let's see.

1) Are you going to be the election judge in your precinct, i.e. are you going to run the primary vote? If so, you need to find out ASAP. Precinct chairs often do, but your county may have already gotten judges lined up. If you're going to be the judge, you need to get trained in the election process. Your county should have training for this.

2) If you're not going to be the judge, you now have the responsibility to run the precinct convention. You can find info on the TDP website that'll help you do to this. Your county should also give you some help on this.

Other than that, it'll be as much work as you want to put into it. I just got done sending a postcard out to my precinct telling them about the primary. I have a big precinct, it was a 1500 piece postcard. Let me know if you want me to send it to you -- PM me your email address.

Congrats! You will have fun!


Edited to add -- please drop by the Texas forum. You'll get lots of good help there!

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. I hope you have plenty of time on your hands & are a people person.

You will have to hold meet-up & recruit volunteers to be captains & then still have to do a lot of door-to-door yourself on Saturdays too.

[CanonRay]

3. Get a precinct list!

Go to the Chair and get a list of all the Dems (and maybe Independents) in your precinct, and start knocking on doors and/or phoning them. Depends on the area (mine is rural, I'd need days to drive it and knock on doors). If you can enlist some allies in calling, it makes it easier.

It's not much time in an off-year, maybe a meeting once a month or less, but in a campaign, it can be a lot of work, depending on how much you want to put into it. We try to do a lot by e-mail now. I've been one since 2004. We also do two chairs per precinct, if we have people, and that lessens the load.

Good for you!

[Pirate Smile]

4. You should look and ask on the Barack Obama website.

There is a blog too. I would think the info would be there or else call your HQ and ask to talk to someone else who is doing it.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog

[Pirate Smile]

5. Check out this thread re an organizational meeting in Cincinnati

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4581891

[riderinthestorm]

6. I just got elected! And I too know absolutely nothing about what to do.

:hi: Heh. I feel a little sheepish as I never thought I'd actually "win" but there it is.

I'm going to a meeting next week and I hope I'll get more information then about what my actual responsibilities are. I only have 43 Dems in my precinct so I'm guessing this isn't going to be a task that kicks my butt every single weekend (yes, I live in an uber red county, sigh).

Anyway, once I go to my meeting next week, I'll pm you if you want.

[lisainmilo]

7. LOL at you reaction....

Too funny....but good for you, glad you are getting involved! :)