Join Organizing for America -- and help make sure the change we voted for becomes a reality. This training is designed for volunteers who want to be effective organizers in their neighborhoods and communities.This is a unique opportunity to apply the skills we learned during the campaign to the critical fight for health insurance reform and other upcoming policy initiatives. Join OFA-MA staff and volunteers from across the state to learn how to make change in your own neighborhood and beyond, utilizing the same tools that helped bring President Obama to the White House.Topics include: Working as a community organizer · Storytelling as an organizing tool · Creating and working in organizing teams · Campaign structure and strategy · Issue advocacy for health insurance reform · Using social media for organizing · Phonebanking and Canvassing · Event planning
OFA Volunteer Training in Northampton, Sunday, December 6th: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpc8km
View your WMASS Obama supporters "Signs of Change" videos on the below site:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WMASSforObama
Also, posted are 8 steps to elect Obama/Biden that were shown at the Last Call to Action event on October 15, 2008 at the Apollo Grill in Easthampton, MA.
WMASS just came off a GREAT weekend of phonebanking and canvassing in NH - high energy and great teamwork as we enter the final month of the campaign! There are buses out of Springfield and Northampton lunch to keep the energy going strong - join us by emailing Brendan at brendanneal@hotmail.com or calling the Obama Northampton office at 413-584-1478.
On Saturday, October 11th, our US Congressperson, Richard Neal is sponsoring buses from Springfield and Northampton to Western NH. The Neal campaign's message is below. To secure a seat on the October 11th bus, email Brendan Neal directly at brendanneal@hotmail.com with your name, address, and phone number.
"Dear fellow Obama Supporters- First of all good morning and I hope everything is going well. On Saturday, October 11th, Congressman Neal has been asked to head up to New Hampshire to help the Obama campaign. The Neal campaign is organizing people and buses to drive up to Keene, NH. We will be leaving @ 9AM from Springfield and Northampton. What we need you to do is send people our way who are interested in catching a ride. This will allow us to collect data and then use that data to determine the location, time, and feasibility of the buses. We have filled one bus as of this morning with college students and members of SEIU. We will also have at least another 25-30 Neal supporters traveling up there on this day as well. Congressman Neal is 'billing' this day as Western Massachusetts day in order to pump up some constituents and voters in the area. We would greatly appreciate any assistance in organizing this. The location of where to pick up volunteers will be determined once we find out where the majority of volunteers are coming from. Right now the important thing is to generate rsvp's and interest. Then we will order the buses. If this goes well, we will also be doing it the weekend before the election. Again, I hope everything is going well, and look forward to hearing from you. Brendan Neal"
Due to the weather forecast, the DEMOCRATIC TAG SALE date has changed to OCT 4th at 10 AM, from September 27th. If you have items to donate or questions, please call Ellen Rice at 413-548-9629.
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE OBAMA/BIDEN campaign.
Rain Date: Oct 5, 2008, 10 AM
A Grassroots action event at the Apollo Grill, 116 Pleasant Street, Easthampton, MA, October 15, 7 to 9 PM. Hang out afterwards to watch the last debate!
Come out for a night of fun & food and organize to help elect Barack Obama by:
•Mail Obama/Biden Postcards to friends in swing states.
•Film "Signs of Change" videos to be posted online.
•Send Obama/Biden e-cards to friends and family.
•Sign up to volunteer locally.
•Stock up on Obama/Biden gear!
•$2-$8 donations requested at door to support the Obama/Biden campaign.
WRITERS FOR OBAMA: Speak on Obama: the writer, politician, candidate, symbol.
This is sure to be a memorable event - Sunday, September 21st, 4 to 6 PM at the Hotel Northampton, 36 King Street, Northampton, MA. Writers, Madeleine Blais, Philip Caputo, George Colt, Joseph Ellis, Martin Espada, Anne Fadiman, Jonathan Harr, John Irving*, John Katzenbach, Tracy Kidder, Julius Lester*, Elinor Lipman, Joe McGinniss*, Anita Shreve, William Taubman (*invited) will be looking at Barack Obama as a writer, candidate and symbol. Donations: Obama Victory Fund $50/person, $10/student (ID)
Writers are donating their signed books for purchase to raise funds for the Obama campaign: $10/paperback, $20/hardback.
