The most crucial question facing us in West Virginia is: "What is the campaign's plan for WV?" We in the Greenbrier Valley need direction. Do we open and staff a campaign headquarters with the local democratic party or will the campaign want it's own office (or none)? Our local democratic party is talking about canvassing for all candidates which I imagine means leaving pamphlets at all houses without serious 1 on 1 conversations. Should we do this? How is the campaign going to work with the democratic party in the state? Is the campaign going to lead or work seperately?
Of course, the main thing we hear from all democrats in the state is, "will Barack come to WV or has the national campaign written us off?" This isn't just coming from democrats, but from within our groups and the opposition is using it as a talking point ("he doesn't care about WV).
We need answers NOW! Is anyone in the campaign monitoring this site and listening? If so, please contact us. We don't want our hands held, we're doing the work but these questions must be answered soon. Thanks - Phil Rolleston - Greenbrier Valley West Virginians for Obama
Yes We Can!
The most underestimated fact of the Obama phenomena is his ability to use community organizing principles to organize a Nation, much less one so powerful as the United States! I'm 59 and have voted since I was 18. I've never donated to a political campaign and certainly never worked for one. I have worked as a grassroots supporter for the Obama campaign in West Virginia since he announced in 2007 and donated over $1000 to the Campaign directly. I've connected with people as far away as Hawaii and canvassed in Georgia. Yesterday I was in Athens, Ohio canvassing (I had to drive 4 hours each way) and with my partner (a former WV Legislator and older than me) knocked on almost 250 doors.
I say all this to let you know the transformative nature of the promise of an Obama Presidency. There are literally millions of stories like this (the Obama Campaign is closing on 1,000,000 donations) in every state in the Country. The group I'm involved with in our part of WV intends to stay together after Senator Obama is elected President to engage in our common effort to pass good legislation, elect public officials and even pressure our President when necessary. Our group is probably a fair example and Senator Obama asks this of us in his speeches. There are 20 groups in WV and I have no idea how many all over the country, but I'm sure it's an impressive number. In other words, a very large number of Americans are waking up and being inspired to have the courage to engage in Democracy & the hope to sustain that engagement. This is a big thing and it's growing.
Formation of an Outreach Group: Letters to get more volunteers:
I have the addresses of Democratic voters in Greenbrier, Co., obtained by going to the county clerks office. Handwritten letter will be sent to these folks, asking them to join our campaign and our group. People appreciate the handwritten letter and consider helping out even more.
Phone banking parties to call earlier states:
Not everyone likes to do phone calls. People can be rude, or hang up on you. However, it is nice to do it in a group because "we are all in the same boat" or "misery loves company" In all seriousness, the staff people of VA were telling me that phone calling identifies the folks we need to target on election day. We cannot waste our time on the people who were unresponsive to our phone calls.
Contacting party officials in your area:
At a letter writing party, everyone who attends should write a handwritten letter to the chair of the Democratic party of the county, or state. Contact a State assemblymen or senator, or a U.S. Congressmen or Senator. They do not always have to be superdelegates, although important, there are other party establishment people who can help. Stuff all of them in a big envelope and send to their office. (So it is filed together and gets more notice).
Contacting other media:
Write a letter to the editor. Everyone at the party should write a letter to the editor of a newspaper on what we are doing and why we support Obama. It can be a response to a claim to a current ad by the Clintons or what a "talking head" said. The power of grassroots does not have to work person to person. Monitor what your area newspaper says and respond, respond, respond!This model aims to: Attract more volunteers, identify voters in other states, convince super-delegates and gain establishment support, and react to media to get our voices heard.If we do this, we will have a "well-oiled machine" by the time May rolls around!
I'm sure all of us know by now that this contest is going all the way to the convention. I just read an analysis that favors Clinton in WV. I can't stress hard enough how important it is for us to do the work to insure Obama wins in WV. Our delegates are going to count and may be a deciding factor. It's my impression that the entrenched democratic establishmnet in WV is storng and leans toward Hillary. We are the new-comers and actually present a challange to this establishment. Therefore, I think the following things must be done:
1- We must work in every County in the State to become active participants in the Democratic Party. This will give us respect and we stand a better chance of getting delegates elected to the State Convention who are Obama supporters. It will also give us a chance to influence the Democratic establishment and win support.
