Have you done "Call for Change" with MoveOn?

[Eric J in MN]

I just did it for an hour. It's phoning people about close Congressional races.

It can be done while sitting at home in front of one's computer.

The majority of the calls resulted in answering machines, and we're instructed in that case not to leave a message, just click a button for "Busy/No Answer/Answering Machine" and go on.

A few people seemed annoyed, and we're instructed in that case to click a button for "Don't call again" and go on.

The other calls were sufficiently pleasant.

If you want to try it for an hour (or 1/2 hour or whatever) then click here.

[terip64]

1. Are you asking people for money?

[Eric J in MN]

2. No.

We just remind people who answer that they're planning to vote for the Democrat that the election is in November.

[terip64]

4. I think I will try it. Thanks!

[Eric J in MN]

5. Good luck.

Let us know how it goes.

[Radical Activist]

3. No, I'm involved in a local race.

There are a lot of races in my area and Congress is not all that matters. I knocked on doors for a candidate this weekend, which is more likely to change the outcome of an election.

[sandyd921]

6. Just did 20 calls for MoveOn

Not too bad. The last guy I got mostly wanted to tell me he was annoyed with the TV ads of both candidates, but then said he was going to vote for the Democrat (Chris Murphy).

I'm also doing phone banking for my state and local candidates. It was interesting to hear the perspectives of people in another state.

[PassingFair]

7. That's why I liked it too, Sandy...

...and folks in Pennsylvania (the state we called... I'm in Michigan)were interested
in MY perspective, too.

[Freedomofspeech]

8. Did calls a couple weeks ago to the state of Washington...

from the Pittsburgh area. It was a good experience, but I, too, got lots of answering machines.

[sandyd921]

11. The answering machines

are par for the course with any type of phone banking whether for MoveOn or for your state and local candidates. Those calls go back into the hopper and will be tried again by someone while (in theory) the people that are actually contacted and provide a definite yes or no will not be called again (same for those who won't say and don't want to be called). The undecideds will be tried again.

[Eric J in MN]

12. Why not call the people who said they definitely plan to vote...

..for the Democrat again shortly before the election?

I assumed that is what MoveOn plans.

[sandyd921]

14. You may be right.

Probably should have said that with the definite no's there wouldn't be a return call. That would be a waste of resources. It makes sense to follow-up to make sure people actually go out to vote. On the other hand my experience is that once people say they support the candidate, sometimes they get ticked off with multiple repeat calls. Plus, I wonder if the local or state party is also calling? The coordination between 527's like MoveOn and the party efforts was nonexistent in 2004 (I think there is a legal reason for this).

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. Hosted a party last week for it.

It was pretty good.

[Eric J in MN]

13. Did you show "Iraq for Sale" at the party? (NT)

NT

[woodsprite]

10. I just had my training conference call today. Really anxious

to get started, although I'm going to get a calling card or use my cell phone so I don't tick hubby off too much re: the money for long distance calls. I have over 200 min. a month that I never use and I'm donating them this month and next! He has another plan that has more minutes, so I have a backup if needed.

[Eric J in MN]

15. Is that with MoveOn? (NT)

NT

[Eric J in MN]

16. With two weeks to go, this is a good time to call people....

...so that they can make plans to vote on November 7, 2006.

[Eric J in MN]

17. kick

kick

[Eric J in MN]

24. kick

kick

[Eric J in MN]

18. kick

kick

[smokey nj]

19. I did some calls tonight, I'm going to do more on Friday.

[Eric J in MN]

20. How did it go? NT

NT

[Eric J in MN]

21. Let's get out the vote...

http://pol.moveon.org/phone/volunteer/c4c.html

[Subdivisions]

22. Yes, I have been making calls for a few days now and will

do so right up until election eve.

[Eric J in MN]

23. Thank you. NT

NT

[Eric J in MN]

25. I've done 3 hours so far.

Including another hour tonight.

[Bluzmann57]

26. no cell phone

Yeah yeah, I know, I'm hopelessly behind the times. But I have recieved calls from them and if they can't see fit to at least leave a message when nobody's here, then I have little use for them. It's irritating to see a call on the ID box and there is no message or identification with it. I know it was them because I stopped in the local moveon office which has been set for that specific reason (call for change) and talked to them about it.

[Eric J in MN]

27. I'm using a landline phone for my calls. NT

NT

[Eric J in MN]

28. Please get out the vote.

http://pol.moveon.org/phone/volunteer/c4c.html

This way or another way.