Amy Hamblin's Blog

Supporters Sign Judge Sotomayor's Virtual Cast

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:36:11 EDT

Yesterday we asked you to leave a note for Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sotomayor who fractured her ankle on Monday. We've taken your notes and begun displaying them on a virtual cast for Judge Sotomayor ( the virtual cast is, in fact, a word cloud, which highlights the most commonly used words in your notes).

If you haven't already, please sign her virtual cast.

Here's a few notes in their entirety:

Sue from Camby, IN:

Even a fracture can't keep a good judge down! You go Judge Sotomayor....Show 'em what you're made of! Blessings to you!

Jeanny from Eau Claire, WI:

Wishing you all the best as you recover from your injury. You need to heal so you can bring your wisdom, courage, discernment, and compassion to the Supreme Court. Count me as in your corner all the way.

Rowan from Austin, TX:

Your Honor: Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and I look forward to celebrating your confirmation.

Penny from Mishawaka, IN:

I admire your character. You kept your schedule in spite of the fracture in your ankle. That showed character and should have given the people with which you met an insight into your dedication to commitments and obligations.

Meta from San Francisco:

I'm so sorry to hear of your injury, but seeing you today as you continue with your grueling schedule makes me smile to know of your incredible strength and determination.

Your nomination serves as constant inspiration to all of us. Please know that there is a whole nation behind you. I look forward to your tenure at the Supreme Court!

Saludos!

Show your Support: Sign Judge Sotomayor's Virtual Cast

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:28:46 EDT

Yesterday Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor fractured her ankle from a stumble she took in a New York airport. Despite the injury, she attended a meeting at the White House and met with senators on Capitol Hill. She didn't skip a beat.

You can show your support by leaving her a note in the comments section below. We’ll be compiling all the well wishes she receives and displaying them online as a sort of virtual cast for everyone to see.

Health Care Organizing Kickoff Hosts: Meet Jack from Los Angeles

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:20:02 EDT

Jack from Los Angeles, CA hasn’t slowed down since the election. His Health Care Organizing Kickoff this Saturday is his sixth event he's planned since November and each time new people come. He’s expecting about 40-50 people to attend this time, a mix of familiar faces from the campaign, community organizers and people new to the Obama network.

They'll be meeting to talk health care reform at Pasquale's Cafe in Los Angeles -- a pro-Obama restaurant that will be dishing out free slices of a special pizza dubbed, "The Michelle," to attendees. The pizza is named in honor of the First Lady for its use of organic ingredients and vegetables grown in a local community garden.

As Jack and his other guests scarf down pizza and craft a health care reform outreach plan, tens of thousands of other people will be gathering in living rooms, community centers and coffee shops across the country. At these kickoffs, people will watch a special message from the President, meet other local supporters, craft a local outreach plan and start to put those plans into action. If you haven’t already, sign up to attend a kickoff in your area.

For Jack, the goal for his kickoff is simple – “to give every attendee the tools with which to go back to their neighborhoods, communities and social networks and rally support for the President's plan to reform health care.”

Jack feels the urgency. Last week, he was on a conference call with other top volunteers when President Obama told them that health care reform wouldn’t happen if it didn’t happen this year.

The President's "now or never" call to reform health care this year was truly inspiring... talk about the fierce urgency of now! I was particularly struck with how the President skillfully connected our nation's economic future with a reformation of health care. I had not considered this part of the health care issue and it will definitely be something I stress to my event guests - a safer, stronger, healthier, more prosperous America will -- in part -- be built on a pillar of health care reform.

Join Jack and thousands of other volunteers this weekend as we begin the fight to reform health care. Sign up to attend a kickoff in your area.

President Obama on Call to Volunteers: "We need you to stay involved"

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:28:14 EDT

Earlier today, President Obama took time to speak by phone with thousands of Organizing for America volunteers about the urgent need to organize for health care reform.

“If we don’t get it done this year, we’re not going to get it done,” the President said.

He stressed that health care reform will only become a reality if grassroots supporters mobilize support for it in every community in America. The fight over health care reform, he noted, offers a "big chance to prove that the movement that started during the campaign isn’t over.”

We need you to stay involved. The election in November, that didn’t bring about change, that just gave us an opportunity for change...Some of you are in states and districts where politicians are resistant to bringing about change, so we need you to get involved.

If you missed the call, you can listen to the rest of what the President had to say here:

Also speaking on the call was David Plouffe, OFA Director Mitch Stewart, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird, OFA New Media Director Natalie Foster and OFA volunteer Diane Robertson, who offered her advice on how to organize support in your community.

The fight over health care reform begins in your neighborhood June 6th. Sign up to host or attend a kickoff event in your area.

Listening Tour Rolls On

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:48:13 EDT

Our staff on the ground have been making more Listening Tour stops around the country. Check out some photos from Listening Tour meetings in Kansas City, Missouri and Dover-Foxcroft, Maine:

Listening Tours: "As Fired Up as Ever"

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:02:06 EDT

Over the past few weeks, Organizing for America staff on the ground have been racking up serious mileage, crisscrossing states to make sure your voices are being included in our state organizing plans. As thousands of Americans reengage and make their voices heard at Listening Tour meetings, word is quickly spreading that the movement for change is still around. In fact, the movement that began during the campaign is building in preparation for unprecedented action on healthcare, energy and education reform.

From the LA Daily News:

When political activist Mary Jane Stevenson shared her fears with her husband last fall that Barack Obama might not win the presidency, her husband's poignant reply made her shudder.
"What if he wins - and he doesn't succeed?" she recalls him asking. Stevenson recounted the story to a group of San Fernando Valley-based Obama campaign volunteers last week at a local senior center.
"That's not going to happen," she told them. "Because we're here tonight and there are thousands of people across the country who are coming to meetings just like this."
A Topanga resident, Stevenson, 42, is the California director of Obama's Organizing for America, and is now engaged in a whirlwind organizing tour of California to help keep alive the grass-roots spirit that helped elect Obama.
Those meetings are the latest manifestation of the massive grass-roots political army built by Obama during the presidential campaign. That army is now mobilizing for a new campaign to enact his agenda.
Leaders of Organizing for America, the new face of the Obama campaign, say they are as fired up as ever and ready to help the president as he prepares to sell the country on such legislation as the biggest health care reform since Medicare was enacted in 1965.

From NBC WTAP in West Virginia:

The Obama White House wants to know what you think of the way the country is going.
Wednesday night, a representative form the Obama's "Organizing for America" met with more than four dozen residents of Washington and Noble counties. The public meeting was the 31st of 35 meetings in Southeastern Ohio to gather grass roots feedback.

From The Post in Ohio:

Organizing for America, an extension of Barack Obama's presidential campaign, hosted a listening campaign in Grover Center last night.
The listening campaign provided a chance for citizens to speak about the issues that Obama brought up during his campaign, said Greg Schultz, the state director for Organizing for America. The campaign is one of the first actions of Organizing for America.
"We kind of have the way Obama's campaign was structured early on very much focused on local expertise, local knowledge and local connections," Schultz said, explaining that the organization is using the structure from Obama's campaign to help fulfill the goals of his administration.

From the Middletown Journal in Ohio:

Millions of ordinary people, just like me, are working to help President Barack Obama change America. Before the 100th day of his administration, hundreds of thousands of signatures on support cards were gathered, and hundreds of thousands of phone calls to Congress were made in support of President Obama’s budget.
Ordinary people understand the importance of investing in health care, energy and education. We understand that these are the issues that will determine our future.
We also understand that the budget is just the first step in rebuilding our economy. And we are very aware that it is going to take us - the ordinary people - to work to get these changes made a reality.
A group of more than 80 ordinary people recently met in Warren County to discuss how to continue this grass-roots movement. We had people from Lebanon, Franklin, Waynesville, Pleasant Plain, Maineville, Mason, Middletown, Hamilton and many other villages and townships. We came together to meet the Ohio field director for Organizing for America, the organization that is an outgrowth of the Obama Campaign for Change. We understand that we finally have a voice in our government. And we know that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Michigan Listening Tour: "This Is Our Chance to Reengage and Remobilize"

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:15:48 EDT

(Photo via The News Herald)

There already have been close to 20 Listening Tour stops in Michigan alone, with two more upcoming events in Grand Rapids and Plymouth. Nationwide, Organizing for America has held more than 200 events as a way to let volunteers help shape the organization on the ground as it moves forward.

From The News Herald in Michigan:

The Barack Obama bandwagon isn’t slowing down.
Just because the man now resides at the famous 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in the nation’s capital doesn’t mean it’s time to forget the surge of grass-roots support that came out during the presidential campaign, according to top-ranking Democrats.
Because of that, the Democratic National Committee is in the midst of hosting listening tours in every state in the nation. The casual meetings are being held so that staffers can meet with Obama supporters to gain input into what his constituents are thinking.
“This is our chance to reengage and remobilize those who have shown that they’re really interested in supporting President Obama’s agenda,” said Aletheia Henry, the Michigan director of the Organizing for America campaign.

The Weekly Address

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 09 May 2009 09:59:09 EDT

Open Thread

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:00:41 EDT

Photos from Listening Tour events in Arizona:

Video: President Obama on Closing Tax Loopholes

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:11:32 EDT

(video via Whitehouse.gov)

Earlier today, President Obama announced his proposal to crack down on the individuals and the corporations who dodge their duty to pay taxes by hiding money in off-shore accounts, as well as the financial institutions who abet in such tax scams. Closing this loophole and making other long overdue tax reforms, President Obama estimated, will save taxpayers roughly $210 billion over the next 10 years.

