Meet The Candidates
(Updated 6/4/07)
Usually held the Monday or Tuesday before the Tuesday Budget and Board of Education Vote.
In March, call the League of Women voters and ask if they would be willing to provide someone to
moderate our Meet The Candidate's Night. In the past Linda Dutweiler 277-0006 has helped, or call the
LWV at 273-8350. In 2004, Mary Berkelman moderated. Be sure before you call that you have
established the date and time of the event.
Fill out a Building Request form for the event:
Area: HS Cafeteria Date: Tues.before budget vote Time: 6-9 p.m. (prog.@7pm)
Org: PTSO Meet The Candidates
Equipment: Tables by cement wall (# of candidates + 2), sound system, 60 chairs, podium
==vending side==
<moderator podium & table>
chairs-> <-tables &
video-> <-candidates
chairs-> <- facing
-program table-
In April, go to the district office the day after the deadline for candidates to submit their papers and get
the names and addresses of the candidates. Send a letter to the candidates inviting them to the Meet
The Candidate's event (see reference copies).
Ask the District Office if they would like for you to try to have it video taped and broadcasted on Pegasys.
If yes, contact Nancy Raza to tape the program and to reserve time for the airing on the upcoming
weekend. Try to get confirmation of air time & publicize the dates and times.
In Mid-April, make half sheet invitation/flyers. Copy flyers for distribution into ES & MS backpacks (1
week before event) and post on the doors at all schools (2 weeks before event). Also, have copies at the
BOE Budget Meeting (see reference copies)
Publicity: Should also contact Lansing Ledger and Ithaca Journal (lmontague@aol.com Lansing Town
Talk on Thursdays), LansingStar.com (editor@lansingstar.com published on Fridays), and Fingerlakes
Community Newspaper (flcn2@lightlink.com).
"The school board election and budget vote are on ______. The three candidates running for the
Lansing School Boards are name, incumbent; name; name; and name. Attend the Lansing PTSO's Meet
the Candidate's Night on Tuesday, May _?_, 7pm at the High School Cafeteria. If you can't attend, the
meeting will be aired on Pegasys Ch. 16 on Sunday at ? time and Monday at ? time."
In Late-April, make a program for the event (see reference copies).
Find a person to be the timer. Timer's cards are in the pouch in this section. Timing cards are used for
opening, closing statements and responses to questions. They should have a stopwatch or a watch with a
second hand (a watch works bests). The moderator will let the timer know how to do the timing.
The day of the event bring:
1) chilled water bottles and cups for the candidates and the moderator.
2) copies of the program
3) scrap paper and pencils (moderator might want questions in writing if large attendance)
Starting the event:
At 7 p.m. begin the event with a brief introduction: "Good evening. Thank you for coming to the PTSO's
Meet the Candidate's Night. I'm (name), president of the PTSO, and tonight (name), from the League of
Women Voters will be our moderator for the evening. ...(moderator name)..."
The moderator will introduce each candidate for their 3 minute opening statement while the timing person
watches the time an shows the cards when there is 60 seconds, 30 seconds, and "done" when their time is
up. The same process is followed for the 3 minute ending statements.
After the event, write a thank you note to the moderator.
Coordinators:
2006-2007 Cathy Nelson & Kay Thomas Moderator: Mary Berkelman
2005-2006 Cathy Nelson (Pres.) & Vicky Swanson Moderator: -none- (2 candidates for 2 seats)
2004-2005 Cathy Nelson Moderator: Mary Berkelman
2001-2005 Bobbi Waskenko Moderator: Linda Duttweiler