UPDATE: Due to repeated complaints about its legality that weren't worth fielding anymore, I regret to pass on that this contest is called off. My apologies for getting you geared up, then seeing this closed. Obviously the overall goal here stands though: Communicate to eligible voters about this referendum, and get them to show up at the polls.
There are efforts to rally voters against the Aug. 1 Nassau County arena referendum, and there are efforts to rally voters -- non-Islanders fan voters -- to show up and vote "yes." Whatever you're preference, we're lending our site's publicity and support to a project conceived by Joe Conte, an associate at Gotham Government Relations & Communications, and some well-known bloggers, to help get out the vote: Rock the Referendum.
Many Lighthouse Hockey readers have told me in private or told all of us in comments how you're working to get voters to show up. Here's a neat way to double those efforts -- whether or not you live in New York.
Follow @GothamGR on Twitter where Joe will post updates on progress. Read below for the details of this contest, which includes jerseys and a game in a suite for five winners. (Plus, there is the intangible reward of having gotten people to participate in an election they might otherwise be sitting out.)
The goal: To entice Islanders fans to enlist as many Nassau resident non-Islanders fans to show up to vote on Aug. 1st.
The prize: Five winners will each receive personalized Islanders jerseys, plus all five winners and a guest will enjoy a pre-game dinner with the writers and seats in a luxury suite at an Islanders game during the upcoming season. (The suite has been donated by blog sponsors, and the jerseys by Gotham).
In addition, every reader who enlists at least 20 voters will be personally acknowledged on all four of the participating Islanders blogs.
Here’s how the contest works:
All fans interested in participating in the contest must send an email HERE IslesFanVoteContest@gmail.com by 6 p.m. Friday (but the sooner the better!). The email must include your name, address, phone number, and preferred contact email.
Once received, you will be invited to join a folder shared by only you and the administrators of the contest. In that folder will be an Excel spreadsheet. On that sheet, you are to enter in the name and city and state of every person you personally contact to vote. If that person votes, you get credit. We will check everyone's database with the voting record from Aug. 1. While this is tedious and time consuming, as far as we are concerned the more work we have to do the better. The contest ends when the polls close Monday at 9 p.m. In other words, you have the next six days to line up as many Nassau voters as you can.
Our solemn vow: Your information will only be utilized for this effort for the purpose of monitoring the contest. It will not be shared with anyone else.
Remember, once again: The one way this initiative truly moves the needle is if readers make the effort to sign up non-Islanders fans. We sincerely hope all of our readers take part and together we can make a significant impact. If you have any questions, email Joe Conte at help.islesfanvotecontest@gmail.com
Also follow @GothamGR on Twitter where Joe will be updating everyone as to the progress we are making, such as how many people signed up, number of names and the leading vote-getters, etc.
Your participating bloggers:
B. D. Gallof, Hockey Independent
Nick Giglia, Let There Be Lighthouse
Simon who is called Dominik, Lighthouse Hockey
Chris Botta, Islanders Point Blank
It's crunch time, everybody.