DFA training nuggets; robocalls explained

Selene Hofer-Shall trains us on campaign finance


Democracy for America had one of its training academies this past weekend, and your blogger was among four people who went from Miami. Wendy Sejour, Michael Calderin and Georgi Blumenthal and I now are much better campaigners! There were over 120 people in Tampa from around Florida for two long days of sessions plus a social event Saturday night where DFA national head Jim Dean gave an inspiring talk.

Down among the nuts and bolts of the training were these rules for when to do phone-banking and when to canvass. Anyone dispute this experienced-based wisdom?

Phone-banking:

• Monday-Thursday, 9a-noon, 4p-9p
• Saturday, 10a-2p
• Sunday, 1p-5p.

Walking:

• Monday-Thursday, 4p-dark
• Saturday, 10a-2p
• Sunday, 1p-5p.

The trainer, Helen Strain, didn’t recommend Friday at all. Phone-banking helps reach people in rural areas and gated communities. Do the walking canvass where you actually reach people by knocking on doors. And that’s what works: direct voter contact.

Asked about robocalls, she preferred to use them only in calling to answering machines. Many of us trainees were surprised to hear that robocall technology can cut off the call when a real person answers – to avoid the annoyance factor. (This may explain those calls that hang up as soon as you speak.) An exception might be when there’s a need to respond to the opponent’s negative robocall; then you hope for a live listener to your response.

All the pro trainers seemed to have the same rule of thumb: if you need 20 volunteers, you have to get 40 to say yes. And maybe means no. Are we such an inconstant crowd? They also were quite negative about yard signs and honk-and-waves. “Signs don’t vote,” they said, and, “Is that a Democratic highway?” Food for thought.

If you ever have a chance, take the DFA Training Academy. If nothing else, the dynamo Arshad Hasan is a great training director. And if you can’t spare a weekend for it, there are the online sessions, which will be starting up again in the fall. Here's the link to DFA Nightschool.

Beyond that, for training, call 305 477-4994 and ask for BJ Chiszar. He'll come and train you at home if that's what you need.

Click here for an article in the St. Pete Times covering the event.