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The official Obama Presidential Inauguration Committee is looking for volunteers:
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is seeking volunteers for Inaugural events. Thank you for signing up now to volunteer.Click here for the volunteer web sign-up site.
How You Can Help: We need volunteers with different skills and backgrounds to assist with Inaugural events.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
As you read this, I'll be working second shift at the polls. Ballots and procedures vary from state to state, and even counties and cities within states. But here's how it goes where I live.
SHAMELESS PLUG: But first, I know that a lot of you are not working the polls. I know that intuitively because most people who work the polls are older. While we won't know the average age for 2008 until after the election, in 2004, the average age was 72. AVERAGE. Which means there are a lot of people in their 70's and 80's. And I'm pretty sure they're not the prime demographic of this blog.
As an aside: consider working the polls. I wouldn't say "it's fun", but I've done it for a few years, and I'm always glad I did it. If you ever want to, just call your local city/county Voter Services office, and volunteer. Here, you attend a 2 hour class, for which they give you a $10 bill, a pen, and candy.
WORKING THE POLLS: You check people in, you call our their names so that the poll watchers can check off their lists, as well as in case anyone wishes to object to a voter. Then, you have them sign the book, compare their signature, hand them a ballot, write their name next to the next sequential number in the "another book", and send them to their booth to fill out their ballot. This "another book" has numbered lines, so that we can tabulate the number of voters, provisional voters, and spoiled ballots. Then, there are people at the scanner to receive the completed ballots. All ballots go into folders, so the selections are private.
In between, you solve problems related to people's names not being in the book, people who have come to the wrong polling place, people who filled out absentee ballots but want to vote in person, and a bunch of things you never can predict.
CLOSING THE POLLS: At 8 p.m. someone stands at the end of line (if there are people who haven't voted) so that people who weren't in line by 8 p.m. can't vote. We make sure that everyone who IS in line by closing time CAN vote, no matter how long that line may be. Our polling place is the largest in the township, and we are hoping to split it, but we haven't found an appropriate venue yet.
Once the polls are officially closed, we open the absentee ballots. They are in two envelopes. We use the outside envelope to check that the signature is correct. Then we take the inner envelopes, shuffle them, open them, and stack the ballots. Finally, we scan those ballots. While this is going on, the Ivotronic (touch screen) machine is closed out. We have one, and since optical scan is our default, very few people use it. It is there generally for the blind, as there are headphones so that the ballot can be read to them, and they can hear how they voted, and change if needed.
Once the absentee ballots are scanned, the optical scan machine is closed, meaning we have a tally. So here's the answer to that age old question of "why does it take so long to get the results?" While we at the precinct polls know the initial tally, we're nowhere near done. And until we're DONE, we don't report to the county.
We pull the ballots with write-ins, tabulate them, and add them to the post sheet.
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Meet Igor... a 7'8" Obama supporter and volunteer from Rochester, MN.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Call-out to DCW reader Chris: THANKS for coming down from NY! Welcome to PA to help with the final push.
Call-out to DCW reader Mithras: Happy you are running one of the Philadelphia phone banks. Glad you haven't seen the liar-calls we have. THANKS for being on the alert.
_____________________
A few days after the election, I'm going to interview the campaign kid field operative who has been living in my house for the last several months. If there is anything you'd like to ask him, please leave it in the comments. I've had my list of questions for some time, and my first one (which I've already asked him) is: why did you decide to take a year off from college and work for Senator Obama? My second question will be: what did you learn?
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If you've ever worked at a phone bank, you know it's a mass of papers and noise, and surprising volunteers. There are two magnificent women, Chardie and Kadida, who are helping run the phone bank, and will be completely in charge tomorrow when I'm at the polls. (I'll see if I can't talk them into a picture later today.) We have people who sign up for a 3-hour shift, and stay all day, and run packets and errands, and really go the extra mile. Then again, if you ever worked a phone bank, and you want to really piss off the person in charge, walk in late, ask where the coffee is, and then complain about the brand.
Anyway, yesterday started with a phone call from a kid named Chas. He was at the canvass site, calling to report a water main break. Chas is 15, and has been phone banking and canvassing for months. We actually make him take breaks to get his homework done -- left to his own devices he'd work the campaign 24/7. He's been working the canvass site making packets, doing training, along with a dedicated group of people, including Gerry from NY, been here for the last 2 months; and, for this weekend, my campaign kid's father and uncle. His 82-year old grandmother was at the phone bank yesterday, and made calls for 7 solid hours. They also drove down from NY for this. 