In his own words...

Now, for years, we've talked about stopping Americans from illegally hiding their money overseas, and getting tough with the financial institutions that let them get away with it. The Treasury Department and the IRS, under Secretary Geithner's leadership and Commissioner Shulman's, are already taking far-reaching steps to catch overseas tax cheats -- but they need more support.

And that's why I'm asking Congress to pass some commonsense measures. One of these measures would let the IRS know how much income Americans are generating in overseas accounts by requiring overseas banks to provide 1099s for their American clients, just like Americans have to do for their bank accounts here in this country. If financial institutions won't cooperate with us, we will assume that they are sheltering money in tax havens, and act accordingly. And to ensure that the IRS has the tools it needs to enforce our laws, we're seeking to hire nearly 800 more IRS agents to detect and pursue American tax evaders abroad.

He also spoke more generally about the need to make our tax code fairer by getting rid tax incentives that hurt working American families, such as tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas.

Read his full remarks...

Listening Tour: Helena, MT and Beyond

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:50:52 EDT

Listening Tours are happening in communities across the country right now -- from Charleston, WV to Joplin, MO to Sacramento, CA. These meetings offer supporters a unqiue opportunity to meet state staff, hear about lessons learned from the election and provide input on how to organize in their community. From these meetings, we'll be putting together state-specific plans for Organizing for America.

People in Helena, MT packed a room to participate in their local Listening Tour:

Foundation for Change: Deanie from Hermleigh, TX

Amy Hamblin — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:21:26 EDT

Since President Obama has come to office, he's been busy pushing for change on issues critical to us all, such as setting a deadline for withdrawal in Iraq. However, some of the President's actions affect some of us more than others.

Here's Deanie's story:

I am a Marine mom whose son and two nephews have deployed to Iraq in combat missions five times, with another nephew having deployed to Afghanistan. We have several generations of combat vets in our family, so that makes us pro-military, but from the beginning -- way back in 2002 -- I opposed the Iraq war, and at the time, Barack Obama was the only politician who had the guts to speak out against it.

As the war dragged on and my son fought in the Battle of Fallujah in November 2004 with insufficient body armor, poorly-protected Humvees, and aged rifles, I fought just as hard to end the war so that he would not have to return, but alas, he did, along with my nephews.

When the Democrats took control of Congress and still the war did not end, I threw all my energies into supporting Obama for president, with my son's full support. After he was injured in an IED explosion and lost a buddy a few days later to a sniper, he seriously began to question why we were there in the first place, and said, "If Barack Obama is elected president, maybe I won't have to go back."

I worked as precinct chairman in a very red county in west Texas, and I blogged for Huffington Post and Talking Points Memo, sent what money I could, made phone calls, lived and breathed the campaign for almost two years.

On election night, when Obama was declared a winner, the full impact of what that meant hit me, and I broke down sobbing and cried most of the night. The first person to call me was my son.

Politics is personal to military families, and the wrong person in the White House can get a loved one killed. Obama's election was, to me, a matter of life and death.

Our whole family voted for him, and we couldn't be happier. When he spoke out against the war at a time when it was political suicide to do so, he proved that there are many kinds of courage in this world.

The road out of Iraq will be difficult, and won't take place all at once -- military families understand this -- but you would be surprised how many of us are grateful for the new commander-in-chief.

Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear from you about how you've been affected by the President's actions.

The Weekly Address

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:18:48 EDT

The White House on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:21:01 EDT

The White House launched official pages on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter today. Become a fan, friend or follow them for updates on the H1N1 flu and other top issues:

You also can find the White House on these other sites:

President to Speaker Pelosi: "Act Expeditiously" on H1N1 Flu

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:20:34 EDT

Yesterday the President sent the following letter to Speaker Pelosi:

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2009
Dear Madam Speaker:

This week, as reports of the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak around the world were made public, my Administration has been carefully monitoring the situation, coordinating State and local responses, assessing the risks here in the United States, and cooperating with international organizations and health officials around the globe.

Out of an abundance of caution, I asked the Congress earlier this week to consider a proposal to provide $1.5 billion to enhance our Nation's capability to respond to the potential spread of this outbreak. As the attached detailed request reflects, these funds should be provided with maximum flexibility to allow us to address this emerging situation. Among the uses of these funds could be: supplementing anti-viral stockpiles; developing a vaccine; supporting monitoring, diagnostic, and public health response capabilities; assisting international efforts to stem this outbreak and to address related international needs.

Already, Federal, State, and local public health officials are working day and night to respond quickly and effectively wherever cases of this flu may be found and to prepare the entire country for any potential progression of this outbreak.

I urge the Congress to act expeditiously in considering this important request, the details of which are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA

Health Care Reform Weekly Update

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:11:12 EDT

The budget passed earlier this week in Congress leaves room for dramatic health care reform, one of President Obama's top priorities. Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office on Health Reform, gives her first weekly update on what her office is up to (via healthreform.gov):

Open Thread: Teachers of the Year Ceremony

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:48:10 EDT

On Tuesday President Obama spoke to the Teachers of the Year at the White House:

President Obama on Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:00:58 EDT

A consumer protection bill freezing interest rate hikes on existing credit card balances cleared the House earlier today. President Obama, who has advocated for tighter credit card regulation, released the following statement:

Today, under the leadership of Representatives Barney Frank, Carolyn Maloney, and Luis Gutierrez, members of both parties in the House of Representatives came together to protect American consumers, paving the way toward real, meaningful credit card reform. While Americans have a responsibility to live within their means and pay what they owe, credit card companies have a responsibility to set rules that are fair and transparent. The principles I have long supported would help ensure that these responsibilities are met: strong and reliable consumer protections; credit card forms and statements that have plain language in plain sight; tools that can help people make an informed choice about what credit card to use; and beefed up monitoring, enforcement, and penalties. And building on what we have achieved today, I will work with Congress in the weeks to come so that I can sign a credit card reform bill into law that upholds these principles and upholds the interests of the American people.

President Obama on Breathing New Life into Chrysler

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:23:29 EDT

President Obama announced earlier today a plan to resuscitate Chrysler through bankruptcy protection and a deal with Fiat.

After consulting with my Auto Task Force, I can report that the necessary steps have been taken to give one of America's most storied automakers, Chrysler, a new lease on life.

This is a company that has a particular claim on our American identity. It's a company founded in the early years of the American automobile industry; a company that helped make the 20th century an American Century; and that came to embody, along with the two other members of the Big Three, the ingenuity, the industriousness, and the indomitable spirit of the American people.

Read his full remarks...

Video: President Obama on His 100th Day in Office

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:14:06 EDT

Yesterday President Obama reflected on the foundation for change he has laid in his first 100 days in Arnold, MO, and later at a White House press conference. Watch a video of highlights from yesterday or read the transcript from the press conference...

Foundation for Change: Stories from Around the Country

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:32:34 EDT

Everyday Americans from all over are beginning to feel the impact of President Obama's first 100 days in office. If you've been personally affected, share your story with us.

Dan from Gastonia, NC:

I worked for Freightliner Truck Manufacturing plant for 22 years. I was laid off in November 2008 and am currently going to college thanks to the TAA program. I do wish to thank President OBama for the extra's on my unemployment and my Health Coverage Tax Credit paying 80% of my insurance. With two young adults in college along with myself, this is a blessing.

Felicia from Southfield, MI:

Thanks to President Osama's March 9th signing of an executive order lifting the ban on federally-funded embryonic stem cell research, we can see real hope for my daughter and others like her to one day live a life free from this life-threatening disease.

Jerome from Knoxville, TN:

I have never in my adulthood life witnessed the work and courage of a president. The only time that I would hear of a president is when they had to make decisions on a tremendous storm that required their approval. This is sad to say; I have never known what Wall Street was all about or even what it represented; it was not until the newly elected president was sworn in and boldly took a stand against the action on Wall Street that were considered inappropriate. I am impressed to actually have a president who is truly working for the advancement of all people...

I teach for the largest school system in Knoxville, TN, and noticed on my last check I received a tax increase which has blessed my family tremendously. It appeared to be about a $75-$100 increase; this seems small, however, it's very large when you now can go to the grocery store without wondering if you will have enough money to pay for your groceries or will you experience another embarrassing situation, not having enough money to purchase your goods.

My husband works for PBR, a factory that makes brakes for cars. They have been laid off throughout this economy crunch off and on every three to four months in a time span of four to five weeks. Therefore the tax increase that seem so small has become a major help for our finances.

Update: The Livestream Has Now Ended

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:57:35 EDT

Read excerpts from the President's remarks below...

Exactly 100 days ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president. Watch a livestream of his address to the nation below...

Update: Budget Passes Congress, Preserves President's Priorities

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:46:38 EDT

Update: The budget has now passed in both chambers of Congress, capping off President Obama's 100th day in office.

Thanks to all of our volunteers who collected more than 600,000 pledges of support for the President's budget priorities. These pledges were delivered to members of Congress and contributed to the budget's passage.

Earlier today, the House backed a newer version of the fiscal 2010 budget plan, which supports many of President Obama's major policy priorities, including health care, education and energy reform.

After both chambers of Congress passed their own fiscal blueprints in early April, members on the Budget Conference Committee have been working out a deal to reconcile the two versions. Now that the House has endorsed the newer version to come out of these talks, the Senate must vote on the budget for final passage. The Senate is expected to vote later today, the 100th day since President Obama took office.

From the New York Times:

[The budget] opens the door to major overhauls in health care, energy and education, but requires that they not add to the deficit...

