Announcing DFA-Link!

[Kire]

Since Meetup.com has gone down the shitter, DFA is testing this online organizing tool out.

Hi!

I'm excited to tell you that Democracy for America has just launched the beta of DFA-Link!

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/link/register.php?

Its a great new tool for organizing our DFA group, and its the website we'll be using from now on.

After you register a new account, search for your Local Group and join it. That way, you'll stay informed about the group!

Thanks,
Kire

I edited the text above from the invitation that it gives me to invite people to my local group. If your local group isn't on there, tell your group leaders and create one.

[DFLforever]

1. Thanks for this link, Kire.

I was totally unaware of this change. I went in and signed up with my local DFA group.

[Kire]

2. DFA-Link Membership Drive (official launch)

Dear Kire,

This week, we're officially launching DFA-Link to the entire DFA email list. In conjunction with the official launch, we're working on several projects to help grow the DFA-Link community:

1) Short Links: If you requested a "short link" (i.e., www.dfalink.com/columbus), it should be online. You can see your short link on your group page. The new short links should make it a lot easier to expand your group. If you haven't requested a short link yet, there's still time. Just go to:

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/shortlinks

2) Membership Drive: We're launching the first DFA-Link membership drive today through Friday. The person who signs up the most new people on DFA-Link by Friday will receive a free DFA t-shirt and a phone call from Jim Dean! In addition, the group with the most new members will receive new DFA buttons for every person in the group. You can see your progress at:

http://www.dfalink.com

3) September Events: Tomorrow afternoon, we're going to send out an email to the DFA email list about DFA-Link and the Leave My Child Alone initiative. If you're planning to participate in the Leave My Child Alone initiative, please set-up your event on DFA-Link before tomorrow. You can read more about the Leave My Child Alone initiative online at:

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/leavemychildalone

Please let us know if you have questions or ideas at: [e-mail].

Thank you,

Chris Warshaw
Democracy for America

[pstans]

3. DFA-Link is great

It gives the organization everything that meetup did. Very easy to use.

[Kire]

4. New tools to take our country back

Dear Kire,

As a DFA-Link organizer, you're the foundation for DFA-Link. In all, orgnizers have started over 600 groups and planned more than 3,000 events. In just four months, over 10,000 people have attended events planned by you and hundreds of others around the country.

It's exciting start, but we have a long way to go to take our country back. Today, we are launching DFA-Link 2.0 to make sure you have the right technological tools to continue growing your group. The new site features improved layout and graphics. It also includes upgraded group pages, with photos, new blog features, an expanded member database and many other new tools. In addition, there is a new "My Account" section with information on your past DFA actions, as well as your local elected officials.

Check it out at:

http://www.dfalink.com

DFA is also working with an exciting new organization called the New Organizing Institute to train the next generation of online organizers. The first step: find 50 talented up-and-coming organizers, put them through an all-expenses-paid training week, and place them on 2006 campaigns where they can really make a difference. The one-week training will be incredibly intensive, and only those who can keep up will be placed on campaigns.

After you're placed on a campaign, you'll be supported by a mentoring network of experienced organizers and technologists. You'll work with other online organizers to figure out what works online and what doesn't, develop new tools and techniques, and share the results so that all progressive campaigns and organizations can benefit.

Interested? Apply online at:

http://neworganizing.com/apply.html

Thank you for everything you've done this year and everything we'll do together in the months ahead.

Chris Warshaw
Democracy for America

Overview of new features in DFA-Link 2.0

1) Upgraded group pages with photos, new blog features, and many other new tools.

* Group photos.
* Upgraded group blog features.
* Group news box where you can feature an upcoming event and blog post.
* Updateable member database with export functionality.
* You can send group emails without automatic posting on the blog.
* You can track the status of group and event invitations.

2) New "My Account" section.

* Information on past DFA actions (petition, events, groups etc).
* Information on local elected officials.

3) New "Campaigns" section.

* Information on candidates that have applied for DFA's support. When this section is online later this week, it will help your group determine whether local candidate have applied for a national endorsement. It will also enable DFA-Link members to recommend candidates that they're supporting.

4) Improved layout and graphics.
Please send us an e-mail at [e-mail] if you have any questions or feedback about DFA-Link 2.0.