[fundraising] Memebership Renewal Calls Letter

[Brian O'Connell]

Hi everyone. It was great to see many of you at the convention.

I am continually revising the Membership Renewal Calls Letter that I send 
out to people I contact on my phone calls. With the convention behind us and 
the campaigns ahead please give me as much feedback as possible so we can 
make these letters as effective as possible. Below is the basic letter that 
I've been sending out recently, please look it over. It's hard to give a 
deadline since I'm sending these out evey week, but let's say that the next 
time I send a batch out will be next Monday.

The 3rd paragraph has a list of elected GRP officials, who have I missed?

I included the 4th paragraph to highlight GRP activities around the state 
after perceiving a general disconnect from all things GRP from the rank and 
file members that I've talked to on the phone. I'd like to develope this 
paragraph more, any suggestions?

Can someone confirm all the people on the slate for me...we should include 
that as well.

It's been said that this letter is too long but I feel that it's important 
to include as much info as will fit since this may be the only communication 
that many people have with the party this year. Many people that I talk to 
do not receive the newsletter or even have a clue as to what's going on in 
the GRP.

Thanks,

Brian O'Connell
cell: 617-947-8983
home: 617-364-9746
vinniechops at hotmail.com

_______________________________________

Dear ,
 
I recently called you about renewing your yearly dues with the Green-Rainbow 
Party; the Massachusetts affiliate of the US Green Party. Your yearly dues 
have recently lapsed and we ask that our supporters make an annual 
contribution to the Party to help us run campaigns, send you newsletters and 
fight for social, ecological and economic justice. As you know, we do not 
accept funding from corporations.
 
Please consider becoming a sustaining donor with a minimum monthly 
contribution of just $10. The regularity of sustainer contributions help us 
to plan expenditures more effectively.  You can send a contribution by mail 
with a check, money order, or by credit card. Simply fill out the 
accompanying form and send it to the address on the letterhead.  Make checks 
payable to "Green-Rainbow Party, Federal Fund." Check off the monthly 
sustainer box to become a sustainer.

We are proud to announce the recent election of Luc Schuster to the 
Cambridge School Board (the first ever Cambridge GRP elected official), the 
re-election of Chuck Turner to the Boston City Council and the re-election 
of Bruce Menin to the Newburyport School Committee. We also helped to 
connect and empower many low-income movements across the state in the 2005 
March To Abolish Poverty last summer from June 17 to July 4 
(www.abolishpoverty.net).
 
Across the state, GRP members are active in many area of struggle; fighting 
for and winning a community preservation act in Waltham, collecting 4,500 
signatures for city funds to be divested from companies supplying Israel in 
Somerville as well as opposing the B.U. bio-weapons lab being built in 
Roxbury. This lab will impact communities of color most heavily, but will 
place the entire city at risk.  Nashua members are engaging in counter 
recruitment, Berkshire members have started a Honduras solidarity group and 
the Cape Cod local is focusing on public financing. The Mystic River GRP 
chapter is spearheading initiatives on education, the school committee race 
and media; low income activists have also been fighting for justice in 
Concord, Maynard and Acton.

Even more importantly than your financial support we ask you for 
your activism and participation in our struggle for a Just, Peaceful 
and Sustainable world, starting right here in Massachusetts. We are runnning 
a diverse slate of candidates in Massachusetts’s elections in 2006. It is at 
the local level that we can make the most impact with our party. We just had 
our Nominating Convention at Clark University in Worcester on March 4. We 
also need 40,000 registered Green-Rainbow Party members for us to gain 
permanent party status in the state. Please make sure that you are 
registered “J” for GRP. Please use the enclosed registration form to change 
the party affiliation of yourself, a friend or relative.

Thank you for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
 
Brian O'Connell, Fundraising Associate, MA Green-Rainbow Party
 
P.S. It might be easier and quicker for you to respond online. Simply go to: