Free State Project Lights of Liberty

Free State Project Lights of Liberty

While the FSP generally recruits self-identifying libertarians, during our outreach efforts we frequently have to explain what libertarianism is. There is no sense in our re-creating educational materials when other organizations have already done a good job of it. One of the most famous tools is The World's Smallest Political Quiz (TWSPQ), which The Advocates for Self-Government incorporate into their Operation Politically Homeless kits. The FSP has procured a large amount of OPH materials; please contact our Events Coordinator if you are interested in using some. As described below, The Advocates offer some additional incentive for making use of them. It should not be difficult to find a receptive audience. In Cato Policy Analysis 580, The Libertarian Vote, David Boaz and David Kirby report finding "9 to 13 percent libertarians in the Gallup surveys, 14 percent in the Pew Research Center Typology Survey, and 13 percent in the American National Election Studies, generally regarded as the best source of public opinion data." Find a sleeping libertarian and wake him up!

The Advocates' Lights of Liberty Program

The Advocates for Self-Government recognize people who have spread the word of liberty by numbering them among the Lights of Liberty. There are three ways to qualify: 3 or more published letters to the editor 3 or more speeches 3 or more Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) booths Do all three, and you've completed the "Libertarian Triathlon". The FSP strongly encourages its volunteers to support The Advocates' LoL program. This is truly a great way to structure outreach efforts. Be sure to take a photograph and record notes about how things went. In this way we can share experiences and improve our effectiveness.

OPH Best Practices

Of course, the goal of running an OPH booth is not just to get your name on a list, but to educate people and sway them in the libertarian direction. Time has shown that some ways are more effective than others, with the most important factors being where, who, and how. The Advocates offer a downloadable set of OPH Manuals. Below are a few more tips. Where: In general, you want to run an OPH booth in a place or at an event with a large number of people with time to spend on you. The bulk of the people should be neither already self-identifying libertarians (e.g. an LP convention) nor unlikely libertarians (e.g. a Brady Campaign conference). Ideal candidates are single-issue freedom events, e.g. for gun rights, industrial hemp, educational freedom, etc. Who: obviously, it helps if you are extroverted, charismatic, cheerful, and all that. Know yourself: if you are not the right personality type, compensate for it, or turn your attention on other outreach methods (e.g. LTEs). How: make sure the booth is in a place where people feel comfortable stopping by for a while.

FSP Participants Among the 2005 Lights of Liberty

FSP participants are of course among the most active libertarians, and it is no surprise that many of them appear on the LoL list. Below are some that we have recognized, but there are probably many more:

• Ian Bernard
• Fred Childress
• Brian Sullivan
• Hardy Machia

Community Liaison Outreach

Community Liaison Outreach
Ideas and Options

by Jean Alexander • 11/17/04

Basic Communication

• Set up a Yahoo group for your community. I have FSPHomeschooling and we cover homeschooling and education issues.

• Promote your Yahoo group ... on the FSP forum, in other related email lists, bulletin boards, forums, etc.

• Use your FSP email address, the FSP website address, FSP slogan, link info for your group.

• whichever of these works best for you -- in your email signature line.

• Join email lists, bulletin boards, other forums related to your community. Comment on FSP as appropriate.

• Do regular internet searches on your topic (once a week is probably enough). Share information with your communities. If a story hits a particular nerve, consider forwarding it to Publicity/Advertising for consideration for a shadow ad.

• Write LTEs and other responses to articles on your community.

• If you're a radio listener watch out for talk radio programs related to your community, listen to them and be prepared to call in!

Community Leaders

• Write, email or otherwise contact leaders in your community. Introduce them to the FSP and, if reasonable, obtain an endorsement from them. (If an endorsement is obtained communicate with Chris about getting that posted on our website.)

Essays

• Write an essay related to your community which can conclude in a demonstration of how FSP can be a solution. Essays can be posted on our website, submitted to various e-zines or magazines, etc.

Other

• Create a website related to your community.

• Carry FSP web cards, trifolds, etc. with you to hand to interested folk.

• Join/volunteer for organizations with similar missions. For instance, Evan Nappen, our guns rights liaison, volunteers for and is on the Board of the NRA.

Conferences/Presentations

• Create a list of conferences and/or groups to which presentations could be made.

• Create template materials that could be used at conferences and/or presentations (In particular make a community tri-fold. Samples for gun rights and homeschooling/education attached.)

• Create a community DVD that can be played at conferences, mailed to key people, etc.

• Network with local groups, speakers group, and other volunteers to attend these conferences and presentations.

Approach

I look for lead ins and don't offer information completely unsolicited. I don't want to be considered a spammer. I want to target folks who are already open to the idea of smaller government and more liberty.