Actor, William Sadler will also be joining us at both Beacon locations for phonebanking and greeting our volunteers! (See details below)
Please join us in the final four days of this campaign as we bring in the vote for the Obama/Biden campaign and make history together! This will most likely be the most important presidential election of our lifetime. There is so much at stake. You are needed now more than ever. Sign up today. Together, we will make a difference! YES WE CAN! Angela anvalles01@aol.com <mailto:anvalles01@aol.com> 845-797-9810 cell **It is important to sign-up for shifts so that we know how many call sheets we will need! Please sign up for as many shifts/days that you are available! Thank you for your help.** Two Phonebanking Locations: CSEA Union Hall 568 State Route 52 Beacon, NY Sign up at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsx775 <http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsx775> Martin Luther King Cultural Center (behind the Muddy Cup in Beacon) 19 South Avenue Beacon, NY Sign up at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsxxsx <http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsxxsx> The Call Centers in Beacon will be open as follows: Saturday, Nov 1st: 10:00AM - 9:00PM Sunday, Nov. 2nd: 12:00PM - 8:00PM Monday, Nov. 3rd: 10:00AM - 9:00PM Election Day! Tuesday, Nov. 4th: 10:00AM - 9:00PM Phonebank Captains Needed! f you are able to lead a group of phonebankers through a 4 hour shift (minimum), please contact Moira Kelly, Field Organizer for the Obama Campaign at 917-273-2837 or email: mkelley@barackobama.com <mailto:mkelley@barackobama.com> . Your leadership skills will be greatly appreciated! Special Celebrity Guest: We are happy to announce that actor, William Sadler will be joining us at our phonebanks in Beacon to greet volunteers and make calls for the Obama campaign. You will recognize him from his roles in "Eagle Eyes", "The Mist", and "August Rush" or his previous roles as Heywood in "The Shawshank Redemption", Klaus Detterick in "The Green Mile", or John McClane's nemesis Colonel Stuart in "Die Hard 2". Supporters and Friends,
Please join us in the final four days of this campaign as we bring in the vote for the Obama/Biden campaign and make history together! This will most likely be the most important presidential election of our lifetime. There is so much at stake. You are needed now more than ever. Sign up today. Together, we will make a difference! YES WE CAN! Angela anvalles01@aol.com <mailto:anvalles01@aol.com> 845-797-9810 cell **It is important to sign-up for shifts so that we know how many call sheets we will need! Please sign up for as many shifts/days that you are available! Thank you for your help.** Two Phonebanking Locations: CSEA Union Hall 568 State Route 52 Beacon, NY Sign up at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsx775 <http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsx775> Martin Luther King Cultural Center (behind the Muddy Cup in Beacon) 19 South Avenue Beacon, NY Sign up at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsxxsx <http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/lastcallforchange/gsxxsx> The Call Centers in Beacon will be open as follows: Saturday, Nov 1st: 10:00AM - 9:00PM Sunday, Nov. 2nd: 12:00PM - 8:00PM Monday, Nov. 3rd: 10:00AM - 9:00PM Election Day! Tuesday, Nov. 4th: 10:00AM - 9:00PM Phonebank Captains Needed! f you are able to lead a group of phonebankers through a 4 hour shift (minimum), please contact Moira Kelly, Field Organizer for the Obama Campaign at 917-273-2837 or email: mkelley@barackobama.com <mailto:mkelley@barackobama.com> . Your leadership skills will be greatly appreciated! Special Celebrity Guest: We are happy to announce that actor, William Sadler will be joining us at our phonebanks in Beacon to greet volunteers and make calls for the Obama campaign. You will recognize him from his roles in "Eagle Eyes", "The Mist", and "August Rush" or his previous roles as Heywood in "The Shawshank Redemption", Klaus Detterick in "The Green Mile", or John McClane's nemesis Colonel Stuart in "Die Hard 2".
