Join Mass Union’s LTO Election Boot Camp!
Launch Date: June 11, 2024
Wrap Up Date: October 4, 2024
Are you starting a new Local Tenant Organization (LTO)? Does your current LTO need a new election? In either case, join us for Boot Camp! This special training and support series will walk you through all the steps necessary to hold a fair election and launch or revive a strong LTO. We’ll focus on recognition requirements as well as essential skills such as relationship-building, running meetings, and distributing flyers. Start your LTO off on the right foot by learning from other experienced tenant leaders and the Mass Union staff!
Boot Camp lasts for several months to give you time to collect nominations for your LTO’s board, give notice about the election, hold the election, adopt bylaws, and learn crucial skills. You will:
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- Attend five ninety-minute training sessions – three in June, and two in September
- Hold two community meetings to launch the process and adopt bylaws
- Distribute and collect nomination papers
- Post flyers
- Keep your Housing Authority informed and request their help as needed
- Receive one-on-one support throughout
- Build relationships with tenants
By October 4, the process will be complete and new LTOs will be ready to officially request recognition from your Housing Authority. See the detailed timeline below. (Note that while boot camp lasts several months, there is a lot of downtime in July and August!)
- Kick Off Training Sessions
June 11, 18 and 25, 1:00-2:30pm
These training sessions will review the entire election process, help you build crucial skills, and prepare you to run community meetings and conduct outreach.
- Community Meeting I: Let’s Get Started!
With help from us, you’ll run a meeting for your community to discuss the new LTO and encourage people to run for the board. Meetings should be held by July 19 at the latest.
- Collect Nominations for the Board
After your community meeting, you will open up a 30-day nomination period for people to nominate themselves or others. This will take place from approximately July 22 through August 22.
- Post Election Notices
Fourteen and seven days before the election, you must post notices or distribute flyers about the election.
- Election!
During the week of September 9, Mass Union will come to your community to run your election!
- Training Sessions: Get Official
September 17 and 24, 1:00-2:30pm
After your election, we will reconvene with our training cohort to celebrate and prepare for the next important step: adopting bylaws with your community. (Current LTOs can use this opportunity to update their bylaws if needed.)
- Community Meeting II: Bylaws and Budget
As a final step, you will hold a second community meeting to adopt (or amend) your bylaws and your budget by October 4. You are then ready to request official recognition. Congrats, you’re an LTO!