The budget gives Democrats significant room for maneuvering as they move ahead with a health care plan, by providing procedural protection against a Senate filibuster for that legislation, which is still in the early stages of drafting, and allowing 11 years to pay for any health care initiative.

From the Associated Press:

Perhaps most significantly, the budget plan would give Democrats a stronger hand in advancing Obama's health care initiative this fall by allowing it to go forward without threat of GOP stalling tactics in the Senate. Democrats pledge to first try passing health care legislation with GOP support.

Foundation for Change: Connie from Chester, VA

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:55:10 EDT

Since taking office 100 days ago, President Obama has acted swiftly to deliver on his campaign promise to change the direction our country was headed. Everyday Americans in communities across the country are already starting to see the results of his actions.

Connie from Chester, Virginia:

I'm a 58 year old widow of a career Army officer with a son who's a career soldier (15 years in) currently serving his second tour in Iraq. I also volunteer in McGuire Veteran's Hospital and Nursing Home in Richmond, and I've seen the ravages of these wars first-hand. Coming from a military family, I have a real affinity for the military and it's families, and that makes the President's decision to close Guantanamo and set a clear timeline for withdrawal from Iraq critical to me.

In Chesterfield County, the American Recovery and Reinvestment act saved over 400 educational jobs that were slated to be eliminated. I no longer have children of school age, but I have relatives employed in the local school system, and I want all children to have a great education like my children did.

You can read more stories like Connie's here. If you've been personally affected by President Obama's efforts to put our country back on track, share your story with us.

100 Days: Watch the President's Address at 8 p.m. ET Tonight

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:00:05 EDT

Today marks the 100th day since President Obama has been in office. Watch his live address to the nation tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and CNBC or on our blog where we’ll be livestreaming it.

The challenges before the President were enormous when he took the oath of office in January – a country in economic crisis, with mounting healthcare costs and plummeting home values.

But in this short time, President Obama has managed to chart a new course for America, one that resuscitates our faltering economy and leads to long-term prosperity through investments in clean energy technology, healthcare infrastructure and our education system. Read more about the specific progress made under President Obama’s administration and how everyday Americans are being impacted.

President Obama has laid the groundwork for lasting change, but he’s counting on grassroots support in the next 100 days and beyond to help solidify and build on this foundation. Sign up to volunteer with Organizing for America.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the President's first 100 days in office (photos via whitehouse.gov)...

Open Thread: Sebelius Completes Obama's Cabinet

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:53:32 EDT

Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed by the Senate today as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, completing the President's cabinet on the eve of his 100th day in office. After being sworn in, Sebelius immediately got down to business (photo courtesy of whitehouse.gov)

Sen. Specter Switches Party over Recovery Act Rift

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:32:47 EDT

Earlier today President Obama spoke by phone with Senator Arlen Specter who declared he was switching to the Democratic Party, after realizing that his party of more than 40 years had grown out of touch with everyday Americans. Specter, who was one of three Republicans to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, said that vote caused an irreconcilable “schism” between him and his party.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

The Recovery Act, which President Obama signed into law, aims to jumpstart our economy by saving or creating 3.5 million jobs, while also providing tax relief to 95 percent of working Americans and their families.

A Foundation for Change

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:53:29 EDT

We're one day out from President Obama's 100th day in office. In this short time, he has begun confronting head-on America's toughest challenges and delivering the change he promised -- and voters demanded -- during the campaign. Not only has he taken immediate steps to address the economic crisis in the short-term, but he also has set us on a path toward sustainable, long-term prosperity by investing in clean energy technology, our education system and healthcare infrastructure.

To jumpstart our economy, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law just two weeks into his term. This sweeping legislation saves or creates 3.5 million jobs, provides tax relief for 95 percent of working Americans and protects about 20 million people at risk of losing Medicaid or SCHIP eligility due to budget shortfalls.

To further help everyday American struggling to make ends meet, President Obama also announced a foreclosure prevention package, which allows up to 9 million homeowners to obtain better mortgage terms. Learn more about what action the President has taken since coming to office on a host of issues, including the Iraq War, fair pay and national service.

The impact of the President's investments, reforms and policies can be felt in communities across the country. Click on our interactive map below to see what changes are already happening in your state:

The reality is that we still have a lot of work to do to get our country to where it needs to be. President Obama has done an amazing job laying a foundation for change, but it's going to take more than one man to remake America. That's where Organizing for America comes in. We'll be continuing to mobilize everyday Americans in support of the President's bold agenda of change. Look for more opportunities to get involved in the coming weeks and months.

Video: President Obama on Making College More Affordable

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:25:44 EDT

In case you missed it, the President gave a major education policy speech on Friday in which he outlined his proposal to make college more affordable by changing the way the government runs its student loan program. Read the full text of the speech or watch the video of it below...

Listening Tour: Volunteers Help Shape Organizing for America

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:06:00 EDT

Our OFA staff on the ground have been holding Listening Tours across the country, asking for supporters' input as we build on the grassroots organization started during the campaign. Susan from Columbus, GA, who is an Independent, recently attended a Listening Tour event in her area and had this say:

I am grateful for Organizing for America and it's mission to support President Obama as he works to fulfill the pledges he made to the American people. His job is going to be tough; it's going to be difficult to change 'policitics as usual' in Washington. He will need Organizing for America to mobilize the grassroots support necessary to contact Senators and Congressman to push his agenda through.
I believe OFA needs to reach across party lines and reach out to individuals with diverse political affiliations. With the country equally divided between the two political parties, it has been us independents and swing voters who have tipped the scales in favor of one candidate or the other...
I was greatly impressed with the skill and grace of OFA staff that hosted the meeting in Columbus. They kept the discussions on track and refocused the group with ease.
Can OFA be successful? I believe the answer to that is a resounding "YES!"
President Obama was an unlikely candidate for the highest office in the land; detractors said he was too young; too inexpereinced; his opponents were too skilled; America was not ready for a person of color to be president. "Obama for America" overcame all the obstacles and proved the detractors wrong. I believe Organizing for America can expereince the same success.

We've been seeing crowds of more than 150 people at some Listening Tour stops. Check out photos from recent events:

President Obama Makes Commitment to Increase Research and Development Funding

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:15:54 EDT

Speaking before the National Academy of Sciences earlier this morning, President Obama emphasized the need to get America to lead again in science and technology. After years of watching other countries catch up to us as we made fewer and fewer investments in those areas key to America's prosperity, President Obama announced his commitment to dedicating more than three percent of our GDP to research and development.

At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science. That support for research is somehow a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been. And if there was ever a day that reminded us of our shared stake in science and research, it’s today.

In his speech, President Obama also announced members of Science and Technology Advisory Council, a group of the nation's leading scientists who will counsel the President on how to help reinvigorate the economy and create sustainable prosperity.

Science and technology has been one of the President's top priorities since coming to office. More than $21 billion in The Recovery Act is going toward research and development, the largest increase in our country’s history. Additionally, The Recovery Act makes major investments in broadband networks, clean energy technologies, and health information technology.

The President’s fiscal-year 2010 budget also reflects this priority, including funding to:

sustain increases in basic research
make the research and experimentation tax credit permanent
triple the number of the National Science Foundation’s graduate research fellowships

Read the full-text of the President's remarks today…

A Record Number of Calls Made: Calling Has Ended

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:41:48 EST

We're still awaiting the final results tonight, but one thing is clear -- this grassroots movement can never be underestimated. Thank you to everyone who helped us make an astounding 1,053,791 calls today! I know it wasn't easy and many of you kept calling long after you were tired and your voice had grown hoarse, but your calls to get our supporters out the polls helped tip the scales in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.

We've shut down our calling campaigns for the night, incredibly proud of the record amount of calls made today. You gave it your all and we couldn't have asked for more.

Thank you again for everything you've done. You've been with Barack Obama every step of this journey. This is your night.

Field Update from Jon Carson

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:16:35 EST

This weekend we shattered all previous call records, making a staggering one million calls using our online call tool and another three million calls at Last Call for Change phonebanks across the country. Thank you to everyone who helped put us over the top.

Jon Carson, our National Field Director, just recorded a message for all of you who helped us achieve these record-breaking numbers:

For all of you making countless calls and those considering picking up the phone, Jon explained where these calls fit into our Get Out The Vote operation:

Every one of these calls being made are doing two things: First, they are allowing our supporters out there – so many first time voters, new registrants – to know exactly what they need to do on Tuesday to vote for Barack Obama; where their polling location is, what information and identification they need to bring with them, the hours they’re open. Critical information to get these new voters that are going to win this election for us to the polls.
The other thing that all these calls have done coming into these battleground states is to allow literally hundreds of thousands of volunteers in battlegrounds to focus on knocking doors.

As Jon mentions, we’re only going to be ratcheting up our efforts from here. On Monday we're going to have to repeat the work we did this weekend and do twice as much on Tuesday. This is it. This is the final push. Let's give this everything we got.

For everyone out there making phone calls to voters in a battleground state, let us know what you're hearing on the phones today, how it's going, and any tips you may have for fellow callers...

Another My.BarackObama Milestone: More Than 200,000 Events Created

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:58:11 EDT

Our supporters have been ramping up their efforts as it gets down to the wire, pouring everything they’ve got into this campaign. In their drive to ensure that change comes to Washington, they have been unknowingly blowing past one milestone after another.

Recently the 200,000th event was created on My.BarackObama since the campaign’s start. Just to give you some sense of how quickly this campaign is accelerating at the end, three weeks ago I wrote a blog post lauding the 150,000th event created on MyBO. You’ve created 50,000 new events since then.

