[Found in a dumpster behind Party City Outlet Mall on Route 22: first draft of Organizing for America's surefire State of the Union party guide. Hat tip to eagle-eyed iowahawk reader Joe Hansbauer]
Organizing for America volunteers across the country are inviting their friends and neighbors to attend watch parties for the President’s second State of the Union address on Tuesday. If you’re thinking about, or are, hosting a watch party here are our top tips for a successful progressive get-together!
1. Secure a Location
In order to have a party, it is usually a good idea to find a place. The best location for a party like this is your home, your dorm, your halfway house, or your treatment ward. Or you could use a private room in a local restaurant, coffee shop or community center, if the space is normally free for anyone to use. If it isn't free, warn the restaurant owner you know people at the SEIU. Don’t forget where ever you choose you’ll need to be able to watch the President’s speech, so avoid places like abandoned mine shafts and desert islands.
2. Invite People to Your Party
One of the next most important and frequently overlooked aspects to a party is people. First, ask your friends, if you have any. Next, ask people you’ve met on the campaign trail and/or in rehab, and ask them to bring their friends. Now you have the party snowball really rolling! Using the ol' OFA house party rule of thumb, to get 15 guests to come you should invite 800 to 1000 people. Don’t forget to ask everyone to RSVP, because this is fair warning to your guests that you will now be tracking them.
3. Be Prepared
Make sure your internet connection is working, and that you have a computer with speakers, so that you and your guests can watch the event online at WhiteHouse.gov. If you do not have a working internet connection, you can probably "borrow" one from that Republican next door who is probably too stupid to have a WiFi password. Also, if you have an internet connection but no computer, steal one.
4. There Are Never Too Many Reminders
People lead busy lives so don’t be afraid to remind people the day before, and the day of your party. And don't be afraid to remind people afterwards that they missed your party, and that you haven't forgot, and that there will be consequences.
5. Break the Ice
Set out refreshments for your guests before the arrive. This will make them feel comfortable and help them mingle, especially if the refreshments include delicious Rohipnol and Ecstasy. When everyone has arrived and begun mingling, have your guests introduce themselves. Ask everyone to say their name and where they live—people like to know who they’re "mingling" with, and under.
6. Watch the Speech
Set up the room, and make sure you have enough seats, for all your guests to be able to see and hear the speech comfortably. For the people still mingling, suggest various face-forward mingling positions that will allow them to view the speech together.
7. Talk Strategy
After the speech talk with your guests about the best ways to protect the progress we’ve made over the past two years. Think about what you can do in your community—what’s the best way to protect our progress where you live. Offer guests OFA literature, and free OFA personality and e-grams tests. Use the enclosed OFA swirling spiral community organizing hypnodisk if necessary.
8. Let us know how it went
Take photos. We love to see all the people at your events, so take pictures and video of your group and send it in. Especially those candid mingling photos! We super-love those, because it reminds people how much fun they had at your party, and why it is important to contribute money to OFA to help protect our progress and how OFA will protect their candid photos in a safe place.
9. Have fun
This is a great opportunity to spend time and have fun with like-minded people! So please report all your guests to OFA, and make note of any suspicious non-fun having.
