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Join the Committee
Responsibilities of Committee Members
Responsibilities of Block Captains
Responsibilities of District Chairs
Officers of Franklin County Democratic Committee
State Committee Members
County Committee Members
Working Groups
Join the Committee
The Franklin County Democratic Committee is made up of two members - one male and one female - from each precincts. Committee members are elected to a four-year term in the Democratic Primary in the same years as the gubernatorial election (2006, 2010, etc).
Between elections, the Chairperson may appoint committee members to fill open seats. If you are interested in being appointed to an open committee seat, please contact Beth Shupp-George for more information.
Responsibilities of Committee Members
Committee members are the link between the voters in their precincts and the county organization and. thus, play a vital role in the success of the Democratic Party. However, we appreciate that our committee members and volunteers are often very busy, with families, careers and other community responsibilities, and we understand that not everyone has the same amount of time and energy available to commit to the party.
Therefore, we have outlined both a minimum commitment that is expected from all committee members, as well as additional responsibilities that we hope many of our committee members will choose to take on, as well.
Minimum Commitment
These are the basic responsibilities of each committee member:
- Elect county party officers: Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, Secretary and Treasurer
- Attend at least 6 of the 12 regularly scheduled committee meetings (2nd Thursday of each month, 7 pm at Party Headquarters). Inform the Chair or Secretary if you are unable to attend a meeting.
- Serve on at least one Working Group, which may meet either in person or via phone or email.
- Assist with voter registration efforts, and help to recruit Democratic candidates and circulate their nominating petitions.
- Conduct get-out-the-vote communications with registered Democrats in your precinct (phone, mail or door-to-door).
- Cover your polling place for primary and general elections.
Note: You may fulfill many of these responsibilities by yourself, or by recruiting volunteers from your precinct to help.
"Six in Six"
The Democratic State Committee is asking each precinct organizer to complete these six action items before the November 2006 election. We hope that our committee members will strive to do as many as possible. Note that many of these activities overlap with the minimum commitment described above.
- Recruit & Train 25 Volunteers and Assign them Jobs
These might be precinct level jobs such as poll watcher or visibility captain or county level jobs, such as staffing party headquarters or helping to stuff envelopes. Depending on the size of the precinct, it may be more realistic to aim for 5 - 15 volunteers. - Host at Least One Social Event or Meeting
This could mean hosting a coffee or house party, inviting neighbors to meet at a local bar or restaurant to discuss issues or helping to organize a county-wide event, such as our monthly Movie Nights. These events help to mobilize volunteers, promote Democrats and hold the GOP accountable. - Run Two Voter Contact Programs
Participate indoor-to-door canvass, phone banking or a literature handout. - Attend One Training
Regional trainings will be planned and hosted by the Franklin County Democratic Party, the State Party's Regional Field Coordinator and other organizations. - Create a Precinct Welcome Program
Contact new residents, new registrants and new citizens in your precinct. Provide voter registration forms and information about the party and the community. - Collect signatures for a candidate's petition
The 2006 petition period is February 14 - March 7.
Additional Activities of Committee Members
We hope that many of our committee members will choose to take on these responsibilities
as well: - Attend trainings and workshops when scheduled.
- Read & be familiar with the National and State Democratic Platforms.
- Stay informed on local, state, and national issues. Promote the Democratic organizations in the area.
- Be a resource for candidates and electors in your precinct.
- Provide feedback/stay in touch with candidates
- Assist the County Committee in fundraising.
- Using Prevail (state voter database) or local phone book, maintain current addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses for voters in your precinct.
- Telephone all Democratic voters in your precinct and introduce yourself to them as the Democratic committee member in their precinct
- Keep voters informed about opportunities to work for the party, candidates and elections.
- Remember that direct appeal from people they know is the most effective way to recruit volunteers, raise money, and elect Democrats.
- Continuously look for potential candidates among your precinct members, encouraging them to run for office
- Inform the local party of vacant seats/political activity in your precinct.
- Know who in your precinct is willing to display yard signs, work on specific campaigns, write editorials, volunteer on election day, etc.
- Make yourself available to candidates. Be willing to go door-to-door with a candidate and distribute campaign literature.
- Assist in posting candidates signs at your polling place and removing them after the election.
- Be familiar with and have the entire slate of Democratic candidates available for voters.
Responsibilities of Block Captains
Block Captains are appointed to work with committee members to assist with organizing and outreach within their individual neighborhoods. Specific responsibilities of Block Captains are:- Assist with voter registration efforts, and circulating nominating petitions.
