[RDesroches]

I had mentioned this on the Campaign Advertising thread, but it got overshadowed by TV and internet promotion. I think it is important for us to reach people in person, in order to have a physical, more visible presence. To this end I recommend that we develop a pamphlet that explains who we are, what we stand for, how they can find out more and how they can get involved. Further, we should develop street teams in various cities that consist of volunteers who can go to high traffic spots, such as University Campuses and downtown areas, in order to hand out pamphlets and answer peoples' questions.

To get this done we need to agree on what should be in the pamphlet, figure out how we're going to get them printed and find people to be in and possibly head street teams.

[Mikkel Paulson]

I have already done some of this. I contacted Elections Canada, and there is no problem with our candidates soliciting signatures for their registration forms before the writ drops.

[RDesroches]

Great. I'll try to draft a pamphlet over the next few days and then post it, so people can look it over, say if anything's missing or should be taken out.

[Mikkel Paulson]

I designed this brochure for myself, which could be adapted for general Party distribution. It takes half of an 8.5x14" sheet, so two brochures can be printed per page.

[RDesroches]

It's good to have them for the candidates, but I meant one for the party in general not for specific candidates, just to get people interested and hopefully involved.

[Mikkel Paulson]

I know. I was just suggesting that we might want to take a look at the design.

[Ayes]

I think our "General Information" pamphlet should take special focus on being exciting, and dynamic. We need to promote ourselves as the breath of fresh air that we are!

I know you guys are generally weary of using Pirate imagery in promotional materials, but I feel like we shouldn't be shying away from that. Especially in an "intro to ppoc" type thing.

Although your pamphlet is appropriate for a candidate, Mikkel, I think that a general info guide should be a lot more exciting than that particular brochure.

People are already put to sleep by politics enough as it is. We need to engage the people, particularly youth voters.

[RDesroches]

I agree with what you're saying (Ayes). Like many people had said about the commercials, in the other thread, the pamphlet should get people excited about what we're doing and entice them to find out more, mainly getting them to go to our website. I think Mikkel's pamphlet has a good format and design, we could probably use the same format, but put in place details about the party. He gives his background and his views in a simple format, we want to do the same thing for the party, as people are probably going to spend maybe half a minute looking the thing over, so concision is key. Plus if we are going to have candidate pamphlets as well, it would be good if they had a standard format, that matches the general party one.

Mikkel would it be possible for me to get a copy of your pamphlet in a pdf that I can modify? That way I could keep your design and create a general party pamphlet.

[Mikkel Paulson]

Ayes, my mental picture of what you're describing, filled with people dressed up in pirate costumes and waving the Jolly Roger, looks like an advertisement for a kids' summer camp, not a serious political party. However, if I were selected as candidate, I had planned to produce a series of different brochures targeting different groups. Maybe something similar is in order here.

[Ayes]

Ayes, my mental picture of what you're describing, filled with people dressed up in pirate costumes and waving the Jolly Roger, looks like an advertisement for a kids' summer camp, not a serious political party.

Well that's silly. That's your bad idea, not mine.

I'm not suggesting we dress people up like pirates and act like idiots for attention. I just think that our pamphlet shouldn't shy away from the fact that our title is THE PIRATE PARTY. The pirate image is already there in the public mind when you tell them our title. I don't have any specific suggestion right now, as to what is and is not appropriate for the pamplet itself, but it's ridiculous to act serious and look people with a straight face and say 'Hello, I am a serious politician, for the pirate party. please don't make fun of my silly name. PLEASE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THE WORD PIRATE MEANS! AAHHHHHHHH'

There is a delicate line to walk. Honestly, I think we'd have more political power if we weren't called the Pirate Party. But since we are called the Pirate Party, and our main mission right now is to spread word about what we think, there is no good reason to not indulge ourselves in the pirate stuff every now and again, in whatever way we feel is appropriate.