This time of year, the canvass shuts down before the phone bank because it's easier to make calls after dark than canvass. (And make calls we did: over 5100 of them.) The photo is Chas, with Olivia. The campaign is big on titles: Olivia was assigned to "security." It worked well, as there were a few little kids who came with their parents in the evening, so besides coloring or playing with dolls, they "babysat" Olivia. (Some security....)
We started with a list of about 5000 people. We have so far identified about 2000 supporters, and another 800 non-supporters, bad numbers, undecided voters, college kids who have already voted absentee, and we were able to get about another 50 volunteers from our calls. Our goal is to identify each and every supporter and get each and every one of them out to vote.
A lot of people don't like getting phone calls. Oreo sent me a Kos diary from a guy who appearantly lives not far from here (next county over) who is overjoyed at the phone calls and other campaigning. He says:
I am so overjoyed, I cannot sit still. Writing this diary, and sharing the glow from watching a community rise from political lethargy, is my way of celebrating.We know from our numbers that there are people who did NOT know where their polling place was located. In one area, the "normal" polling place is under construction, so there is an alternate site. Some people are new to the area. Some people have limitations which require assistance at the polls, and we can easily arrange for solutions. This is why we do what we do.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Very briefly --
It's about quarter to six, and I have to be at the phone bank at 8:30, despite the fact we don't launch until 10. There is a set-up PROCEDURE, as opposed to a "regular" GOTV phone bank where we have a few lists, a few landlines, a few cell phones, and a few pens.
Yesterday afternoon, as I mentioned on my twitter feed, we had an internet problem. I'm glad to announce that it's close to solved.
From the time we started making volunteer reminder calls, it was flat out. Calls, data entry, a leadership meeting for both the canvassing and phone bank leadership. Our field organizer had two required conference calls during our meeting. By a lucky fluke, I offered to pick up the pizza, which meant I was one block from home, and therefore, Olivia my canine companion was able to attend the meeting, too. (It's the little things).
My phone bank co-leader and I were driving the one mile back from the canvass venue to the phone bank venue for a few last words. We stopped for the light, and I leaned into the back seat to pat Olivia when my co-leader screamed, and at the same time there was that horrible car crash sound. It was close to 11 at night, so the intersection wasn't as traveled as the normal mid-day traffic fiasco it is. Two cars, 4 people, lots of glass, lots of debris.
We pulled ahead of the intersection, and I told her that I was a doctor, and needed to check if everyone was okay. She called 911. The cars were ugly. The people had only minor injuries, and no one needed ambulance transport.
I got back in the car and she said "I didn't know you were a doctor". In my mind, there was a cascade of thoughts: the people were okay, we still had another hour of prep work, I'd be able to text over numbers all day, in lieu of sending a runner, Olivia needs more attention, I need a nap, all sorts of thoughts all at once. Worlds collide.
See you on twitter...
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FiveThirtyEight has a great look at the volunteer efforts in the two campaigns...
When the offices are open, they have reduced hours. We can confidently plan to get evening good-light photographs of a town after we visit the local McCain office, because we know it will be closing by 5 pm, as the office in Wilmington, North Carolina was this past Sunday. The plan is, get to inevitably closed/closing McCain office, get an hour of photos near sunset, then visit the bustling local Obama office.Read the full post here.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Chances are you know an undecided voter. And chances are that one of the issues to that voter is spending and taxes. Between now and Sunday night, would you please take a look at this web site, and let your personal undecided voter know about it?
Thanks. 
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
John Foster from the Minnick campaign sent me an article called "10 moments that rattled race for Congress" (Bill Sali made the list).
In lieu of this morning's poll, please use the comments to list out which of those 10 moments most resonated with you, or pick your own on any Senate, House, or state/local race. OH! And why.
For me, it could be the implosion of Vito Fossella, which I've written about a lot on this site (use the tags, select "House"). Because I love a good scandal.
Or the fact that I got the opportunity to contend in the spring that the Alaska issue was: which came first, the election or the Stevens indictment? (I've been reading the Anchorage Daily News ever since, and am pleased to announce that there is now a Target store in Wassilla.)
