Are you active in your local Democratic Party or for progressive goals?

[Timefortruth]

Poll question: Are you active in your local Democratic Party or for progressive goals?

How many of us participate in local organizations for change. And if you don't why not?

edited for editing.

[mitchtv]

1. I used to, but now

I am old and am waiting for the younger generation to pick up the torch-I am not holding my breath. (we contribute now)On edit- $ goes only to candidates- the party has given up CA45 and ceded it to pukes. They can kiss my royal Irish *ss

[Timefortruth]

2. Now might be the time to make one last attempt to pass the torch.

There is real interest on the part of younger people now maybe you could give them direction.

[mitchtv]

5. I come from a different time

I am usually saddened by the blind materialism of todays youth, the California recall ended it for me. all these idiots driving cars they can't afford( and generally can't drive) , complaining about their taxes, while demanding cheaper colleges. How I long for a timothy Leary, a Tom Hayden , a Chicago 7 .

[trof]

8. now THERE is a classy rant!

Way to go Mitch.
:toast:

[AndyP]

3. not yet

I just started getting interested in politics this year. I'm going to the college democrats meeting at my university next week. I don't really know how to get involved on a bigger scale.

I feel guilty about it though....

[Brazosboomer]

4. Fort Bend Democrats

I live in Tom DeLay's home district. Our Democratic party chairman is a Republican. So, we formed a "club," found candidates, got a headquarters in the county seat and are staffing it from 10:00 - 6:00 every day.

We couldn't have done this 4 years ago because there was no interest. Now we have packed meetings! Why, you ask? Couple George Bush with Tom DeLay and you get some highly hacked-off people.

[trof]

9. Brand new at this. How do you raise funds?

I'm treasurer of our fledgling Democratic club.

[JNelson6563]

14. Membership

The key to success in my experience has been membership.

I too belong to a once fledgling local party. They took it over abuot three years ago with a negative balance of -$800.00 and little else. They put together a newsletter and sned it to anyone who's interested/comes to events. Our readership was at about 925 or so when I sent out a membership mailing to all of them.

I did all the labor and only charged my party for the ink cartridges. We've got a postage permit (which I think costs nothing but you have to have the funds in a prepaid account for mailings) so I was able to send it out much cheaper. I sent out 905 hand signed letters, with opportunities to volunteer, pay the minimal dues AND make an additional donation. I also included a membership form. No SASE or anything, to reply they'd have to provide stamp, envelope and copy my info onto it. They did.

Boy did they!! I did this project for about $300. I've taken in over $3000, added significantly to our membership and raised an army of volunteers.

Mind you I only got involved a year or so ago. Had no idea what I was doing and didn't know a soul. They elected me to the board last June and named me membership chair the same day. I decided to stir things up a little bit. It's been a lot of work but the rewards are fabulous. To attend one of our events these days is really something. Standing room only! We also have the resources to host fabulous fundraisers for Senators etc. which garners us political capital with them. They attend events of ours occassionally and that adds to attendance which, in turn ads to our coffers. We are in an unprecedented postion financially speaking in that we can offer serious backing to candidates.

If I can help you with any specifics in future efforts just PM me, I'd be glad to help.

Julie

[welshTerrier2]

6. Just Enrolled as a Democrat

to attend a local meeting of the town democratic party ... i was really prepared for this one ... i had thousands of my best DU posts in hand ... i mean, i was really fired up ...

this was going to be great ... finally, i was going to get out there and do something ...

at the meeting, the main action taken was to form a committee to put together a document that describes what it means to be a democrat ...

arrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!

one good thing did come from the meeting though ... i hooked up with a couple of "real people" who belong to an organization called: Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts (http://www.progressivedems.org/) ... i plan to attend my first meeting with them on Feb. 19 ... the meeting is in Ashland which is next to Hopkinton and Framingham if anyone wants to PM me for directions or details ...

[Timefortruth]

7. That kind of nonsense makes me crazy,

We don't need to define ourselves we know who we are, in fact projects like that lead to division. And even if it needs to be done it shouldn't be in a general meeting that is the work for a committee.

[Robb]

10. I know the feeling

After my visit to the local Dem meeting, I'm convinced all of them (save the poor county chairman) are bigger Dingbats than me. :eyes:

...Which isn't to say I'm going to be any less active in getting their silly butts to the polls!

[SaddenedDem]

11. There isn't one

There's no local DEM party where I live.

[Timefortruth]

13. Call the State party HQ and ask for help starting a local organization.

Sometimes it's better if there isn't one already because people become entrenched in the old way of doing things.

[macedc]

12. trying too

jsut moved here as a voter but so far the dems (few and far between in this town anyway) seem somewhat disorganized; keep cancelling scheduled meetings or no one shows up - it is a ver cold winter in upstate NY

[davsand]

15. Politics rule our life.

All joking aside, we've been activists and party workers for so long our life really has become intertwined with the local Dems and local activists.

I worked issues stuff from college on--but never "joined" the local Dem party till about 1992. Since then it has been a series of campaigns, events, fundraisers and projects.

I get frustrated some days, but frankly, organizing Dems is about like herding cats. Other days, I am very proud of what we've accomplished and all that we have done to increase visibility and improve the image of the Dem party locally.

From a personal perspective, our Dem contacts have been a huge asset professionally, and they have brought us any number of new friends. It has all been worth it.

Laura