Campaign Kickoff Training Manual

Campaign Kickoff
Training Manual
Table of Contents
Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Overview of Proposed Law ....................................................................................................................... 2
CALVES IN VEAL CRATES........................................................................................................................ 2
PIGS IN GESTATION CRATES .................................................................................................................. 2
BATTERY CAGES .................................................................................................................................... 2
Modest Standards ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Food Safety ............................................................................................................................................... 3
A Broad Coalition ...................................................................................................................................... 4
We Need You! ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Who Can Gather and Sign ............................................................................................................................. 4
The Petition Sheet......................................................................................................................................... 5
Petition Sheet – Back Side ........................................................................................................................ 6
Asking People to Sign .................................................................................................................................... 7
Major Signer “Types” .................................................................................................................................... 7
Rules for Signing............................................................................................................................................ 8
Don’ts for Petition Sheets ............................................................................................................................. 8
Where to Gather Signatures ......................................................................................................................... 9
Signature Gathering Tips............................................................................................................................... 9
Mailing in Petitions ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Contact Us ................................................................................................................................................... 10
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Welcome
Overview of Proposed Law
Residents of the Commonwealth have shown time and time again that they support commonsense
protections for animals, the environment, and food safety. This ballot measure will give voters the
opportunity to vote YES! to implement a modest animal protection reform.
A YES! vote will prevent farm animals from being crammed into cages so small they can’t even turn
around or extend their limbs. A YES! vote will also ensure that certain food items sold in the
Commonwealth are compliant with these modest standards. Major companies like Dunkin’ Donuts,
Walmart and McDonald’s are already making similar improvements.
CALVES IN VEAL CRATES
Within days or even hours of birth, calves raised for veal are often chained by their necks in crates too
narrow to turn around or lie down comfortably. The crates essentially immobilize these playful,
energetic creatures, preventing them from engaging in almost any natural behaviors. This lack of
movement inhibits natural muscle development, often to such an extent that the calves are unable to
walk to slaughter.
PIGS IN GESTATION CRATES
Pigs are highly social and intelligent animals. For years, female pigs used for breeding are confined in
crates only two feet wide—so small the animals can’t even turn around or take more than a step
forward or backward. This extreme immobilization atrophies the pigs’ muscles and bones. Since these
inquisitive animals are denied mental stimulation, many become neurotic and exhibit coping behaviors,
such as repetitive biting of the bars in front of them.
BATTERY CAGES
On many egg factory farms, hens are crammed into cages so small the birds can't even spread their
wings. Packed five or more to a cage, each hen is forced to spend her whole life in a meager amount of
space that’s smaller than an iPad. Virtually unable to move, the hens can't engage in almost any of their
natural behaviors, such as perching, nesting, foraging or even walking more than a few steps. In cages,
chickens may suffer from bone fractures, feather-loss, and metabolic disease; some hens even become
caught in the wire and die of starvation, unable to reach the food or water just inches away from them.
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Modest Standards
A YES vote ensures that substandard, inhumane, and unsafe products from these cruel confinement
systems aren’t sold in the Commonwealth.
While it's possible that giving these animals better living conditions may increase the price of eggs by a
few pennies per dozen, the hidden cost of such inhumane confinement is increased cruelty and food
safety risks. It's the animals and consumers who are currently paying those hidden prices.
It costs less than a penny per egg more to produce cage-free eggs rather than battery cage eggs,
according to a study conducted by the egg industry itself. And the pork industry published a study that
determined it can cost 11 percent less not to use gestation crates. And the American Veal Association
"recommends that the entire veal industry convert to the group housing methodology," acknowledging
the economic feasibility of such a switch.
Also, many big food companies know that there’s not much of a cost differential. That’s why very costconscious egg buyers like McDonalds, Burger King, Unilever, Aramark, Sodexo, are all going cage-free
with their eggs, and the same is so with major pork buyers like McDonald’s, Denny’s, etc.
