Editing Full Slate Money Bomb (section)

== Letter to Members: (6) ==
''This letter will be individually addressed to each (every?) person who has indicated an interest in being a candidate.  If the letter itself is individually addressed, we should insert the person's name at strategic locations.  We will include a stamped return envelope. It should be set up to go in a window envelope, maybe a separate return form.  We could also include a membership application for potential candidates who have not yet joined the Party.  (Conditional text in the letter could advise them that they must become members first.)''

Dear <<FirstName>>;

What a fantastic time to be a Libertarian! We have an outstanding Leader in Allen Small and an Executive that is motivated and hungry for a chance to spread our message in an election campaign. The excitement in the US for the Ron Paul candidacy for President, and now Gary Johnson, has made people more and more aware of our ideas.

For the first time the Ontario Libertarian Party, your Party, ''The Party of Choice'', is planning to run a full slate of 107 candidates in the next Ontario general election. This will be an historic achievement and will gain us the attention that we have never received before. We have developed a way for any member that wants to be a candidate to do so with a very minimal commitment, just sign a few forms. Of course you can and are welcome to do more – but nobody will push you or expect more from you than for you to put your good name on the ballot alongside the Libertarian Party name so that all voters in Ontario will have the choice to vote Libertarian. We will take care of everything else, even getting the nomination signatures if need be, and dealing with the Elections Ontario paper work. But even with all we can do, we cannot do it without you.  We are asking you to put your name forward. <<FirstName>>, we really need your help!

At present, we have enough members to get this done if most us are willing to help. We do need 107 candidates – so this means we need 107 people to say “Yes!”. We estimate we will need about $10,000 to cover the cost of collecting signatures for those who are not able or prepared to do this themselves (it’s ok – we understand – not everybody is cut out to do this).

Our first task is to find out who is willing to help and in what way. This is NOT a final commitment since the election hasn't been called yet, it is just a way for us to know who to call first when the time comes. Please fill out the enclosed pledge form and return it to us in the envelope provided. If you want more information about our plan, have a look on our website at www.ontariolibertarian.ca/fullslate.  If you are willing to do more, have a look at http://www.ontariolibertarian.ca/content/be-candidate.  

<<FirstName>>, we really appreciate the time you take to think about this and tell us what you are willing and able to do. We would like to pick up the phone and call every single member, but as volunteers ourselves, we just don’t have the time, so this is the best way we could figure to get the job done.

We would appreciate receiving your reply by August 28. Thank you for being a Libertarian.

Jeffrey McLarty, Campaign Director,<br/>Ontario Libertarian Party

=== Candidate Pledge Form ===
''This is a separate page with the potential candidate's name and contact information, to be returned.''

(Logo and Party address, etc. at top of page)

Please make corrections if any of the information below is incorrect. 

 <<FirstName>> <<LastName>>                          Status <<Status>> Expiry Date: <<ExpiryDate>>
 <<Address>>                                         Home <<HomePhone>>  Work <<WorkPhone>>   Cell <<Cell>> 
 <<City>>, ON, <<PCode>>                             Email ID: <<email>> 


Please check one or both of the following, if you are willing and able, to indicate that you pledge to help. These two items are THE most important to us, so please take a little time to think about it, we really really need you to help if you can, with these two items. ''The following will be formatted with check boxes instead of bullets.''

*I will allow my name to stand as a candidate for the party if needed. I understand that all I have to do is sign two forms prior to the election and one form after the election. No pressure will be placed on me to do anything else. What the heck, it’s the least I can do to help. Of course if somebody else wants to do it and is willing to do more, that is just fine, but if you need me to do it, so we give everyone the opportunity to vote for us, I can do that and I will.  
*I will help up by making a donation to the party in the amount of $_____ between now and the start of the election. I know the party needs to raise $10,000 total for this and I am willing to help since I have some money that I can spare. The tax credits really help as well!

Please also consider checking one or more of the following if you are willing and able to help in any of these other ways. Although these aren’t as crucial as the first two, they are also really important, and if you are willing to help in any of these ways, it will make us better.

*I am willing to collect signatures for myself if I am a candidate.
*I am willing to collect signatures for someone else, in my community if needed.
*I am willing to collect signatures in another riding, where I know I might have to take my car or a bus to get there and if the Party can cover my expenses, and maybe even give me a little something for my time, well, I am willing to do it.
*I am willing to put up a few small signs (10 or so) in my community, which will be delivered to me.
*As a candidate, I am willing to attend all candidate meetings, as my schedule permits.
*As a candidate, I am willing to answer media calls / interviews. I will appreciate any help you can provide by giving me the background on our platform and positions. I am a member, but I don’t know everything. If you can tell me how to handle a question where I don’t know the answer that would really help and make me more willing and confident.

In the space below (or feel free to add an extra sheet or two if needed), please give us any feedback or suggestions or comments, or really anything that is on your mind about our Party or even anything else. We will read everything we get back and it will help us to do better as we go forward. Also, and this is VERY important, please check the information at the top of the letter, your address, telephone number and email address and make sure it is correct. If not, also use the space below to tell us what it should be – or send an email to Jim McIntosh at cfo@ontariolibertarian.ca.

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