Maybe a stupid question, but how do I get involved?

[holiday]

I live in Ohio.. Warren County. How do I get involved in the politics here. Can you sign up or something to be part of the democratic party? Is there meetings and such? Im new to all this but what to help as much as possible. By the time the next pres election comes in 08 I will have all kids in school and I'm going to work my butt off for the dems. Anyway, how do you get started?

[Botany]

1. Start small!

See if you can organize a local meet up.

Howard Dean's group is great at getting that kind of information .....
So please can a DUer post a link to Dean's group.

Stay away from the State Party as of now ....... they are spineless wimps.

Work on holding the party and it's leadership accountable for standing
up to bush and company.

Welcome to the Boxer Rebellion.

:bounce:

[Dr.Phool]

2. Contact DFA or PDA

DFA is Democracy for America. They're still active after the Dean campaign, and have been having some good meetings and teaching people how to frame the issues and the debate. It's a good organization to hold local dems feet to the fire.

PDA is Progressive Democrats of America. It's a fairly new organization, but seems to be heading in the right direction.

Check them out. You can also contact your local Democratic Party, but, I used to live in Ohio, and know how screwed up their organization is. It's about as bad as it is here in Florida. But, I'm working on all fronts.




http://www.democracyforamerica.com/

http://www.pdamerica.org/

[CanOfWhoopAss]

3. Start or participate in a meet up group

http://www.ohiodems.org/

http://www.meetup.com/search/?keywords=ohio+democrat&x=98&y=12

[holiday]

4. wow thanks guys!

[Eurobabe]

19. Hey Holiday, I just moved to Warren Co. too...

We could start a MeetUp here, say at Borders in Deerfield Town Center.

Let's juice up this Repube place!! Are you in?

[cmd]

5. Contact your county party

Here's the address for Warren

Warren County Democratic Party

233 W. Lytle Five Points Rd. , Springboro  Ohio  45066
614-221-6563 (voice) Contact:
Barbara Sizemore, Chair
[e-mail]

I know a lot of DUers recommend staying away from the Democratic Party. I disagree. The only way the party will improve is if we all work with it. Like it or not, this is our party. It needs, and welcomes, an infusion of young ideas. Don't turn your back on the dems, we need you.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

7. Do both...

In Warren County, it's probably a 100-to-1 shot that you're living in a precinct with a precinct executive. Sign up. Volunteer. Democratic Candidates can't win if the Democratic Party doesn't have an infrastructure.

Still looking for commitment? Join up with Democracy for America or with one of the other organizations that are sprouting up.

[cmd]

13. Excellent advice

Thank you, Jeff

[Kukesa]

6. Would you consider Montgomery County?

Our former Ohio Women for Kerry group has begun a new group we call Democrats for a Stronger America. We meet the first Monday of the month at Dem HQ in downtown Dayton.

If you're interested, PM me and I'll get you in touch with the two co-chairs (both of them work at Wright State University).

We'd LOVE to have you join us.

[KaliTracy]

11. I live in West Chester, but work in Montgomery Count (Centerville)

What time is your meeting, and how long does it usually last? I was quite frustrated that Hamilton County seemed to be the closest Dem headquarters.... I would like to get involved some way, but have no clue where to start, either.

[Kukesa]

15. The meetings begin at 7 pm

and last about an hour or so; we usually have a speaker, go over some business, and break up into discussion groups. We're still in the "crawl" stage of organizing this group. DEM HQ are in downtown Dayton, easy access from I-75. Let me know if you want more info.

[Emops]

8. Warren County has a Democratic Party?

I wasn't aware of that.

May I ask where you're living? I grew up in Lebanon, I live in Fairborn now (in Greene County, which is almost as red as Warren County).

[Kukesa]

9. Yeah, I was wondering about that, too.

My doctor's office is in Springboro and when I drive down there I see lots of cars still sporting those stupid W-04 stickers. It makes me sick.

During the campaign there was a satellite distribution office for W campaign signs, etc. on 741 -- every time I drove past the parking lot it was full. Lots of SUVs and "security moms" filling their cars with yard signs.

And Lebanon -- ha! Don't forget that Rob Portman owns the Golden Lamb.

Montgomery Co. is a little better, but not much, here in the southern suburbs. We tried and tried to convince the folks at Dem HQ to open a satellite office south of town; our pleas fell on deaf ears. We KNEW we had to reach out to the suburbs, but the honchos wanted to concentrate on the city.

Guess I sound a little bitter? I am, because We worked so hard . . .

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

14. Butler, Warren and Cleremont Counties...

have no Democrats elected to county-wide offices. We have a few stray township trustees and city council members (maybe even a mayor or two), but that's it.

Notoriously-conservative Cincinnati and Hamilton County gave Bush a margin of less than 25,000 votes in 2004 -- but the four-county region went for Bush by more than 150,000 votes. We clearly need to be thinking regionally when it comes to the Democratic Party because it scarcely does any good to whittle down the GOP margin of victory in one county, only to have it increase in others.

The Republican margin of victory has risen from 53,000 in 1992 to 132,000 in 2004.

[Kolesar]

10. I became an issues activist two years ago in an environmental organization

The local party did not return my emails, so I went looking for where the action is. It has kept me busy, and I have learned a lot! I organized two antiBush rallies when he brought his fetid presence to my town.

[rexcat]

12. I live in Mason...

There is a local group from the Lebanon and Mason area that formed during the election and will be meeting February 2, 2004. If you PM or e-mail me I can forward you a contact and phone number. The meeting should be at the Mason Municipal Center.

Democrats are very rare here in Warren County. The formation of this group is significant!

[Kukesa]

16. A Dem in Mason?

I'm surprised they're not burning crosses on your lawn. Watch out for the tar and feathers.

Actually, it's not a whole lot better here in the southern suburbs of Dayton. I'm so sick of seeing those W-04 stickers everywhere; I wish I had some Kerry-Edwards stickers left over from the campaign --I'd paste them over every bushie sticker I saw!

[rexcat]

17. There are a few of us in Mason...

and we are a vocal group! We have lived in the area for 17 years and politically it is extremely stifling here. Most of my neighbors are right of Hitler! Also lots of fundies in the area.

Actually my attitude is "conservatives are like a bad act in a freak show." That pretty much sums it up!

[Kukesa]

18. Good for you! Keep the faith. n/t