2- We must register every voter we can, especilly among the demographics that favor us: high school seniors and college students, people of color, and people who feel discouraged with the system. Every school and college in the State should have an Obama group and we must help the students at these schools organize. We must work to make sure that these voters actually get to the polls.
3- We need to educate the voters in our State through house parties, info meetings, exposure in local events, letters to the editors of newspapers, and through canvassing. To do this, we'll need to expand our local groups to have the people power on the ground. I know that we all are working actively on these things, as well as working in States that are voting before us. I just want everyone to realize what we're up against in WV and how vitally important our role is.
4- Lastly, we must be vocal with everyone we're in contact with about our support of Senator Obama - at work, in the marketplace and in our personal lives. For me, it's like I'm coming-out. I know that most of us are already doing this, I just am feeling the urgency of this. I've been in from the start and I'm feeling the responsibility. Let's do this ! We need to have most of the work done by the time the National Campaign Organization comes to West Virginia. I don't think it's too soon to talk about an event close to our Primary for Barack to speak. We should discuss this at the State meeting.
i
Hi to all from Athens, GA. I'm down here visiting a friend and working with the Obama Campaign Headquarters in Athens (University of Georgia). We canvassed yesterday and it was a great experience for me. People were open and we had some great conversations. My feeling is that of the 24 homes my team member and I covered, 60% were Obama supporters. This was a suburban part of Athens (circa 1970's and not developments) that was mostly white. So the feeling is good here for Tuesday. There's a good, organized effort going on where I am. I'm going to be ready to start canvassing in WV when I get back!
While I'm here I've been working on our upcoming State Meeting March 8th. I've been responding to a lot of emails and things are exciting. We're finding lots of talented people out there who are involved in the campaign that are bringing their experience and talents to the meeting. Please, everyone wishing to attend needs to sign up through the campaign website or email me at: phil@rushrun.com . We've got 25 people coming so far and can hold 80. There's room, but we want to make sure that representatives from every group comes and hope that you get signed-up early. So check the event listing for the State Meeting in Sutton on March 8th for more details and to signup. - Phil
"THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW" -
West Virginia may play a very important part in the nomination process, so we must respond to the moment with every bit of energy and effort we can muster - individually and collectively. We can't wait and let other people decide who is going to be our next President. Voting is not enough! We must work dilegently and urgently to make Barack our next President.
We've sent emails out to all groups about our (Greenbrier Valley West Virginians for Obama) desire to have a statewide meeting for all Obama groups to coordinate & share their activities. Several of you have replied saying you wish to attend. It's been hard to come up with a date and place, so we're going to propose a date and get feedback. Depending on who repies, we'll choose a site. We know that Flatwoods is the geographic center of the state and therefore logically the place to have it.
The date is Saturday, March 1, 2008. We'd like to have it sooner, but I don't think we can get everyone organized before then and the weather should be a little better. PLEASE GET BACK TO US ABOUT THIS! We need to finalize this ASAP! We need to know who will attend so we can decide where to have it. Ideally, we would have at least one representative from each group present. I promise that it'll be focused and organized - therefore it'll be very productive. We'll share what our groups are doing, decide our priorities and formulate plans to implement them. Organization is everything and if we have a chance to nominate Barack in our state, we must take the responsibility as his organized supporters to make it happen.
Meanwhile, we want to remind everyone of some very important dates. Every county will hold a COUNTY CONVENTION open to all registered Democrats to elect delegates to the state convention. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! We must have a large group of Obama supporters willing to go to the state convention (or at least willing to vote for Obama supporters who are willing to go) at each county convention. THE COUNTY CONVENTIONS WILL BE HELD APRIL 12, 2008. Check with your local democratic party officials to get the time and place of the county convention in your area.
THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS MAY 13, 2008. This is our deadline. No one is going to give us this election. We need to do the following:
REGISTER VOTERS (ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES) - CANVASS - WRITE LETTERS - GET VISIBILITY AT EVERY COMMUNITY EVENT POSSIBLE - GET NEWSPAPER COVERAGE INCLUDING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - ORGANIZE !!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday was a wonderful example of solidarity for Dr. King's dream. Over 200 people of all color and background gathered at the courthouse in Lewisburg and marched through town singing We Shall Overcome to the United Methodist Church to eat, and celebrate in the sanctuary. Our group was in the march carrying our banner and with stickers on. We regestered voters and passed out over 50 copies of Barack's Ebenezer Baptist Church speech from the day before. After the event we gave away bumper stickers. This was a great opportunity to reach out to the African American Community in our area. Now we have to follow it up with untiring footwork!