People are stepping up every day and taking leadership in this campaign, hosting phonebanks and canvasses. You’re organizing your own communities through the more than 27,000 MyBO groups you’ve created and showing that change truly does start at the grassroots level.

Thank you for all that you’ve done. Barack wouldn’t be where he is without your hard work. However, we still have not reached the finish line. The last five days will be the most intense and important days of this entire campaign. What we do now will decide this election. Sign up now to volunteer to help get out the vote for Barack.

Calling Battleground States: "A huge, huge help"

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:31:33 EDT

After 20 months of campaigning, it all comes down to these final days. What we do now will decide this election.

In over a dozen battleground states, we need help reaching voters who are still on the fence, as well as help mobilizing our existing supporters. Turnout is crucial -- even if someone supports Barack, we still need to make sure they get out to the polls.

Recently the New Mexico General Election Manager Matt Kasdan, New Mexico State Field Director Brent Messenger and New Mexico Political Director John Blair all spoke on a special Get Out The Vote Strategy Conference Call with some of our grassroots phonebankers who have been making out state calls to New Mexico. Matt explained:

What you allow us to do by being on the phones is to put all of our troops and volunteers here in state at the doors, which is the most important - the face to face communication… By allowing us to focus on the doors, we've been able to collect thousands and thousands of vote-by-mail applications and now we're able to push everyone out to the polls. Election Day has already started for us [with Early Vote]. You've allowed us to amplify our efforts with what we're doing here on the ground. It's just been a huge, huge help.

You can listen to highlights from the call below:

We're going to have to go full force from now through Election Day. If you've never made calls before, now's the time. Pick up the phone and start reaching out to voters. If you're a veteran caller, consider hosting a phonebank house party.

Barack has said from the beginning that change will not come easily. But there's nothing more rewarding than working hard to change this country we love, one conversation at a time.

California: New Mexico Needs Our Help!

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:28:13 EDT

There are many ways for you to have an impact on this campaign, but the single most important thing you can do is to talk directly to voters. There’s nothing more powerful and effective than everyday people reaching out to their neighbors – or in this case, people in a neighboring battleground state – and talking about why they support Barack.

The clock is running out in this historic presidential election, and in Arizona, we are focusing our efforts on making calls into neighboring New Mexico, a key battleground state where Early Voting is already under way.

On Monday night, the New Mexico General Election manager Matt Kasdan, New Mexico State Field Director Brent Messenger and New Mexico Political Director John Blair joined a special Get Out The Vote strategy conference call with Arizona volunteers who have been using Neighbor to Neighbor to make phone calls from home.

You can listen to highlights of the call below:

As John Blair explained, New Mexico is "a true swing state":

We have voted in 24 presidential elections. In half of them we voted for the Republican, in half we voted for the Democrat... We have a history, in recent memory, of very close presidential elections here in New Mexico. In 2004, President George Bush beat Senator John Kerry by 5,988 votes ... the smallest margin of victory in the country.

Your calls from out of state allow in-state staff and volunteers to focus on face-to-face, door-to-door voter contact. If you can commit to even 20 calls a night, you can provide valuable support for our staff on the ground. Almost two years of work comes down to these last two weeks. We know what we need to do to win.

Weekend Calls: "Battleground U.S.A."

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:06:37 EDT

There are many ways for you to have an impact on this campaign, but the single most important thing you can do is to talk directly to voters. There’s nothing more powerful and effective than everyday people reaching out to their neighbors – or people in a neighboring battleground state – and talking about why they support Barack.

Last Thursday Colorado State Director Ray Rivera, Senator Ken Salazar, Senator Amy Klobuchar and former Colorado Governor Roy Romer spoke on a special conference call with Neighbor to Neigbhor users about the importance of these conversations in battleground states.

Former Governor Roy Roymer explained:

"I know Colorado real well. We can win this state. But right now, we need to reach everybody that we can, and that's why your calls are so critical... Colorado is the kind of state that can go either way. A sincere call from somebody out of state will be very effective. Your help is critical... Colorado could be the difference in this election."

If you ever the doubted the importance of each and every call, listen to this clip below from Thursday's conference call:

In a race this close, every conversation matters. The way we win is by engaging more people in real conversations about the issues and letting them know about Barack’s message of change. It’s as simple as that.

So pick up the phone and make your voice heard.

You can amplify your impact by hosting a phonebank party from your house. It's easy to do -- our online host guide has all the information and tips that you'll need.

Voters are hungry for change and they want to know what the candidates plan to do about the issues that affect them most – like healthcare, the economy and the price of gas. You can be the one to let them know about Barack's plans, and the difference this election can make in their lives.

More than 150,000 Events on My.BarackObama!

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:24:03 EDT

Together we have made history over the last 20 months, passing milestone after milestone and showing this grassroots movement to be like no other in history. This week we’re celebrating another major accomplishment – more than 150,000 events created on my.BarackObama.com since the campaign’s start.

In every town across America, there are grassroots leaders – many of whom had never been politically active before – organizing their neighborhoods for Barack Obama. You’re hosting organizational meetings, phonebanks and fundraisers in your living rooms and community centers. And you’re able to do it more effectively using the tools on my.BarackObama.com.

Some of you with us early in the campaign sponsored "Walk for Change" and "Turn the Page in Iraq" canvasses. As the primaries heated up, you held Debate Watching Parties, phonebanks and canvasses. Your tireless work eventually helped Barack win the Democratic nomination.

This summer you focused on voter registration drives that brought hundreds of thousands of people into the political process and helped recolor the electoral map. You could be found with clipboards wherever there was a crowd – be it the state fair or the opening of a blockbuster movie.

On the biggest night of the campaign thus far, as Barack accepted the Democratic nomination, thousands of you opened up your homes for watch parties that doubled as organizational meetings. You were solidifying your neighborhood teams and getting ready to take action.

Now in the general election, you’re reaching out to voters – particularly newly registered ones – in battleground states to make sure we don’t get stuck with four more years of the same. Using Neighbor to Neighbor, you’re hosting your own phonebanks and canvasses.

We have accomplished so much along this journey, but we haven’t reached our destination yet. To get there, we are going to have to do more in this last month than we’ve done in the 20 months leading up to it.

Be a leader for Barack in your community and host a phonebank or canvass. At this point in the campaign, it’s the most important thing you can do. Don’t worry if you’ve never done it before – our tools and resources will help you every step of the way.

Thank you to all of you who have been part of this community, to all of you who helped us reach the 150,000 events mark and to all of you who will help us blow past the 200,000 mark in the next 27 days.

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:16:26 EDT

Here's a snapshot of what was happening across America this past week:

Tabling: Barbara of New Haven, CT was busy last week, organizing two visibility events. At her first event, ten volunteers manned a table at a local supermarket where they chatted with community members about Barack and handed out bumperstickers. They also got recruited people to sign up for phonebanking and canvassing.

Barbara also organized a second event at a NAACP football game.

"The response was enormous, lots of volunteer names, and lots of enthusiasm, and that great exchange of energy that we all need to continue this campaign through to its finish."

Hyde Park Bike Tour: The campaign trail intersected with the bike trail in Hyde Park last Sunday when 15 Chicagoans toured Barack's neighborhood. The 17-mile ride covered a lot of ground and history, including the place where Barack lived as a community organizer in the 1980's and the place where he enjoyed his first date with Michelle. The tour ended with brunch at Hyde Park's Valois Cafeteria, allegedly Barack's favorite breakfast spot.

Catherine got her inspiration for the event from her bike club that sponsors themed bike rides. She sponsored one Hyde Park tour before deciding to turn it into a campaign fundraiser. The first two have been so successful that she will be sponsoring a third ride this weekend.

Church Cookout: Three African American churches joined forces for a cookout in Maysville, KY, that drew about 200 people. The event was part mixer, part voter registration drive.

People chatted about Barack over delicious free food and drinks while some of the youth went door-to-door to talk to community members about the importance of voting this year.

"We realize what is at stake and we know that we have to do everything in our power to bring about change in this country,” said Henry, who coordinated the event. “Standing on the sidelines will no longer do especially when we consider the last eight years. Regardless of the election outcome, we want to be able to say at the end of the day that we seriously tried to make a difference for our future, the future of our children, and the future of our country.”

Ready to get involved? Consider attending or hosting a Debate Watch Party this Friday when Barack participates in the first presidential debate of the year. Debate Watch Parties are a great way to come together with your friends, family and neighbors to learn more about Barack and plan future activities.

Introducing the New MyBO Side Menu

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:59:23 EDT

Tonight we launched an updated My.BarackObama side menu with expanded options and a new look.

You'll notice that all the old features you love about MyBO are still right there on the menu, along with three new items: Contact Voters, Action Center and Resources. The expanded menu puts even more tools and resources at your fingertips, making it easier for you to make a difference in this election.

If you click on Contact Voters, you'll go to our exciting new online tool called, Neighbor to Neighbor. It allows you to talk to voters in your own neighborhood or in a neighboring state either by calling potential supporters or knocking on their doors.

The best part is you can do it whenever it's convenient to you. Once you log into Neighbor to Neighbor, you'll be able to download a list of voters and a script to guide your conversation. When you're done talking to your assigned voters, you'll need to return to enter your results.

The second addition to the navigation bar is our revised Action Center, which will help you find the volunteer work that fits best into your comfort zone. As the race heats up and we enter into the final stretch, we need to be ready to shift gears quickly. Check back to the Action Center to find out what the campaign's top priorities are at that moment.

