“Get out the vote” campaign to be ramped up
By Bob Robinson 

GREENVILLE – Nearly 100 volunteers for the “Friends of Quality Greenville Schools” met June 13 prior to the Greenville School Board meeting to make plans for their final push to get out the vote in favor of the levy that will be on the ballot Aug. 6. 

“Early voting and absentee voting begins on July 2,” ‘Friends’ chair Jan Teaford said. “We will begin our door-to-door campaign on July 13.” 

Volunteers consisted of teachers, administrators and community residents supporting the initiative. Teaford also noted that all school board members, as well as Supt. Doug Fries, were present at the meeting. 

“I’d like to thank all of you for helping to make this happen,” Fries said. “I’d also like to thank our tri-chairs (Teaford, Rita McCans and Susan Spille) for all of their hard work.” 

He added that volunteers shouldn’t get mixed up with negative talk. 

“Get out there, mix with people you know you can influence.” 

Spille said she had been talking to a small businessman that was concerned about the impact supporting the levy might have with his customers. 

“I didn’t take no for an answer,” she said. “He said he would think about it… he called today and said he would support it,” she added. 

“It’s just too important not to,” he said. 

Bob Rhoades said that the newest building we have is the one you’re sitting in. 

“It’s 50 years old. We weren’t on the moon yet, there were no cell phones… no Internet!” 

Teaford told them to start writing letters, to get the editorials into the newspapers and online (web sites). 

Several volunteers talked about some of the plans they were working on, including being in the Annie Oakley Days parade and getting the Green Wave Wagon uptown during First Fridays. 

Rhoades noted that he drove the Green Wave Wagon when it was still used by the Greenville Fire Department, adding that it also might be a good idea to get it to Gettysburg, Wayne Lakes and some of the other areas in the District. 

One volunteer said they are working with Amber Garrett to set up window decorations and possibly sidewalk chalk for the two First Fridays they will have prior to the election. 

Teaford noted that there will be a Townhall Public Meeting at Memorial Hall at 7 p.m. on June 24. 

“We plan on having a victory party after the election,” Teaford said. “We’ll be blocking off the streets from Fourth Street to Memorial Hall.” 

Other plans hadn’t been solidified, but will be published on the Strong Schools Strong Community website, www.greenvillestrong.com. Also on the site are facts about the levy and commonly asked questions and answers. 

Published courtesy of The Early Bird