(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . What is virtual phone-banking? How it works [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-10-12 It’s a tight race (which, remember, we’re winning) and I get it, people are nervous. I saw a bit of a doom spiral in some quarters yesterday. Sitting on social media or debating about polls in diary comments here all day isn’t going to do anything – not a thing – to beat Trump. Volunteering will, though, and it will make you feel better, but I suspect some people might be a little hesitant. Again, I get it. It’s a little nerve-wracking putting yourself out there. I understand that trepidation but once you take that step, everything gets easier, and you could be volunteering somewhere TODAY. The Wonderful World of Virtual Phone Banking I thought it’d be good idea to de-mystify one specific type of volunteering, so this diary focuses on virtual phone banks. If you’re never tried, I think once you understand how simple it is, you might be more willing to. TL;DR it doesn’t involve a lot of effort on your part at all. Joining A Session Let’s assume you sign up (links below). Once registered, somebody will email and/or text you links and time to join. This is usually a Zoom meeting (download ahead of time here: https://zoom.us/download ). You can keep your camera off. Sometimes I’ll join with it on, sometimes I’m having a bad hair day so it stays off. You’ll meet the supervisor and other callers and get acquainted with the call script and the application used to manage the call lists. The campaigns all use the same 2 or 3 website-based, (very similar) platforms. Like Zoom, you’ll want to log in to the call site ahead of time because there’s usually a confirmation process you have to step through. Once you’re in, though, you can usually use the same login again. The supervisors usually keep the Zoom meeting open in case you have any questions or want message with other volunteers in the chat box. Calling A typical phone bank screen and script with a Google Voice interface opened next to it. Personally identifying info blurred out. The screen has a short script with some information about the area you’re calling, including any local races. The goal is to get through as much of the script as you can, and if you can get all the way to the part where you offer the respondent the chance to volunteer, fantastic. The screen has a list of buttons to record what the response was – pro-Harris, pro-Trump, on the fence, not home, inactive number, et cetera. and then you move on to the next number. I always find the scripts to be a little stilted so I just talk like I normally do, being sure to hit all the major questions and talking points. I think most people personalize the script to at least some degree. You end up falling into a pretty smooth rhythm quickly as you move through the list. The typical schedules have had me calling for about an hour and 15 minutes lately not factoring in the introduction and feedback briefings. Can The Respondents Identify You? I think this is a concern for a lot of people. The answer is no, you can call without being identified but, caveat, some campaigns will have you call through the phone bank application itself while others have you use the application with your own phone. Don’t worry, though! You can still keep yourself anonymous by getting a Google Voice Number here: https://voice.google.com/u/0/about . The Google Voice setup is easy and it’s free. You can be up and running in a few minutes and from there you can call through your computer or tablet. The Respondents As for the respondents themselves, well, most of the time nobody answers. That’s just the nature of the process. Most that do answer, though, are polite, some are enthusiastic and sometimes you end up having a pleasant chat. I once spent some time with a guy on the phone helping him track down his local voting location. Your list will try to target likely Harris voters but you occasionally get a MAGA household. Most of the pro-Trump respondents are polite, too, but there are cranky ones here and there. That’s rare, though – I’ve been doing this for years and have only had a handful of angry respondents. If that makes you nervous, remember you can always just hang up. Personally, I find their mini-tantrums pathetic. Wrapping Up Many campaigns will ask you to re-join the Zoom call for the last 10 or 15 minutes and share feedback. Sometimes I stick around, sometimes I don’t. It’s up to you, but anyway that’s it! So again, if you were wondering what this entire process involves, as I said before, it’s not much. If you haven’t done so already, give it a try. The campaigns definitely need you and I guarantee you’ll feel better volunteering than you will doom-scrolling. Let’s get this done! Links Google Voice Zoom App Harris/Walz: https://go.kamalaharris.com State campaigns Most of these will have specific events to join. PA: https://www.mobilize.us/padems/ WI: https://www.mobilize.us/wisdems/ AZ: https://azdem.org/take-action/ NC: https://www.mobilize.us/ncdems/ MI: https://michigandems.com/volunteer/ GA: https://georgiademocrat.org/take-action/ NV: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/nv-dems-volunteer-interest-form-2024?source=direct_link& Bonus Video Good news, and some great advice [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/10/12/2276380/-What-is-virtual-phone-banking-How-it-works?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/