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View Full Version : Wish Our Movement had the clout of the NRA, Sierra Club, AARP?




Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 03:45 PM
**UPDATE--April 14, 2008**

We are now staging the organization at out "under construction" website: www.FreedomsGround.org This Wednesday, April 16th from 9-11pm EST I will be hosting a Web-a-thon fundraiser live at www.justin.tv/blimpette

I'll be discussing the organization's mission, providing updates as to our progress and answering your questions. I will also have a selection of Freedom related merchandise that I'll be mailing to those who donate at different levels. Please come for a few minutes or the entire two hours. Thank you!

Katharine

http://freedomsground.org/images/FinalUpright.jpg (http://freedomsground.org/WebAthon.htm)
************************************************** *****


Instead of trying to get organizations like the NRA to endorse our candidate we have to create our own organization that has that kind of national legitimacy.

Please read on to find out how we can accomplish this ambitious project together.

You will know our Organization has touched You when...

You are watching tv and a sleek commercial comes on with friends talking about money. Suddenly, you realize that you heard the word inflation and a remarkably easy to understand explanation of how it works like a tax on people's income.

You need to talk to a family member about economic policy, immigration, foreign policy, taxation or other topics and there is a website you can send them to with clearly labeled, approachable, visually pleasing and accurate information from a Constitution based platform with non-partisan, non-sectarian packaging. This site's educational features have the additional benefit of being a permanent fixture that can be subscribed to for free. Your family member can also sign up to receive free periodic e-newsletters and alerts when new educational campaigns begin.

When Osama Bin Laden releases a statement talking about his plans to bankrupt America and shortly thereafter your neighbor sees an ad in the newspaper explaining how that is a feasible plan and describing the foreign policy changes we need to make to avoid playing into his hands and those of other terrorists. Included is a web address where she can find more information about what was discussed in the ad, re-read it (and email the ad to friends) as well as sign up for free informational emails or a membership in our organization.

You mail your friend one of the snazzy postcards we gave you with a comic on it that explains how competing currencies increase the value of the dollar and its competitiveness on the market.


More examples coming soon...


Why form this Organization?


•For Our Country-Freedom isn't a fad. The promise and benefits that follow from our Constitution deserve promotion on every day of every year.

•For Stability-Because independent grassroots, while powerful, tend to see their strength vacillate wildly or dissipate completely between election cycles. This organization will ensure that at least a core of the freedom movement stays strong, united and in communication no matter where we are in the election cycle and no matter who is running. It will also work to further educate our organization's members and mainstream Americans on the underlying issues and advocate activism even when their vote isn't needed for an election.


•For Strength-Stable, powerful and professional national organizations who support certain issues and have large memberships signal candidates, the media and political parties that there is a group of people who they need to be listening to.


•For Our Future-Organizations like ours instantly increase the perception of "viability" for candidates who may otherwise be instantly dismissed as fringe/long-shot candidates. By being in existence we make it more likely that people who would run on a platform in accordance with our organizational policies actually run.


•For Convenience-Because some people have put off their lives for this movement. When this election cycle comes to a close they would happily join an organization that ensures America's continued exposure to these ideas and lets them set their involvement to whatever level is compatible with their other life goals. We will also keep them informed about upcoming candidates and legislation so they can rally when needed.


•For Effectiveness-Even at peak strength there are certain initiatives that really struggle to take off from within grassroots networks. Many of the best grassroots initiatives take weeks or months longer than necessary to get going or never even get off the ground. Often, by the time they come to fruition they are really to late to achieve their initial goals or are too late to do so with the level of organization desired. With the aid the support base, experts and creative talent this organization will bring together, time-sensitive educational, advocacy and activism campaigns can go into place quickly on a national or local level.

That is not to say that the grassroots should not or cannot continue to carry out independent initiatives or that this organization wants to supplant those efforts. This organization will largely be addressing a problem commonly encountered by the grassroots: it is difficult to carry out grassroots initiatives requiring preexisting infrastructure; a well-designed website, large scale fund raising and banking, media contacts, lawyers, groups of people that already have experience working with each other, strategists, graphic designers, video editors, marketing professionals, policy experts, media coordinators and writers.


