Our local Democratic Club had 7

[WhiteTara]

people show up. What is the matter with us? No wonder we don't win elections or get our point across, we are busy waiting for someone else to do it. Yikes! We are in a democratic county, so I guess that everyone feels that it will all be okay.

[Renew Deal]

1. Was it advertised?

Do you have a mailing list? Email or Mail?

Did you put it in the papers? Did you tell your county party? Who were your speakers? How many people normally show up? Where are you?

I help run a club in NY. Let me know if I can help.

[Fredda Weinberg]

4. NY? Where?

I'm in Brooklyn and I've love an alternative to the 'machine'.

[Renew Deal]

5. Nassau County

[Fredda Weinberg]

7. Up and coming Democratic

But still beyond my commuting range *sigh*

Best wishes

[WhiteTara]

12. Well, we seem to be absolutely

deflating. Our club pres (elected only a few short months ago) resigned by letter this evening. We had no speaker, no apparent agenda, but muddled through for an hour trying to put together a spring conference with all the local candidates for our county. I don't think there is any real effort to get the word out; email letter goes to people on a list (it must be small for only 7 people to show up) I don't feel that I can really take on the responsibility for running this club. But I sure would like some tips on how to get this moving with more people involved.

[snowbear]

2. Where are you? I'm in fairly Red Alaska & our Dem meetings ROCK!

We have an AWESOME Democratic Headquarters in Anchorage and great gatherings!

A lot of it has to do with the superb people that work there though, I'm sure.

The Democratic Hdqtrs in Anchorage has 3 times as many employees as the elephant-poop Rethug party!

Our meetings R-O-C-K !

[Cleita]

3. Where's that?

We get more than seven but everyone is elderly. Why don't the young people care?

[Renew Deal]

6. I have noticed that too.

You sometimes get young guns, but it's usually the over 70 crowd.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. The over 70 crowd tend to have more time

for political activities. Younger folks have things called families and jobs that can get in the way.

[Renew Deal]

10. But you do get younger crowds for more mainstream events.

A Democratic Party meetup and the sort gets a completly different crowd. I think it has to do with the old style Dem clubs. Most don't modernize and install young leadership.

[Cleita]

20. I was really thinking more of middle aged, those who have

grown kids. The meetings are only once a month, so I think even people with busy jobs could spare time for a few hours once a month to get involved. It seems that they don't care. Sure the meeting are boring and maybe after work people would rather veg out in front of the TeeVee.

[WhiteTara]

9. Mendocino county California

Our club encompasses the entire valley, so it also includes some smaller towns as well.
Sad, isn't it?

[Renew Deal]

11. What is the scope of your club?

Town? City? County?

[WhiteTara]

13. county

our objective is to elect our local candidates who have challengers in most fields.

[Renew Deal]

15. Do you have a county Democratic Party?

Who's doing that?

[WhiteTara]

14. It is a question, isn't it?

I think that most people are working so hard to not slide any further down, they just don't have time. And we are in a remote rural area and people have to drive a long distance. But young people? Not in our group either.

[mmonk]

16. In red states, the attendance

seems higher because here, the desperation is more intensely felt. Maybe the problem in your area is that it is blue?

[WhiteTara]

19. my thoughts exactly n/t

[rpgamerd00d]

17. Some questions and some info for you

First, what is a "Democratic Club" ? Do you mean a school club? HS or college? Some other kind of club?

This might be your problem right off the bat. You should contact everyone, disband the "club", and form your own Democratic Town Committee or other official Democratic Party group. Simply contact your State Democratic Party chairman, which you should be able to find on the web, as I'm sure your state has a Dem Party website with contact info.

Ask the Dem Party State Chairman how to set up a local chapter, either a town committee, or something larger (county-wide). They will provide you with all the info. Contact all the current "club" people and tell them the info. Then, poll everyone on your mailing list as to when the best day to meet is, pick the best day from the replies, and set a new day to meet. Once or twice a month should be good.

Also, Contact the campaign manager for every candidate in your area, even if they aren't currently running for election right now. Each elected Dem official should have a website, or you should be able to find them off the states website. Drum up support from them.

Next, find out about all Dem activities in the region, other Dem meetings, caucuses, etc. Attend every one. Drum up more support. Make a decision to either join one of the other groups or have them join you, if there is redundancy.

Last, hold a membership drive. Print up fliers, stick em in grocery stores, delis, Subway shops, McDonalds, on phone poles, all over the place. Target places that Dems would go to en mass (Target, WalMart, etc.) and drop fliers. Fliers should simply advertise the existance of the Dem Party, and announce the time/place of the meeting, and one email and one phone # for contact info.

[Minnesota Libra]

18. A one word answer is FEAR - people are afraid because I think.......

.....people know much more about what is going on - if they care to know - than we give them credit for. Plus, there is a lot of hopelessness going on too - the what good will it do thing.

I have no idea how to overcome it either.