Tips for Hosting

A few simple tips for hosting

Planning on hosting a watch party? Sharing dinner or drinks with friends? Become a Community Hub Host and build progressive power in state legislatures at the same time! Invite your friends to gather with you in solidarity, and donate what they might pay for a dinner date to our candidates or partner organizations ($5 or $500, every dollar counts). States Win MA-RI will supply you with unique donation links and a candidate or organization dossier; we can also assist with event invitations and RSVP management, and provide tips for a successful night.  

2 weeks before the event:

• Invite your friends and neighbors. A personal phone call or email is often best.

• Plan the details of your event. Potluck, cocktails, game night, craft party, community walk, wild debauch -  it's up to you!

• Let us know if you’d like us to create an event page to help you manage RSVPs. 

• Decide if you’ll keep the event private, or announce it to volunteers in the States Win community.

1-2 days before the event:

• Send a reminder to your guests 24 hours before your Shindig (if using our event system these reminders can be sent automatically).

• If you’re joining a scheduled States Win virtual event as part of your Shindig:

  • Be sure to RSVP for that event and save the Zoom connection link (we recommend adding it to your calendar).

  • Whether you plan to stream the event on your laptop or hook up to a larger screen, test out your computer setup.

• Stock up on food, drinks, games (all you really need are a few friends around your kitchen table).

• Prepare materials for the shindig:

  • Review our event handout, which includes information about the organizations/ candidates we’re supporting; a link to a detailed dossier; and your unique ActBlue link.

  • Print a dossier for the candidate/partner organization for guests to read.

  • Decide how you will share the donation link with guests (email, text, a computer set up for donations, QR code on handout). We can help you figure out the best option for you.

Day of event:

• Ask for donations early in the Shindig. It’s easy to get caught up in conversation and forget to collect $$ before guests start to depart!

• Create a QR code (we can help) or set up a computer or tablet with the ActBlue page where people can donate (online donations are easiest to manage). 

• Print out check donation forms to have on hand (as with the ActBlue page, these will include questions required by campaign finance law), Note: Cash donations are not allowed.

Keep the momentum going:

• Check in with us after your Shindig re: your event donation totals, so that you can publicize to guests! (We can provide the total your guests donated using your unique ActBlue link; you can report the total received from guests using check donation forms). 

• Ask your guests if they might be willing to host the next Solidarity Shindig. The goal is to keep the momentum going until we flip the balance of power!

• Post pictures of your event on social media to encourage others to participate. Remember: courage, and carousing, are contagious!