However you decide to get involved, you'll be able to find the materials you need to help you under Resources. Our Resources Library has everything from host guides to video tutorials to contribution forms to sign-in sheets. Even if you've never been involved in a political campaign before, you'll be able to effectively organize in your area using our materials.

In addition to these three new features, you also might notice some small changes in how old menu items are listed. For example, you'll see that your dashboard is now called My Home, and the Community section encompasses what used to be My Neighborhood, Friends and Groups.

My.BarackObama was created for you, our amazing grassroots supporters. We'd love to hear your feedback about the updated menu.

As always, thank you for all that you do. You have helped build an unprecedented grassroots movement that is changing the face of politics.

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:43:33 EDT

Here's a snapshot of what was happening across America this past week:

March for Change: At one of the largest grassroots-organized events to date, hundreds of Obama supporters marched from Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC to the Lincoln Memorial, demonstrating the strength and diversity of this movement. At their resting place in front of the Lincoln Memorial, a lineup of performers and speakers expressed the need for sweeping change in the United States.

The march was more than a demonstration - it was also a call to action. The sponsoring group Diversity4Obama used the event to register voters and recruit volunteers, particularly for Virginia, a neighboring state and battleground.

"In the sweltering sun and humidity, we marched right down the road beside the White House," Rachelle, the lead organizer from DC, recalled. "Many spectators were stopping to receive the election awareness info sheets that we had printed. Then, a tremendous show took place, and thousands of tourists from many different parties came down to the front of the Lincoln Memorial. The networks and friendships that were built today will remain strong. We are committed to turning Virginia blue and to keep election awareness active all year, every year.

Garden Tour: Every few weeks, Magda opens up her Middletown, CT home and her garden as a fundraiser and awareness event. This past weekend about 20 Obamaites enjoyed her lovely garden of flowers and organic vegetables and learned about "sustainable suburban living."

Magda raised more than $650 dollars, much of it coming from first-time donors. This puts her fundraising total from the Garden Tours at almost $2700.

Habitat for Humanity Service Day: A crew of 16 volunteers in Minneapolis, MN helped build the movement for change with Habitat for Humanity. Fulfilling their agreement to work rain or shine, the volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty, helping landscape two homes in dismal weather.

"It was hard, muddy work but very satisfying to see how we transformed these small urban yards into beautiful gardens," said Vina, the event coordinator. "Each of the families worked alongside us, and we could see that they were grateful for the help and very proud of their homes."

Vina put together the event with Obama Works Twin Cities, the local chapter of national group dedicated to community service. The group takes its inspiration from Barack and his call to "be the change we seek."

"We all wore Obama Works plackets and buttons and t-shirts, and were complimented on our work by neighbors passing by. And at the end, we helped the family stake an Obama sign in their yard!"

Student Organizing: Will, chapter coordinator for Students for Barack Obama at the University of Arkansas, has been busy organizing multiple voter registration drives in the past week. One of the drives at a residence hall proved particularly fruitful – 50 newly registered voters in two and a half hours.

The student group also registered voters at the Fayetteville Farmers' Market. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed -- their campus newspaper wrote about them and featured a photo on the front page.

Jewish Forum: Gayle of Highland Park, NJ wanted to strengthen Barack's support in the Jewish community and dispel any rumors. What started out as coffees in homes over the last few months culminated in a forum last week with 16 speakers and 200 attendees.

Speakers included Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, and comedian Sammy Greenfield. During intermission, attendees were treated to Jewish music (Klezmer and Jazz) and refreshments.

The event was hosted by Central NJ for Obama--Jewish Outreach group and co-sponsored by several other groups.

"One of the best things about the event was the number of people from various communities who asked if we could help them put this kind of event (on a smaller scale) together in other areas throughout the state," Gayle noted. "And we will help them!"

Ready to host your own event? Create an event now, use our flyer templates to help promote it and let us know how it goes.

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:05:55 EDT

Swim for Change: You've heard of walk- or phone-a-thons, now comes the swim-a-thon. Amina of New Haven, CT, held a Swim for Change fundraiser and found this latest addition to the fundraising genre to be quite lucrative, raising $1,030 from 29 donors.

"I started the event thinking about how to get people to donate to my personal fundraising page. Once I came up with the idea of Swim For Change - Obamathon, I announced it to my local New Haven Volunteers for Obama group (of which I am co-leader of the Student Outreach Team) and my family and started organizing it as an event. Once I had the pool reserved, the event kept growing as I recruited other swimmers and they started seeking pledges on their personal Obama pages."

Amina also set up a voter registration table, and a computer to accept pledges while they swam, which took in an additional $100.00.

Three swimmers met the challenge of swimming nonstop for 60 minutes -- one minute for every day left until the election at the time.

Social Justice Concert: Radio La Chusma played their brand of socially conscious music before 120 people in El Paso, TX. The band's music addresses immigration issues, peace advocacy, and education.

"Our intent was to recruit the band's following," Xavier said, noting that people of all ages turned out for the concert.

Some of those in attendance also made calls into New Mexico, making about 200 contacts, according to Xavier.

Ready to host your own event? Create an event now, use our flyer templates to help promote it and let us know how it goes.

Organize for Change: Convention Watch Party Packets

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:05:42 EDT

All this week, a volunteer crew at our Chicago HQ is assembling and mailing the packets for everyone who signed up to host an Organize for Change Convention Watch Party. Thousands of supporters have already signed up to host or attend a watch party on August 28, the night Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination.

We're asking all our supporters not only to celebrate this historic night that you have helped make possible but also to continue to take an active role in this campaign. Before Barack delivers his speech, gather with your friends and neighbors to start planning your organizing efforts for the short time we have left before November.

The host packets include everything you need for a successful event:

• Organize for Change DVD

• Convention stickers

• "Change" sign

• Meeting checklist and agenda

• Sign-in sheets

• Voter registration guide

We'll be sending host packets - including a free DVD and stickers - to everyone who creates an event by midnight tomorrow. Don't miss out on your chance to share this historic moment with your friends and family, as well as millions of fellow supporters across the country. Sign up to create or attend a Convention Watch Party now:

Updates to Our Website

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:27:04 EDT

Over the weekend, you may have noticed some changes to the Barack Obama website. Our production and design teams have upgraded certain elements of the site so that it's easier to find the information you're looking for.

Some of the changes you may have noticed:

• We added a thin, blue bar at the top of all pages of the site. If you don't already have a My.BarackObama.com (MyBO) account, the bar will prompt you to create one. MyBO members have access to online tools needed to effectively organize for Barack Obama and build this movement for change.

If you're already logged into the site, the bar will change to a full MyBO navigational menu, allowing you to access any of the main MyBO pages in only one click from any other page on the site.

• We've also made it possible for you to find both official and grassroots events in your neighborhood with only one click from any page on the website. If you're logged in, the top right section of the site will lead you directly to a map of events happening in your community.

• Finally, we've made some small adjustments to our homepage, like increasing the size of the main graphic and rotating photos of Barack up top, rather than always displaying the same one.

We hope you like the changes. As always we'd love to hear your feedback.

Update on the New MyBO Activity Tracker

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:01:47 EDT

Last week we rolled out the new Activity Tracker on My.BarackObama.com to make it easier for our online supporters to measure their impact on the campaign. Since then, we’ve been listening to your feedback and have made a number of important changes and upgrades.

We wanted to take this opportunity to talk a little bit more about how the Activity Tracker differs from the previous points system. We also wanted to highlight some of the changes made in response to the feedback we’ve received from our supporters.

One of the most important differences between the Activity Tracker and the previous points system is that MyBO users are no longer ranked against one another. Unlike the old system, your actions – and your actions alone – now determine your activity level score. You will no longer constantly shift in rank based on other users’ actions.

In addition, the new tracker displays a record of all your past activity using our online tools, but calculates your activity level based only on recent actions. Compared to the old cumulative points system, the new Activity Tracker more accurately reflects current engagement in the campaign.

Finally, the new Activity Tracker does a better job of measuring direct, offline involvement in the campaign. Points are no longer awarded for just signing into MyBO, but you do get a public, transparent record of your activity. The Activity Tracker assigns you an activity level anywhere from 1 to 10 based on the various actions you’ve taken. You need 10 points to go up one activity level. Here’s the breakdown of points assigned to certain actions:

• 15 points for every event hosted

• 15 points for every donation made to your personal fundraising page

• 3 points for every event attended

• 5 points for every call made using our online call tool

• 10 points for every door knocked using our online canvassing tool

• 3 points for every blog post

• 3 points for every group joined

In addition, here are some changes we’ve made in response to your feedback:

• Initially users were not receiving credit for calls they had previously made using our online tool. We always had intended to backfill that information. Now we have.

• We’ve fixed a display issue with Firefox 2 that was causing the Activity Tracker to display improperly on some computers.

• Lastly, we’ve made some slight adjustments to the group activity tracker to better account for groups with lots of members.

As always, we appreciate your patience and we welcome your feedback.

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:56:23 EDT

Soul Line Dancers: More than 60 dancers boogied down in support of Barack in Oakland, CA. As people strolled by Lake Merritt Columns, many paused to join the dancers wearing Soul Line Dancers for Barack Obama t-shirts. They also had a table set up to register new voters and take donations to the campaign.

Event Organizer Fran of Oakland, CA said:

Line dancing keeps people healthy and active. Line dancers together attract crowds and increase opportunities to Barack the vote. We’re fired up! Gobama, Gobama, Gobama!

Potluck for Barack: Supporters gathered for a potluck in Los Angeles, using the time to get to know each other and plan for future activities including voter registration drives and phonebanks.

