Bay Area Patriots

Many Bay Area Patriots and Tea Partiers (one and the same) have emailed or called or approached me to ask how they can help. 

Ah, let me the count the ways:

1. Showing up to events…the best way!


2. Money when we need it (i.e., for the July 4^th event, people donated money for the wrist bands, people bought T-shirts which funded the parade expenses, people paid a volunteer registration fee to defray the parade fee.  This will have to function on an ad hoc basis for now; we are not currently set up to take donations, have a bank account, file tax forms.  Maybe someday);


3. Being part of the central planning committee.  At this point, living in or near Marin would probably be advisable so you can attend meetings;


4. Volunteering to help with a specific event, i.e., locating a venue, finding out about permit and other fees, entertainment, speakers, PR, marketing, etc.  This can all be done w/ a few emails or phone calls and usually from your computer;


5. If you don’t live in or near Marin (which most of you don’t), one of the best ways to help is:
   
   • Spreading the word with emails, phone calls, passing out flyers, maybe even posters;
   
   
   • Organizing a core group of people in your geographical area to participate in an event, even possibly coordinating transportation to an event so it is affordable and accessible to all.  This is critical to our survival, growth and ultimately our impact.  While small groups are great for certain events, allowing us all to participate locally, a few hundred here and there will amount to nothing but a lot of fun, networking and venting for us.  But to impact the U.S.A. we need better participation at certain large events to get the word out.  So, for example, if we had been a seasoned group at the time of the April 15^th Tea Parties, wouldn’t it have been more effective if all of the Bay Area Tea Parties met in one location?  We could have had close to 10,000 and with that number and only one location, media might have actually come out and reported (accurately or not is another issue).  Local news would eventually have to report on that kind of event.
   
   
6. If you have a particular talent or business or skill that you could offer, that’s an amazing way to help.  For example, we needed someone to print banners for July 4th.  We really wanted to give the business to a member.  If you have that kind of business, we would have made sure to thank you and spread the word.  Maybe that would generate some business for you.  Of course, any donations or seriously big discounts are preferred.  Ultimately, we’d have to go with lowest price as measured against quality.  But we always prefer to do business with tea partying patriots.


7. And, by the way, some folks still aren’t comfy with protesting or just can’t make the events.  We all get that.  FAMILY, HEALTH AND WORK ALWAYS COME FIRST.  Volunteer another way.  For example, one person helps with graphic designs.  Another with the website.


8. If we don’t have a need today, let me know your talent, business or skills anyway, and I’ll file it away under possible future plans.


9. Here are some things we needed help with this past July 4^th: 
• wrist bands
• party products
• t-shirts
• flatbed truck and generator
• printing brochures or business cards
• banners


10. For July 17^th, we’ll need help with a small PA system and small stage.  Or a bullhorn if the permit fees are too much.  Keep us in mind.


11. The one area where I need A LOT of help is in contacting local media outlets (radio, TV and print).  Anyone can do this from anywhere in the Bay Area.  Let me know.

Again, many, many thanks.