Election Day is just 33 days away. That's not a lot of time. And you live near a crucial general election battleground state -- Pennsylvania. Polls show a very close race in Pennsylvania, and this weekend is the last chance to register voters. We have a real chance to win this state. But it's going to take all of us working together. That's why this weekend, we're organizing teams of supporters from neighboring states to come to Pennsylvania for our Drive for Change weekend canvass. Sign up to Drive for Change to Pennsylvania and help Barack and Joe Biden. <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b423/814360994/VEsE/> Each and every vote in Pennsylvania is absolutely crucial to victory on Election Day. In 2004, John Kerry won the commonwealth by only 2.5% of voters. We need to step up our efforts in Pennsylvania, but we need your help. Pennsylvanians who are undecided need to hear Barack's message, and we are depending on your help talking to them about the real choice in this election. Join us for the Drive for Change and help make a big difference in Pennsylvania: http://my.barackobama.com/PABorder <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b423/814360994/VEsF/> No prior experience is required. Staff will provide you with everything you need. We can't do this without you. Thanks, Paulette Paulette Aniskoff Field Director Pennsylvania Campaign for Change P.S. -- If you can't travel to Pennsylvania this weekend, you can still make an impact in your own state. Turn your enthusiasm into action and sign up to volunteer today: http://my.barackobama.com/volunteer <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b422/814360994/VEsC/> <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b45d/814360994/VEsD/> Want to make a difference at home? Visit your state homepage <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b45c/814360994/VEsA/> to find out the different ways to get involved.
<http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b45d/814360994/VEsD/> Want to make a difference at home? Visit your state homepage <http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c135be/504e97ab/6880d6f2/1188b45c/814360994/VEsA/> to find out the different ways to get involved.
Baked Alaska (Debate Watch Party) Come to the Poughkeepsie Headquarters to watch the Biden/Palin debate. We have cable,a comfortable couch, chairs, and plenty of great conversation (until the debate starts). We'll have pizza and you bring a dish/dessert and we will watch together! Time:Thursday, October 2 at 8:00 PMDuration:3 hoursHost:Wendy WilliamsContact Phone:8453804810Location:PK Obama Headquarters (Poughkeepsie, NY)320 Main StreetPoughkeepsie, NY 12601Please RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/debatewatchparty/gshyqs
Alternatively for those in Beacon: Biden Debates Palin (Debate Watch Party)Come watch Biden Debate Palin. This should be a lot of laughs. Meet Obama supports and become a volunteer. Time:Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 PMDuration:3 hoursHost:Tracy GivensContact Phone:845-238-7592Location:Beacon Muddy Cup (Beacon, NY)Main StreetBeacon, NY 12508 Please RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/debatewatchparty/gshfhf
Then on Friday you can kick back and relax at Amici's in Poughkeepsie with Congressman John Hall scheduled to appear: Young Dems After Dark- Dutchess (Meeting)Come out and network with Obama supporters, elected officials, candidates, and like-minded individuals. Special Guests: U.S. Congressman John Hall from New York's 19th District Matthew Silverstein- NYS Young Dems President Candidates for State Senate, Assembly, and other local offices Food by Amici's Cash Bar Time:Friday, October 3 at 7:00 PMDuration:3 hoursHost:Ira MarguliesLocation:Amici's Restuarant & Lounge (Poughkeepsie, NY)35 Main StDooley SquarePoughkeepsie, NY 12601 Please RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/gs75k9--
FIRED UP! READY TO GO!!!
