Instructions to Create Your Own

Thermometer-Style Fundraising Page

The Arlington Joint Campaign has developed a comprehensive Get Out The Vote plan but success hinges on meeting our fundraising goals. You can help by joining our Individual Fundraising Challenge and raise small dollar donations from your friends and family. All the money you raise will be used for on-the-ground activities in Arlington.

To join the Fundraising Challenge you just need to follow the simple 1-2-3 instructions below to create your own fundraising website. You can set your personal fundraising goal and add a thermometer graphic so your family and friends can track your progress.

To help you meet your goal we have provided sample e-mail text following the instructions that can be used to craft your personal message. You can also visit http://www.actblue.com/page/clambarlington to see what others have done.

Thank you for accepting the challenge to Turn Virginia Blue!

Instructions: 7 Easy Steps

1) Go to http://www.actblue.com/page/arlingtondems.  This will bring up the Arlington Democratic Joint Campaign’s fundraising website.

2) Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click on the “Arlington Democratic Joint Federal Campaign” link.

3) Click on the “Create a Page” button.

4) If you are new to Act Blue you will need to register, if you have used Act Blue before you will be prompted to login.

5) You can create your own fundraising page by completing the required boxes and writing your own message on why your family and friends should support our efforts to Turn Virginia Blue.  Once finished, click on the “Create Your Fundraising Page” button.

6) To add a thermometer graphic to your personal page, click on the “Goal” tab.  You can then select your own fundraising goal ($50, $100, $250) and the thermometer graphic of your choice.

7) Once you have finished creating your page you can click on the “Spread The Word” button to send an e-mail to your family and friends.  You can also send a regular e-mail to your family and friends containing the link to your personal fundraising website.

Example E-mail

Dear Family and Friends –

Virginia is one of the most hotly contested states in the upcoming election and Arlington is ground zero.  (Include an optional personal statement of your commitment/reason for voting Democratic)

            I’m working hard to help Arlington Turn Virginia Blue and bring real change to our country.   I have created by own personal fundraising website to support the campaign efforts in Arlington.  I ask that you join me in this important effort by making a donation through my personal website at:

http://www.actblue.com/page/xxxxxxxx (enter you website address here)

            Arlington provided the margin of victory for Jim Webb, helping Democrats take back the Senate.  Arlington can carry Obama to victory, but I need your help to make it happen.  To help us meet our goals, please make a donation at:

http://www.actblue.com/page/xxxxxxxx (enter your website address here)

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Additional Points For Possible Inclusion In Your E-mail:

• Barack Obama has a real chance of being the first Democratic Presidential candidate to win Virginia in over 40 years.
• Arlington County produced a 33,000 vote margin for Jim Webb (72%), more than triple his statewide margin of 9,300 votes.
• In 2008, our goal in Arlington is to increase turnout by 10,000 voters, and to get 80% of the vote for Barack Obama AND Senate candidate Mark Warner!  This will Turn Virginia Blue by providing Obama and Warner with a huge cushion in Arlington!  
• The Arlington Democratic Joint Campaign is the official campaign arm of the Arlington County Democratic Committee – supporting candidates from the school house to the White House.
• Every dollar counts.  $250 lets us print nearly 3,500 campaign fliers, $100 provides enough money for nearly 2,000 phone calls, and $25 lets us send a mailing to nearly 100 likely voters.