Los Angeles County has a highly diverse population and I felt what better way to bring people together for a common goal than by having a BBQ Potluck event," explained event organizer Raul of Downey, CA. "With help from volunteers and community leaders we were able to gather over 50 attendees of various cultural backgrounds.

Ready to host your own event? Create an event now, use our flyer templates to help promote it and let us know how it goes.

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:13:31 EDT

Every week we feature some of the best grassroots events from the previous week. We want to highlight your creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. After you host an event, make sure to let us know how it went!

Here's a snapshot of what was happening across America this past week:

Film screening: When longtime supporter Lisa of Austin, TX saw a documentary about Barack in New York City that inspired her in a whole new way, she knew she had to show the film in her hometown.

“I felt that this would be a non-intrusive way to bring people together and share a wonderful message.”

In the documentary, Barack narrates his journey across Africa – from Nelson Mandela’s old cell in South Africa to the Kenyan village where his father grew up to a Darfur refugee camp in Chad. Lisa dubs the film “part personal odyssey and part chronicle of diplomacy in action.”

She held the screening at a local restaurant, raising more than $300 from the 30 attendees. At the end of the screening, Lisa shared her personal story and why she supports Barack. Many people hung around after to discuss the film and more ways to get involved in the campaign.

Barackfest: Every first Sunday of the month since March 2007, Dan of Ft. Collins, CO, has been serving up a hearty Barackfest – that would be breakfast Obama-style. About 25 supporters came out for the 18th Barackfest, trading campaign and personal stories over huevos rancheros and breakfast tacos. They try to mix up the menu, having done omelets, crepes, stratas, and oven pancakes. Dan estimates that he’s peeled 250 pounds of potatoes, fried 75 pounds of bacon and cooked probably close to 100 dozen eggs.

He’s discovered that nothing brings people together like breakfast:

“We've started to see local politicians regularly. It was a real starter for the caucus organization. I think [field organizer] Pat got an office, housing for 10, his first batch of callers and breakfast in just one event.”

Usually Dan raises $200-$500. This week the number was $213, owing to the start of school. He gives credit to Don and his neighbor, Mary.

Barack Birthday Bashes: Roughly 80 people celebrated Barack’s 47th birthday with a pin the tail on the Democratic donkey game, a cardboard cut-out of him for photos, a giant birthday card, a list of 47 Reasons to vote for Barack, a birthday cake, children's poster coloring acitivities and a showing of the A&E documentary Biography of Barack Obama. The party had everything except the birthday honoree himself.

The fun and games led to more serious work later with party goers calling to recruit local volunteers and talk to Spanish speaking voters in New Mexico.

“It was a huge success and we signed up several new volunteers,” said April of Montara, CA.

Meanwhile Dennis in Prescott Valley, AZ, was throwing Barack his own birthday bash. About 35 people attended the potluck, capped off by his wife's Texas Pan Cake. The chocolate cake was decorated with strawberries, blueberries and frosting in the design of the Obama logo.

Not even a thunderstorm was enough to keep 35 supporters home, though Dennis suspects that some potential party goers were unable to come due to flooding.

Dragon Boat Festival Voter Registration: 11 volunteers registered about 35 voters attending the Dragon Boat races and dumpling eating contest in Queens, NY. The annual races turn out the Chinese American community and provided the perfect opportunity to do voter reg, according to Elizabeth of Whitestone, NY, who coordinated the effort.

“I think it was a really great event. And all the volunteers were very impressed with the Dragon Boat races, which we all watched!"

Ready to host your own event? Create an event now, use our flyer templates to help promote it and let us know how it goes.

Working for Change at Every Level

Amy Hamblin — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:01:36 EDT

My.BarackObama.com enables our supporters to organize their communities using an array of online tools. Whether supporters use our tools to plan a canvass for Barack, a community service project or a phonebank for a down-ballot candidate, they are working hard to bring change to our country at every level.

Meena of Baltimore, MD, got active on MyBO about a month ago, joining three Baltimore area groups.

Before I was completely clueless as to how to get involved. Now I get an email every day about something going on. I couldn't care so much and not do anything.

She was alerted on MyBO about a phonebank for Congressman John Sarbanes, who is running for reelection in her district. Knowing that Sarbanes supported Barack and was running on a similar platform of change, Meena decided to volunteer for the phonebank. After her first experience phonebanking, she’s ready to do it again tomorrow evening. She'll do anything, she says, to change the current political system.

Like Meena, Dan in Chapel Hill, NC wants a sweeping change in Washington, from the Oval Office on down. Dan has been using the MyBO tools to make this happen, building support for Barack and Kay Hagan, who is running for Elizabeth Dole’s Senate seat.

My brother and I had a long conversation about how wrong the war was before it started. Somewhere there was a state senator who spoke out against it before it started and there were so few people doing that. So I joined his website, joined a few groups, wrote a few blogs and then I held a fundraiser.

Dan “the pottery man” -– as he calls himself -- hosted two fundraisers for Barack in his paint-it-yourself ceramics store. Supporters made donations to the campaign to paint a ceramics piece and have it fired in the kiln. Dan made $600 from his first fundraiser and $300 from his second.

Building on the success of his first two fundraisers, he decided to host a third one in support of Kay Hagan last weekend. He posted the event on MyBO and put the word out where he lives. About eight people showed up to his latest fundraiser, raising $150 for Hagan.

Barack needs all the Democrats he can get elected with him in November.

Our supporters also have formed MyBO groups for Jim Slattery of Kansas and Tom Udall of New Mexico, both running for the U.S. Senate.

Barack can’t bring about the change we seek by himself. It’s going to require a new political outlook, focused on real solutions, that is shared by our elected officials –- from city council members to members of Congress. We can band together to show the power of this grassroots movement and make our voices heard at all levels of the political process.

You can use our online tools to get involved in local groups, host events and fundraise. Get active now!

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:01:28 EDT

Every week we feature some of the best grassroots events from the previous week. We want to highlight your creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. After you host an event, make sure to let us know how it went!

This movement is built on the efforts of everyday Americans working to unify their communities and bring about the change that we all seek. Here's a snapshot of what was happening across America this past week:

Golf Tournament: Sheryl in Columbia, MD drew on her experience as a professional event marketer to throw a successful fundraiser. More than 100 golfers participated with another 25-30 supporters volunteering or attending the luncheon only.

"I had long wanted to actively participate in the campaign and had not yet found the opportunity to do so. As a professional event marketer, I knew that personally producing a golf tournament was something I could do successfully to raise awareness and funds for Barack Obama's campaign. From an awareness and momentum building perspective the event was overwhelmingly successful."

Bike for Barack: Around 30 supporters of all ages in Madison pedaled for change in their second organized bike ride. Melissa from Madison, WI explains how she came up with the idea:

"I like the idea of the "critical mass" bike rides and thought we could do something similar for the campaign-visibility rides around the city. The rides also "highlight" the differences in the environmental and energy policies of two candidates and promote health (I'm a physician)... I also thought we might reach out and show the biking community another way to be involved. We put stickers on our cars, so why don't we decorate our bikes?"

Voter Registration at the World's Largest Hair Art & Fashion Show: With voter registration, you go where the crowds are. That mantra led Teisha-Vonique from Dallas, TX to the World’s Largest Hair Art and Fashion Show in Dallas. She and about 25 volunteers circulated with clipboards amongst the throngs of event attendees, registering 10 voters and chatting with dozens more about Barack.

"We were there and we were strong,” Teisha said. “We were totally there to make it happen."

Bake Sale: No one could resist the delicious homemade baked goods the Richmond Mamas for Obama were selling. The group raised $350 from their special Barack treats that twelve volunteers baked.

"A lot of people came by, both on foot and by car to support Barack,” event coordinator Traci said. “We used fun names for each item like Barack-y Road Brownies, Turn Virginia Blue-berry Galette, Yes We peCAN squares, Lemon Poppy "seeds of change" cake, Bread for Barack and Obama-themed Rice Crispy Treats and even raffled off a basket of Obama Goodies. It was a huge success, and we are looking to do another one soon."

There's no better time to get involved than now. We're fewer than 100 days away from Election Day. Host an event, use our flyer templates to help promote it and let us know how it goes.

Americans Abroad: Building Bridges

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:56:26 EDT

Standing in Berlin, a city divided by a wall for 28 years, Barack delivered a major speech yesterday in which he warned against allowing “new walls to divide us from one another” and called on Americans and Europeans to “build new bridges across the globe.”

Now is the time to join together, through constant cooperation, strong institutions, shared sacrifice, and a global commitment to progress, to meet the challenges of the 21st century. It was this spirit that led airlift planes to appear in the sky above our heads, and people to assemble where we stand today. And this is the moment when our nations – and all nations – must summon that spirit anew.

Meredith is one of over 7 million Americans who live abroad. Born and raised in a Chicago suburb, she now lives in Lautrec, France. She's the founder of the Southwest Chapter of Democrats Abroad France, and she's excited by the prospect of having Barack in the White House.

Wanting to highlight Barack's unique background and sound foreign policy judgment to other Americans abroad, Meredith decided to generate some media attention this spring by playing off Barack’s image as a sort of bridge.

I was attending a Democrats Abroad regional primary in Brussels this past March and the idea just came to me, as I looked at all these Americans gathered from all over Europe. I'd been reading articles about Obama where journalists would often refer to his ability to bridge gaps between races, ethnic groups, socio-economic groups--so the idea of bridges was in my mind. I realized we all lived in countries with famous or beautiful bridges and the bridge would be an ideal symbol for his candidacy--especially to Americans living abroad.

