JUST GOT BACK FROM MY FIRST DEAN MEET-UP!

[searchingforlight]

Huge turnout 50+ people, young, old, middle-age, progressives, liberals, REPUBLICANS, hope, enthusiasm, anger, determination.

What a great time!

[Cha]

1. Tell us more! You must live close to your venue!

I couldn't go tonight because of my non existant windshield wipers...

So I want Details...Please! :-)

[liberalnurse]

15. In Dayton, Ohio

We have a total of 3 Meet-Ups. At our session tonight, we talked about Dean and his stance on issues; how we all feel a part of this campaign along with Dean. Then we all shared how *bush is evil (to keep it simple) and focued on signing up new members without internet access. They passed out postcard to be shared with the new member to complete. They give there contact information and the Dean Campaign will keep them in the loop by mail and encourage Meet-Ups. Postage is free. Meet-Up members grabbed up all the cards we had. I need more myself as I know a lot of folks who I just updated them when I see them. This way is much better. They want to feel as needed and a part of the Dean mission.

We had 27 at one venue.... and 50 between the other 2.... I'm waiting to get the count emailed back to me.

I'm starting another Meet-Up north of Dayton near my home. I'ts an untapped area.

Very festive.

[xray s]

2. Out of curiosity...

In your opinion, what was the main unifying force in the group.

Defeating Bush, or Dean's stands on issues?

[gristy]

5. At my meetup, which I've been to several times now

there is a very strong feeling against Bush. But there is also true excitement about Dean, and about the possibility of having him as our leader/president. The folks there certainly don't see him only or primarily as the person who has the best chance of beating Bush (though we feel that way too).

[xray s]

7. I am still undecided...

...but the Dean campaign has intrigued me. It seems Dean has harnessed all the anti-Bush rage by giving people who want to do something an outlet via the meet-ups.

I will make my final decision based on issues, particularly foreign policy and the health insurance crisis in this country.

In the mean time, I tip my hat to the Dean campaign and the enthusiasm they have nutured. Whoever is the nominee would be wise to pay close attention to what is happening out there.

[Cornus]

6. I just returned too...

...and the unifying factor seemed to be to defeat *.

I must admit that I'm a Clark supporter, but I just wanted to know more about Dean just in case WC chooses not to enter the race.

There were probably 40+ at this meetup (compared to the five of us who showed up for Clark's meetup last month) including Howard Dean's mother.

Although the group was overwhelmingly supportive of Dean's being nominated, I still got the feeling that the MAIN goal was to unseat Bush.

[quinnox]

3. Did you take any pics?

n/t

[searchingforlight]

4. I was surprised by the variety of people there and all of them

were involved in many things - protesting, writing letters, internet networking. Some were working regionally, some locally, some just with friends, neighbors and families.

Their anger, rage, discouragement, despair is what got them there originally but their belief in Dean, their agreement with his ideas, their enthusiasm for his message and the fact that they felt that they were really needed in the grand scheme of things is why they stayed.

No pictures, sorry. I am terrible about taking cameras anywhere.

[newsguyatl]

8. i just got back

from one of a few we had here in atlanta... around 150 folks i'd say... they were just pouring in...

it was excellent!

[sham]

9. I just got back from my first Dean meet-up too.

I had a great time, and had some great discussions. There were about 100 people there, probably 1/2 were first-timers like me, and I got the sense that for a vast majority of them, defeating Bush was #1, and they think Dean is the guy who can do it. There was a lot of enthusiasm, and it was infectious.

There was one thing that distressed me a little bit. I am 23. Aside from a few teenagers who came with their parents, I think I was the youngest person there. Most people seemed to fall in the 35-55 range. By no means do I want to downplay the importance of this age bracket, but I would love to see more people my age getting involved, and I think Dean is appealing to people my age. How do we do this? Is the same thing happening at other meetups, or was this just peculiar to mine?

[searchingforlight]

10. Our meeting had three young people (18-24).

Everyone was very excited to have them there and I think the hope is that this enthusiasm will be carried by the 3 messengers to their friends. There is room for all.

Another group that was well represented was veterans.

[Evanstondem]

16. Young People at Dean Meetup

My first Meetup in June attracted a 35 and older crowd, but the number under age 30 has grown steadily since then.

Tonight's youth group included Joe Trippi's daughter and son!

[tridim]

11. 35-55

Isn't that the age range that Republicans always say Democrats "mature" and vote Republican?

[KaraokeKarlton]

13. Ironically, I've noticed that's the main age group of Rep. defectors

Most of the moderate republicans I've met who support Dean are in that age group. They're really fed up with Bush.

[sham]

14. lol! that's true...

but I would guess that 80% or more of the people at my meet-up were in that range. looks like the Pugs are wrong again. And these were professional people too. A few of them passed around their business cards. There were lawyers, psychiatrists, etc. It was actually pretty impressive.

[dofus]

12. Likewise just in from my Dean Meetup.

In Kansas City. About 200 people, and there was a second, overflow venue. This is my third one. The energy was great.

We're chartering two, perhaps three busses to go to Indianola, Iowa, on Sept 13 to the (Senator)Tom Harkin Steak Fry. Bill Clinton will be there. Howard Dean will be there. Perhaps all nine of the guys currently vying for the Democratic nomination will be there. Apparently it's a very important pre-Iowa caucuses event.

The energy level was very high, as always at the meetup. And I made my $10.01 donation.

(the one cent is to let the Dean people know that the money came as a result of attending a meetup)