Calling Kerry organizers!

[eileen from OH]

I'm a Dean Meetup host/co-ordinator in Ohio (that Real Important State, remember?)with a database of over 170. We are ready and willing to work for Kerry but wonder what kind of support/leadership we will be getting.

One of our steering committee members went to a Kerry Meetup and met some very nice folks who were really eager to work with the Dean group but there was no leader of their group and no apparent co-ordination with Kerry HQ, in terms of communication, agenda, support, and materials. (Which is kinda what we are used to from the Dean campaign.) He said it was one of those sit-around-and-bullshit-meetings. Very nice, but no one left feeling they'd accomplished much.

Another member of our steering committee contacted the State Dems to see what we could do. He was referred to the Ohio For Kerry phone number. He left a message over a week ago and still has not heard back.

Kerry was in Akron last weekend and I could not attend but members of our group did. There was a HUGE crowd but no significant organizational presence. That is, all the people there were not directed to a place/organization where they could volunteer and there was no sign-in sheet that would capture names/emails/addresses.
So, huge crowd - no way to follow up. Sorry, but this kinda stuff is PR 101.

The local Dem Party structure is er. . um. .. uh... not effective. The only entity that's worse is the STATE party organization, which is (to put it charitably) pitiful.

We're in an area (NEOhio) that is highly Dem and absolutely crucial to taking the state.

We've got the numbers, we've got the energy, we've got the willingness. What we DON'T have is leadership or communication or an agenda from Kerry HQ or the "official" Dem party. And without the latter, I'm real afraid we'll lose the former.

If any of you folks who've been with the Kerry campaign all along have any wisdom (particularly if you are from Ohio) I'd love to hear from you.

eileen from OH

[Melodybe]

1. I am not with the campaign but we are about to start a democratic meet-up

here. BTW What's up, Eileen!?! I am so glad that you posted. I always agree with your posts and I applaud your dedication to helping us win this election. Thanks for working so hard.

You should be the leader! That is what I am doing here, nobody to do it and it has to be done, might as well be me. Pick up the reigns, start drinking more coffee, and remember it is all worth it.

Thanks again for fighting the good fight.

[eileen from OH]

4. Thanks for your reply, Melodybe

But I'm not prepared to be a leader right now. I mean, I'm more than willing to be a GREAT supporter and do all I can to bring my fellow Deaniacs with me, but I'm a tad toasted. And I don't think I'm alone and it has NOTHING to do with past the past Kerry-Dean wars.

I guess that was kind of the point of my post. I'm one of the legions of people willing to work for Kerry and support him and do everything I can, but I want to see someone else provide the LEADERSHIP. And I'm frustrated that leadership is lacking around here - both from the Dem party and the Kerry campaign HQ. For those of us who are political neophytes, it's tres discouraging not to be utilized.

Is it wrong, do you think, to expect someone else to provide guidance? I feel kinda guilty about not stepping up the same way I did for Dean. It's not a slam against Kerry AT ALL. I just don't know how much Kerry's campaign WANTS us to do that. Considering the lack of concern/communication, that is.

Again, this is not a Kerry slam, but I also get REAL frustrated hearing the almost-daily news stories about the importance of Ohio. And I wonder what is being done differently NOW to when Gore gave up on Ohio, only to lose by 3.5%

If attention is paid to Ohio, we CAN win it this time around. But we can't do it alone, here in the ol' Buckeye state.

eileen from OH

[cally]

2. I hope you send this to the Kerry campaign

You raise a great point and they need to hear it. Does Ohio have any Kerry staff yet? Maybe you could call them. Otherwise, send the email to HQ. Good luck.

[eileen from OH]

5. Ohio does not have any Kerry staff yet

that I know off. They have a phone number that has voice mail. And they do not return phone calls.

That's all I know right now.

eileen from OH

[JI7]

3. go to kerry's website and go to link for your state

and you might find contact information there for your state and ask them any questions you have.

[eileen from OH]

6. The link for our state

is the phone number which has been called and does not return phone calls.

eileen from OH

[GumboYaYa]

11. I have had the same experience in Missouri.

I am also a Dean supporter. We have been canvassing St. Louis since August. As a result, I personally have a database of several hundred voting Dems in my neighborhood. Collectively, we have over 9,000 names of people who either attended meetups, donated to Dean, or expressed support for dem candidates when we knocked on their door.

I called the local Kerry organization and there is not even an answering machine to pick up the phone. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work helping Kerry win in November.

Can someone working inside the Kerry cmapaign help us? If there is no active organization in St. Louis, is there a grassroots way to help? How do we share our information with teh Kerry campaign? What do they want us doing right now (canvassing, info drops, or something else)?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Or call their hq

202-712-3000

[Lady President]

7. Please PM me

I'm one of the volunteer coordinators in Ohio and I can say with absolute confidence that your local coordinator would love to talk with you and work with your group. Please PM and let me know the closest large city to you and I'll give you the contact person.

With that said there are some organizational issues in Ohio. Most of the Kerry staff was laid off after Super Tuesday. This has resulted in the individual county Dem. parties organizing events without contacting longtime Kerry volunteers. No one who helped before the primary was contacted about the Akron rally, so you're correct in feeling there was no organized presence. We do not have access to any campaign materials right now and there is very little support from the national office. Everyone is trying their best, but things are a bit rough.

Kerry Meetups tend to be social gatherings. Our last one was right before the primary, so we had list of tasks and sign-up sheets, but this one will likely be less structured.

As I understand it, the Kerry for Ohio number is no longer being used. The HQ is back to being office space. I have no idea why the number is still be given to people. There should be offices at ODP soon.

If I can help in any manner, please let me know.

[sandnsea]

9. Another contact

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OHIOVETERANSFORKERRY

Long time supporter, very organized and is generally receptive to nonvets. I gotta warn you, he's a pistol!! I love him to pieces though.

[cmd]

10. Will help in any way

I'm just not the leader you are looking for.

[WheresWaldo]

12. contact the DNC

271 E State St
Columbus, OH 43215
614- 221-6563
614- 221-0721 (fax)

OR

call 202-863-8000

ask for the MID-WEST Political Coordinator

[jcv1]

13. Ohio for Kerry

Keep the faith, Eileen. I would imagine the emphasis is on fundraising right now to match the * commercials for awhile and not let them get a headway in the minds of independents out there. The real work will start after the convention in July when we'll have 12 straight weeks of campaigning left. Most people don't make up their minds until the fall anyway so, hopefully, the money and organization will be there to hit hard. You have done a great thing in bringing many new people into the political realm while working for Dean and that work will pay off in the end. Go Akron; Go NEO; Go Kerry!!!!

JohnV