The National Message:
The Modern Whig Party is America’s first Value-Added Methodology Party. Revived by Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans in 2007, Modern Whigs are a 21st century reincarnation of the original party of Abraham Lincoln. Modern Whigs accept as the underpinnings of the Modern Whig Philosophy, the ancient Whig beliefs in statesmanship, individualism, unemotional objectivism, and ethics. We believe the only way to enable these elements within a political body, is to build a value-added methodology party. As a party founded by Veterans, we implicitly acknowledge selfless service to the Republic and its citizens’ trust. We believe a non-fringe political party has a responsibility not to control their base through ideology, but rather to build rules, structure, and tools to enable an individual in their democratic and civic duties. The party does not independently take stands on issues; we are here to enable a more proper framing of the problems and a more rigorous citizen-driven process to solutions. We believe our methods-based solution is the only viable option for a successful party whose mission is disruptive innovation within American Politics.
What is a Value-Added Methodology-Based Party?
The Modern Whig Party seeks to eliminate ideology from the political landscape by providing services we call ‘value added’ within a party infrastructure. Value-added tools, structures and rules are aimed at enabling the individual to engage in their civic duties. It boils down to making political involvement rational again for the citizens; rational in that they make a difference, rational in that their opinions and voices are heard; rational in that they grow as civic individuals. A person wishing to become a candidate for office will have places to go and build solutions, a profile, skills, knowledge, and a base. The members not interested in running for office will have tools putting them in contact with members who do wish to run someday, and have their opinions heard. Everyone will have areas to go and research, debate, engage in collaborative polls and solve current issues. Their interaction is governed by the party. For example, public character attacks are not allowed within the party. Debaters must stick to the debate topics not the individual they are debating. This in an example of a rule within our methodology that helps provide an environment where open debate is accepted and emotional debate is discouraged.
Once an interview is complete, a recommendation with information is provided via the Executive Committee’s Regional Chair to the greater Executive Committee and voted on. Upon the close of the vote the person is considered a Lead State Organizer, sometimes called a chairman.
PHASE 1: Launching
STARTING EVENT: Appointment by EC team of persons position
LAUNCH: Introduce yourself to your state Members, and keep communicating
Obtain current state membership list from your Regional Executive Committee member,
and mass email you’re state membership letting them know that you are launching the party and some first steps you will be taking. Then keep them up to date every 2-4 weeks with a party update. Encourage face to face meetings whenever possible. Remember, “all politics is local”.
Build a state website
Purchase a good domain name. Most states are two letter initials with whig(s).org such as gawhigs.org or cawhigs.org. If you state is a short name like Texas you can probably spell the whole thing out. Acquire the skills either by learning or obtaining the help of someone with skills in web design. Other organized Whig states and your REC (Regional Executive Committee member) can help with that. Your website should be clean, clear, without major mistakes in grammar or spelling, and should re-establish the message of the party. Establish an “edit chain” and upload the doc to Whig Ops for review. This way we all can manage our brand, and one coherent voice. You may add video capability or a join the party page too. Use the website to link to news and updates on the party, HOWEVER do not use your state website as a personal blog. Get a personal blog site for that do not utilize your state website.
Build a Short and Medium Term Strategy
Utilize this document and apply to your state party. Lay out timelines and goals with definite end dates. Don’t be afraid to adjust in the middle of your execution, and make sure your strategy is on WhigOps and communicated to your Regional Executive Committee Member. Part of this process will have you getting informed with your local and state election laws and ballot access to begin to formulate your electoral strategies. Get Approval of Executive Committee and support from fellow state leaders on your strategy Bring your strategy to your fellow team members and let them vet your ideas and timelines. Utilize our collective knowledge base to improve your strategies. Our whole organization is managed as teams or project teams. Foster this “cellular” and organic structure from the beginning.