What are Our Goals and Plans?

Marketing our organizational policies (the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, the Declaration of Independence, a responsible foreign policy, competing/gold-backed currency, strong national defense, immigration reform, free & fair markets, health choice, and more) to Americans like they are a consumer product with positive branding, a simple initial presentation of the information, market research and careful design. Every one of our educational campaigns will clearly answer the question: "How does this particular issue effect individual American people?".

We will begin work on developing the following immediately:


• High-quality, innovative and accurate advertising that educates Americans on the principles that underly our organizational policies. These initiatives may include but will not be limited to (print, television and internet); explanation of our founding documents, the effects of policy and upcoming policy decisions on individual Americans and our country as a whole.


•A well-crafted, intuitive website with a simple follow-up interface that allows those who come to our site after viewing our print or television ads or being to easily find the information they are looking for. The consulting panel of credentialed experts we build will help us break complex political and economical issues into multiple levels. That way we can reach out with a very simple initial level of information and then provide people who we bring to our site with multiple choices as to how deeply they want to dig into the issue. They may also choose an incremental movement through all levels, or even a week of educational emails on the issue, they have control. The site will also provide members and those who already support the platform with a place to send friends and family that will answer their questions and shepherd them into a true understanding of the issues. Members can go to the site for a refresher course or to learn more about the issues. Every educational or advocacy initiative will have its own clearly linked-to area on the website and be presented not only as text in levels but with accompanying graphs, charts, interesting facts, cartoons, comparisons and other features that will clearly illustrate the issue at hand.


What is being done?


•Right now we are working with our legal team, headed by Bradley Smith to get the Federal Tax structures into place for this organization.

•Our name, Freedom's Ground, has been chosen with your suggestions and help from our marketing team.

•We are now incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania as "Freedom's Ground, Inc."

•The marketing/branding professionals at mottoagancy.com are reviewing the name that has been chosen, our organizational goals and policies and are working to create a logo and other initial branding that will help us to reach out effectively and grow as an organization.

•We are working on a permanent website to replace the temporary one currently located at www.FreedomsGround.org


What can You do?


•Visit: Sign up for our email updates so we can keep you informed as to our progress. You will be emailed a special invitation to preview and comment on our new website, name and logo before the general public is invited. At that time you will have the opportunity to sign up as one of our organization's first members.


•Donate to form the Legal Entity : Donating now will ensure the future of this organization. By helping us build on a firm legal foundation with the help of our highly qualified law team you can be assured that disputes with the FEC will not derail our organization

•Donate to fund the Corporate Identity: Donating now will ensure that we have the professional appearance needed to make the right first impression on visitors, which will result in more members and more donors. As soon as our public campaigns begin this logo will help lodge our organization in the minds of those who view our materials so that they will remember to visit our website to sign up and so they will begin to build a rapport with our brand which will be easily recognizable to them.

•Let us know if you are a credentialed expert in any of our organizational policy areas and are interested in becoming a member of our Policy Advisory Board. In addition feel free to refer anyone you feel is qualified to become a member of our Policy Advisory Board.


•Give us your feedback on the information we have provided, make suggestions, email us with further inquiries, volunteer if you want to help us grow. We'll will be recruiting regional and local charter directors as the organization grows so let us know if you would be interested in coordinating a group locally.


•Spread the Word: Tell your friends who are already a part of the movement for freedom and a Constitution based government about this organization and encourage them to sign up for our email updates. We aren't ready for mainstream America yet but with your help we will be soon.





Thank you for your time!