For those ready to take action and be deployed to a battleground state for five weeks, or alternatively those who are interested in committing to travel to Pennsylvania at least four weekends between now and November 4th, there is a special training session this weekend right here in the Hudson Valley. It will be held in Suffern, NY which is only about forty five minutes away. If you are interested in doing everything you can for the campaign and making a serious commitment, here is your chance to really take part in the Obama campaign as an Obama field organizer. Please email Moira Kelley ( mkelley@barackobama.com ) as soon as possible to let her know that you can attend. The training is Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm at the Indian Rock Shopping Center located at 128 Route 59, Suffern, NY 10901. Her original email with more details is below.http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Suffern&state=NY&address=128+Route+59The NY Field team will be conducting Camp Obama Hudson Valley (Rockland County) trainings this weekend. As part of our Camp Obama training, we place time in our schedule to get a phone call from a regional field director/field organizer in PA to do a live conference call with our campers on site to walk through a "day-in-the-life" of an Obama field organizer in a battleground state. The location is below:Indian Rock Shopping Center128 Route 59Suffern NY 10901www.loopnet.com/property/15007741/1-28-Route-59/ <http://www.loopnet.com/property/15007741/1-28-Route-59/> Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 3/4pm.Breakfast will be provided both mornings.Please send anyone interested in attending this event to my email address. We are looking first and foremost for those ready to be deployed for five weeks to a battleground state, preferably Pennsylvania. We will also take those who are ready to go out for four weekends. If you are not sure about someone's eligibility definitely just pass them on to me and I will handle.Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and immeasurable efforts!
A few people have asked me questions about navigating the site.
One is where to find Vote for Change Information. On the site's main page there is a blue rectangle which on the right hand side has a list of key points/milestones for the campaign - One of which is vote for change. Click on that, and the Vote for Change announcement comes up in the blue box with a a get involved box - click on that box and you are in that part of the web site. Here is a direct link there: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vfchome
Another how to find the flyer templates online. They are under the media tab : here is a direct link to them:http://www.barackobama.com/downloads/
Yesterday i went into NYC to see some friends - among whom were some Hillary supporters. I threw some extra buttons in my bag and registration forms - hopeful that they might be ready to come on board.
First i saw my sister, who is an Obamagirl herself, and I pointed out that she was not showing her support. She grinned and I whipped out a button for her bag. On it went. We stopped to grab a sandwich for lunch - and the waiter asked if we were Obama fans. "Yes, we are." "Me too" he confided. Button delivered. "Are you registered." "Not yet." Registration form delivered.
Next i saw My friend Lana, a Hillary girl. She noted my button, and said that she was disappointed but that she would vote for him - and encourage others to. "Button?" "Do you have an extra?" "But of course." On it went.
She needed my advice on prospective pair of shoes, so we went into the shop. The salesperson asked if we were Obama supporters. "Yes" Lana said (I was so happy to hear her respond before I had a chance!!) "I am for Obama too" the salesperson said. Button delivered - she was alredy registered.
OK - so my point is that we should have that Obama gear on all the time, and a couple of registration forms do not hurt either - People note it and they love connecting over Obama support.
This is the New York State Voter Registration form:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/download/voting/voteform.pdf
Here is the NY State Board of Elections website:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/INDEX.html
Also here is the link to the General List of Rules - please note - these are General - NY State speicific rules can be found in above link:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vfc_legal
After getting off the phone with KY at 9PM, I headed west to Oregon.
Most everyone I called tonight had sent in their ballots and were for Barack Obama. It made the calls go so fast - they just flew by.
I reached two households where I was speaking to young men and the person I was calling for was not home, and they did not know if they had voted or not. After explaining why i was calling, I asked them if they were voting.
One said he was too young - he is turning 18 on June 7th, but if he could, he would vote for Obama. So I let him know that it looks likely that he will be able to vote Obama in November. But he thought he would have to wait for 4 more years for a chance to vote for the POTUS. So I explained that I thought he qualified if he was 18 by November 4th.
So then he wanted to know how to register. He had Internet access so I sent him to Rock the Vote. "That is awesome - I am so psyched to know this."
The other guy was 19 and also an Obama supporter. But he had not registered because he just could not find the time to go and do it. So I again explained that he could do it online through Rock the Vote. He could not believe that it was so simple - and wished he known for the primary. "Don't cry over spilt milk - just go do it now and get ready for November." "I'm on it!" he said.
This is one reason I really do not mind the campaign going through every state - it will help us lay the groundwork for the general election. I can almost taste the change that is in the air.
I have been making calls to KY and am pretty excited about the enthusiasm I am hearing on the other end of the line. The main places I have been calling into are Louisville, Lexington and Frankfort.
