To: William F. Benson - The Benson Group - Washington, D.C.
From: Lois Brown Dale - Clermont Senior Services, Inc. - Retired Executive Director
Dear Mr. Benson:
Thank you for taking your time to listen to a lot of rattling along about how Clermont County was able to pass the first one half mill County Levy for Senior Services.
As an excuse for so much verbage - - - my intent was to show you that running a tax levy for Seniors, took a lot of analysis of needs local, the tenor of things Federally, educating the electorate to those needs.
A weekly column was instituted before the Four Initial Centers were even opened. Informational articles as well as the activities a the Centers were incorporated. Then as the agency insititued the various programs, homemaker-health aides, Meals-On-Wheels, Foster Care, Adopt-a-Gran, Telephone Buddies, Transportation, Health Profiles, Audiometric Screening, GAINS - a program for stroke victims, etc. Actually, we had fourteen programs going by 1980, plus the agency was responsible for all Protective Service for Adults in Clermont County.
All of this was well-documented to the print press as occasional TV coverage.
All STOPS WERE PULLED OUT for the first campaign.
The legislation had been passed to allow the levy on the ballot. As I mentioned to you, the cooperation in Clermont County was gratifying.
Cash was solicited for printing posters and signs and such. Endorsements were forthcoming from the Chamber of Commerce, various businesses nd many friends. This allowed us to run a very low-cost campaign. Bumper Sticker hats, Sandwich boards from the Posters, at the polls, 4 foot by 8 foot yellow wtih black printed signs were placed in strategic locations. No one turned us down to put a sign on their property. There were many yard signs. There were volunteers making phone calls (over 400 volunteers) plus many of the employees' families. Everyone worked diligently to pass the levy. Failed in 1980 fo 1000 votes, failed in 1981 by 600 votes, and passed in 1982 by 1000 votes.
We ran into a snag with the Prosecuting Attorney who determined the agency had to go to bid for the money - then asked me to write the bid specifications!!!!!
Every Campaign has been managed in almost exactly the same way. My daughter wrote a parody on "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" (Vote for the Levy). We purchased small audio systems and mounted them on all our vehicles, plus some other interested citizen's vehicles and that song blared all over the County the week before election. It ws used every election. I think I can sing it now.
As you can see the techniques are those used in a lot of campaigns. All those involved went at t with a lt of enthusiasm and determination tht it had to pss if the gency was to stah viable in the eighties and nineties, and give excellent service to the Senior populations.
One thing we always kep in mind "the human need for socialization". You can not build any business or service without that factor. On these words of wisdom I'll close.
Good luck on your project and if we can be of further help give a call.
Sincerely,
Lois Brown Dale
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