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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

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Elizabeth Gillette (Palm Coast, FL)

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Devotion is in the heart of all Americans. We are devoted to the America we have built, the America we have dreamed, and the America we are becoming. We are proud of what we have accomplished, what we stand for, as well as the opportunities afforded us by all of the great men and women who have served for these privileges. That service has made a difference in our daily lives, one in which we appreciate and are grateful, eternally. There is a spirit that resonates within each one of us, a spirit that guides us, supports us, and unites us. The American spirit is a very powerful force, making each one of us passionate, protective, and patriotic. As Americans, who are from all different places around the globe, who cherish and relish in the traditions handed from generation to the next, we are all fervently aware that we are all different. We can focus on these differences, we can split hairs over our views, we can agree to disagree or we can communicate, engage and embrace each other for who we are, where we are going, and what will achieve. United we stand, divided we fall is a popular quote and one with great meaning. One in which needs to be embraced now, more than ever before, because there is a wave a change that is happening, right now, in our country and it cannot and will not wait. This is a defining moment in our history where each American needs to chart our new course: define ourselves, our values, live daily with accountability, integrity, and engage fully in a life where our commitment is to making a difference. We are now in the presence of a leader who demonstrates these qualities and characteristics, let us take heed. This is not only our country’s defining moment; it is your personal defining moment. Where do you stand? What is your commitment? How do you make a difference? Do you hold yourself to higher standards than our leaders? Should you be as dedicated as the people or better than those who lead us? Are your expectations in making a difference left up to others? Or do you live passionately, honestly, generously, by improving the quality of life for those around you?

July 12 Party in the Park

By Elizabeth Gillette - Jul 10th, 2008 at 1:26 am EDT

Also listed in: Palm Coast for Obama | Team Obama, St. Johns/ Flagler

http://my.barackobama.com/elizabethgillette

Sign up for our July 12th event as we are doing voluteer recruiting, voter registration and just having fun!!! 10-3 at Holland Memorial Park. If you want to help or just come for the festivities sign up or call Elizabeth Gillette.

386-986-7111 for further questions.

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Unity

By Elizabeth Gillette - Jun 12th, 2008 at 1:20 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Someone asked about my book.

Unity and Family...Barack is working on a political and government level. I am focused on the same values on a family level. For example, he believes we need health care and I believe we need to stop the emergency room visits because of domestic violence. For every position he has, I have one working more directly with individuals, families and communities.

I believe there needs to be a movement for change on two levels, government and individual. I believe each of us, as individuals needs to hold ourselves accountable for personal values, making a difference, and serving our country. I don't believe we should hold anyone more accountable than we hold ourselves. I don't believe it should just be our service people fighting everyday for our Freedom, it should be all of us. Locally, we all can make a difference by volunteering.

I think families should come first and believe with Barack in office as our economy improves, people can come back to a balance of choice. Where it is not mandatory to work for two incomes while supporting our families. I believe that people don't need excessive material objects. It's damaging to our earth and the priority becomes money. I think all of us, as Americans, need a wake-up call about what is truly important. Knowing the most important (anything) in life, our the relationships with the people we love.

My commitment is to change. My commitment is to education. My commitment is to showing the world how we will all Unite, as I have found the answer. It has been said that, "There are no human problems that humanity cannot solve." I intend to lead this movement with all the momentum that Barack has in his campaign.

And once he reads my book, I would like him to write the forward.

Have a great day!