Louisville is really key to narrowing the gap in this state since it is home to roughly 40% of all democrats living in KY. People are so excited in Lousiville - a man there told me he thinks Obama can take the city. Our campaigners there have been working hard, and many people from neighboring Indiana are going across the river on a daily basis to help out.
Lexington and Frankfort seemed to be going well. I had one young woman I spoke to explain to me why she was for Obama. She really like his helalth care plan, and said, "He really cares about people like me."
She explained to me that she is 25 years old and has not been able to get adequate medical care - to the point that she is missing teeth. She said many of her friends of the same age would not be voting; they are not even registered. She keeps trying to explain to them how important it is. I asked her if she would like to volunteer to help out on the campaign. "Could I?" she asked. I looked up the local HQ and gave her the phone and address.
I explained that in a way she already was a part of the campaign just because she was trying to get people to register - and I explained about Vote for Change. I told her we need self starters like herself.
"It would be my honor," she said.
I know it sounds corny but conversations like this one really touch me. It reminds me of how important reaching out to every voter is, and how encouraging people to speak up is an integral part of this campaign. It makes it all so immediately gratifying.
I am really tired of people and pundits saying why these two states will not vote for OBAMA. The reasons they give are divisive and go against my grain and this campaign. And it brings me back to an interview i saw of Senator Obama a while ago where he spoke about the fear of the other, of people who are different than ourselves.
This is what I hear when I do reach a negative person on the other end of the phone (and I have not gotten very many).
And what i hear most of the time is that they do not know him - so that makes it difficult to vote for him. Many of the people I spoke to do not have internet access at home - so they cannot just pop online and look stuff up. They ask me questions - they want to know him - and they listen.
But what astonishes me is what i hear on the media - when they slice and dice these 2 states - "ignorant" and "uneducated". It must burn these people up to be generalized in such a fashion. It certainly would make me feel "other".
And I have to say that even here on the Obama blogs i have heard less than open minded generalizations about these fellow Americans. "I am scared to call them", "racist", "ignorant", "backwards".
There is one thing I have learned in making these calls for Obama - we should not make these vast generalizations. They are not fair and they do not serve us. Also, change comes in surprising places, and strange ways. I am not innocent in what I am describing - I made a call the other night and based on the man's name and his accent I feared the worst, but the joke was on me because he was a strong Obama supporter. Its not the first time I have experienced that - and yet i catch myself falling into the habit of making superficial judgments - now I have this guy to remind me how wrong I probably am.
One woman asked me if he was christian. So I explained that he is a committed christian. She told me how she had heard (not via email - she doesn't have that) that he was muslim - BUT that she knows that people can be nasty and say a lot of "crap" especially in politics. She excused her language - I told her I had heard worse - and we had a giggle over that. When I hung up she was for him.
I had another woman last night who works in a VA hospital - she was undecided. We spoke about Obama's leadership on Veteran's issues - and she said she was in - she just regretted that her father was not informed about that - an amputee and vet - before sending in his absentee ballot. I asked her to make sure that the people she works with are - she said, "Oh absolutely."
The point I am trying to make is that each call is to an individual, of course not everybody is going to vote for Obama -- some because he has really big ears - but if we get people talking about themselves and explain our candidate's life experience and positions on issues, I truly believe that most of them will at the very least consider it.
BUT if we are not open to the person we are calling, if we have already decided what they are probably like and build defenses to keep them out, then we may be wasting a lot of our time.
WELL IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD TO GET THE RESULTS WE GOT TONIGHT.
SO PLEASED AND I REALLY THINK OUR 1 MILLION CALLS PAID OFF - ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE SPREAD OUT OVER THE 10 DAYS. WE DID NOT GET DISTRACTED, NOT THIS TIME, NOT EVER AGAIN.
NOW TO GET FOCUSED ON OREGON, KENTUCKY, WEST VIRGINIA, MONTANA.......
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THE GROUND, WHO MADE CALLS, WHO BLOGGED - EVERYONE WHO WORKED SO HARD FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
YAY!!
