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Zeta Pi Chapter, University of South Florida Example of Winning Chapter Activity Grant Proposal

 Grant Category: Society Affairs

Proposed Project:

Pi Sigma Alpha Statewide College Student Presidential Straw Poll (To be held in the Fall 2000 shortly prior to the November election)

Amount Requested: $1300.00

Project Description:
Today's college students are often perceived by political candidates, political parties, the press, and the public at-large as being totally uninterested in electoral politics. The purpose of this project is to challenge this "conventional wisdom." We hope to do this by coordinating a statewide college student presidential straw poll one or two weeks prior to the November election. To be called the Pi Sigma Alpha Florida College Student Presidential Straw Poll 2000, it will be held on the 12 college campuses in Florida with active Pi Sigma Alpha chapters.

Our Chapter will coordinate the straw poll. We will choose the day (hopefully the same day on all campuses), design the ballot to meet with each campus's scantron and test scoring system, collect, and disseminate the results.

We anticipate the best "polling place" to be at each of the university's student center but we will solicit input from the individual campuses about the best location. However, it is important to note that several universities, including USF, have a number of branch campuses. They will have to be involved as well to ensure that those students have an equal opportunity to participate.

Zeta Pi Chapter will also contact each presidential campaign to encourage them to have representatives, signs, and literature on campuses throughout the day of the straw poll.

We plan to involve the Florida Student Government Association and the student-run media at the various universities (newspaper, TV, radio). Students at the individual campuses will have to staff the polling center on straw poll election day. The involvement of these other campus leaders will heighten participation and help to publicize the event, both before and after the straw poll. We also anticipate receiving some matching funds from these groups, especially for campus publicity.

We also anticipate support, including some financial support, from the local media in each university's "backyard." (Florida is one of the nation's largest media markets.)

The Proposed Budget: The Details

Conference Calls to Link Universities:	$200.00
Scantron supplies purchase:	$800.00
Ballot box decoration (Featuring Pi Sigma Alpha logos; multiple campuses)	$250.00
Mailing/shipping costs-misc.	$50.00
TOTAL	$1,300.00

NOTE: This proposal was fully funded.