So far supporters who have connected through My.BarackObama and online bulletins have snapped pictures in front of more than 76 bridges in 36 countries, on five continents. Locations include: Istanbul, Johannesburg, Vancouver, Rome, London, Vienna, Dublin, Jakarta, Berlin, Florence, Tokyo, Oslo and Brussels.

The group has succeeded in drawing attention to voters living abroad, attracting media coverage from McClatchy, The New York Times and local news outlets.

There is an enthusiasm for Obama among Americans abroad that mirrors the enthusiasm back in the States. We want to show it! The media coverage of these bridge shots also raises the profile of Democrats Abroad in foreign countries and helps us locate other Americans who may need help or advice on how to register for an absentee ballot. It's not a straight-forward process. Each state has its own rules. The good news is there is now an on-line website that makes a difficult process much simpler: www.VoteFromAbroad.org.

Also, it's important that Americans back in the States hear the voices of the 7 million Americans living, working and studying overseas. We are often on the front line of American foreign policy. We have to explain it and sometimes defend it.

If you are a U.S. citizen living outside the United States, you can check out our page dedicated to Americans Abroad and sign up for Americans Abroad for Obama to recieve updates and information. It doesn’t matter whether you live on U.S. soil or abroad, you can organize support and make a difference anywhere. Find a local group, start one if there isn’t one for your area or host an event -- we’ve even added a country field, so that you can find and organize events anywhere in the world.

Weekly Grassroots Round-Up

Amy Hamblin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:04:58 EDT

Every Monday, we'll be featuring some of the best grassroots events from the previous week. We want to highlight your creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. After you host an event, make sure to let us know how it went!

This movement is built on the efforts of everyday Americans working to unify their communities and bring about the change that we all seek. Here's a snapshot of what was happening across America this past week:

Jamaican Food Fundraiser: Kathy from Forest Hills, NY raised $700 at what she describes as "an old fashioned afternoon house party." She served up a tasty menu of Jamaican food, including curry chicken, island-style pulled pork mini-sliders, red cabbage slaw, pineapple salsa and bread pudding.

As a former Hillary supporter herself, she said she was able to convince many Hillary supporters in attendance to join the campaign. After the success of her first event, Kathy is excited to host another one in September, this time with Mexican food.

HIV/AIDS Walk: Roughly 30 Bay Area supporters marched as part of the official Obama team at the annual AIDS Walk San Francisco, and many other supporters were spotted in the crowd wearing Obama gear as well. Chants of "Yes We Can" and "Fired Up, Ready to Go" at times would erupt from the phalanx of marchers as they snaked through Golden Gate Park. The official Obama team raised nearly $3,000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, showing this campaign is about more than just politics.

A separate volunteer crew milled around the crowd of 25,000 attendees, handing out campaign literature and registering more than 50 voters. Thanks to Doug from San Francisco and Susan for putting this together.

New Orleans Service Trip: Lynn of Miami, FL met with fellow Generation Obama young professionals in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans to continue the ongoing efforts to restore the area. "We worked with the Episcopalian Diocese of Louisiana on a home in the Lower Ninth Ward that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and has had no repairs in the nearly three years since the storm hit. There were fifteen of us who spent the day hanging sheetrock for the ceilings and walls (with varying degrees of success!)."

Political Comedy Night: More than 20 supporters laughed the night away to the jokes of a several professional political comics supporting Barack. Michael in New Jersey put together the event, and he explained that he believes "laughter is the best means of spreading the values and ideals of liberalism, as well as getting more people engaged in the process by breaking down the complex issues into a humorous form."

Voter Registration at Batman Premiere: Sporting a child-sized Batman costume with a "Yes We Can" shirt covering where it ripped, 6'1" Grady of Baco Raton, FL attracted the cheers, laughs and smiles of young voters in line to see the blockbuster movie. He was joined by eleven volunteers who together registered 35 voters.

"We knew that the theatre would be alive with young adults and teens who have yet to register to vote and we made it our duty to register them all. We are stationed in Boca Raton and the population here is already mostly registered, so often we have to think outside of the box when it comes to registering new people."

Also, this past weekend thousands of supporters gathered in their homes to discuss the issues at Listening to America Platform Meetings. At the end of the meetings, attendees draft their policy papers and submit it to our Policy Review Committee where they will be considered for incorporation into the 2008 Democratic Platform.

These meetings will be taking place in homes across the country through July 27. Sign up to attend one, if you haven't already. And check back to the Obama HQ Blog as we post more about the results of many of these meetings.

Feeling inspired now? Plan your own event!

A Mountain of Unite for Change Sign-in Sheets

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:00:38 EDT

The sign-in sheets for Unite for Change meetings have been pouring into HQ over the last week, representing thousands of newcomers to this movement. Even more event hosts already have entered their sign-in sheets online. If you haven't entered your sign-in sheets yet, do so now.

Unite for Change kicked off on June 28 with more than 4,000 events nationwide. Democrats, Independents and even some Republicans gathered to discuss their shared values and hopes for the country under the belief that what unites us is stronger than what divides us.

Crystal in Berkeley, CA, sent us some photos from her event with her sign-in sheet.

Let's keep the momentum and dialogue from those events alive. Host a Platform Meeting to focus the discussions from Unite for Change on a few specific policy issues.

The idea is to gather your friends and neighbors to discuss one or a few policy issues and then make recommendations that could shape the platform at the Democratic Convention in August. You may even be asked to appear and speak at the National Hearing and at the Convention! We want you - our grassroots - to help define the type of change we stand for.

Once you register your meeting, check out our host guide that has useful tips and resources.

Standing United Against the Politics of the Past

Amy Hamblin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:51:24 EDT

Once a former Sen. Clinton supporter herself before she met Sen. Obama in April 2007, Arna of Rockledge, Florida, thought it was important to welcome former Hillary supporters just joining our team.

They are my friends. These are still people that think like I do. They want the same things I want. They have the same values I have. There's no reason why we can’t come together and have a place to communicate.

She created a group earlier this month to facilitate the conversation and has seen her group rapidly grow to 104 members. Our longtime My.BarackObama users have jumped at the opportunity to demonstrate the warmth and inclusiveness of this movement.

In fact, more than 3,000 of our supporters are hosting Unite for Change events this Saturday. They're opening up their homes to friends and neighbors - particularly those who aren't already a part of this movement - to discuss their shared vision for the future of this country. Democrat, Republican or Independent - we're Americans first, as Barack often points out, and we want an end to the divisive politics that doesn't get us anywhere.

Our movement is growing and getting more diverse every day. Jan of Los Angeles supported Hillary until the close of the last primaries when she decided to visit Barack’s website. She began a group called, Forward Together: Hillary Supporters for Obama. Her group has swelled to 64 members in the last few weeks.

Jan says she can’t bear to think how our country has regressed over the last eight years. She has committed to do whatever it takes to see that Barack is now elected president to change the direction our country is headed.

If only we can get a focus on the substantive issues and away from the trivial gaffes, there is a stark difference between Obama and McCain. We can’t afford to continue with more Bush policies.

Arna couldn't agree more.

This country can't continue on the path that the current admin has set us on. This war has to end. We’re fighting a war we shouldn't be fighting. The dollar is worth nothing. The environment. Gas prices. Everything that makes this country great is eroding.

Barack Obama has the ability to reach out to everyone. He's the real deal. He can bring real change to Washington and the whole world. He can make this country the greatest place to live.

If you're tired of the stale politics of fear and division like Jan and Arna, attend a Unite for Change event this Saturday to signal your support for a new way forward. Discuss what you want to see change and then help build the strongest volunteer organization to work toward that.

Meet Grassroots Fundraiser Gwen

Amy Hamblin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:28:16 EDT

Gwen from Los Angeles just watched her personal fundraising thermometer pass the halfway mark toward her goal of $5,000. She’s worked hard since the fall to reach out to her friends, neighbors and other community members to give more people an opportunity to own a piece of this campaign.

So far she's raised $2,614 from 49 people and she’s not letting up until November.

I want to do more. I want to raise as much money as I possibly can. I feel so connected to the whole idea of change and getting the average American involved.

She held her second fundraiser at her home last Saturday with 30-40 people attending. Knowing that her local assemblyman was an Obama supporter, she invited him to deliver a short speech on this historic campaign and the future of the Democratic party at her fundraiser.

As Gwen has found out, anyone can fundraise successfully. She emphasizes the importance of reaching out to your friends first, then putting the word out into the community in as many ways as possible. She printed out 500 flyers for the fundraiser, which she handed out around her neighborhood and anywhere she went in the weeks leading up to the event.

Fundraising is just one of many ways Gwen has contributed to the campaign. She has phonebanked, canvassed, served as a precinct captain and traveled to Nevada to bring Barack closer to the White House.

I have children and grandchildren. I want to have a better America for them. We want it now. We don't want to wait anymore. That’s what it’s all about. If we keep waiting, the country is going to keep getting more messed up.

Widen Barack's circle of support. If you haven't set up a personal fundraising page, there's no better time than now. For those who already have a page, remind your family, friends and coworkers about donating. Get tips from other grassroots supporters on how to reach your fundraising goal.

Former NFL Player Organizes Support for Barack

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:22:39 EDT

Most mornings when 29-year-old Jack Brewer gets up for work, he listens to the “Yes, We Can” speech. “As a young black man,” he says, “It gives me inspiration to go work on Wall Street.”

