Stones’ Phones is the 2010 Winner for Best Use of a Telephone Town Hall in both the Pollie and Reed Awards.
TELEPHONE TOWN HALL
During the American Revolution, our founding fathers gathered in dingy taverns and out-of-the-way farmhouses to discuss the future of our country. They risked their lives to meet, because they knew that their voices would shape the future of America. Ever since then, community meetings have been at the heart of our democracy. Washington D.C. may be our capital, but government begins in the "town halls" along every Main Street from Maui to Massachusetts.
We don't need red, white, and blue bunting, folding chairs, and baked goods to bring people together to talk about the issues that matter. Stones' Phones has shown that it's not even necessary to have everyone in the same room to throw a successful town hall. Thousands of people can now simultaneously interact with elected officials from the comfort of a living room couch or kitchen table through a Telephone Town Hall. The Telephone Town Halls thrown by Stones' Phones start with a simple invitation – a friendly call to constituents a night or two before, so that they know what to expect and when. The night of the event, everyone invited receives a second call that connects them to a live conversation amongst their political leaders and neighbors.
Like any good host, Stones' Phones never leaves anyone waiting in the cold. Callers can join into the conversation by connecting with an operator and then, if selected, speak directly to the politician or guest leading the event. Periodic polls let listeners chime in by responding on their telephone keypads; Stones' Phones then compiles these answers so that every opinion counts. New features also allow participants to join in from the web and watch live video of the event. Enthusiastic supporters can contribute directly to a candidate without ever hanging up the phone; in some cases, donations exceed the cost of putting on the Telephone Town Hall itself. Follow up calls after the Telephone Town Hall help harness momentum and keep supporters active.
Unlike brick and mortar venues that can only hold so many, there's practically no limit to the number of people who can join a Telephone Town Hall. In 2010, Stones' Phones helped U.S. House Member Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania attract over 100,000 people to his Telephone Town Hall meetings. Sestak faced stiff competition in a Senate primary race against Arlen Spector, a former Republican who had switched parties and already received the endorsement of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Sestak's Telephone Town Halls helped voters realize that he was the real Democrat running in the race. Timed just before a major TV ad campaign, the Telephone Town Halls helped introduce Sestak to voters across the state, and ultimately win the neck-and-neck primary.
The Telephone Town Halls organized by Stones' Phones bring people together from all walks of life, especially those who wouldn't normally find a babysitter or finish dinner early enough to drive to a distant meeting. We bring in people who may normally stand on the sidelines, because their views matter just as much as anyone else's. By gathering folks and engaging them in real conversations, our Telephone Town Halls not only follow in the footsteps of our forefathers, they inspire a new generation of Americans to get involved, and renew our democracy day by day.