NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin : Issues : Fact Sheets

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NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation's Wish List

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8/17/2008
Differences surface in McCain-Obama Christian forum

8/14/2008
Think You Know John McCain? His birth control dodge continues

8/14/2008
Cristina Page: Don't assume candidates support contraception

» more choice headlines

8/13/2008
Leading Pro-Choice Organization Endorses Tara Johnson for State Senate in 32nd District

8/13/2008
Leading Pro-Choice Organization Endorses Jessica King for State Senate in 18th District

8/7/2008
McCain Leaves Contraception Question Still in Doubt for Wisconsin Women

» more press releases

How to Host a House Party for Choice

Modified: 11/09/2007

For more information about hosting a House Party for Choice, contact our Development Director, Kate at Kate@prochoicewisconsin.org. She will help you plan your event and give you resources to make your House Party successful.

Thank you for your willingness to host a NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin House Party. Your commitment to protecting the right to choose is much needed and greatly appreciated.

Communicating our values, goals, challenges and opportunities to others is the most important tool we have to protect a woman’s right to choose. Without the knowledge to inform others, pro-choice Americans will be unable to act on their convictions and choice will continue to slip away. Our power to protect choice depends on people like you, who are willing to share their views with friends, colleagues, and family. Our strength is our collective voice.

As part of this effort, NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin will provide the tools to make your House Party a success. Again, we appreciate your involvement with NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and look forward to working with you to plan a fun and productive House Party.

NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin will provide:

• Organizing assistance & planning support

• Sample invitations

• A host script for the event

• A short film or help recruiting a speaker

• Fact sheet and other fun materials such as buttons, pins, bumper stickers, stickers, etc. for your guests to take home

• Donation cards

Your Responsibilities:

• Set the date and place of your event

• Create a theme. Examples: BBQ for Choice, Wine & Chocolates for Choice, Bowling for Choice

• Create a list of 30 to 50 people to invite to your house party. Start with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. Experience tells us that you need to invite two times the number of guests you hope will attend. The ideal number of guests is usually between 15 and 25.

• Consider recruiting a co-host to expand your invitation list. Try to invite an honored guest or elected official to create a draw.

• Send invitations to your guestlist.

• Extend verbal invitations to potential guests with a follow-up phone call or an in person reminder.

• Provide a DVD player and TV, if you are going to show a film.

• Provide light refreshments.

Timeline for Planning Your House Party

4 weeks before your House Party

• Work with NPCW staff to set an attendance goal for you party.

• Compile a list of potential guests, including email and phone numbers and addresses. Consider inviting people you would like to know better and who will not know each other.

• Consider recruiting a co-host to build your list.

3 weeks before your House Party

• Mail invitations or use only resources like evite.

2 weeks before your House Party

• Call through potential guest list and remind them about the event

• Mail any last-minute invitations

1 week before your House Party

• Contact NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin with number of anticipated guests and any questions, concerns and needs for clarification.

• Prepare your comments to welcome and introduce guests. Please include why you decided to host a House Party and why this issue is important to you.

• Make sure you have room for everyone.

• Start planning refreshments

Day before your House Party

• Call through confirmed guest list to ensure attendance, make sure they have directions, etc.

• Make sure your TV and DVD player are working

• Prepare or buy light refreshments

Day of your House Party

• Arrange seating, refreshments and materials. Place sign-in sheet and donation basket close to the front door.

• Relax and enjoy the party.

• Remember how much we appreciate the work you put into this!

After your House Party

• Do an evaluation/debrief with NPCW staff

• Write thank you notes to the guests who attended & gave money

Typical Schedule for a House Party Schedule

6:00-7:00 - Guests arrive, sign-in, mingle, enjoy refreshments

7:00-7:30 - Host welcomes guests, explains why the issues is important to him or her, watch video or listen to speaker

7:30-8:00 - More time to migle and enjoy refreshments.