Like Barack, the retired NFL player has his own unlikely story. As the first in his family to attend college, he earned a masters degree at 22 before getting signed to the Minnesota Vikings. Jack stayed with the Vikings for two seasons, then moved on to the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Now he works at Merrill Lynch in New York in wealth management, while taking classes at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

"I have always loved politics and always hoped and dreamed of someone like Barack – someone with a similar background to me."

Jack donated office furniture, supplies and computers for the Minnesota Headquarters and now is organizing his network of current and former NFL players on My.BarackObama.com.

About two months ago, I started to make a lot of calls to NFL contacts to start the group. The feedback was incredible. I sent out 100 text messages and got back 60 from the guys. After that, I said this is something that I have to do. I began to organize a few people from each team to serve as representatives and talk about the group in the locker room to the other players... Hopefully we can do our part for this campaign.

Jack notes that he's still building the infrastructure for the group and planning to kick the group into full action after NFL training camps end. He already has found representatives for 10 teams and is still searching for more. The group members will leverage their networks of contacts for fundraisers and other events to publicize Barack's message of change.

Barack has taught people to believe again in our potential to change our lives, our country and the world, Jack says. Barack’s message of collective responsibility came at a time when Jack was searching for purpose in his life. He started his own foundation in 2006 to provide mentorship and scholarships for underprivileged students. Yet he felt like he was just one person.

Now he knows that we can solve our own problems when we work together.

Take Jack’s lead and work toward change. Get more involved in My.BarackObama groups -- invite your friends and family to join too. We can only do this if we each do our part to grow this movement!

Postcards for Votes

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:33:58 EDT

TaLisa, of Columbus, OH, delivered 15,000 handwritten postcards to a Kentucky campaign office last night to be distributed to undecided female voters in advance of their Tuesday primary. She hopes the postcards with messages from female supporters across the country will be the extra touch that sways voters.

Since the March 4th Ohio primary, the Columbus-based postcard operation has gathered more than 100,000 postcards written by supporters and delivered them to voters in upcoming primary states. TaLisa and her sister, TaKeysha, started Postcards for Votes to further personalize Barack's message of change.

TaLisa recalls being particularly moved by one postcard from a female soldier stationed in Iraq, whose simple closing words have stuck with her: "Please bring us home." The soldier even sent a money order for the postage that she couldn't purchase in Iraq.

The program asks women to buy the postcards and stamps and write a short message about why they support Barack. They leave the return and mailing address areas blank, send them to the Columbus office where a crew of volunteers forwards the postcards to undecided voters.

Jessica, from Laurel, MD, wrote postcards from her hospital bed after having a baby with this message:

As a new mom, I took my state's primary more seriously than ever this year. I wanted to vote for a candidate who could not only help working families through the tough times we're facing, but also strengthen our nation, morally and financially, to ensure that our children won't face -- or foot the bill for -- these same tough times. That is why I voted for Barack Obama. His economic policies are sound and his commitment to working families is unmatched among the remaining candidates. From my growing family to yours, I wish you the best and hope you'll join me in supporting Senator Obama.

Lisa in Fairfax, VA, finds postcard writing an easy activity while watching her two young kids and has sponsored two postcard writing parties at her local library while her kids were at preschool. On Wednesday, she and several other supporters wrote 300 postcards and are itching to do more after they give their hands some rest.

If you're a Woman for Obama, join Postcards for Votes and share your message of support with undecided voters. Don't forget the Kentucky primary is only three days away. Make calls to Kentucky women now.

Meet Vote for Change Volunteer Natasha

Amy Hamblin — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:27:42 EDT

Natasha of Purcellville, VA, became a U.S. citizen so she could vote for Barack. She has lived in the United States for more than twenty years and loves her adopted country dearly but always had hesitated when it came to shedding her Australian citizenship. That is, until she heard speculation that Barack Obama might run for president. She filled out her application in January 2007 and was just sworn in last week. As she writes on her My.BarackObama profile:

He is the only candidate who can bring our country and the world together to solve all of the problems we now face. As a mother of two small children, I always have their lives and well-being at the forefront of my mind. I worry about every detail of their lives. Barack Obama is the best candidate for their future, which means less for me to worry about when he is President of the United States. As he says, "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

She missed her opportunity to vote in the Virginia primary but that didn’t hold her back from tirelessly campaigning for him. Along with all her fellow Loudon County for Obama members, she has helping turn her Republican-dominated county “purple.” Tomorrow she is going to a kick-off event for the Vote for Change registration drive with her four-year-old daughter in tow to continue bringing more people into the process.

Natasha plans the community service projects for the Loudoun County group to “spread the good word” -- as she says -- about Barack. This Monday she'll launch their food drive and has plans in upcoming months to collect supplies for our troops and to organize a children's book drive.

Get involved in your local group and continue to grow the movement. Attend a Vote for Change kick-off event in your area tomorrow to register and mobilize voters.

The Obama Family Cookbook

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:07:02 EDT

Maria from Missoula, MT, already had donated, called, canvassed and blogged. But she still wanted to give back more to the man who has given her hope when she thought it wasn't possible.

Given her limited income, Maria knew she had to be creative in her fundraising efforts. She has spent the last month compiling 160 recipes and the stories to go along with them from Barack supporters. After some editing help from her My.BarackObama friend, Susie from San Francisco, Maria posted the Obama Family Cookbook online. Anyone can access it through her blog and print the recipes, but she asks that you donate what you can.

I am a cookbook lover. I've always gone looking for unusual cookbooks from churches, schools. They're a tradition in rural America for fundraising...It's been so much fun compiling the recipes. I've gotten so many friends from it. It's a good cross-section of supporters. I got one from every state -- except for Utah -- and from the Virgin Islands, the Netherlands and England.

She's been too busy working and volunteering at the Missoula headquarters in her spare time to try out any of the recipes. She's hoping to make the barbecue pork recipe for everyone at the headquarters soon.

She dedicated the cookbook to her daughter, Carrie, who passed away two years ago from epilepsy. In her search online for more explanation behind her daughter's death, she stumbled upon a speech Barack gave to CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy) on March 11, 2005. She wrote her first blog post in February 2007 about how she "met" Barack:

[The speech] gave me some hope in finding a cure for the terrible disease, which robbed me of my child. What I am trying to say is, Mr. Obama's eloquent speech drew me in and comforted me during a most painful time in my life. Even his written words "speak" I have noticed.

Get more involved in our My.BarackObama community and meet other wonderful supporters like Maria. Write a blog post about what this campaign means to you, create a personal fundraising page and host a fundraiser.

'Obama Works' Groups Carry Out Barack's Message of Change

Amy Hamblin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:38:53 EDT

When undergraduates David and Justin heard Barack's call to change, they knew that the process of reclaiming and revitalizing our communities must begin now. They wrote a column in their student newspaper in January where they proposed doing service projects -- or "Obama Works" -- to raise visibility about Barack's candidacy and demonstrate what Barack has always said -- that change comes from the ground-up.

Word about Obama Works began circulating through the My.BarackObama group listservs. Adam, a supporter in Philly, jumped on board and rapidly organized supporters in his area for the first of several street clean-ups.

Soon local chapters of Obama Works were forming on My.BarackObama in cities across the country – from Portland, Oregon to Tulsa, Oklahoma to Cary, North Carolina. The Twin Cities chapter, founded a month ago, boasts 40-plus members who just participated in their first park clean-up, wearing their Obama gear. Jill, chapter co-founder:

It's 'Yes, we can,' not 'Yes, he can.' In order for this movement to be successful, we have to move the ball forward, to get people to understand that you need to be the change by pitching in and helping each other and getting to know our neighborhoods. Obama Works projects are a way to do this. It gives you a chance to know your neighbors and the community you're living in.

Start a My.BarackObama group of your own or find an existing group -- work together to better your community.

Thousands in Maryland Knock on Doors for Barack

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:20:38 EST

Today thousands of Marylanders are going door-to-door and reminding voters to amplify the call for change on Tuesday, Jan. 12 when they head to the polls. We're growing our movement by talking to one voter at a time.

Elisha had never canvassed and her husband, Josh, hadn't knocked on doors in a decade. But it only takes a few knocks before they both get comfortable, Elisha leading the introductions and Josh smiling. "This is so much better than just sitting at home watching MSNBC," Josh says. "We are involved and it feels good."

Neighborhood walks are the most effective way to share Barack's message with potential voters. We will be going door-to-door Sunday Feb. 10, Monday Feb. 11 and Primary Day on Tuesday Jan. 12. If you can't go door-to-door, you can make calls. Sign up to volunteer and help us win Maryland!

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Amy Hamblin — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:14:23 EDT

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President to Sen. Specter: "

Amy Hamblin — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:17:38 EDT

In a press conference this morning, the President welcomed Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party and underscored the importance of working together to find common ground on the most pressing issues facing our country.

Senator Specter announced yesterday his decision to leave his party of 43 years because it had alienated more moderate Republicans like himself. He cited the growing ranks of the Democratic Party in his home state as a sign that his old party had shifted too far to the right (more than 200,000 Republicans switched their registration to Democrat last year).

President Obama:

I’d like to think that Arlen’s decision reflects a recognition that this administration is open to many different ideas and many different points of view; that we seek cooperation and common ground; and that in these 100 days we’ve begun to move this nation in the right direction.
As I told Senator Specter yesterday, he has my full support, my full commitment to work with him on those areas where we do agree -- areas like health care, education, expanding America’s manufacturing base, and medical research. I look forward to working with the Senator on these and other issues in the coming weeks and months. I’m eager to receive his counsel and advice, especially when he disagrees. And I have great respect and admiration for the decision that he has made.

Read the full remarks by the President, the Vice President and Senator Specter below...