On September 9, 2015, McDonald's announced that it will eliminate the cage confinement of hens from
its egg supply chain in the U.S. and Canada. Over the next decade, McDonald’s will lay the groundwork
for a cage-free future that will impact millions of animals each year and have a ripple effect across the
industry. I hope you will join us in celebrating this pivotal moment for farm animals across North
America.
McDonald's U.S. and Canada supply chains annually use over two billion eggs from caged chickens, so
this shift, once implemented, will directly improve life for nearly eight million animals per year.
If a cost-conscious retailer like McDonald’s can implement the modest animal welfare improvements of
this proposal, certainly so can we in Massachusetts!
Food Safety
Vote YES! to help keep our food supply safe. Industrial animal operations put our health at risk:
cramming tens of thousands of animals into tiny cages promotes the spread of diseases. Numerous
studies show that egg operations that confine hens in cages have higher rates of Salmonella, the leading
cause of food poisoning-related death in America. Animals kept in extreme confinement often live in
their own waste and are pumped full of drugs that can taint the food we eat.
The science is clear: locking animals in cages causes them to suffer, and it increases the risk of problems
like Salmonella and E Coli. That’s why the Center for Food Safety enthusiastically endorses this measure.
In 2010, a Massachusetts boy was sickened in North Carolina by the large Salmonella Enteriditis
outbreak linked to two Iowa egg facilities owned by DeCoster (Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms).
Earlier this year, DeCoster executives were sentenced to jail time for that massive 2010 outbreak, which
officials estimate may have sickened more than 50,000 Americans. In 1987, DeCoster’s Maine egg
operation also sickened 400 people in Massachusetts with salmonella.
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A Broad Coalition
Your dedication is crucial to our success. We want you to have fun and meet new people, in the process!
This measure is supported by a broad coalition, including the MSPCA, Animal Rescue League of Boston,
Zoo New England, over 100 family farmers, mainstream environmental and food safety organizations,
and MA legislators.
Initial polling shows that three out of four Massachusetts voters supports this effort. And more than
two-thirds of voters in every region of the state are in favor of the measure. Animal protection is an
issue that Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly endorse across the board, and only they can go to the
ballot and vote YES to prevent animal cruelty.
We Need You!
To give Massachusetts citizens the chance to vote YES, we must first collect the signatures of more than
95,000 state voters. We know that 95,000 signatures may sound like a lot, but many hands make light
work. Gathering signatures is a fun, exciting way to be a part of something historic. This guide will give
you the tools to be most effective in your efforts.
Who Can Gather and Sign
Anyone may help gather signatures, including supporters from other states and also minors. The rule on
who can sign petitions is more stringent, though: Anyone registered to vote in Massachusetts may sign
the petition. They must sign pen-to-paper on official petitions printed by the campaign. And those
petitions must be maintained as town-specific.
An easy first signature to get is your own! Then, ask family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors who are
registered voters in Massachusetts.
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The Petition Sheet
The following are front and back images of the petition sheet. The front side has a summary of the
proposed law. The back carries over spaces for signatures. We’ll be asking each signer for their signature
and street address. When the first person is signing any given sheet, we ask which city or town they’re
registered to vote in and, as soon as they’ve finished signing, we write it in 3 boxes located on the sheet
– one on the bottom of the front side, and one on the top and bottom of the back side. That sheet can
then only have signatures of voters from that city or town. (Signatures from folks registered to vote in
another town will be invalid.)
Petition Sheet- Front side
DO NOT PHOTOCOPY!
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Petition Sheet – Back Side
DO NOT PHOTOCOPY!
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Asking People to Sign
Generally, you want to be quick, and find an opening line that
works for you (for example, “Hi, please help prevent animal
cruelty with a quick signature?” (Remember, to make the ballot,
use valuable volunteer hours to gather signatures- once we make
the ballot, we’ll conduct a well-orchestrated education and
persuasion campaign.)
If they accept, the next thing want to ask is “In what town are
you registered to vote?” Find that city or town’s petition on your
clipboard or begin a new petition sheet for it, if you don’t already
have one.
