General Volunteer for VoterPunch & ProgressiveKick

What We Need:

We are in need of a volunteer to help our multiple organizations' office with various tasks and projects. Along with doing routine office activities like filing, creating binders of data, taking dictation, answering phones and checking email, our volunteer would also develop databases and spreadsheets integral to our work, reach out to other people/organizations on our behalf and research information for us. If you're interested in and able to draft relatively simple correspondence on your own, with minimal direction, we have need for that as well. If your skill set and/or interests lean more towards some tasks than others, we're flexible and willing to work with you on finding the most ideal tasks for you to do. However, if there's something listed in this description that you know you particularly can or can't do well, please make it a point to inform us of that in your letter of interest. An ideal volunteer would have an interest in politics and/or demographics.

We're ideally looking for someone who can take initiative in doing work on his/her own, while following our directions precisely. Desired skills include meticulousness/attention to detail, strong organization skills, a strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel, clear communication ability and a willingness to be direct with people when necessary.

We are seeking a volunteer who is willing to commit to a minimum of 10 hours a week for at least 3 weeks. Our office is open from 8:45am-6:30pm Monday – Friday and occasionally on Saturdays in the middle of the day. If you're willing to come in on Saturdays, no minimum hourly commitment is required.

For information on who we are and what we do, please review/skim the descriptions provided below. While working here does involve a good deal of work, it is also an excellent opportunity to learn more about the demographic influences acting on U.S. politics, to hone professional skills (specifically keeping people accountable, working in Excel and keeping data organized) and to get involved in trying to positively influence citizens and Government alike.

Interested applicants please send a letter of interest and resume to: jobs@voterpunch.org

You would be working for two (2) organizations:

1. VOTERPUNCH

VoterPunch is an educational tool, which enhances participation in the increasingly vital arena of internet activism by informing and inspiring Americans to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens. Designed as a nonpartisan voting record service, VoterPunch makes it easy for individuals to both learn about what is happening on Capitol Hill and to interact with their elected officials, whether to praise, chide, or demand support before a vote happens on the floor of Congress.

Presently, VoterPunch can be seen in action powering the informative website www.ProgressivePunch.org which serves as a demonstration site for VoterPunch. ProgressivePunch.org displays highly detailed, up to the moment, expert analysis of all important votes that are taken in Congress. ProgressivePunch.org uses a ranking system so that people can see how progressively their representative scores within the spectrum of overall voting records, in the 14 master categories and 140 subcategories created by VoterPunch. Additionally, the site features ultra-easily accessible info from VoterPunch displaying how members of Congress voted on a vote by vote basis. Detailed vote descriptions are original content, written for VoterPunch by Congressional scholars. VoterPunch is a non-profit organization (we're currently in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status), seeking and able to accept tax deductible contributions to further expand our capabilities.

We want to enhance public involvement and to make members of Congress responsible for their votes and actions. We believe in providing accurate information to the public about the performance of members of Congress which is detailed and up-to-date on all important Congressional votes. The ensuing greater public awareness will enhance public involvement and governmental responsibility. Making the voting records of our elected officials more easily accessible is the first step to a more aware and involved citizenry.

2. PROGRESSIVEKICK

ProgressiveKick is a 527 organization--not a PAC-- that allows people to donate money OR services towards educating voters in the country's states and districts where progressive candidates are running for Congressional office. ProgressiveKick analyzes races, with cutting edge technology, to determine where progressive candidates have a viable chance to win seats across the country. ProgressiveKick will use its donations to educate the voters of the targeted states and districts about the voting records and affiliations of the candidates in a clear, concise and factual manner. As a 527 organization, ProgressiveKick can accept donations without limitation. Donations are not tax-deductible.

Studies show that an educated public makes voting decisions based upon clear and well-founded information provided to them about candidates. Unfortunately in most of the country, citizens' access to independent information is severely limited. Voters are confronted with vast amounts of misleading and manipulative information. Smear campaigns and propaganda funded by big business interests are presented as the truth, which poses a serious challenge when trying to assess information regarding the candidates' true records. With the money and/or skills donated to us, ProgressiveKick will provide educational tools which help combat the massive propaganda machines of the Right with clear and detailed depictions of candidates' views.

Through the encompassing and very thorough analysis of a broad spectrum of political indicators Joshua Grossman, our expert, determines races where progressive candidates have a chance to win based on the political demographics of the region and the skills and resources of the progressive candidate.