Four people, four approaches to getting involved. 

WC3:  OUR STORIES, AND YOURS?

It’s coming down to the wire, BUT there is still time to be part of what many commentators say is the MOST CRITICAL ELECTION in our country’s history.  Everyone can help save our democracy!

The Wes Clark Countdown to Change Team (WC3) has enjoyed disseminating “things to do” over the last two and a half months.  We would like to share a little about what else we have been up to.  We would like to hear what YOU have been doing.  Please post!  

CHERYL:  I’ve always been able to speak to anyone about anything.  My mom used to say my mouth would get me in trouble.  Looking back, she was right.  But…it also helped me to meet people and make people feel at ease in any situation.  I personally hate to knock on doors.  I don’t like to walk due to bad knees, but I am willing to make any calls necessary.  Period.  I’ll call strong Dems.  I’ll call swing Dems.  I’ll do persuasion calls.  I do them most evenings for local and national candidates because they are easy and lots of fun.  What’s not to like?  If someone is rude or doesn’t want to talk to you, you say thank you and hang up.  If someone chats, you’ve made an acquaintance with whom you can share a common goal or dream. 

I absolutely love co-hosting fundraisers!  Those are my favorites!  I love getting the invites from the campaign and rounding up people to attend.  It gets more and more creative the later it is in the campaign cycle as people are tapped out, but it’s tons of fun to be at a fundraiser with your friends and listen to inspiring candidates and activists speak from the heart.  I also love “handling” candidates at fundraiser/events.  These are tons of fun!  I love picking up the candidate, getting the goodies (buttons, sign up sheets, envelopes, bumper stickers) and driving the candidate to an event and facilitating the introduction to lots of attendees without having anyone spend too long in one conversation.  The goal is to have the candidate work the entire room and I always try to find a sheet full of new volunteers and at least two more fundraiser hosts or houseparty hosts from each event.  If the events get too pricey I try to volunteer to help out at the event to get in free or for a reduced price.  Sometimes that works really well, too! 

TRICIA:  I was one of those kids who hated to sell Girl Scout cookies.  I would save up my allowance and buy them myself.  So, to overcome this fear of knocking on strangers’ doors, I signed up to be a Precinct Captain a few years ago.  Now this is something I look forward to!  We have lots of new friends (within walking distance!).  Also, it turns out that a number of my neighbors have some political influence, for example, a CEO of a large company who was a major player in the Kerry campaign (but will choose someone else for 2008), a County Democrat Committee member, a professional fundraiser, and a local School Board member.

I also enjoy fundraisers.  I try to meet at least 10 new people (and exchange cards), and I make sure I introduce myself to the people around the candidate if I can’t get to the candidate him or herself.  (In California, fundraisers are always packed.)  Once I was buying a Barbara Boxer’s night shirt (really cute—“Sleep Safe with Boxer”) and a woman who came up next to me mentioned the high quality of the material.  When I turned to respond, I saw it was Senator Boxer herself.  We had a nice little talk.

Our congressional district is “safe,” so I attached myself to a nearby congressional campaign.  Our “Four Star Democrat Research Group” does backgrounders and rapid response for Jerry McNerney (California, District 11) who is facing multi-term incumbent Richard Pombo, “honored” in the current Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 10 most corrupt congressmen.  Still, it’s an uphill battle because the district is very Republican.  The challenge is exciting.

STAN:  My first foray into meeting people was in early August 2003.  My town was having a parade, and the county Democrats were marching in the parade.  I needed to meet those folks, since my overall objective was to be THE Clark guy in my county and get elected as a Clark delegate to the Boston convention.  I had made up some introductory flyers and ordered a bunch of mini-Clark bars.  "Want a Clark bar for the parade?  Yeah?  You have to take a flyer, too."

I began attending everything I could, especially in my county.  I had met a dynamite Senate candidate, Mike Miles (who eventually lost the primary to Ken Salazar), and after the Clark campaign ended, I jumped into the Miles campaign with both feet, being his driver on several junkets around the state.  When Mike lost, I joined with some other Miles supporters and founded Be the Change USA, whose first project was to oust the state party chair, who had roundly dissed Miles's candidacy.  In order to do that, I would need to be a delegate to the state party Central Committee, so I set out on that path.  I ran successfully for Vice-Chair both of my state House District and state Senate District, and became a precinct chair.  The precinct chairs are, ex officio, members of the county Central Committee, and state House District chairs and vice-chairs are similarly members or the county Executive Committee.

As we wrote, 90% of success is just showing up.  If you want to have an influence on the party and in the selection of candidates at all levels, including party officers, you have to get involved.

DEBBY:  Until I joined the Draft Clark movement in 2003, my involvement in the political process included poll watching for McGovern in the 70’s, followed by a long absence of activity until I joined a Democratic Women’s group in Fayetteville, Arkansas where I volunteered for statewide candidates, including the Senate race of Mark Pryor against Tim Hutchinson. The impetus for this involvement was George Bush, the outcome of the 2000 election and a desire to fight back.

The possibility of a Clark candidacy galvanized my interest and involvement like nothing else before.  With no experience to guide me, I volunteered to be the organizer of the early Draft Clark MeetUps in Richmond.  As the momentum built toward an announcement, several experienced Democratic women attended a MeetUp and joined the Clark race.  They urged us to get involved by joining our local committees, which we all promptly did.  Later in the primary, this is exactly what General Clark urged us to do as well.  He recognized that his supporters could best effect positive change by working from inside the structure of the party.

Local Democratic groups welcome new members, especially those who care deeply and are willing to put their time, energy and money where their passions are. Membership fees are usually minimal and little is required other than residence in the community and a pledge of loyalty to Democrats.  Within a year, I was elected an officer, and by the following year was elected an officer in my congressional district as well.  One of the exciting benefits was to be recognized and rewarded for my dedication by being named a delegate from my state and attending the 2004 DNC in Boston.  Getting involved, learning the names and faces of those who influence the political process in your locality and your state, is only a function of how much time you’re willing to put into the effort.  Leaders and activists are needed on all levels, but starting at the bottom will give us all something to build on.  Local office holders and the party they represent affect the direction of local government, which is the basis of such vital interests as electoral boards, even school boards, appointment of judges, and election or appointment of registrars.  A strong base lends strength to each level of government up the chain.  Having Clark supporters in all levels of the party structure will serve us later as we work to build our volunteer support ranks should he decide to run again, and will serve our party by injecting enthusiasm and good ideas.

The Wes Clark Countdown to Change Team,

Tricia Spiegel, Stan Davis, Debby Burroughs, Cheryl Poling