Hand the signer a pen with clipboard open to the correct
petition. As the signer is taking the clipboard, continue…
“Thanks, signing will help put a question on the November 2016
ballot to help prevent cruelty to farm animals by ensuring they
have enough space to turn around and fully extend their limbs.”
Major Signer “Types”
As you collect signatures, you’ll interact with all kinds of individuals, from those who want to join the
campaign as a volunteer, to those who oppose our measure. If you spend significant time on the
campaign trail, it’s very likely that you’ll encounter the following four types of individuals. Study this
chart to learn about them and our suggestions for responding to each for maximum effectiveness.
Notice that whether or not someone is supportive or opposes our campaign, we need to move from
person to person quickly to keep the crucial work of signature gathering in motion. Your time is valuable
and our goal is to collect as many valid signatures as possible.
Potential Signer Type
Ideal
Apathetic
Opposition
Animal Lover
Description
Accepts your offer to sign, and
does so quickly and efficiently
Doesn’t seem to care about any
of the issues at stake; she or he
may not make eye contact or
stop
Takes the view of the coalition’s
opposition, such as the largescale agricultural industry
May have pets or just loves
animals, and wants to converse
Recommended Response
Thank this person for their
signature, and remind them that
they’re help putting this on the
November 2016 ballot.
Let this person walk by, and move
on to the next person.
Let this person walk by, and move
on to the next person.
Thank this person for their
signature, and direct them to our
website,
www.citizensforfarmanimals.com,
for more information.
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Rules for Signing
For signatures to be valid, there are very specific and unforgiving rules and these are strictly enforced by
the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Keep these at hand to ensure that your hard work is done
according to the rules of the state!
1. Only signatures of Massachusetts voters are counted; the signature of someone who is not
registered to vote will not count toward our goal.
2. Signatures from a sheet must be from the same city or town: once a voter from Lowell has
signed a petition sheet, only fellow Lowell voters may sign that sheet and voters from
Springfield would sign a second sheet and voters from Worcester would sign a third sheet… etc.
3. Signers must write legibly and use their name and address from current voter registration
records. Each signer must stay well within the boxes for “Name” and “Address.” No nicknames
or PO boxes may be used. Names and addresses must be legible to count. If the first signer on
each petition writes legibly, others will follow suit.
4. If someone mistakenly signs the incorrect petition sheet (from another town), simply cross the
name out with a single line and have them sign the correct petition for the town where they’re
registered to vote. Signatures on the sheet with the error will still count.
5. Do not complete the spaces for “Ward” or “Precinct.” The only place where signers should write
is within the two specified boxes for signature and address.
6. Every Monday, gatherers must return all petitions to the campaign office, even if a page isn’t
full, by mailing the sheets to our PO Box or contacting us to find the nearest drop-off location.
Upon receipt of your petition sheets, we will immediately mail additional petition sheets to you.
Don’ts for Petition Sheets
Petition sheets should be treated like gold! They must be kept clean and free of stray marks. Here are
some things NOT to do with petition sheets:
1. Do NOT write in the margins of the petition; this may invalidate all the signatures on the sheet.
2. Do NOT highlight or underline any text of the petition; this may invalidate all the signatures on
the sheet.
3. Do NOT doodle in the margins or write a signature tally or make any stray mark on the petition;
this may invalidate all the signatures on the sheet.
4. Do NOT spill food or coffee on a petition; this may invalidate all the signatures on the sheet.
5. Do NOT photocopy petition sheets; signatures on “homemade” petitions are invalid. (If you
need additional petitions, just let us know. We’ll immediately mail you as many as you need.)
IMPORTANT:
If a stray mark or stain appears on the petition, simply
“retire” that petition sheet by having no one else sign it.
Send the petition to the campaign and we will still
submit it, although it may not be validated by the state.
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Where to Gather Signatures
By state law, we may gather on public property. Strip malls are one of the best locations. Others include
farmers’ markets, recycling centers and dumps, public sidewalks or parks, in front of a busy library, post
office, and town hall.