Katharine Memole

Katharine@RonPaulAmbassadors.com

(412) 805-9543

MrZach
02-07-2008, 03:52 PM
Please read. =o)

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=101426

liberteebell
02-07-2008, 03:59 PM
Bump for our future! :cool::cool::cool:

Ryan_G
02-07-2008, 04:06 PM
The endorsement of the Sierra Club is not going to win over any conservatives, not like they would do it anyways. Paul doesn't buy in to their global warming agenda

dsentell
02-07-2008, 04:08 PM
AARP is LIBERAL!!!!!!!!! They will endorse a Democrat (even though they could go with McCain!)

They endorse crazy liberal things. Though I am old enough to join AARP, I refuse to support the ideals they represent . . . .

OferNave
02-07-2008, 04:12 PM
Dumbasses. This has nothing to do with Sierra Club or AARP, McKarnin was using those as examples of powerful political groups that have lots of influence, as an example of the power and operating model she's attempting with this new Liberty oriented organization.

Man, try some reading comprehension.

pennycat
02-07-2008, 04:16 PM
You're the Blimp lady right?

Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 04:21 PM
The endorsement of the Sierra Club is not going to win over any conservatives, not like they would do it anyways. Paul doesn't buy in to their global warming agenda

Ryan, I don't want Sierra, NRA or AARP to endorse us. I am saying that we can play that game. We can BE a Sierra Club, NRA, Moveon.org, AARP in terms of our scope, power and legitimacy. We can run ads, we can underwrite educational programming, we can have celebrities narrate ads for us and promote our organization and have it covered by the "MSM", we can have people making films and submitting them at film festivals about our organizational platform, we can have very high production value print and television commercials, we can have a magazine, we can have a clearly recognizable "brand" that Americans begin to respect as being in the forefront of Freedom education, activism and advocacy.

Why rely on them? The Sierra Club has 1.3 million members, NRA is around 4 million I think, Moveon 3.2 million.....Look at how Ron Paul is doing in the primaries....even if we went with the lowest returns we have over 200million people over 18 in this country. If 1% of them would participate in an organization like this that would be 2 million people. We have to think big and there is no reason not to.

Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 04:23 PM
AARP is LIBERAL!!!!!!!!! They will endorse a Democrat (even though they could go with McCain!)

They endorse crazy liberal things. Though I am old enough to join AARP, I refuse to support the ideals they represent . . . .


Dsentell, I clarified...that's what we could become. You recognized all three organizations immediately, right? What percentage of Americans do you think recognize the Sierra Club, NRA, AARP, Moveon? We could have that kind of name recognition. Moveon is the baby of the crowd...it has only been in existence for 7 years and already has over 3 million members.

Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 04:26 PM
You're the Blimp lady right?


Yes.

MalcolmGandi
02-07-2008, 04:35 PM
Watch "An Idea Whose Time Has Come" on google video. Organizations like this tend to be infiltrated and redirected to left-wing agendas (take the NRA for example).

Tarzan
02-07-2008, 04:37 PM
The endorsement of the Sierra Club is not going to win over any conservatives, not like they would do it anyways. Paul doesn't buy in to their global warming agenda

Go read the original post... you completely missed the entire point.
This has nothing to do with getting an endorsement.

Tarzan
02-07-2008, 04:41 PM
Watch "An Idea Whose Time Has Come" on google video. Organizations like this tend to be infiltrated and redirected to left-wing agendas (take the NRA for example).

The first step in avoiding a trap is to know it exists. ;)
.

Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 04:52 PM
Watch "An Idea Whose Time Has Come" on google video. Organizations like this tend to be infiltrated and redirected to left-wing agendas (take the NRA for example).

Many steps are being taken to keep this on the straight and narrow.

FreeTraveler
02-07-2008, 05:30 PM
I think a "Liberty Foundation" alternative to MoveOn.org is a wonderful idea. I have one specific issue, and a couple of more general ones.

1) All the existing material refers to "Ron Paul Ambassadors," yet you say at the end of the OP that Ron Paul's name will not be used. What's the name, then?

2) How will ideological issues be resolved? Given the mix of "fellow travelers" with Dr. Paul, this organization could be strictly Constitutionalist, minarchist, libertarian, old-right conservative, religious conservative, or even (shudder) socialist if you give Dennis' admirers a seat on the board. How do you define a unifying world view across such a diverse population?