Those of you in other groups around the state - Please share your efforts with us on the blogs so we can keep in touch and have a conversation. - Phil
What an exciting meeting we had yesterday in Lewisburg! The positive energy and diverse group of people speaks volumnes for the Obama Campaign. We want those of you in other groups around the State to know what we're up to and would like to know what you're up to, also. So, we're posting this to your blogs as well as ours and we welcome your comments and ideas.
We had more than 25 people (I didn't count I was so excited) who wanted to work locally for Barack. Working in the round and facilitated by Trudy Laurenson, our meeting flowed smoothly through our agenda while including everyone present in the conversation. Two hours later we had accomplished more than we had hoped for. Here's some of what we're doing:
1- We have a person in charge of the delegate process from county, to the state and national conventions. We intend to turn-out a large number of Obama supporters to participate with the goal of having several delegates to the state and national conventions that support Barack and what we stand for. Please work on this in your local communities - it's very important!
2- We have contacted the National Campaign headquarters to insure that Barack is on the West Virginia ballot (this has to be done this coming week) and we'll follow-up to make sure this will happen.
3- We had a report frrom Phil about our efforts to contact other groups in the state and have a statewide meeting of group representatives to coordinate our efforts and to get ideas we can take back to our communities. There's some progress and we've been contacted by several people out of our area, but we need to do alot more. Please contact Phil Rolleston (304-653-4933 or phil@rushrun.com) to help.
4-We're organizing letter writing (hand-written) houseparties to reach out to our community and early primary states and encourage people to vote for Barack. This was very effective in the Howard Dean campaign and adds a personal touch.
5- We're organizing voter registration at high schools, colleges and community events.
6- We're participating in local events like marching in the Martin Luther King parade in Lewisburg (with our 3x8 Obama banner), Ramp dinners, and any other events we can be welcomed to.
7- We are beginning to formalize our fundraising efforts. So far we have be raising funds individually, but now we're trying to start as a group to raise funds for our local efforts and the national campaign. Local funds go to the costs of flyers, bumper stickers, our professionally made banner, newspaper ads, rentals on meeting space, etc.
8- Canvasing will be discussed in detail in our next meeting and we'll start a determined effort to get out the vote for Barack.
That's all for now, but we'll keep posting as things progress. Those of you out of our area (The Greenbrier Valley) please conact us and let us know what you're doing. Do it through the blog comments (so we can have a conversation) and by email/phone(Phil Rolleston 304-653-4933 or phil@rushrun.com).
Greenbrier Valley West Virginians for Obama teamed-up with the Greenbrier democrats for Action Committee to serve coffee and cinamon rolls at an annual Fall event in Lewisbrug. Taste of Our Town closes the main street of the center of town and has two blocks of tables with food from local restaurants and civic groups benefitting Carnegie Hall (a local arts venue and organization). We were able to expose our message to thousands of people and did our canvasing there. We handed out the latest position statement on the war and beyond (8 pages printed from the pdf), bumper stickers and stickers that people wore thruoghout the rest of the day's events. We have had other public meetings that had established a mailing list of 38 people (not a small thing in our rural area that voted for Bush). We're happy to say that we have added 49 more people who locally support Obama and wish to become active in our work. So since Barack declared his intention to run for President, we have grown from 2 people to 87. Soon we'll all meet and start everyone actively working.
I've been thinking of writing this for a while, but the subject has been intimidating. This is because I'm not sure where to stop. However, I do know where to begin. The text of Barack's energy plan itself has glaring errors (i.e.- "Obama will federal double science and research funding") that lead me to believe that no one actually read this seriously. On the most crucial and pivitol issue of our time, we cannot afford to get this wrong (including proof-reading)!
Now that I've said that, let's get down to it. Economies (and cosequently cultures) are built around energy. The energy we used for thousands of years was food derived from plants and animals which in turn was fed to people and work animals to do the work (most of which was to grow it again). We heated ourselves with wood fires and this was the cultural / economic paradigm.
Then came the industrial revolution with its fossil fuel energy paradigm. Over an incredibly short period, our use of machines powered by steam (using wood and then coal) made it possible for one worker to operate a loom that replaced the work that 250 people did previously. This in turn evolved into our petro chemical industry, cars, planes, space shuttles, etc. The price is not only the "global wierding" Amory Lovins refers to and which Al Gore and the ICCC recieved their Nobel Peace Prize for, but also many other polutants that threaten our lives and all life of our planet.
