House Parties / Community Presentations

House Parties (Zoom Parties?) and Community Presentations (outdoors perhaps?) are a great way to socialize and educate your friends, neighbors and community about an Equal Rights Amendment!  ​

Goal:
Make sure people know that we do NOT have an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Minnesota or in the USA (one of our biggest hurdles); and then let them know why we really do need one.  ​The best way to accomplish this is for friends, family and neighbors to talk to each other one-to-one -- make it personal, share your own stories and then educate.
​

Agenda

1. ​Welcome
   ​
2. Introductions (if there are new people)
   
   
3. Prior Knowledge: Go around and ask people:
   *What do you know about Equal Rights for Women and other genders in America (if anything)?
   * What would you like to learn?
   
   
4. Introduce the film
   * Legalize Equality (short film - 30 min.) or
   ​* Equal Means Equal (long film - 90 min.)
   
   
5. Watch: Get comfy, get your snacks, get your wine - and watch the film! (You can do this by playing it on your screen and then share your screen.)  YouTube - Equal Means Equal is $2.99 SD,  Vimeo - Legalize Equality $1.99.
   
   
6. Discuss -- leading questions: 
   * What was something new you learned that you didn't know before?   
   * What were you most shocked or surprised about? 
   * What misconception did you have that you now know is not true?
   * Is there anything you would like more information about? 
   ​   (View Expert Testimony page for possible topics)
   
   
7. Wrap up questions: 
   * Would you like to see this change in America? Minnesota? 
   * Would you like to be part of the movement that is going to make this happen?
   * What do you think you can do to move this forward? 
     (take notes and send to Heather if possible, hand out "Action Steps")
   * Would you be interested and/or willing to sign up to be a member of ERA Minnesota to get information on actions you can take when they arise, along with the progress of the movement and possible volunteer opportunities?
     (send around sign up sheet, send to Heather - scan or photo)
   
   
8. Thank You -- and finish the snacks and wine!

​Note to Host:  If you would like to learn more before you host there is a great slide presentation you can view created by ERA Vice President Kathleen Murphy that answers a lot of questions.

Materials
Guide to help you plan & ​information sheets to handout to guests. 

• Planning an ERA House Party
• How Can I Help?
• ​Phone & Letter Scripts/Templates
• ERA Helpful Links
• Link to Letters and Phone Scripts
• Ten Ways ERA Could Make a Difference

Invitations
Invitations are two to a sheet.  You can print them out and write the party info on them or you may be able to type the info on to the pdf form and then print.

Invitations - Legalize Equality:

• Legalize Equality - Black & White
• Legalize Equality - Color

Invitations - Equal Means Equal:

• Equal Means Equal - Black & White
• Equal Means Equal - Color​

Questions that might come up...or watch if questions are few:
Legalize Equality: Q & A

• Previously filmed Q&A with ERA President Heather Allison
• Held at Rochester Public Library Feb 18, 2020 (pre-mask era)
• 42 minutes

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