We can also gather on private property with permission. For example, we’ve already secured permission
to gather in front of Whole Foods across Massachusetts. Feel free to approach local businesses to ask if
you may gather outside of their store with a clipboard or with a table and chair.
A high-traffic location is your best bet: an event that will draw a crowd or a busy public place. Visit
citizensforfarmanimals.com/events for a list of fairs, festivals, and other events, which will draw a
crowd. Each event will be labelled as a “public opportunity,” where we gather from voters on public
property while they’re on their way in/out or a “tabling opportunity,” where we gather from voters at a
reserved booth or table (if you need, we can help coordinate borrowing a folding table and other
supplies).
Signature Gathering Tips
1. Set a goal: 25 signatures per hour is a good goal for yourself in a busy place
2. Be prepared: organize your supplies in a way that makes sense to you; each petition sheet must
be town-specific – once a voter from Lowell has signed a petition sheet, only fellow Lowell
voters may sign that sheet, voters from Springfield would sign a second sheet, and voters from
Worcester a third sheet… etc.
3. Bring supplies: clipboards, petitions, pens, “sign here” poster (printable poster shown in this
photo and other printable materials are available at citizensforfarmanimals.com/resources)
4. Set up: three clipboards with petition sheets for the town where you’re gathering and a fourth
with miscellaneous sheets alphabetized
by town, with extra blank/unassigned
petitions at the bottom
5. Ask everyone: there’s no guessing who
will sign, so give everyone a chance to
help prevent animal cruelty
6. Presentation: dress neatly, remove
sunglasses for effective eye contact,
speak clearly, and always be polite
7. Posture: be friendly, smile, work the
crowd- when gathering at a table,
stand in front to draw people over and
use the table as a signing platform as
you continue to engage people and
invite them to sign
8. Pace: rather than waiting for someone
to finish signing, once they’ve started,
look to the next person (ensure that
you do not lose sight of your petition,
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however); keep several clipboards going at once; if traffic is moving quickly repeat, “Hi, please
help prevent animal cruelty with a quick signature,” as you reach for a clipboard and pen, ask
which town they registered to vote in and pass them the correct clipboard and petition sheet,
then seek more signers
Questions: if the signer asks for more info, respond that “this is to put a question on the
November 2016, giving voters the opportunity to help prevent cruelty to farm animals by
ensuring they have enough space to turn around and fully extend their limbs,” and for more info
visit the website or contact us, explain that you’re running against a deadline and need to
continue gathering (or hand out a printed business card: citizensforfarmanimals.com/resources)
Rejection: ask “will you help us?” rather than “will you sign” (help is a powerful word); still, most
people will say “no,” don’t let it bother you- people may not be registered to vote or may be
from away, in a hurry, or in a bad mood and that’s ok. The more people you ask, the more
signatures you will gather! Be friendly in the face of rejection, it reflects well on the campaign. If
an angry or combative person approaches, smile and walk away- everyone is entitled to their
opinion and we want to always be polite. Let people say no and walk away- don’t chase or waste
time arguing.
Mistakes: If someone mistakenly signs the incorrect petition sheet (from another town), simply
cross the name out with a single line and have them sign the correct petition; if someone prints
the wrong address on the correct petition, simply cross the name out with a single line and have
them complete the line below
Success: base your success on the signatures you gather per hour, not the people who pass by
Mailing in Petitions
Don’t forget to mail your petitions in every week on Mondays. Whether the petition sheet is full or has
only one signature, mail in the sheets each week so we can track our progress. Please ONLY mail or
deliver petitions to Citizens for Farm Animal Protection at the address below.
Mail petitions on Mondays to:
Citizens for Farm Animal Protection
P.O. Box 960394
Boston, MA 02196
Contact Us
If you’d like to meet other volunteers in your area, need additional materials, or have questions or ideas,
let us know. Together, we can help make history for farm animals.
CONTACT:
Stephanie Harris, Campaign Director
Citizens for Farm Animal Protection
[email protected]
617-863-6625
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