3)Will this organization be working to integrate existing efforts, or will it reinvent the wheel? For example, there are almost 100,000 RP supporters being coordinated thru Meetup, and thousands using RPF as a meeting and planning place. Will you integrate or attempt to replace those two resources?

I believe "forums powered by Liberty Forest, co-ordination via meetup.com" will make this leap to the future more successful. Integration will win over more activists than replacing existing structures.

Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 06:29 PM
I think a "Liberty Foundation" alternative to MoveOn.org is a wonderful idea. I have one specific issue, and a couple of more general ones.

1) All the existing material refers to "Ron Paul Ambassadors," yet you say at the end of the OP that Ron Paul's name will not be used. What's the name, then?

I cannot reveal the name until I have secured all of the legal protections necessary on it.

2) How will ideological issues be resolved? Given the mix of "fellow travelers" with Dr. Paul, this organization could be strictly Constitutionalist, minarchist, libertarian, old-right conservative, religious conservative, or even (shudder) socialist if you give Dennis' admirers a seat on the board. How do you define a unifying world view across such a diverse population?

We are working to bring together a Founding Board (with big names in the history, academic aspect and the present of our movement) and a Grassroots Advisory Council that will bring together individuals from the many different initiatives that really have been/are powerful for Ron Paul and our movement.

As far as ideological issues go..for one, the Board and Council selected will be diverse and work on negotiating and coming to an agreement on a core group of principals that everyone can tolerate even if they don't love it all. We are going to start by just throwing away about 20% of what each faction stands for. That 20% is the part that really fragments us and divides us and keeps us from being as strong as we need to be (many of the groups you mentioned can't even decide amongst themselves). Ron Paul's platform will be the model because he has demonstrated that we don't need perfect agreement on every lifestyle choice, religious preference, etc...there is a core group of values: personal freedom, the Constitution, humble foreign policy, strong dollar, small government, etc... that bring people together. That is what we'll be attempting to capture. You will not see ads about 9-11 truth from our organization, you will not hear the NWO referred to by our organization, we will not talk conspiracies, we will not talk down to people or insult them ("sheeple" will not be in our organizational vocabulary), we will be nonpartisan and nonsectarian.


3)Will this organization be working to integrate existing efforts, or will it reinvent the wheel? For example, there are almost 100,000 RP supporters being coordinated thru Meetup, and thousands using RPF as a meeting and planning place. Will you integrate or attempt to replace those two resources?

We'd love to integrate some things but the Grassroots is understandably protective and possessive of its people. I have been personally contacted by several MeetUp leaders who want to transition into local charter groups of this organization after this election cycle. That's fine and we think that the ongoing educational campaigns, advocacy and activism in our organization will provide motivation and a sense of ongoing purpose to people. We will provide the resources to anyone who wants to set up a local charter group or transition into a local charter for our organization but it will not be by compelling anyone.

As far as the Grassroots go..I am sure that they will continue to take action, form groups, organizations, etc... It's not our place to replace anything done by the Grassroots.

I believe "forums powered by Liberty Forest, co-ordination via meetup.com" will make this leap to the future more successful. Integration will win over more activists than replacing existing structures.

I love the idea of gaining strength through unity. We'll see how good we all are at implementing that.

Tarzan
02-07-2008, 10:33 PM
You can visit the PLANNING site by going here:
http://ronpaulambassadors.com/

Keep in mind this is only the planning location... not the official name or site. Legal stuff still needs to be done to get everything kosher before launching the actual org.
.

Mckarnin
02-07-2008, 11:36 PM
You can visit the PLANNING site by going here:
http://ronpaulambassadors.com/

Keep in mind this is only the planning location... not the official name or site. Legal stuff still needs to be done to get everything kosher before launching the actual org.
.

Right, Ron Paul Ambassadors is the launching pad. We want to get all our ducks in a row legally, get the website set up properly, select our first initiative, have a proper logo, have memberships available, etc... and then launch with a bang.