But for me, it really is the Minnick race. (Again, check the "House" tag.) This race in IDAHO was brought to my attention back in July, when I was looking for interesting House races, and I received an e-mail from some guy in Idaho with an explanation of why this race was winnable. That is, how a Democrat named Walt Minnick could beat a Republican named Bill Sali, for the ID-01 House seat. That same guy got in his car a few days later, drove from Idaho to Chicago, got a job with the Obama campaign, and is now a field organizer in Virginia. (Hi Marshall - I'm thinking about you!)
Because the whole thing crystallized what is right and good about this election cycle.
1. When Obama said "hope" all those months ago, who believed it? Personally, I used to say "Hope is for suckers. Work harder." And now I wear dangling earrings with an Obama symbol above a "hope" charm. Because suddenly all things seem possible.
2. The 50 state strategy Howard Dean put forth 3 years ago is coming full circle, and as someone who believes in grass roots, I'm THRILLED!
3. If Walt wins, it proves that if you add together hope and grass roots, it's possible to change the world, one House district at a time.
And because of all this, last night I walked around the phone bank, looking at all the people making calls, the overwhelming majority of whom have never cared about politics before, asking if they'd help with my 2009 political grass roots project. The response, from 100% of them, was not "what is it?" but "count me in." (It launches a week from Monday, and yes, I'll be posting our progress here on DCW.)
So, win, lose or draw next Tuesday, what resonated with you?
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I'm a reasonably busy person. (It's one of the reasons I type out my blog posts before the sun comes up and schedule them to launch throughout the day.) I triage my non-work correspondence, and respond to text messages immediately (because it's easy), e-mails second, and generally I don't check my home voice mail except on Saturday nights. In case you were wondering, my snail mail is in a stack in my car.
So last night, there were a few interesting surprises on my voice mail. One was from a friend asking me to quit sending her e-mails to come out and work GOTV since "we've already won Pennsylvania, why don't you take time to come back to yoga class?" Normally, I'd send a nastygram for this, but instead I got back in my car, in the dark, pouring rain, drove over, rang the doorbell, and asked "Are you insane?" (And no, I didn't ask it that nicely.)
I am starting to hear this a lot. Not generally from friends, who've known me long enough to know better, and who ALL volunteer. (Yes, even the person who called.) But from neighbors, people I "meet", and worst of all, from people who previously committed to GOTV shifts.
Obama will be in Pennsylvania this week, so maybe that will help.
Some people say they "hope" that the complacency doesn't extend to voters. And I have heard rumours, but I have not yet spoken with anyone planning on NOT voting out of sense of complacency. As always, I repeat my mantra:
Elections are won one voter at a time.
We have a plan, we work the plan.
We work the plan, we win.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
The days run together. I get up, I blog, I go to work at my real job, I come home, I see my canine companion, I work the campaign, I take a nap, I get up……Ed wrote about the staffer stress. I’m no staffer, but I can attest to the food problems. I was half-way through eating a donut, and it must have been unconsciously, since I don’t actually like donuts.
I made the worst persuasion call of my life last night, or the night before, it’s hard to tell. I called someone, introduced myself, and asked if we could count on his vote on Election Day. He replied that he really wasn’t sure, his mother had died that morning, and he thought I might be the mortuary. I’ve been doing this a long time, and that’s never happened to me before.
My next call was to a woman I didn’t know, but who lives about a quarter mile from me. We chatted, and suddenly she says “OH! You’re Olivia’s mom! I met you by the pond.” So, since we were obviously friends, and since she said she was too busy to work, she agreed to drop pizzas by on Election Day.
And people say phone banking is boring.
Chester County was originally divided into 5 zones by the Obama campaign. The internal borders have shifted somewhat, but now we have additional satellite offices. In our zone, we have two. The one I’ve been at this week is about a block and a half from the Paoli train station. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything to you, but here’s why it matters. Earlier this year, Barack Obama got on a train in Philadelphia, came out the Main Line, and stopped at various train stations, including Paoli, to make speeches. 
One of the women at the phone bank told me that it was that day, and that speech, that made her decide to work her first election. Turns out that on Valentine’s Day, 1968, her grandfather was attacked and killed on the platform at the Paoli train station for being black and “not knowing his place.”