Special reception follows for sponsors donating $250 and up, with the writers hosted by Richard Michelson, R. Michelson Galleries 132 Main St., Northampton, 6:30 p.m.
Advance payment: send a check made out to Obama Victory Fund; addressed to Writers for Obama; c/o Tom Lesser, Esq., 39 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060
RSVP or for further information: Gordon & Lisa Tripp at (413) 665-3580, enger35@verizon.net or lftripp1@verizon.net
Today, we out canvassed the wind and rain in the neighborhood around the Mack Truck HQ. The demographic was mixed - seniors to families to single people. It seemed every open door brought a conversation with at least an opening to Barack's vision. Very few refusals. A family of eight living in two rooms, fed up with the war, saw that Barack is offering that path out of the war. A 61 year old man stopping me on the street , seeing my Obama sticker, told me Obama's vision is his motivation to cast his first vote ever. Maybe a better writer would wax on about the winds of change at this point. But I will just say, we were just glad the wind did not bring the rain down on us. I am too tired to create a weather metaphor.
I will say clearly, directly, strongly - COME TO ALLENTOWN to get out the vote (GOTV) Friday, April 18th, Saturday, April 19th, Sunday, April 20st, Monday, April 21nd, Tuesday, April 22nd. Those of us who have been though a primary can help the local volunteers who are pulling their first shifts. Blake, Allentown's office lead, is looking to cover 800 plus shifts for GOTV. The office has families who will host out of town volunteers. Blake, Julien, Jerry, Kelly, and Sarah (as well as other key people I just have forgotten names but not efforts) have canvassing turf, phone lists and poll work to be done.
The neighborhoods of Allentown really do believe in change - it was amazing to meet so many who shared the vision. We can together make the difference and close the gap in Pennsylvania - this is the election that matters, it will not matter on April 23rd for Pennsylvania. Be a part of the difference - it is urgent.
Saturday is prime canvassing time and the Western Mass seven showed up at the Allentown office with 20 some other Barack supporters ready to knock on Allentown doors. Everyone hits the streets. In teams of two, we struck out across Allentown - into Center City, Southside, and Emmaus. We met members of the Latin, African-American, Arabic, and Irish communities as well as Electricial and Steel Worker union members.
Today, Sigrid organized our turf using the "mad skill" shown to her on Friday by our Western Mass elected official and former elected official troupe members - what a difference! We were able to move through turf quickly, go back to the office and get a second packet. Our afternoon territory was alive with voters sitting out enjoying the sun, looking for conversation. Very few voters we spoke with failed to realize the nationwide attention the April 22nd primary has and the importance of their vote. People walked up to me and asked who I was canvassing for before I could walk up to a door. They smiled and wanted to talk about Barack - his plan, vision. It was an invigorating afternoon.
Back in the Allentown office, we made late afternoon Saturday phone banking calls, met some folks that came down from New York to canvass for the day and counted up our tallies for the day. Sigrid and I knocked on 179 doors not counting those voters on the stoops, sharing the sun and conversation with us.
7:30 PM means time for the Western Mass six dinner debrief - tonight's destination La Mexicana Grille. Antonio served us an amazing feast - it was our quietest meal so far. Just the smell of the food, hastened a quick clink of bottles and the feasting began on Chile Relenos, grilled meats, shrimp enchiladas. Afterwards we sat around the table and exchanged theories on polls, political history and Sigrid's sudden thought that her college orientation was secondary to her going to the National Convention.
While we canvass tommorow, this was our last dinner as a group. We talked of who was coming back next weekend, who may becoming a poitical divorcee if they do come back and who can combine family visits with upcoming states. Our man from Becket remains correct, "This is important. I cannot stop."