Tarzan
02-08-2008, 01:56 AM
Hey... did you just add Barry Goldwater to your Board?

Mckarnin
02-08-2008, 01:57 AM
Please read. =o)

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=101426

Zach, Our goal is not to nationalize presidential campaigns or run anyone's campaign. We want to educate Americans and will do advocacy only for truly outstanding candidates.

There is another group: www.freeople.com that is trying to predominantly promote candidates and run campaigns.

Katharine

Mckarnin
02-08-2008, 01:59 AM
Please read. =o)

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=101426

Zach, Our goal is not to nationalize presidential campaigns or run anyone's campaign. We want to educate Americans and build up a national network of support for certain principles and will do advocacy only for truly outstanding candidates.

There is another group: www.freeople.com that is trying to predominantly promote candidates and run campaigns.

Katharine

FreeTraveler
02-08-2008, 08:24 AM
Bump for the cause!

Mckarnin
02-08-2008, 03:08 PM
Bump

Mckarnin
04-14-2008, 05:48 PM
Come visit and ask questions about Freedom's Ground this Wednesday at the live Web-a-Thon fundraiser. Also, get cool freedom related merchandise when you donate.

Also, come hang out with me at www.justin.tv/blimpette every Monday and Wednesday from 9-10pm EST

raystone
04-14-2008, 08:12 PM
How is Freedom Ground different from these organizations, already established with thousands of members, in some cases, and already having an impact ?

www.civilrights.org
www.ccrjustice.org
www.notinourname.net
www.declarationofpeace.org
www.bordc.org
www.downsizedc.org
www.commondreams.org
www.truthout.org
www.globalresources.ca
www.takebackwashington.org

Mckarnin
04-14-2008, 08:36 PM
A brief answer for now:

We are national (as in the US only) but non-partisan and non-sectarian. We will be producing our own very user friendly, approachable and tiered educational materials that are appealing and are easily understandable to average Americans who are not currently involved in activism or experts in the various fields we address (foreign policy, economy, currency, constitution based government, etc..). We hope to empower the electorate quickly with a solid knowledge base about the major issues we face and their relevance to the individual's day to day life. That way they will be equipped to make logical and educated voting and activism decisions for themselves. We will also be promoting continuous education among those who already have some knowledge of these principals to make us better ambassadors for the message going forward. We will be taking our materials and putting them into people's hands through mailings, door to door canvassing of neighborhoods, advertisements, underwritten educational programming on tv, merchandise, sponsored events and through our website which will put clear information at people's fingertips.


I am not familiar with all of the organizations you list (I did take a few minutes to look at each one I had not seen before in brief) but those that I am familiar with on the whole fall into one of these categories; they do not actively pursue the American people with their information (people have to find them/come to them), activism is a primary focus (rather than really giving people enough of an education that they can take well-informed action on their own initiative), their focus is very narrow..in some cases one issue, their information is presented like an academic journal or heavy news site format instead of in a fun-visually appealing way, the site would require hours of time to even begin to grasp the issues that they are discussing and there is not much introductory level information available.

Please respond back if you disagree but I have been looking at a lot of other sites to see what is out there and haven't found anything that is much like Freedom's Ground.

Katharine



How is Freedom Ground different from these organizations, already established with thousands of members, in some cases, and already having an impact ?

www.civilrights.org
www.ccrjustice.org
www.notinourname.net
www.declarationofpeace.org
www.bordc.org
www.downsizedc.org
www.commondreams.org
www.truthout.org
www.globalresources.ca
www.takebackwashington.org

kindled1
04-16-2008, 12:13 PM
Looking forward to tonight's event!!!
9-11pm EST Web-a-thon fundraiser live at www.justin.tv/blimpette

Mckarnin
04-16-2008, 12:25 PM
Looking forward to tonight's event!!!
9-11pm EST Web-a-thon fundraiser live at www.justin.tv/blimpette

Thanks!