Preliminary Action Steps:
- Scan and email your signed USTL pledge to pledges@termlimits.com at a minimum of one month in advance.
- Choose a date between Monday and Thursday between the late morning or early afternoon.
- Two days before the event, send out statewide media advisory billing it as a “big and special announcement” by the campaign.
- Ensure that the event location and the timing is clear for reporters.
- In order to build suspense and excitement for the event, refrain from mentioning term limits.
Other Things You Will Need:
- A venue in your state’s largest media market
- Hotel breakout rooms work well
- Ensure that the room can accommodate 10-15 reporters
- A backdrop banner with your campaign logo
- An exact blown up copy of your USTL Pledge
- Easel for the large pledge to be placed on
- Sharpies for signing
Our Recommended Sequence for the Event:
- As reporters enter the room, hand them a press release announcing your candidate has signed the USTL pledge, along with positive term limits quotes from the candidate and from USTL (we will work with you in advance on this release).
- If your opponent is a career politician and/or against term limits, release should also feature quotes questioning that person’s record.
- You will speak on term limits for approximately 5-10 minutes, announcing that you are signing the pledge and are deeply committed to restoring a citizen legislature with term limits.
- If your opponent is a careerist/against term limits, you should highlight your opponent’s anti-term limits voting record/stance.
- You will then turn it over to a USTL rep, who will then provide supporting information about term limits, explain how the pledge gets us closer to our goal and praises you for championing term limits.
- You will then return to the podium and announce that you will now sign the pledge, sign it, and then the USTL rep will sign the witness line.
- (Please note that you must send your signed 8.5 x 11 pledge to USTL in advance; this is a re-enactment on the blown-up version for the cameras)
- (OPTIONAL) You and the USTL rep answer questions from the media.
*Due to IRS and FEC regulations it is your campaign’s responsibility to organize, host and pay for a term limits signing event. This includes travel and lodging expenses incurred by the USTL representative.
Pledge Signing Event Resources
Pledge Printing Recommendations:
Print the provided pledge artwork at 18″ × 24″ on foam board for use during the signing event.
File specifications: 300 dpi • CMYK color • Print at 100% / actual size.
Video Recommendations:
Please record the signing event whenever possible so footage can be used by both you & U.S. Term Limits following the event for promotion.
- Record horizontally in 16:9 format.
- 1080p resolution preferred.
- Use clear, direct audio whenever possible.
- Record the candidate remarks, USTL remarks, pledge signing, and any media Q&A.
- Capture a close-up of the pledge being signed.
- Capture the candidate and USTL representative with the completed pledge.
- Provide U.S. Term Limits with the original, unedited video files so we can promote as well.
