Join AAUW at the 2012 Political Conventions!

The AAUW Action Fund’s It’s My Vote: I Will Be Heard voter education and turnout campaign represents an unprecedented investment in making women’s voices heard in the 2012 election. Follow us on Twitter and on Tumblr for the latest updates, and check out our biweekly Campaign Update for news, resources, and ideas.

Lisa’s Maatz’s view at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

With Saturday’s announcement of Rep. Paul Ryan as Gov. Mitt Romney’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, all eyes are turned toward the presidential nominating conventions, where each party’s candidate will formally accept the nomination and lay out his vision for the country. The Republican National Convention takes place in Tampa, Florida, later this month, and the Democratic National Convention will be held one week later, after Labor Day, in Charlotte, North Carolina. AAUW Public Policy and Government Relations Director Lisa Maatz will be representing AAUW at both conventions, and we want to know if you’ll be there too!

If you’re attending either convention, let us know by filling out this RSVP form so we can have an even stronger AAUW representation at events. We can even send you AAUW stickers and buttons to hand out! If you’re not able to attend the conventions in person, join the action from home by hosting convention watch parties.

If you’re hosting a convention watch party, here are a few ideas:

• Check the convention schedules to choose an event around which to plan your party. You can’t go wrong with choosing the nominee’s acceptance speech as your focus — Romney is expected to deliver his acceptance speech during prime time on Thursday, August 30, and President Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech during prime time on Thursday, September 6. Another option is the keynote address. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will deliver the keynote at the Republican National Convention — the exact speech date has not been announced — and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention during prime time on Tuesday, September 4.
• Another important component of a convention watch party (or any party, for that matter!) is party favors. We at AAUW have got you covered on that one. E-mail us at VoterEd@aauw.org to request It’s My Vote: I Will be Heard stickers, postcards, buttons, and other materials. The postcards are my personal favorite — each includes a voting pledge and issue-interest section. In a few months, when the elections are right around the corner, you can send your party attendees their previously completed postcard as a reminder to vote!
• And what’s a party without a few games? I recommend the ol’ standby of bingo — with a slight twist, of course. Make your own bingo board ahead of time so that each square contains a word or phrase you expect to hear in that night’s convention speeches. Your guests can play the game while watching the speeches by placing a marker on the appropriate square when that word or phrase is used. I’ll leave it up to you to choose the prize for the winner!

Whether you’re attending the conventions, hosting a watch party, or simply mingling at a neighborhood event, now is the time to engage family, friends, and women in your community to discuss the issues and the candidates’ stances. AAUW has launched an ambitious and exciting campaign to educate and mobilize women voters, especially young women of the millennial generation. Learn about the It’s My Vote: I Will Be Heard campaign on the AAUW Action Fund website and through the biweekly campaign update, and get involved by attending a training event, sharing the campaign’s public service announcements and social media feeds, or registering voters! E-mail VoterEd@aauw.org with any questions.