PEGGY
Not sure that she would want to give us more who, of who she is but WOW would I like to.
She is a rare and exceptionally generous member who is concerned that we are not getting the word out about us and what we do and how we do it.
It was one of those quiet moments in our Montana office when you could hear a pin drop, only it was jaws that hit the floor and you could hear it all the way down in our University of Texas offices.
There are not many Peggys in the world. People that have a growing sense of the crucial role Vote Smart will play in the re-birth of our democracy, such funds and a willingness to invest them in the future of the country that transformed the world for good.
It was a $100,000 check and it was paraded around the office with the clanging bell that has become an office fixture used to herald the extraordinary.
Because of Peggy, Vote Smart will be able to promote its new web site, powerful interactive new tools and make presentations and create stories on hundreds of media outlets throughout the nation. We may even able to get to where you are. But if we can’t get there personally we are developing a list of members in every state that can act as Vote Smart Ambassadors - people that are willing to present Vote Smart its powerful new systems to their friends, family and community through the new videos, brochures and viral efforts. Just part of what Peggy has made possible.
REACHING FOR THE STARS
Every Vote Smarter dreams of the world that could be. If only knowledge would ravage ignorance, if reason could master the indifferent, if tolerance could bully prejudice, if only honor could win out.
That is why we do what we do. That is why we converge to lean on the facts, pressing reality forward into a world darkening with deceit.
We need to win, we must win and that is what Vote Smart is all about.
Vote Smart Ambassadors Program! SIGN UP TODAY!
We are excited about the expansion of this citizen outreach group during the coming election year. Please do not underestimate your importance as an Ambassador. Without funds for direct advertising, you will be the primary means by which we can reach others in our community and your circle of friends and family with the powerful new systems you have helped us design to provide citizens with direct access to the facts on every politician, on every issue.
Although they are still test sites not yet available for public preview you can get a taste of these new systems with a few still pictures that I’ve included in this email.
Please do not share them, YET! Many revisions may have to be made.
Please do not share them, YET! Many revisions may have to be made.
I SPY – Available September 2014 - This system allows you to pick any politician then take a magnifying glass, pass it over any of six fact files (Bios, voting records, issue positions, ratings, contributions, speeches), click on the file of interest and watch as the file opens and exposes every fact known in that category, all displayed in chronological or alphabetical order.
VoteEasy 2014 – Available August 2014 – This system allows you to take any congressional campaign and compare the competing candidates on 12 crucial issues facing the nation—as well as comparing their positions with your own!
POLITICAL GALAXY – Available September 2014 – This system will allow you to pick any politician and any issue, then zoom you through the galaxy of political facts to the specific star cluster representing every known fact in all six categories related to the politician and issue selected.
My Vote Smart – Available February 2015 – This system is modestly available to you now on our web site but will be much more dramatic by early 2015. With it Vote Smart can report to you on any politician and any issue of unique interest to you. Every time that politician votes on, remarks on, receives funds or ratings related to that issue, Vote Smart instantly notifies you.
As an Ambassador, you will get to use and preview these new systems once they are operational before the nation’s voters have access to them.
WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO AT LEAST ONE OF FOUR THINGS:
1. AS EACH TOOL IS MADE AVAILABLE WE HOPE YOU WILL HELP US LAUNCH IT BY SHARING IT WITH ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY THROUGH YOUR EMAIL OR OTHER LIST OF CONTACTS.
2. DISTRIBUTE AT LEAST 10 NEW BROCHURES (available end of August) ANNOUNCING THESE POWERFUL NEW TOOLS TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW WELL.
3. SHOW THE NEW VIDEO (available in September) DEMONSTRATING THESE INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS TO CIVIC, SCHOOL AND SOCIAL GROUPS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
4. WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA ABOUT OUR EFFORTS AND YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THEM.