So last night, at the Paoli location, we had a leadership team meeting. We heard the plans that we would implement for our little corner of the world: the remaining planning, the final weekend of regular canvassing, the final push, Election Day.
Driving home, I realized that the identical meeting was being held by local teams across the country. Maybe the night before, or after, but the plan was the same. It’s one of the two greatest strengths of the campaign: have a plan, work the plan. (The other greatest strength is the message: define it, refine it, adhere to it.) Believe me when I say this was no local organizing meeting. Nope.
This folks, is the ground game. And when all is said and done, and the historical evaluations of the 2008 campaigns are viewed with 20/20 hindsight, the ground game is going to be the big topic. There was a lot of discussion in the spring about “Commander in Chief” credentials. That position requires two things: the nuanced intelligence to accurately ascertain WHETHER to go into battle, and, if you do, the ability to plan out what your troops will do when they get there. Initial plans, contingency plans, logistics.
I’m here to tell you, the ceiling of the threshold has been smashed through. And by the way, someone else doesn’t have a ground game. Here at McShame’s last stand though, I can tell you that all they do have is signs. I’ll take the ground game, thank you.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Yesterday, I posted a poll asking what level of involvement y'all would have in the GOTV run-up to election day, and on the day itself. While I am happy at the level of voting, I am mortified appalled heartbroken that 28% of you say that you will vote, and that's all.
Writing on a blog means that readers know your words, but not YOU. With the exception of a few of my friends and family who know about this blog because they knew me before I started blogging here, none of you could pick me out of a crowd. Therefore, you know neither the passion I bring to campaigning, nor how genuine I am.
But I'm out there every day, I talk to volunteers, potential volunteers, voters and potential voters. I talk to Republicans. And I am NOT new at this.
The Republicans this year are different. I know Republicans: they live in my neighborhood, they are friends, I know many of them for years, and this year they are scared and they are energized. A lot of them honestly believe that the combination of President Obama, Senator Reid, Speaker Pelosi and dual chamber majorities will be the end of America. Their GOTV program will dwarf the Rovian efforts of the last two cycles.
We can still lose this thing.
I know, I know. "The polls," you say. "The youth vote." "Landslide."
We ONLY win if our voters get to the polls.
PLEASE HELP!
I know, you hate making phone calls, you hate canvassing, you are busy. Work anyway.
Walk around your neighborhood, make sure your neighbors are good to go.
Put on an Obama-Biden button and take a walk in the park - people will come up to you, and you can talk to them. Wear your button to the mall, to the gym: people are everywhere, and they want to talk.
You don't have to be like me. Even in off years, my first question to each and every wait person is "are you registered to vote?" Because voting matters, even in the off years. And yes, this year, I follow up with "Are you voting? Will your vote make me a happy woman?"
2 hours of your entire life the weekend before the election. 2 hours.
You know what another 4 years of McBush means. You can only imagine what a Palin administration would be if John's cancer returns.
2 hours to help me save the world. I'm not that big, I can't do this alone. I need your help.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
I read with interest the comments on Blasting the Ceiling, and it warms my heart that so many of you are donating time and money to the Obama campaign.
Think about it: until this year, the vast majority of income to presidential campaigns came from "not-regular-people". Sure, people of modest means contributed, but the campaigns RAN on money from the few. THIS is what true campaign finance reform is about -- the idea that millions of Americans "own" a piece of the campaign. Not "own" in terms of "can have an audience with" nor "can get access to" nor "can force policy changes" -- but "own" in terms of saying "this is my candidate, this is my message, this is the change I want." Read it again: it's a powerful thought.WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
While Johnny McCondo formally accepts the Republican nomination this evening, the lingering question remains: what will you be doing? The tempting answer is to follow Matt's post and say "watching football," which at any other time I may be doing.
But the fact is that I've never been more motivated to work for a candidate than I am in 2008. Not just to work for Barack Obama and see him elected as President, but because I truly believe that eight more years of Republican rule could cause irreparable harm to our country. I've mentioned before that I think the composition of the Supreme Court and the impending retirement of three justices is of particular concern to me. But also the economy, healthcare and our relationships with other nations are all items that cannot continue down the same path.
Which brings me to tonight.
