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The mission of the Reynolds Institute is to provide an opportunity for young people interested in public service and party leadership to educate themselves about how to best achieve their goals and prepare for the future. Recognizing the necessity of continually inspiring and preparing the next generation of candidates for elected office, the Young Democrats have partnered with the Democratic Party of Virginia, Democratic House Caucus, and Democratic Senate Caucus to present the Reynolds Institute. Participants in the Reynolds Institute will meet one Saturday a month for 10 months. The program will cover the following topics:
I. Life in the Shoes of a Legislator - An Insider's Perspective
Building your resume and networking to run for office.
A. Civic Engagement (Boards, Commissions, Etc.)
B. Party Activism
C. Career Choice, Development, and Profess
ional Political Involvement
D. Philanthropy
E. Sororities & Fraternities
F. Continuing your Education
G. Leadership Development
II. Running for Office - The Mechanics of the Process: An Overview
A. Waiting your turn or knowing when the time is right
B. The Nomination Process
C. Building a Strategy to Win
1. You are the CANDIDATE, not the Campaign Manager
2. Putting a team together: The role of a campaign manager, consultants, other staff, "opinion leaders", volunteers, and spouses
3. A Campaign Plan
4. What is my win # and precinct by precinct win scenario?
5. Where am I going to find these voters?
6. Targeting/Lists/Voter File
III. It's Gonna Cost How Much? An overview of expenses and how to raise the dough.
A. Average cost of general election campaigns for various offices.
B. Fundraising (Scott Gale)
1. Staff
2. Rolodexing
3. Large Gifts (meetings)
4. Call-time
5. Events
6. Direct Mail/Email/Internet
C. Campaign Finance Law/Disclosure/Databases (David Poole)
IV. Polling & Crafting your Message (Lake, Brodntz, Secrest)
A. Why polling is important and what you learn from it
padding-left: 30px;">B. Reading a Poll
C. Sharing the Results (or not)
D. What is a Message? Ans: More than a slogan
E. Your image/Strengths plus Issue(s)
V. Methods of Mass Communication Part One
A. Direct Mail
B. Email & Website (Peter Feddo w/ NGP)
C. Paid Phones
VI. Methods of Mass Communication Part Two
A. TV
B. Radio
C. New Media
VII. Press/Earned Media/Debates
A. Public Speaking 101
VIII. Getting in the Trenches and Talking to Voters One on One: A Grassroots Field
Operation
A. Knocking on Doors: A Paid Canvas Program + Volunteers + Candidate (Chap)
B. How you should be spending your time - Knowing When to Go and When to Say No: Scheduling to Win.
IX. How Elections are Lost and where they went wrong: A retrospective look at what
could have been (Sabato)
A. Modern history of Virginia Politics/Government and the Democratic Party
Philosophy
