From the Rural Ground Game (author: Steven Taylor)
Rural GroundGame: Energizing Democracy in Rural Virginia
Imagine a vibrant rural Virginia where every voice is heard, and every community thrives. At Rural GroundGame (RGG), we’re on a mission to bring democratic ideals to life by empowering everyday citizens to lead change where it matters most.
RGG utilizes traditional communication tools to engage community members, such as postcards, telephone calls, door-to-door canvassing, news articles, and advertising through local media. One of the primary goals of the organization is to build local capacity by engaging those who live in rural neighborhoods to create a grassroots movement. After all, who knows local issues better than the people who live in these communities?
The Power of Candidate Recruitment
A keystone element of RGG’s grassroots effort is candidate recruitment for political office. Nationwide, Democrats continue to lose rural areas to Republican candidates, as elections in Virginia have also demonstrated. Too often, rural counties do not have Democratic challengers to an already entrenched Republican system.
But we’re changing that story—together! By identifying and empowering passionate, community-focused individuals, we are paving the way for fresh perspectives and solutions. You could be the spark that brings your community’s next great leader into the spotlight.
Finding and Supporting Future Leaders
Candidate recruitment involves working with local communities to identify potential Democratic candidates who may be interested in running for office. Volunteers conduct research to find community activists who’ve participated in town events, park and open space initiatives, civic organizations, sports organizations, community planning, and more.
After a potential candidate is identified, volunteers research the candidate’s political affiliations to ensure their support for democratic ideals. If everything checks out, the candidate’s name is provided to the “Contact Team” to discuss and measure their interest in running for office. As you might suspect, many react by saying, “Oh no, that’s not me.” But with a little encouragement and learning about support from RGG, they may agree to help their community in a different capacity.
Volunteer Teams: The Heartbeat of Change
Our volunteers are the heartbeat of this movement. Whether uncovering hidden gems of leadership in local communities or inspiring future leaders to step up, they are the driving force behind real change. To help volunteers navigate the recruitment process, detailed instructions and protocols have been developed.
Research Team: The Community Detectives
The first step for volunteer researchers is to select a “House” or “Senate” voting district to begin their work. Volunteers enter their selection into a shared spreadsheet to avoid research duplication. This shared spreadsheet contains multiple tabs with additional instructions and data fields to enter collected information.
Next, volunteers conduct Internet searches for individuals who serve on boards, community volunteers, civic award winners, teachers of the year, and more. Armed with nearly 20 community groups to explore, they uncover potential candidates.
After some names have been collected, a quick search on VoteBuilder identifies a person’s political affiliation to help narrow down the list. The shared spreadsheet includes columns for VoteBuilder information as well as additional insights from social media or newspaper articles.
When the worksheet is complete, the volunteer researcher hands off the collected information to the “Contact Team” to initiate contact with prospective candidates.
Contact Team: The Voices of Opportunity
The Contact Team is responsible for developing a recruitment message and having the first conversation with the potential candidate. Think of yourself as the spark that ignites someone’s journey into leadership. Your energy, passion, and belief in their potential will make all the difference.
It’s essential that Contact Team members are comfortable talking with people they don’t know. Potential candidates are being asked to take on tremendous responsibility, and there will naturally be some reluctance. That’s where your enthusiasm and excitement about the opportunity can turn doubt into determination.
Call to Action: Join Us in Building a Movement
Are you ready to help shape the future of rural Virginia? Join us. Whether you’re a natural sleuth uncovering future leaders or a confident communicator inspiring people to step up, there’s a place for you at RGG. Together, let’s spark a movement, inspire new leaders, and build a brighter future!
Contact Hello@ruralgroundgame.org
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