Has anyone here attended Camp Wellstone?

[Missy Vixen]

Hi everyone,

I just finished three grueling, but amazing days at Camp Wellstone. Camp Wellstone is presented by Wellstone Action!, the group formed to continue Senator Paul Wellstone's work.

I'm curious to know if any other DU'ers have also been to camp, and what YOUR experiences were. One thing's for sure -- I think it's the most valuable political campaign training I have ever received.

Julie

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. I have been dying to hear from someone who has attended.

I am not able to attend this year but have strong dreams of attending in the future. Which programs did you get to attend?

[Missy Vixen]

4. I was in the candidate track

I believe there were 60+ future candidates in a room for three days. I'm not kidding when I say I got the most valuable traning I have ever, ever received. I heard from multiple speakers on a variety of subjects. For instance, if you ever get a chance to hear a guy named Rudy talk about candidate fundraising, I advise everyone here to sign up for Camp Wellstone, even if you have to get on a plane to go to the city it's being held in. The trainers spoke about GOTV, identifying one's base, how to deal with the press, how to attract (and retain!) volunteers, and so much more. It is AMAZING.

Camp Wellstone is bipartisan, which I initially found a bit weird. (In other words, there is most likely everyone from independents to Dems to Greens in the room.) They don't shy away from criticizing the right-wing, but one thing that was said was that it is critical that we begin encouraging progressives to run for office. Everyone has to start somewhere. The Republicans have been doing it for 30 years. As a result, they have stacked school boards and city councils around the country. It's time for us to push back. We owe it to ourselves as Democrats and progressives.

Julie

[tavalon]

7. Yep, Rudy came and talked to us in the activist track

and that was hands down the best lecture of the weekend. Rudy is amazing!

[MaineDem]

8. Rudy was the best facilitator we had

I'm sorry we only had him for a few topics in our track.

I didn't like the competition of winning and losing the various tasks. That was my least favorite part of the weekend.

[tavalon]

2. I skipped today

I was in the Seattle one. We're you in that one? And which track? I was in the activist track.

The lectures were interesting and I know I learned a lot though it will take a while for me to digest it all.

I didn't like the break out group exercises, partly because I don't think they gave us enough guidance so I don't feel that I learned as much as I could have. As well, our small group just didn't seem to gel. That certainly wasn't Camp Wellstone's fault and really, that's why I skipped today. I realized when I got up that I was dreading that last exercise and then I realized that I could probably get more out of today by reading the huge binder of stuff they gave us.

[Missy Vixen]

5. I'm so sorry you missed today

I was in the candidate track. We didn't win either of our tasks, but I'm glad we did them. I learned a lot. (I'm sure they heard the "candidate crisis press conference" laughter down the street!)

I'm bumming I didn't meet you!

Julie

[tavalon]

6. Oh, it wasn't about winning

I could not care less about that. I just felt they were exercises in frustration not in learning.

It was pretty cool that Seattle had a 98% attendence instead of the usual 77%.

I don't consider the Camp bad, I just didn't have a good experience with the break out group.

[MaineDem]

3. I went in April

I took part in the "Running a Campaign" track.

I was so very impressed! I wasn't expecting it to be as encompassing as it was. I understand the Candidate track was fantastic as well.

I wish I had been before last year's campaign. I have a much better handle on the hows and whys of a campaign now.

I highly recommend it to everyone! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Julie! :)

[Missy Vixen]

9. Any other Camp Wellstone alums on DU?

C'mon out, c'mon out, wherever you are!

I'm still absolutely thrilled the day after. What a great training, a great weekend, and even better, new friends.

Julie

[bettys boy]

10. Seattle, Campaign Worker Track

Great training, but way too much to digest. I guess the idea was to throw out as much as possible and let the receiver prioritize based on their own needs or interests. For me that was targeting, or identifying and "narrowing the persuadable universe".

It would be great to treat this Camp as the introductory course, and then have shorter follow-up workshops narrowed to just one topic.

Also, there is the "intellectual property" problem - the binder is good, but the slides were fantastic and much more useable. Too bad they didn't give them to us.

As for guest presenters Robyn Steely, Dean Nielsen, and Joby Shimomura were great, and its good to know that guys like Colby Underwood are on our side.

[bettys boy]

11. Oh, and about the competition thing

It was useful in that it exposed us to the very real problem of trying to work in a committee, as all of us will. Some organizations will NOT gel, and it's useful to get used to working through that.