Volunteers will be walking door-to-door in their communities, during the McCain speech, to offer information about the Democratic platform and important issues pertaining to the fall campaign. Some state parties are holding watch parties in the form of "More of the Same" bingo. According to a press release issued by the Colorado Democratic Party:Bingo cards will feature boxes with GOP rhetoric favorites like “whiners,” which is what McCain’s senior economic advisor called the American people struggling with the Bush-McCain economy, and perennial GOP classics like “private accounts,” which is the Bush-McCain code for privatizing Social Security.
Personally, I'd prefer it if the state Party did something a bit more productive such as take these volunteers and hit the phones or the doors rather than play a gimmicky card game. BUT...the fact that they are doing something that generates some earned media could be worthwhile.
The bottom line is - just because the Republicans will be speechifying again this evening, doesn't mean that the world stands still. Plenty of work to do and only a mere 61 days left to do it...
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
The Obama campaign had said that volunteering wouldn't be required to get tickets to the acceptance speech at Invesco. But Westword reports, that isn't the case:
The message she received implied that tickets would only be going to the first people to finish their volunteer duties. It was so convincing that she went straight to her local Campaign for Change office last night to get her first three hours in. Everybody she talked to was also a first-time volunteer, hoping to earn an Invesco ticket. Clever campaigning.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Democrats Work is taking a lead role in making service an integral part of the Convention in Denver, by helping to coordinate a Delegate Service Day at service sites throughout the Denver metro area on Wednesday, August 27th. Projects will range from canned food sorting to neighborhood cleanups and tree plantings. These events will allow delegates to both contribute to and celebrate the people and organizations making positive change and strengthening communities in the city hosting this historic Convention. Good times!Democrats Work just sent an email asking for volunteers to help them on Delegate Service Day.
We need your help to make it happen. We are seeking volunteers to act as Event Hosts and Transportation Hosts for Delegate Service Day on Wednesday, August 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers will act as ambassadors of Colorado and of Democrats Work!And if you're lucky you may even meet Michelle Obama and Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter.
Event Hosts will be stationed at DW-sponsored events and will help make sure the event is a success (and that delegates get exposed to Democrats Work!). Event Hosts will be required to attend a brief training at the Democrats Work offices, 960 Cherokee Street, in Denver, on Tuesday, August 12th at 6:00 p.m. (A second training may be scheduled.)
Transportation Hosts will be asked to meet delegates at their hotels and escort them by light rail, on foot, or on busses to their designated service projects and to help manage the delegates once they arrive at their project site. Transportation Hosts will be required to attend one of two brief trainings at Volunteers of America, 2660 Larimer Street, in Denver, either on Thursday, August 14th at 6:00 p.m. or on Saturday August 16th at 9:00 a.m.
Building on its commitment to make service and active participation in the community a hallmark of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced today that Michelle Obama and Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter will co-chair the Democratic National Convention's Delegate Service Day, Wednesday, August 27. Through this effort, the DNCC will aim to inspire hundreds of thousands of Americans in a renewed commitment to service.
On August 27, the third day of Convention week, delegates from across the country will volunteer at dozens of community service projects in and around Denver, ranging from reading to children to park cleanup and tree care, to supporting projects that aid military families, an area of special focus for Michelle Obama. Delegate Service Day is the capstone to a year-long DNCC community service program, in which leadership and staff have contributed more than 650 hours to a variety of local projects.
"Barack and I have committed much of our lives to serving our communities, and throughout this campaign we've witnesses first hand the incredible change the American people can bring to the country when we work together for the common good. It's only fitting that we continue our focus on service at our Party's Convention in Denver," said Michelle Obama. "Not only will Delegate Service Day help give back to the city and the state hosting tens of thousands of Democrats, but it will send our delegates home with a renewed commitment to serving their communities and coming together as a nation to solve our great challenges. As Barack has often said, when ordinary people get together, we can do extraordinary things, and that's what will happen in Denver."
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
And no... it's not Jesse Ventura.
In another sign of just how much the Republican National Convention is hurting from the lack of volunteers, they're now trying to pull in wrestling fans to help.
What If You Threw a Party Convention and No One Came?
