Anyone here have a PDA Chapter?

[undeterred]

I'm going to work on starting one and bringing more to my state. I would love to hear from others about your experiences getting started.

:kick:

[mahina]

1. We do, and it's a great group.

I can send your contact info to the people who were most active launching it, if you'd like. http://pd-hawaii.com/

I remember we voted on our bylaws, got a bank account set up, and started having forums and cosponsoring events. One of the coolest was a 'speed dating' format for the congressional race, suited to the moment because we had a zillion candidates for the job. It was won in the end by a solid pro-labor, pro-choice Democrat, Mazie Hirono. Anyway, pda is a great group.

There's another really wonderful group that was already formed, mostly more senior and extremely wise activists, Americans for Democratic Action. They are so damned smart and they've lived through so much. Not saying pda isn't worth doing because it absolutely is, but have you checked out the ADA people in your area?

Man oh man. They are wicked smart, very principled, experienced, they see the world through a much longer lens, their liberalism is informed with life experiences of the sort that make unforgettable stories that drive the points home like nothing I have ever heard before. They are a strong group of allies, and I hope you have a few over there like the people we have here. It's the perfect time to do some intergenerational building.

We had hoped to do an intergenerational conversation between teenage girls and the ADA women who remember when abortion and even birth control was illegal. Talk about revolutionary, these girls don't have the first idea what they stand to lose. That is one idea that I didn't follow up on and hope to make time to.
That alone, if the idea spread, would ensure us a permanent Democratic majority.


OK!

[undeterred]

2. Thanks for responding!

I've never heard of ADA in my area, and I think I would have by now. We don't have an open Congressional seat but we do have a lot of activists in Madison and I think the timing is right and PDA has a good structure. I'm looking for groups that would be good allies. I will PM you re contact information.

[undeterred]

3. 1st meeting next saturday!

:kick:

[demnan]

4. We have one in the state and I was part of one started in my county

I knew from the start if wasn't for me, they were trying to work within the framework of a very conservative political party in my county. But the state at large and Northern areas of my state have done quite well so I wish you luck in this.