Leader Resources
The following are offered to help Libertarian Leaders grow a local chapter and promote liberty in their communities. Questions, suggestions, or documents to share can be sent to our Membership Chair.
Outreach Materials | Chapter Marketing | Chapter Management | Website Services | Program Ideas | Outreach Booths | Protests | Other Activities
Outreach Materials
These documents can be used to promote libertarian ideas:
Sensible Center (Left vs. Right) Flyer.pdf
An Introduction to Libertarianism.doc
Wanted: Economic Gardeners.pub, .pdf
Libertarians for Peace Sign.pub, pdf
Also
The Advocates sell The World's Smallest Political Quiz cards and posters.
You can purchase the popular "New Visions" brochure as well as buttons, bumper stickers, books, and more at LPStuff.com.
Educational pamphlets on over 35 libertarian topics can be purchased from the International Society for Individual Liberty.
Chapter Marketing
Local Chapters can promote themselves with the following:
Business Card Meeting Invite.pub , pdf
Officer Business Cards.pub, doc, pdf
Bumper sticker (Stop War).pdf, psd , pub
Sign (How Often Does Gov Do a Good Job).vsd, Sign (Property Rights).doc
Chapter Management
These documents can help your Chapter run more effectively and efficiently:
Newsletter Samples.pdf: #1 #2 #3
There are also a number of articles on the national website that can help local Chapters:
- The 10-Point Checklist for Successful State and Local Parties
- The College Libertarian Handbook
- Your First Meeting - How to get your new county party off to a good start
- Recruiting Candidates in "A Few Easy Steps"
- Candidate Criteria - How to select suitable candidates
- Key points on how to talk effectively to college students
- Media Tips - 36 tips to increase your media coverage
- Better Interviews - How to make your media interviews more effective
- Print Media - Do's and Don'ts when dealing with print journalists
- Writing Press Releases that Generate Results
Program Ideas
Strong Libertarian Chapters have meeting topics that draw attendees. Here are a few resources that can help.
Speakers
The LPI maintains a list of Illinois libertarians who will speak to Chapters and other community groups at no charge. The list is published on the State Organizing Committee (SOC) Yahoo Group. If you do not have access to the SOC Group, contact our Membership Chair for the most current list or to volunteer to be on the list. Topics on our Speaker's List include:
- The Libertarian Idea (a.k.a. Libertarianism 101)
- Framing the Issues
- Home Rule
- Raising Libertarian Children
- The Federal Reserve System
- Home schooling
- And Justice for All: Criminal Law in a Libertarian Society
- The Free State Project
- Jury Nullification
- Why the LP is a Good Fit for Today's Women
Other liberty-minded organizations that have speakers available are:
- The Cato Institute (national policy issues)
- The Heartland Institute (specializes in education, environment, and healthcare)
- The Final Exit Network (right to die)
- The Fully Informed Jury Association (right for jurors to judge the law)
- FixHomeRule.com (home rule in counties or towns in Illinois)
- IllinoisCitizensCoalition.com (Illinois Constitutional Convention Referendum)
These organizations may have speaking fees and expect to be reimbursed for travel expenses. Be sure to ask if there is a fee or "honorarium" expected and if any other expenses are involved.
Another source of speakers is local colleges and universities. Some have speakers' bureaus that you can find on their websites.
Don't overlook local talent. Your Chapter or someone in your local community may be a leader of a anti-tax, anti-war, anti-eminent domain, or other libertarian-related movement. Don't hesitate to call them up and ask them to speak at your meeting. Everyone is flattered by being asked to present what they are passionate about.
Taped Presentations
We are collecting a library of audio and video presentations by great libertarians. If you would like to check one out or have one to add to the library, contact our Membership Chair.
- America: Freedom to Fascism by Aaron Russo (DVD)
- Making Government Accountable: Reform Lessons from New Zealand by Maurice Mctigue (CD)
- Why I Don't Fear Separating School and State by Sheldon Richman of the Separation of School & State Alliance (CD)
- The Future is NOT Hopeless by Harry Browne (DVD) (from the Advocates for Self-Government's 20th Anniversary Celebration)
- Libertarianism is the Most Caring Choice by Mary Ruwart (CD)
- Fighting for Liberty in the Belly of the Beast by U.S. Congressman Ron Paul (CD)
- What Does It Mean to be an American? (CD) by Professor Mark Rom of Georgetown U. (not libertarian, but a good starting point for a discussion)
There are more taped presentations, very reasonably priced, available from The Advocates website.
Movies
Here is a short list of movies with libertarian themes. You can build a meeting around viewing the movie and discussing it afterwards.
- America: Freedom to Fascism
- V for Vendetta
- The Fountainhead
- Harry's War
- This Land is Mine
- Guilty by Suspicion
You can find reviews of many libertarian-themed movies in "Miss Liberty's Guide to Film and Video: Movies for the Libertarian Millennium" by Jon Osborne.
Roundtable Discussions
Here are some topics that other Libertarian Chapters have discussed at their meetings:
- Tax Schemes: Fair, Flat, Income, and Sales - is any acceptable?
- Favorite Libertarian Books
- Immigration Policy
- Tough Libertarian Questions & Answers
- The Bill of Rights: Do We Have Any Left?
Outreach Booths
Many people learn about the Libertarian alternative at county fairs, festivals, and other local events.
Libertarian Chapters often organize event booths around the Operation Politically Homeless idea. This idea is that many people do not know what political party they should be affiliated with and they can find out by talking the World's Smallest Political Quiz. You can purchase a Operation Politically Homeless Kit from The Advocates that contains many building blocks for your booth.
Also, the Libertarian Party of Illinois has a number of brochures on various topics available at no charge for Chapters. Contact our office for more info.
If it's your first time setting up a booth, you may want to volunteer with another Chapter and learn the ropes from seasoned Libertarians.
Protests
Libertarians exercise their right to protest harmful government actions, like:
- Tax protests on April 15 at local post offices
- War protests, typically around the anniversary of the Iraq war in March
- Eminent domain abuse against home and business owners
Other Activities
Your group may also enjoy:
- Watching a local baseball game
- Target shooting at a gun range
- Marching in local parades
If you have additional activities to suggest, send them to our webmaster.
Help is Available
Illinois Libertarians enjoy helping each other spread the message of liberty. If you are looking for help or would like to volunteer, contact the State Official closest to your area of interest.