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Taking Root. If you'd like to continue to receive a new issue every 2 weeks, please send an email to:
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A Newsletter by Grassroots For America March 30, 2004 PREMIERE ISSUE



Welcome to the premiere issue of Taking Root, named to symbolize the community that is spreading across the American landscape, bringing democracy into bloom in citizens' hearts again.

We will be publishing this newsletter on a bi-weekly basis to help connect the grassroots community and to grow the grassroots movement begun in support of Governor Howard Dean's Presidential campaign, a movement we've all helped to build.

Inside the newsletter you will find opportunities to sign up for projects and join initiatives as well as reporting from the grassroots around the nation. If you would like to receive this bi-weekly newsletter direct from Grassroots For America, send an e-mail to subscribe.

On a personal note, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Howard Dean. Without his decision to run for president, and his courage and distinction, none of us would be here... And I, for one, am so happy to be working among our creative and inspiring grassroots.

--Geri Weis-Corbley, Editor

Glimpse What’s Inside

Click on a title to jump to the story below.

The “Continue reading…” and other links below take you to the full newsletter on our Web site.

· News From The Roots

· New Groups Take Root

· The Power of Meetup

· Get Involved

· Inspiration Point

· Site Seeing

· The Tool Shed





news from the roots

California Summits Reap Action Items for Local Dems, DFACorps and Kerry

California Dean leaders gathered in two summits, one in the north and one in the south. They were unanimous in their determination to stick together and work under the Dean banner. In Marin, they formed committees, hatched a fundraising plan, “Take Back the White House Parties" for the Kerry campaign, and tee-shirt idea -- "On Loan From Dean." Los Angeles organizer Randy Foote set the tone for his 80 participants by reminding them, "We did not lose this campaign. We won. We set the debate and changed politics." 12 of the group are running for office and received tutoring from a mayor and candidate for congress.

Clean-Up-the-Bay and other DFACorps concepts were introduced to a Kerry grassroots …

Comment on our Blog. Continue reading this story…



· Introducing Root Camp

· TruthandHope Raises $120,000 in 4 Weeks

· The Tale of those Wisconsin Tapes!

· Kansas Sends Delegates to Boston





new groups take root

Mobs of Moms Threaten Bush

Megan Matson believes the key to swing states has already been revealed. New research indicates that if unmarried woman had voted at the same rate as their married counterparts, there would have been six million more voters in the 2000 election.

As a group, unmarried women are predominantly progressive and seeking change. Matson’s Dean-inspired Mainstreet Moms Oppose Bush(MMOB) is launching ADOPT-A-SWING-STATE, a campaign to register and mobilize unmarried women in key battleground states.

Comment on our Blog. Continue reading this story…



· New Groups Grow Out of Georgia For Dean

· Introducing… Latinos for America





the power of meetups

Featured Meetup of the Month

Milwaukee For Dean Wows Local Candidates

By Keith Schmitz

Milwaukee for Dean confirmed its presence as a political force when local candidate for mayor, Tom Barrett, stepped through the door of our March 3 "Mega Meetup." The former congressman's eyes widened at the sight of the assembled group. After the presentations by local candidates, we re-framed our mission for the future: recruiting new members, supporting progressive candidates, changing the political dialogue in Milwaukee, reshaping the Democratic party, and taking our state back.

Comment on our Blog.



· April Meetup: Call for Agenda Items Click Here





get involved

Summer Dean Convention: DeanFest 2004

Would you like to take an active roll in planning DeanFest? This gathering, which promises "Education by day, celebration by night," will take place July 24-25, two days before the Boston Democratic National convention. 72 people have already joined committees to organize the event and Governor Dean has enthusiastically endorsed it. Help bring to life the vision of 100,000 progressives coming together near Boston for workshops, speakers, and entertainment. Thank you to Al Boynton for providing web facilities and Jessica Falker for heading up DeanFest 2004.

Sign up at http://www.myvoteismyvoice.com/html/deanfest_2004.html

Comment on our Blog.



Rapid Response, Still Growing: Help Take Back the Media!

Do you want fair and accurate press coverage? Do you like writing letters to the editor that counter the right-wing spin machine? Join Rapid Response, already 1,500 strong nationwide. Together we can insist on a debate of substance rather than a horse race. Five minutes of your time multiplied by a nationwide network = the power to take back our country (and our media).

Sign up at http://www.deanrr.com



· We Are The Candidates: Learn how to run for public office

· Candidates We're Rooting For Return to the Top





inspiration point

Coretta Scott King Explores Creative Loss

If we are to reach "the mountaintop", our ideals require "audacious faith," like the faith of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his wife. On the PBS documentary AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Coretta Scott King told the story of Easter, 1963, when Martin was arrested and locked in the Birmingham jail. She had just returned from the hospital with their fourth child. She was weary and worried and confined to bed. She spoke slowly, concisely, majestically, pronouncing each sound: "There's suffering. But, it's creative suffering. I realized in loss, there is always hope for redemption. . . It was the best Easter I ever had." Comment on our Blog



· Grassroots Generosity





site seeing

Blogs and other grassroots sites of interest

21st Century Democrats knows how to win elections. They are the masters of GOTV. 21s Century Democrats is building the farm team for national leadership by supporting the election of progressive candidates at all levels of government. They provide candidate training, campaign organizing, and volunteer GOTV mobilization. www.21stcenturydems.org



Weapons of Mass Democracy is a clearinghouse for ideas and groups created by a Dean supporter. Browse grassroots groups (16) and software projects (5). Add groups and projects that you are aware of: http://massdemocracy.org/



Blog Reading

Former Dean for America Bloggers Joe Drymala, Adam Mordecai, and Mathew Gross are leading (mostly) troll-free discussions on the Change for America Blog of former campaign manager Joe Trippi. (http://www.changeforamerica.com/Blog) Topics range from gay marriage to national security to a new Bush Believability Index. Sign up to join CFA and receive announcements on upcoming CFA grassroots summits designed as strategy sessions for campaign 2004 and beyond. (http://changeforamerica.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2 )

Return to the Top



the tool shed

· Free DVD’s for campaign efforts

· PAC Forms to buy Dean Dem Store Stuff

· Grassroots Calendar





about our newsletter

Send letters to the editor to: [e-mail]

Send content submissions to: [e-mail]

Edited by Geri Weis-Corbley

Page Design by Kimberly Krautter



Subscribe to TAKING ROOT, a semi-monthly newsletter by Grassroots For America. (You will only receive the newsletter email through this list.)

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visit our web site

Grassroots For America is a resource for progressive grassroots organizations across the nation, connecting groups and providing services, infrastructure and consulting to:

· Energize their ideas and bring them to life

· Connect with like-minded teams across the country

· Mobilize bodies of voters for active citizen engagement

· Publicize their efforts utilizing a professional PR and Media team

· Multiply the impact of every grassroots initiative



Grassroots For AmericaSM is a not-for-profit corporation operating as an IRS chapter 501(c)4 organization.