[fvc-wat-disc] FAIR VOTE OUTREACH

[Dave Arthur]

Hi everyone,
Thanks David for the outreach plan.
We also need to keep up the response to the anti-PR columns that appear in the media.
I’ve attached the latest one that was in the Toronto Star yesterday.
It needs to be responded to.
The whole idea of blaming dictatorships and right-wing extremist influence on PR is very misleading.
Not only did Canada have 17 small single-issue parties get collectively less than 1% of the vote in 2015, well below the thresholds of most PR countries, 
but we now have two virtual dictators in Trump and Ford winning in demonstrably poor electoral systems.
Letters?
Dave A

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: David dirks
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2018 11:55 AM
To: FVC Waterloo Region Discussion
Subject: [fvc-wat-disc] FAIR VOTE OUTREACH



Hello Fair Voters.


Apologies in advance for the length of the email!

 
It has been awhile.  With summer almost behind us, I thought it was time to reconnect on our outreach strategy.  Some may recall that over the past 18 months or so, we have invited you to identify organizations, groups and individuals in our community which/who share like interests to ourselves.
 
Our goals remain to
 
* create awareness of FVC-Wat 
* offer an opportunity to further educate about PR & the issues 
* invite endorsement of our work with an invitation to engage or join with us in the future
 
We have had some success in connecting with different groups, who have received presentations and now follow our work.  Based upon our experience, we are tweaking our approach slightly.  Rather than focus on one area at a time (eg., income inequality), we are moving to an open invitation.  



After a summer hiatus, many of the groups & organizations to which we belong are starting up again.  So, we simply ask that if you are aware of or are involved with a group, which would be interested, please let us know.  We all understand that in countries with PR, there is less income inequality, women are better represented in government, action on the climate change is greater, there is less "policy lurch" and so on. 

Our target is coalitions or groups, agencies, perhaps church social action committees and key leaders in our community.  Ideally they have some community profile and the potential for outreach themselves. 

 
We would follow up with the identified group or individual to:
 
* describe who we are & our goals
* talk succinctly about the benefits to good policy of a PR system
* speak briefly and specifically to the area of interest of the group or individual
* articulate our asks (endorsement; opportunity to learn more about PR; invitation to join with us)
* provide contact name (s) for follow-up.


This is an exciting time for PR.  The referenda in BC and PEI.  The commitment of political parties in Quebec to introduce PR.  The reaction to the Ontario election and the impact of our electoral system.  We are seeing some very timely media coverage, which may spark further interest in our community.

 
So as always WE NEED YOU!  do you know any groups, agencies or individuals which fit our criteria?  An interest in the issue, community profile, community connections, key leader. If you think of one, please let us know.  We will need the name of the individual/group/agency; (e)mailing address (if possible); contact name to whom we direct any follow up (very important).


Thank you in advance.


Yours in electoral reform....


David Dirks

daviddirks at rogers.com


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