Dear Precinct Captain,

 Your new walking list includes all Democrats (previous and new registrants) plus registered voters who did not select a party. IF YOU WALK YOUR PRECINCT (rather than phoning), PLEASE STOP BY UNITED DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS OR CALL BARBARA (462-4303) TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PICK-UP OF COPIES OF A ONE-PAGE CANDIDATE LIST PROVIDED BY THE STATE PARTY.  Here are your tasks, in order of importance so you can select what fits your schedule:
* CRITICAL BY NOV. 2:  Notice that there is a new column called "Contact Priority" on your Walking List.  Contact every voter marked "High!" (meaning a new registrant) or "High".  Introduce yourself as "I'm ___, your Precinct Captain.  I live in your neighborhood."  You can offer to help:  "I wanted to make sure that you received your ballot pamphlet and all the information you need to vote.  Do you need an absentee ballot?  Do you need my help getting to the polls?"
IMPORTANT:  Do the same process (above) for voters with "Medium" in the "Contact Priority" column.
AS YOU MAKE CONTACTS:  If there's a "Yes" in the "byMail" column next to High/Medium priority voters, ask if they've received their absentee ballot. You'll need to double-check that those ballots actually get mailed in.  If the person seems willing to talk, you might make a pitch:  "Can we count on your vote for John Kerry?"  You can ask if they need information on the ballot propositions (Party recommendations attached).

ON NOVEMBER 2:  Go down to your polling place in the late afternoon with your walking list.  Ask to look at the list of people who have already voted (public access to this list is required by law, so it is usually posted somewhere in the room).  Check your voters against the list.  Go back home and telephone all your voters who are not "byMail" voters and who haven't voted yet that day.  Ask them if they need a ride to the polls.  Remind them how much we need their vote. If you haven't already done so by election day, make sure that all the absentee ballots have been mailed in.  Absentee ballots may be submitted at the polling place on election day if they have not been mailed in by then.  If "byMail" voters have lost their absentee ballots, they can still go down to their polling place on election day and vote using a provisional ballot.
Do what you can, and ask for help if you need it!
Ongoing work...

* Start slowly to create your own Precinct Committee.  Invite people to get more involved as you introduce yourself (but don't pressure them). They may be willing to contact Democrats on their own street.
* Introduce yourself to Democrats in your precinct.   You might accomplish this by phoning, walking door-to-door, or mailing an invitation to a coffee you'll host. 
* Become a resource for your fellow Democrats. We can help with scripts if you need them.  If you have internet access, go to http://sccdp.org/calltoaction.php where you can click on the tabs across the top of the page for very brief summaries on subjects like Economy, Environment, and so forth. For information on the California Democratic Party, go to www.cadem.org or to specific caucuses like www.environmentalcaucus.org.  In Santa Cruz County see www.cruzdemocrats.org.  For general voting information, see www.smartvoter.org and www.votescount.com.
Do what you can, and ask for help if you need it! 
Printed at home on recycled paper.  Labor donated. No Candidate or Candidate's Committee contributed.