Unshackle Upstate wants to CONNECT with you, and connect you with each other, in conversations about what matters to you as taxpayers and voters. To do this, Unshackle is unveiling a new platform and reaching out through new media outlets, including the Unshackle Army: a united and dynamic force for change in New York State that will fight to lower your taxes, create jobs, and improve New York's failing economy.

1. A Call to Arms Reaching out through new channels to make change in NYS

2. What’s Behind The Call The Upstate economy has lagged for far too long, jobs have been lost, families are leaving for better opportunities If Upstate is to regain its economic prominence, we must change the way “business” is conducted in Albany

3. How We Got to This Point Years of bad budgeting have created out- of-control state spending Examples: Since 2000, the budget has increased from $75B to $131.8B If they had followed CPI, the budget would be roughly $100B

5. Upstate has the top 10 highest county property tax rates in the nation as a share of home value

7. Unshackle Upstate’s Solution Educate taxpayers about the issues in Albany that affect their taxes and the quality of life in Upstate Empower taxpayers to have a voice, to demand that their legislators address these issues NOW. Motivate taxpayers to become voters and to choose in the November statewide election officials who will truly represent their interests

8. How Will Unshackle Do That? By taking our information and our message directly to taxpayers and voters through social media By connecting taxpayers and voters directly to each other through social media By using social media to enlist an Unshackle Upstate Army, with a call to action

9. Why Social Media? Access to greater grassroots development Information sharing is nearly real-time People choose to follow you Allows for a 2 way dialogue between us and our supporters The 2008 presidential race proved it can work

11. Site targetingBlogs will drive traffic and members to the profiles. Social Networks Friends and fans join your network and contribute Building a Social Network

12. A Simple Premise 50 Broadcast the event to all their friends 1 Fan “Brian Sampson just became a fan of Unshackle Upstate” 500,000 10,000 Broadcast the event to all their friends “Brian Sampson just became a fan of Unshackle Upstate” 1 person joins & 50 find out, 80,000 people join & 4,000,000 find out

13. The Unshackle Army A united and dynamic force for change in NYS A place where people can fight to lower taxes, create jobs, and improve New York's failing economy A megaphone for Upstate New Yorkers to express their ideas, thoughts, concerns, etc. and be HEARD through Unshackle Upstate The more members, the stronger the Army’s voice will become Our main goal: Recruit 1 million active members to join the Unshackle Army so our voice is heard in the 2010 elections.

15. http://twitter.com/unshackleny

16. http://www.youtube.com/user/UNShackleupstate