Elizabeth Gillette

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Tampa Bay Article

By Elizabeth Gillette - Jun 11th, 2008 at 10:41 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Obama backers will blitz Florida By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
In print: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Get ready to see a Democratic presidential campaign the likes of which this state has never seen.Starting next week, some 400 specially trained Barack Obama campaign "fellows" will fan out across Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, for an intensive six weeks of registering voters, mobilizing volunteers, as well as working to bring Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters into the fold.The Obama campaign has 20 paid organizers in the state â€" compared to John McCain's two â€" and within days is expected to name its Florida campaign team. With more than 150,000 Florida supporters signed up for volunteer duty, the campaign is talking about an unprecedented voter mobilization effort.Much as the Bush-Cheney campaign roared to Florida victory in 2004 with neighbor-to-neighbor campaigning, the Obama campaign sees a volunteer army large enough not only to target key voting precincts, but even specific streets and blocks."Field programs have made a tremendous difference in races in Florida that were targeted, but this is going to be that on steroids. We've never seen a statewide effort like this before,'' said Kirk Wagar, Obama's Florida finance chairman.The campaign started a voter registration push in Florida and across the country in May, but the real campaign kicks into gear this weekend with two two-day training sessions in Gainesville and Tamarac for the 400 "fellows" assigned to Florida.These are volunteers, including many college students and retirees, who applied for the six-week program in which they commit at least 30 hours a week to the campaign. Two-thirds of the fellows are Floridians, and the campaign is providing housing through local party activists."It's our sense that the environment in Florida could sustain and grow a very vibrant grass roots campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Josh Earnest.Obama is a former community organizer himself, and his campaign's commitment to volunteer-driven, grass roots organizing paid off as he won caucus after caucus and racked up more delegates than Clinton could overcome. Now, the campaign is turning those field operations toward November."Today, I am proud to announce that our presidential campaign will be the first in a generation to deploy and maintain staff in every single state,'' deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand said in an e-mail to supporters Monday. "The network of volunteers and the infrastructure built up during the historic primary season â€" on behalf of all the Democratic campaigns â€" have given us an enormous and unprecedented opportunity in the general election."The exceptions were Florida and Michigan, where Obama laid no groundwork because the states were punished for holding primaries earlier than allowed by the national party. The campaign acknowledges it has to catch up in Florida, a state that can be tough to organize because of its size.Among those whom the Chicago-based campaign is considering to run the Florida campaign? Steve Schale, a Florida Democratic Party star who has helped his party win back nine state House seats in the past two years.Florida is a must-win state for McCain, and recent polls show him leading Obama by as much as 10 points and as few as 4 points. The Florida GOP has long enjoyed a stronger turnout operation than Democrats, and McCain has Gov. Charlie Crist's political machine behind him.McCain currently has a state director and regional director working out of his Tallahassee headquarters, and by the end of June is expected to have opened several state offices and have at least two dozen campaign staffers in Florida."I don't think we have ever made the claim that we are going to out-field-staff them,'' McCain spokesman Jeff Sadosky said. "We will have the bodies on the ground to do what we need to do from a get-out-the-vote perspective and to do what we need from the political perspective."The Obama campaign acknowledges it has work to do winning over Clinton's many supporters. But Obama has an advantage that most campaigns, including John Kerry in 2004 and McCain this year, appear to lack: legions of passionate grass roots supporters.In Florida alone, the Obama campaign counts more than 61,000 people who have donated less than $200 to the campaign, people who can be tapped again and again for small donations."In the 15 years that I've been here, the Democrats' volunteer apparatus has atrophied to such an extent that it's helped Republicans maintain their power," Democratic consultant Robin Rorapaugh of Broward County said. "If young people in Florida respond to Obama like they have around the country, they should have a very active field program.''In 2004, Kerry had thousands of volunteers across the state working to turn out voters, as well as thousands of paid canvassers working with independent Democratic-leaning groups. But the Kerry operation didn't kick into gear until late in the campaign, and the paid canvassers proved to be no match for the Bush-Cheney volunteer-focused effort."If there's not an enthusiasm and excitement from the ground up, it's going to be limited in its success,'' said Democratic consultant Jeff Garcia, contrasting Kerry's Florida operation to Obama's. "What Obama's doing is empowering people to be active around the state, and it was developed in a genuinely organic way, out of enthusiasm and excitement."

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Comeback Stand

By Elizabeth Gillette - Jun 11th, 2008 at 10:37 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

I got an email today. A lady told me Florida did not matter if we won or not. I replied!

Have no doubts about winning Florida! We are are going to bust are asses to make sure it happens! Working relentlessly and tirelessly; Barack never counted on having an organizer every bit as strong as he is, I am just that person. He has picked up one powerful supporter here in Florida, so mark my words, WE CAN AND WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN! You go ahead and count Florida as a winning State and not just a swing state! Save this email so you can congratulate all of us in November!

She later retracted and offered her unconditional support!

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FORGING OUR PATHS

By Elizabeth Gillette - Jun 6th, 2008 at 11:58 pm EDT

Also listed in: Florida Action Team | North East Coast & Central Florida for Obama | Palm Coast for Obama

I know we each have our reasons for wanting Barack to be president, as each of us knows, intuitively, this is a defining moment in our lives. One that will greatly affect our future and one day be looked upon as our history. It will be a path, our journey that we forge together, define, and shape, as Americans, as a community, as family members, and individuals. Our history does not need to be written for us by someone else. It needs to be defined by us, with conscious choices while taking responsibility for our actions. These are the choices, these are the moments, which create our journeys, forge our paths, and where we write our own chapters, and ultimately our destinies. I am inspired. I know the very first time I heard about Barack was from a hateful email sent about him, judging him harshly, and with made up lies. I never take anyone's word about another individual so I researched the email and found it to be untrue, of course. In addition, I could not rely on the words of hate for it is not a value I will pass onto the next generation. Through my research, I learned the truth. I learned who he was, where he had been, and most important where he is going. Barack Obama understands what this country was built upon; the values, the dreams, the spirit, with all of its hope and the courage that came with each and every fight to grow a nation, creating a more perfect union. Yes, I researched a man and found one who deeply understands the words, “United we stand divided we fall.” I learned of a man who was raised by a single Mother and knows the value of being a Father, and being present to shape and mold the minds of his children. I learned of a man who was ambitious, not to make money, but to make a difference, not for himself but for those who could not do for themselves. And yet, the ones that could stand on their own; he too, wanted to empower them, support them, reflect their strengths, their wisdom, their fortitude, and unite them, demonstrating the theory of strength in numbers. His wisdom led him on a path, where Americans can live their dreams, build healthy futures for our children, embrace our differences, and all with a knowing, that the sum of all parts is a whole. Barack Obama, I found out through research, not only saw all of us as making our country a great success once again, but that his vision extends, to making our race the best, the healthiest, and the most successful. This race, however was not just about Americans, it is about our race, one race, the human race.

I have followed the news daily; I have listened to all his speeches, and read all the ones I could not watch. I have learned more about politics in six months than in my whole life and I am ready to support Barack, as he becomes our next president. I may not agree with everything he says, but I do trust the judgments he makes. I know that whatever situation he stands in, what ever challenge he faces, that if I were in his shoes instead, he would be making the same decisions, I would want. Tell your friends, families, neighbors, co-workers, tell them all because we can begin improving the quality of our lives by improving the quality of our leaders.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Elizabeth Gillette - Jun 4th, 2008 at 10:29 am EDT

Also listed in: Florida Action Team | Palm Coast for Obama

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