So let's think about how energy is the keystone that holds up the very foundation of our culture and is related to every issue in this Presidential Campaign. First, our health and the enviornment (which obviously are intimately connected). Majora Carter has championed Environmental Justice (no one community or economic class should shoulder a disproportional amount of ecologigal burden), through this lens we can see the extremes of the effect of our indutrial paradigm on people's health. Asthma, cancer, reproductive abnormalities and many more health problems are directly the result of these economic / environmental practices.
Second, global poverty (including the US), war and terrorism all are related to our energy "needs" and "interests". We all know we wouldn't be involved in Iraq or the Middle East if it wasn't for our insatiable appetite for oil and our current way of life. Terrorism (for it is a method not a group) arises out of the manipulation of people in dispair. Transforming our industrial paradigm from fossil fuels to a new sustainable, distributed and green one will pull people out of poverty and desparation. This will stabilize the most troubled parts of the world by making our foriegn policy one of leading the world in this transition and reducing the need for armed conflict.
Lastly, this is a transition to what Amory lovins calls "Natural Capitalism - The Next Industrial Revolution". An economy that includes the true value of resources, the true costs of the dumping of waste and polutants on the health of our enviornmentals systems. What value does an accountant put on clean water, air and soil? What is the value of forests, wetlands, coral reefs and other systems our planet has evolved that support life? When these things are valued economically, the way we do business changes. This opens the way for the creation of literally millions of jobs around the world to build a sustainable economy and environment. This is in fact an Economic and Labor issue.
I guess I need to stop with this. Energy (the power we use to do things and the way we do them) is the key to almost all of our problems. Buckminster Fuller said the great lie in the world was that there wasn't enough to go around for everyone. There isn't the way we are currently doing things, but there certainly is if we can make this transition. It is nothing less than a matter of survival of the human race. I believe that Barack is the man most qualified to inspire us and lead us into this new industrial paradigm. He and his advisors need to get this right - now.
First, I must say that I'm convinced that Barack Obama is going to be our next President. Second, I appreciate his ability to listen and ask for the input of the people regarding the major issues of our time. Third, I agree that we need to build a movement that will go beyond electing him (and even a Democratic majority in the House and Senate) to hold our elected representatives accountable to our needs.
All of this is good and inspiring, but it is not good enough! We need leadership - plans and goals. I've just been to John Edward's web site and read his energy proposals. There is real substance here - specifics that I wholeheartedly support. Barack has said that Democracy depends on an active and informed electorate. Just how are the majority of Americans going to become informed? Most people are struggling to get through their lives and get their information from TV soundbytes. We have an opportunity here because of the excitement and the genuineness of this movement. We can't waste it! Barack must start informing the public with his great ability to communicate and his position of prominence. Leaders don't just do what their constituents ask (that's the job of representatives). Leaders lead people with great ideas and convince them these ideas are in their best interest.
To say that ethonal is the answer to our energy needs (in the transportation sector) and court corn farmers in Iowa, appears to be political pandering. I expect more from Barack than this. The idea that using cropland and food to run our cars is absolutely unacceptable when people are starving in the world! Ethanol must come from cellulose - wood product waste, switchgrass and other sources that use marginal land that is not suitable to feed people.
I've mentioned in a previous blog how important the work of Amory Lovins (Natural Capitalism and Winning the Oil Endgame) is. I see in the energy position that John Edwards has taken that he is listening to (and reading) Amory Lovins. This is about more than winning an election, it's about the survival of our species on planet earth. It's about the fact that we all (not just Americans) have a stake in one another.
So I'm begging Barack and his advisors to become well aquainted with Lovins and his work. I'm begging Barack to use his incredible talent to lead us all with great ideas, no, solutions. He has the voice, the world is listening and begging for leadership, now is the time.
I hope that Senator Obama or his aides actually gets to read this particular blog posting because I beleive it is crucial to the world's future. Amory Lovins, Hunter Lovins and Paul Hawken have written what I feel is the most important book of our lifetime: Natural Capitalism (Creating the Next Industrial Revolution). It is quite possible Senator Obama has already read this incredibly important book, but on the chance that he has not, I plead with him and his advisors to do so ASAP. Actually, I encourage anyone who will listen to do so. I quote the back cover:
"The world of business is changing - fast. The prevailing model for creating wealth - a model that has its roots in the industrial revolution and that dominated the last century - no longer applies. Natural Capitalism introduces an alternative, a new paradigm. Praised by business and political leaders as well as economists and environmentalists around the globe, this groundbreaking book reveals how tomorrow's most successful global businesses will draw profit from their own environmental responsibility."