- Help to conduct get-out-the-vote communications with Democrats in your neighborhood (phone, mail or door-to-door).
- Help to staff your polling place for primary and general elections.
If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain, please contact Beth Shupp-George for more information.
Responsibilities of District Chairs
District Chairs are are appointed to recruit, communicate with and coordinate the activities of committee members and block captains in a district containing about a dozen precincts.
If you are interested in becoming a District Chair, please contact Beth Shupp-George for more information.
Officers
Chair -
Beth Shupp-George
117 North Avenue
Chambersburg
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PA
17201
Home: 717-262-4328 / Cell: 717-830-0622
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First Vice Chair -
Paul Politis
357 Blue Bird Trai
Greencastle
,
PA
17225
717-597-4332
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Secretary -
Bonnie Overholtzer
6944 Fairway Drive East
Fayetteville
,
PA
17222
717-352-4033
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Treasurer -
Jere F. Perry, Jr.
10075 Cardinal Drive
Orrstown
,
PA
17244
717-532-9161
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State Committee Members
State Committeeman -
Clint Barkdoll
11963 N. Woodlea Drive
Waynesboro
,
PA
17268
717-749-5141
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State Committeewoman -
Bonnie Overholtzer
6944 Fairway Drive East
Fayetteville
,
PA
17222
717-352-4033
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District Chairs & Committee Members
* Appointed by the Chair. All other committee members duly elected in the Democratic Primary.
Working Groups
Purpose
A Working Group is a small group of individuals who serve as the primary contacts and coordinators for a given set of party activities. The use of Working Groups helps to distribute the workload more equitably, makes better use of available volunteers according to their individual gifts, talents and interests, and allows and encourages volunteers to become more involved in party activities.
Make-up
Each Working Groups is made up of committee members and other volunteers and is facilitated by a committee member. Committee members are expected to serve on at least one Working Group, but may serve on as many as they choose.
Activities
The activities of the individual Working Groups vary according to their assignment and the preferences of the members. Some hold regular meetings; others may conduct their business via email or telephone. Some Working Groups are active year-round; others may need to be active only when preparing for specific events.
Current Working Groups & Facilitators
To join a Working Group or learn more about its activities, please email the facilitator.
Volunteers
Facilitator: Beth Shupp-George
Assist Volunteer Coordinator with recruiting and contacting volunteers. Help to call volunteers who do not have email.
Communications
Facilitator Needed - Contact Beth Shupp-George
Message development, Website & Yahoo Group / Email Lists, Press Releases, Letters to the Editor, Print Newsletter
Community Outreach / Visibility
Facilitator: Beth Shupp-George
Organize party participation in community events, such as parades, fairs and festivals. Work with Education and Fellowship Working Groups to sponsor
events open to the public.
Issues / Legislative Action
Facilitator: Clint Barkdoll
Track local, state and federal legislation and keep membership informed. Send action alerts when calls/letters to elected officials are needed. Work with Communication and Education Working Groups to inform the public about pending legislation.
Hospitality
Facilitator: Jere Perry, Jr.
Plan dinners, picnics, Election Night victory parties and other social events. Work with Education and Community Outreach / Visibility Working Groups to arrange refreshments or entertainment for other events, as needed.
Education
Facilitator: Alice Meloy
Book Club, Movie Nights, Discussion Groups, Luncheons, Community/Candidate Forums and Debates.
Finance
Facilitator: Jere Perry, Jr.
Fundraising and budgeting - Dinners, sustaining donors, solicitation letters, new sources of funding
Committee Recruitment
Facilitator: Bonnie Overholzer
Identify and recruit new committee members
Elections
Facilitator Needed - Contact Beth Shupp-George
Identify and recruit candidates for local offices. Assist candidates with petitions and act as liaison between campaigns and committee. Recruit and schedule poll watchers, greeters, drivers, etc for Election Day.
Grassroots Organization
Facilitator: Beth Shupp-George
Precinct organizing, voter registration, Voter Identification, Voter Contact, get out the vote efforts.
Headquarters
Facilitator Needed - Contact Beth Shupp-George
Staffing, scheduling and maintenance of party headquarters.
Employment Opportunities
Facilitator Needed - Contact Beth Shupp-George
Advertise and recruit Democrats candidates from Franklin County for available state, county and municipal jobs. Follow up on the status of job applications and support the appointment of endorsed applicants.
Bylaws
Facilitator Needed - Contact Beth Shupp-George
Review and revise bylaws of the committee.
Strategic Planning
Facilitator: Beth Shupp-George
Develop a strategic plan for the growth and development of the party over the next 5 - 10 years.
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