Or rather, volunteers didn't sign up to turn the wheels of the party machinery? Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) reports that the Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee is scrounging to fill its volunteer roster for the Republican National Convention in September. They’ve even tapped the imposingly bulky Kenneth Anderson, a.k.a. “Mr. Kennedy” of Friday Night SmackDown fame, and Minnesota Viking Matt Birk to appeal in ads to Minnesotans’ civic honor and sign up for duty. Here’s Anderson in one of the ads:Minneapolis-St. Paul is hosting a championship match, the 2008 Republican National Convention... This convention matters to our cities and we need your help no matter what your political affiliation.... Let’s show everyone what Minnesota Nice really means.
One slight problem with the wrestler they chose though. It appears that Kenneth "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson has had some steroid problems.
Sports Illustrated reported last year that Mr. Kennedy's name (Ken Anderson) came up after federal and state agents raided a pharmacy and "anti-aging clinic" in Florida. SI and other news outlets say Anderson (we'll refer to Mr. Kennedy as Anderson the rest of the way) may have been suspended by the WWE because of links to steroid use (the WWE wouldn't release the names). Ken Anderson, a/k/a Mr. Kennedy, lost to Eddie Guerrero in Guerrero's final match on Nov. 11, 2005. Kennedy received shipments of anastrozole, somatropin and testosterone between October 2006 and February 2007.
Oops.
The Utne article says they are now at 8,900 volunteers toward their 10,000 volunteer goal.
Denver on the other hand has so many volunteers they had to limit their service to 4 hours each.
Meanwhile... Over at the McCain campaign. Their head economic advisor called the United States "a nation of whiners" in a "mental recession"
And the Obama campaign's quick response:
“One of Senator McCain’s top economic advisors may think that when people are struggling with lost jobs, stagnant wages, and the rising costs of everything from gas to groceries, it’s merely a ‘mental recession’. And Senator McCain may think it’s sufficient to offer energy proposals that he admits will have mainly ‘psychological’ benefits. But the American people know that our economic problems aren’t just in their heads. They don’t need psychological relief – they need real relief – and that’s what Barack Obama will provide as President,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
The Republican National Convention in St. Paul is still 4,000 volunteers short of their 10,000 volunteer goal. In comparison, the Democratic National Convention has 25,000 volunteers and is limiting each to only 4 hours of work. Now the RNC Host Committee, Minneapolis Mayor RT Ryback and St Paul Mayor Chris Coleman are asking for help... even from Democrats.
"This is not about being partisan; it's about putting our [Minnesota's] best foot forward," McFarland said. "It's been 116 years since we have had a convention here and this is a chance to be a part of history."
Volunteers need to fill out an application by July 15. Applications are available at www.msp2008.com/volunteer. They also will need to undergo a background check and attend training session scheduled for late July and August, McFarland said.
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
The shortage of money plaguing local efforts to finance the Democratic National Convention played a role in the resignation of the top official in charge of volunteers — and concerns are growing that Barack Obama won't be able to help. Sondra Williams, the director for the 12,000 volunteers who will be assisting Democratic leaders and delegates and others during the convention, resigned after 13 months with the host committee. She left at the end of a training day for volunteer captains and directors held June 7. "I was not empowered to do my job," said Williams, on loan to the host committee from the National Education Association. "And therefore I felt I just couldn't continue." She wouldn't elaborate, saying she does not want to malign the host committee, but she said the group was tense over its cash-flow problems. The committee, charged with raising $40.6 million for the convention, missed its final deadline Monday by more than $11 million. "We all had our disappointments around it, and there was a lot of stress on the fundraising people," Williams said. - Denver Post
WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Here's another sign that Democrats are much more enthusiastic about their nominee and their party than the Republicans. In April, we reported that the Democrats in Denver had a big problem: Too many volunteers:
That's right, Denver only needs volunteers to work 4 hours the entire week, in order to give everyone a chance to volunteer.
As a result of the large volunteer base, some early decisions have been made:
- Most volunteers will be assigned to work a maximum of four hours during the convention. For out-of-state volunteers, it's important to weigh travel and housing costs prior to making such a commitment.
The GOP has signed up 4,000 volunteers through early June. The Democrats had 25,000 volunteers in April. Incredible.
...
“The eyes of the nation will be upon us in September and we are looking for help from Minnesotans to make this Convention memorable for the 45,000 people expected to come to Minneapolis and Saint Paul,” said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. “It is time to roll out the red carpet and show our guests the type of hospitality that Minnesotans are famous for.”- RNCC Press Release
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