This book has received rave reviews from conservative business publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, and has brought genuine credibility to the modern environmental community by showing that their is no conflict between environmental responsibility and a sustainable, thriving economy. Actually, the major problems confronting our country and our world (extreme poverty, environmental degradation, terrorism and more) are all part of the same common denominator - the old industrial revolution paradigm. To address any one of these issues without addressing the whole problem will never achive the results we all need and deserve. Natural Capitalism provides a general roadmap that is scientifically sound, provocative and full of hope and possibility.
Amory Lovins is one of the great minds of our times and his work through The Rocky Mountain Instituite is changing the planet. His new book, Winning the Oil Endgame, maps out the path to ending our addiction not only to oil, but to fossil fuels in general by 2050. Both of these books can be read online and downloaded for free at http://www.rmi.org.
I wish to encourage Senator Obama to not be involed in the petty antics of the political spin doctors and media by engaging in a cat-fight with the Clinton campaign. If Barak is going to convince the youth in our country and the true evangelical movement to join our effort to create a new political environment, this bickering cannot happen. So take the high ground and continue to address the real problems of our world (yes, I mean world, not just our country).
I want to beleive that Barak is for real and that we can really address the challanges we face through our political system. This will not happen if we let ourselves get off track by talking about the "horse race" and not the solutions (not just the problems) to our most crucial needs. I want a landslide election, a clear mandate. The only way we can do this is to truly reach across all false divisions in our country and unite us in a way that will inspire all of us to do the things in our lives that will make a positive impact on the world. It's not just about Barak or his (our) campaign staff. It's about each one of us reaching out to all people in a caring and open way to get our message across. This means that we must change ourselves. We must get away from blame and victimization. Instead, we must have open hearts and minds when we "talk politics", and we must find the common ground that unites us. Then our country, and indeed our world, can be strong and heal itself.
When I first heard Barak Obama speak at the Democratic National Convention (on TV), I knew. I have been praying for a charismatic, highly intelligent and heartful person with the ability of a great orator to become President of the United States. I knew. The times demand it. Our planet and the life that it supports are in a critically important stage of history. I believe we will transform ourselves and the way we interact with each other throughout the entire planet, not only because it's a beautiful utopian vision, but also because it's the only way we'll survive. What we as a nation, and indeed as a world, need is someone to unite us. Someone to inspire us to overcome (and indeed celebrate) our differences, call us to a common vision that will transition our society into a more sustainable and peaceful future, and fundamentally save our democray.
So yesterday when Barak announced his candidacy, I came to the website and signed-up. I have never worked for a political candidate and never donated to a campaign. I donated, setup a fundraising drive, volunteered to help and here's the blog. I am 58 years old, have voted in every presidential election since I was old enough and was active in the civil rights and anti-war (Vietnam) movements in Atlanta. I have never felt as sure about a politician in my life, as I do about Barak Obama. He is my next President.
I live on a mountain in West Virginia. My neighbors are good people, not very well off economically and they're "conservative" in their culture. By conservative I mean they believe in honesty, family, hard work and the land. My county voted for Bush in both elections, and yet when I talk with my neighbors who did, they're disappointed. I'm making the commitment to talk to as many in my community as I can about Barak.
I must mention the most important book I've read in 40 years. It's called Natural Capitalism - Creating The Next Industrial Revolution by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins. I urgently appeal to Barak and everone to read this book! It points a way to transition our contemporay industrial economy into a new paradigm that can raise the quality and standard of living for everyone on the planet while insuring the sustainability of the world's "Natural Capital". Buckminster Fuller would be proud! In this book and the work of The Rocky Mountain Institute lies the research and vision, as well as a roadmap for real change in the business world and government, change through which all our lives are enhanced and everyone profits. It has given me hope and an understanding of whole system thinking that can be applied to our households and individaul lives, and it shows me that what I do in my life makes a signifigant difference in my stewardship of the Earth.
Finally, I want to thank Barak for having the courage to answer the call of history. My heart is with you and your family, and I pray that you will find some peaceful moments in the days ahead where you can "go to the well" within you and know your heart. Namaste - Phil
