Host House Party FAQ

Thanks for checking out our Frequently Asked Questions about hosting a Line 5 Retirement House Party! This will be fun.

Q: Do I have to provide food and drinks for the party?

A: That is your choice. Some hosts may choose to provide food and drink, others may host potluck style. Some may want to order pizzas and accept donations! It is your choice, and if your party is open to the public and featured on our site, we will let your guests know which way you choose!

Q: I would like to host a party with my friends and family members, but not others that I don’t know. Do I get to choose who is invited?

A: When you register your party on our site, you will have the option of making it public or not. If you make it public, we will list your party, address, and your contact info on our website. We'll also help you with outreach to OWDM supporters in your community. If you choose to have a private party, we will list your party but won't post your address or a way for people to RSVP. We will still provide you with the same support and materials that others are getting.

Q: How can I get people to come to my party?

A: One of the first things for you to do is to create a Facebook event (instructions here). Then invite all your friends and anyone you think that may be interested in learning more about how we're going to shut down Line 5. Here's the thing about Facebook events, however. They're a great way to notify people, but it's your personal touch that will get people to come to your party. Pick up the phone and (gasp!) give them a call! Or send a text, send an email. If you do create a Facebook event, please send us the link. We will be adding your event to our website. You can grab the link to your party's event page and share the heck out of it!

Q: How do I show the live video at my party?

A: We'll be broadcasting the same video to all the house parties around the Great Lakes. To show the video, you'll need a computer (with a speaker for the sound) with reliable internet access. If you're having just a few people, you can gather around the computer or iPad. If you have more people, you will want to show the video on a larger screen. Most computers these days have a way to send video to your modern TV via an HDMI cable. This sends the video and audio to your TV. We can answer questions about this in the conference call leading up to the event. We'll be sending you the link to access the live video feed.

Q: What's going to be shown on the live video?

A: We are planning a fun and informative program with a short film about Line 5, and will have a few speakers give you an update on the pipeline. Most importantly, we'll be talking about what you and your guests can do in the coming months to help shut down Line 5. We'll also have one of Michigan's favorite musicians, Seth Bernard, setting the stage with his inspiring music.

Q: What does this cost?

A: It's free! We need your time and talent to help spread the word about this dangerous pipeline.

Q: What is the point of these parties anyway?

A: Together over the past three years, Michigan residents have made our elected representatives pay attention to this issue. Now we need them to act! The 2018 election will be critical in the fight to decommission Line 5, and these parties will be the beginning of a summer of activism on Line 5 in advance of the election. We are asking everyone who cares about decommissioning Line 5 to host or attend a party on April 23rd so we can all get together and establish our plan to hold elected officials accountable and do the work that is necessary this year to decommission Line 5.

Q: Can I host a party at a different time or date?

A: Sure! However we suggest doing this after 7:30 PM Eastern Daylight time on Monday, April 23, and here's why. The livestream video from Traverse City, MI will be recorded and will appear as a video at our live YouTube link after the party concludes. People in later time zones should plan on starting to watch the video after about 7:45 PM Eastern time to allow the video time to be processed and become active. Host your party anytime in days following April 23. If you want to host a party before April 23, we won't have materials ready for you and there will be no video to watch.

Do you have a question that's not listed here?

Let us know and we'll respond ASAP.