Last night I spoke to two Obama supporters who did not think they could vote for him - when I hear this my heart kind of jumps - and then I explain that they can early vote in NC. One was an elderly woman and the other was a guy who works very long hours. They were so happy to find out that their voices will count.
I have also talked with many people who are registered independents and Obama supporters - who thought they could not vote in the democratic primary - BUT they can. So that is pretty exciting news when they find out.
SO please know that these calls are important and do make a difference - every call counts - sometimes they literally bear the fruit of another vote - but they all count.
So please keep making these calls - Let people know why you are willing to spend your time volunteering for Obama - let them know how important this is.
YES WE CAN. WE ARE THE CHANGE WE HAVE BEEN WAITiNG FOR.
Whenever I feel a little down about what is going on out there in the campaign, I find that making calls always makes me feel better. I feel like I may actually make a difference. I feel like it is not only the media who has a say and influence on how people will cast their votes.
Today and yesterday was no different. I just got on the phone and started leaving messages and talking to fellow citizens. And that is always reassuring that not only, YES WE CAN. But also YES WE WILL.
People are enthusiastic about our candidate, and some even thank me and cheer me on. I feel empowered, and able to discuss real issues, instead of the distractions which are being thrown up.
Today i had a long talk about Senator Obama's foreign policy approach, and I cited President Carter and Brent Snowcroft as two people who have recently reinforced the value and importance of Sen Obama's view that we should speak with our enemies. - and how it is virtually impossible to make progress without having talks. A prominent democrat and a prominent republican.
I also had a long conversation about how Senator Obama's campaign is financed only by individual voters - no federal lobbyists or special interest PACs. This is such an important distinction. Neither Clinton nor McCain can make this claim - and the bulwark of their advisers are also lobbyists.
Anyway i am going to sleep better knowing I did my small part.
Spent the early part of the evening calling North Carolina, telling people about ONE STOP EARLY VOTE. Some had already voted for Senator Obama, others were happy to hear they could get to the polls ahead of time and take care of business early.
Then I made dinner for my family. My friend who is visiting said she would do the dishes so i could get back to calling voters. So I stated calling Oregon to make sure Obama supporters know they need to be registered democrats. I found a few - and some had unregistered friends or children - so they were really appreciative of the information - and that they could get the form on Obama's site.
My last call was excellent - she said she was 75% sure she would vote for Senator Obama. - it was 8:59PM when she told me that - so I settled in for a nice long heart to heart. I told her my own reasons which she agreed with, but she only sounded like 80% - definitely not closed. Then I told about OBAMAWORKS - how it started and came into actual being in Philadelphia, and how I had just seen it opened in Portland. That was it - she was in.
So OBAMA WORKS!!
I hope we hit 100,000 by the end of the weekend.
SO, LAST NIGHT I CALLED NC FIRST - THIS IS A GREAT STATE TO CALL. THE PEOPLE ARE VERY CORDIAL, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE SUPPORTING SOMEBODY ELSE. AND THE UNDEDCIDEDS HAVE BEEN VERY TALKATIVE. THE ISSUE WITH "BITTER" REMARKS I AM FINDING IS THAT THEY DO NOT LIKE BEING LUMPED INTO A CATEGORY - AND WANT TO BE SEEN AS AN INDIVIDUL.
AND REALLY WHO CAN BETTER DO THAT THAN OBAMA GIVEN HIS OWN BACKGROUND AND UPBRINGING. OBAMAWORKS IS SUCH A GREAT STORY TO SHARE ABOUT WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT SENATOR OBAMA IS HOLDING OUT TO US
THEN I MOVED ONTO OREGON BECAUSE OF THE TIME DIFFERENCE. PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PRIMARY AND HAVING A VOICE. I LOVE MAKING CALLS TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION - THIS REALLY SEEMS TO REINFORCE THE MESSAGE OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN TO THESE SUPPORTERS.
WE HAVE SO MANY CALLS TO MAKE AND MILES TO GO BEFORE WE SLEEP - BUT WE WILL GET THERE.
YES WE CAN!!!!