Begin pulling in a small leadership group
Begin filling people into leadership roles who understand and who can communicate the message. Get people involved where their talents and motivation can be maximized. Leaders will exhibit natural initiative, and know what needs to be done. Yet, other volunteers are required, as the tasks will mount quickly. You have to know who needs simple instructions, and who can improvise. Like any organization, ours will likely move towards the “80/20 rule”, although initially it would be near the inverse. As a state coordinator or Chairperson, your ability to quickly “size up” a new recruit will make for a more effective operation. This clearly applies to all levels of leadership. Yet, this is also a near “rank less”, very cellular organization. Each citizen coordinator has an equal vote and say. This open structure allows ample opportunity to contribute human capital, to each new Whig’s ability, desires and needs.
ENDING EVENT: Accomplished all elements of Phase 2 and begins researching legal requirements of state registration.
PHASE 2: Formalizing
STARTING EVENT: Begin work on By-Laws
Build and ratify By-Laws of the Political organization
You will need by-laws in order to register with the state. You do not need to make them from scratch, take a look at some of the other state models as well as other parties. You don’t need to over complicate them. Research legal requirements for establishing the Legal entity of your state Whig organization and execute Each state is different in registering to become a political entity, research in your own state the requirements. In most cases, formal incorporation is not necessary, but it preserves the corporate name and does provide some shield from liability. Except, as in states like New York, where the Treasurer is held personally liable. Operationally, a state treasurer is a key function, including initial registration with the Board of Elections.
Research ballot access rules within your state
Each state has unique ballot access rules. This will affect your strategy big time. In some states you will be able to run candidates as part of your growth strategy, in other states you will not be able to rely on the campaign trail as a way of growing the party. Our overall national strategy is to continue to push for greater ballot access and possibly some national testing of alternative voting.
Open a bank account under new entity and begin accepting donations
Once you have registered with the state, open a bank account and begin researching financial requirements on taking funding. Reach out to the national finance chair as well as any other states who are ahead of you in the growth phases for guidance. Corporate contributions are TABOO, and ill advised. Stick to individual citizens for donations. A full record of the donator must be obtained. Full name, address, citizenship, over 18 acknowledgement, and at donations greater than , typically $50 ( it varies), we will also employer and occupation.
Build capable Leadership Group
Begin to fill in your leadership team, including the county chairman. We go back to our comments about “sizing up” recruits and volunteers. HR/personnel is a key component of a state coordinators or chairperson role.
Begin building your Methodology based approaches
Research other Whig States processes and methodologies.
Remember, this is an organic, cellular movement, not a pre ordained franchise in-a-box. The combined learning curves and experience of all the state organizations are freely and openly available, but we encourage self discovery! Your state may invent an even better “mousetrap”!
ENDING EVENT: Begin first big marketing campaign in state.
PHASE 3: Consolidating and Growing
STARTING EVENT: Need to launch of first marketing campaign
Build the State Methodology structures, tools, and rules
Begin putting down your long term goals within your state methodology. This will give you the opportunity to customize the party for your state around smart methodologies that either you can invent, research, or borrow from the other Whig state parties. Take a closer look at Indiana and Georgia currently. We also encourage the use of a formal business plan so that short term goals, targets and objectives are clearly articulated and measureable.
Begin marketing the party in broad sense
Open up to local media, invite them to take a look at an entirely new party. No one has any negative connotations of the Modern Whig Party so marketing can be easy out of the gate. Use historical references to the Whigs of old in your state if it helps convey the message.
Pull together some key candidates that could be viable and electable people Begin looking into how you choose your candidates. Some of the methodology parties will have different ways of working in this arena.
Begin obtaining ballot access
Organize around a candidate and start researching strategy to get your candidate on a ballot.
ENDING EVENT: Obtain Ballot Access for the first time.
PHASE 4: Operational
STARTING EVENT: Ballot Access obtained
Run the candidate/s and win!
ENDING EVENT: Win first election…
…AND PERMANENTLY CHANGE GOVERNMENT AND THE NATURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
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