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We’ve heard from many folks who are working on maps, but who have not shared them with other mappers. Please remember that the best maps will happen when more people are involved. Please share your map –it will be visible by others on the system, they can’t change your map, but they can copy it as a starting point for their ideas. Also, please tell us on the Community Forum why you are mapping. What do you want to see? What are your hopes? What do you need help with?
We are hosting two Map-a-Thons, a great opportunity to build your district maps, meet other mappers, collaborate and learn. ACDC staff will be on hand to answer questions and help you be a better mapper.
We, the ACDC Team, will be available live on Skype, on email and on Facebook to answer questions. Please watch for emails with information about other map-a-thons in your area. Please spread the word and join in! If you would like to host a map-a-thon, please contact us at azcompetitivedistricts@gmail.com.
For Central Phoenix, we will be at Urban Beans at 3508 N 7th St., Phoenix 85012. See Facebook Event here.
For Tucson, we will be at the 6th Ward City Council Office at 3202 E. 1st Street, Tucson. See Facebook Event here. Organizers are asking for somebody who can lend them a projector for the evening, so more folks can learn how to use the tool.
If you would like to host a map-a-thon in your city, please contact us at azcompetitivedistricts@gmail.com.
A little history:
One of our team leaders in Tucson, Rick Graap, hosted a mapping party for 6 people last Wednesday and gave us a report. He said that they spent the first part of their time together reviewing how to use Redistrict Arizona. They used the second half just working on ideas.
Rick’s son spent a few hours prior to the meeting creating a new set of lines for Congress and the Legislature (the legislature took longer). Rick tells us that hosting the party was useful because it allowed folks to see how Redistrict Arizona works in real time.
Taking from Rick’s success, we are calling for all mappers to join us Tuesday May 31st at 6pm for a statewide, virtual map-a-thon. We are looking for leaders in each city in Arizona to host an event locally.
Please note that Redistrict Arizona is designed as a transparent platform to make maps and share ideas. As such, we are reiterating the policy that we will not allow anonymous users. We also require that you include a working email address so that we can contact you with questions.
Any profiles that don’t meet these basic criteria by Friday, May 13th will be placed “on hold” until users provide full name and email address.
Thank you,
The Team
This post is directed to all of you who have created a profile on Redistrict Arizona.
First, thank you for creating a profile on Redistrict Arizona. This grand experiment in redistricting will only work when many people get involved and build maps.
We imagine that just about now you have created a profile, played around a little bit and realized, “hey, this is a little more complicated than I thought.”
Well, that’s redistricting. But it is also much, much easier than it was ten years ago.
We want to take this opportunity to encourage you to team up and share plans to build better and better ideas. This only works if you share your plans –and they don’t need to be completed to be shared.
As of today there are about 170 mappers on the system. That is an incredible number of people participating (and, frankly, about twice as many as we expected!)
So, reach out to others who are also building maps and break up the project in bits. Perhaps you are in Southern Arizona and you would like to team up with folks in Northern Arizona.
Perhaps you’d like to organize a “map-a-thon” at your local coffee shop, or even virtually.
You get the idea.
But before you run off to start mapping again, please note several things:
1) No anonymous profiles. If you created your profile without giving your name, we ask you to use your actual name and email address. By definition, this process must be transparent and open. Any profiles that are not identified by the end of this week will be turned off.
2) Bulletin Board. It is difficult for you to find other mappers if you don’t know where to look. It is also difficult to share ideas. We hear you. We are busily trying to find a bulletin board that we can use for you to get to know each other and share ideas. For now, please use our Facebook Fan Page discussion board to get started.
3) We are working on some great prizes. We want to reward the best maps. So, please stay tuned as we announce prizes for the best maps. If you know of individuals or businesses who you know understand the value of this project, please sent them our way at azcompetitivedistricts@gmail.com.
4) Please help us maintain the site. This project is revolutionary, but it is not free. Please make a tax deductible contribution at www.azredistricting.com. We can’t make this happen without your help. Every dollar helps, from $10 to $10,000.
Thank you and happy mapping!
WE ARE NOW LIVE!!
You can now go on to create maps, save your ideas, share them and so on.
You can start using Redistrict Arizona by going to www.azredistricting.com. Look for “Redistrict Arizona is Here” on the menu bar.
Thursday, March 31st Forum:
Changing Arizona’s political climate through redistricting Read more
Prominently reported in the news media today, citizens in several countries in the Middle East are using the internet and social media to demand freedom and democracy.
Well, we in Arizona have don’t have to be feel left out. We now have our own opportunity to enhance the quality of our government, and representation by state and Congressional lawmakers for the next ten years. Read more
Given Arizona’s history of independence and ever growing number of independent voters, it is crucial to recognize their importance – and to give them more reason to participate in elections. Read more
It is easier to draw politically competitive districts than it is to avoid doing so. The political parties do not want you to know this.
How? Read more
