WI Stephanie's Blog

Reminder-Party for Leukemia on Sunday

Stephanie — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:46:42 EST

Please come for a benefit for Caitlynn, a 6 year old from Fitchburg, who attends my son's school. She is on a 2.5 year treatment protocol to fight leukemia. There will be music by "The Paoli Project," karaoke by the Canaries, children's crafts, and a silent auction. Suggested donation is $10/person or $25/family. Contact Dawn for more information, or if you would like to make a donation but cannot attend on Sunday, 608-276-9512. This is an excellent opportunity for neighbors to help out neighbors in need. Thank you.

You can see details and sign up at:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt838

Happy Inauguration Day!

Stephanie — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:19:08 EST

yippeeee!

action alert to support workers in Honduras

Stephanie — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:27:52 EST

I got this action alert from USLEAP supporting workers in Honduras who are being retaliated against by their employer for demanding their rights. It only took a couple minutes to fill out.
<A href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1618/t/2586/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26360">Follow this link to do the same. Thanks.

invitation to "socially responsible shopping"

Stephanie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:34:16 EST

Just wanted to send out a quick notice about my event.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptmxq

It invites folks to shop at sites like:

http://madebysurvivors.com/

http://www.thehungersite.com, and it's companion sites, and

http://kiva.org/

Feel free to suggest others...

wooooooooooooo hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephanie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:41:37 EST

What a happy day! We have to keep it going!

good stat for volunteer recruitment

Stephanie — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:49:17 EDT

Wisconsin is of course one of the battleground states this year. Kerry so narrowly won the state in 2004, that if you spread the difference in votes out, he only won by two votes per ward. That gives people the sense that any involvement on their part can make a real difference.

Please vote in PBS poll

Stephanie — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:35:02 EDT

Please consider doing this. It takes 30 seconds. PBS is running a poll which asks if Palin is qualified to be VP. The right wing has organized a "yes" campaign and at the moment, "yes" is winning.

[ http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html¬†

Reminder: contact campaign re: protest at convention

Stephanie — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:02:08 EDT

I just wanted to send out a quick reminder that there are still a few days left to send the Obama campaign a message relaying your support, but urging them to make a statement supporting peaceful free speech. A link to the event and a copy of the post are below. Thanks.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpgyts

I know that Obama is not in charge of organizing the DNC, and certainly not overseeing the city's preparations for the event. However, there has been concern about recent news that a warehouse has been set up to detain protesters, and about where protesters will be allowed. (At this point the only news is that they will be behind a fence in parking lot A--video re: both at http://cbs4denver.com/denver2008). I know that security must be maintained, but I would like to see Barack make a statement acknowledging these concerns and voicing his support for peaceful free speech. Please contact him, voicing your support for his candidacy, but also relaying your concern about these matters.

bit of humor

Stephanie — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:31:42 EDT

I guess my four year old has been paying attention to my campaigning activities. This last weekend we were taking a shuttle back to our hotel from a wedding when, out of the blue, he turned to the strangers behind us and most sincerely asked, "Will you vote for Barack Obama?" They were amused and assured him that they would.

Problems calling Nevada--needs attention

Stephanie — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:40:32 EDT

I just wanted to let people know there are problems with the on-line calling tool in Nevada. I was suspicious initially because the area codes kept changing as I went down the list, and at least half the numbers were disconnected. When I did get someone, I was told that it was after 10p, though it should have been about 7:30p, because I was actually calling Virginia. It would be helpful if someone posted a notice on the national call team blog when the problem has been fixed. Thanks.

Getting back in it...

Stephanie — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:56:17 EDT

I have not been very active with the campaign for the last month. I was really disappointed in the FISA decision. That, and the fact that I have two kids full time for the summer, made it harder to get the motivation to get much done. Yet I think there is too much at stake in this election not to do everything I can to ensure that Obama is elected. I think this country is at a tipping point and we really can't afford a McCain presidency. The Supreme Court seats alone could fundamentally change the direction of the country, not to mention the impact of global climate change. I also still believe that Obama's record and history demonstrate that he does represent my overall values. Further, he will be our candidate. He will have been elected due to support from people at the grassroots who he has said he will listen to. It will simply be our job as citizens to make sure that we make our voices heard, and take part in supporting the issues we believe in. I'm trying to take to heart the slogan that we are the change we've been waiting for. I still have hope.

FISA decision--someone cheer me up please

Stephanie — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:50:48 EDT

I'm really disappointed that Obama has decided to support the FISA legislation that gives the telecom companies retroactive immunity for spying on us. It's particularly disappointing when he said he would not support it in February. I've been campaigning on an almost daily basis for months and I will continue to support him--especially given the alternatives, but this has taken some wind out my enthusiasm. After listening to Olbermann's commentary (link below), I've had some hope that maybe he did support the bill because it doesn't block criminal charges, just civil. I haven't heard about any such claim so far though. Has anyone heard any news to the contrary? Could someone please cheer me up.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25463360/

Micro-loans for Obama

Stephanie — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:35:49 EDT

I have found this great site, kiva.org that allows you to select individual entrepreneurs from around the world and make a small loan. Kiva's "mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty." I first learned about it through a PBS special and it has passed other inspections for its validity, integrity, and an excellent default rate. Of over 10 million loans made, they only have a 1.9% default rate. The bios include information about their business history and if they have successfully paid back loans in the past. You can make loans of as little as $25, but it's money that can buy supplies, livestock, books, etc. and make a huge difference in people's lives. All of the money goes to the entrepreneur. Kiva requests a 10% donation, but it is optional. (Though I don't tend to mind adding on an extra $2.50 for costs.)

I have made a few loans myself and have been repaid, so that I could loan that money to someone else. It is a gift you can keep on giving. You can also choose to be reimbursed.

I think that Kiva not only embodies the spirit of Obama's candidacy, but of the campaign as well. It is a bottom-up, grassroots organization that brings new hope. There are also lender bios where you can note that you are making the loan in support of Barack's candidacy. Please at least take a look at their website--I'm sure you'll be impressed. You can sign up for this event at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4g2l5

Get Funky for Obama on Monday

Stephanie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:09:13 EDT

Come on down to Cafe Montmartre to see Big Mouth Cooperative and show your support for Obama. Big Mouth is a local eight piece band that plays a blend of funk and jazz (http://www.myspace.com/bigmouthcoop). You can dance or just sit back and enjoy the music and the half-price bottles of wine. There is no cover but we'll be accepting donations inside. You can also sign up to volunteer for the campaign and even register to vote!

Cafe Montmartre (themomo.com)

127 E. Mifflin St.
Madison, WI 53703

You can sign up for this event at Wisconsin for Obama if you don't find it elsewhere.

great specific tips for making gotv calls

Stephanie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:31:27 EDT

I just wanted to share a link I discovered from the National Latinos for Obama newsletter that I thought deserved wider distribution. It was written by someone who was not a big Obama supporter but is now interested in getting him elected over McCain. It gives very helpful suggestions on how to respond to specific criticisms about Obama. I think one of it's greatest strengths is that it puts you in the place of the Hillary, Edwards, etc supporter and has you think about it from their point of view. It gives examples of both effective and ineffective responses. It's a little long but I am really glad I took the time to read it!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/9/204346/8388/356/515265

warning--re: calls to supporters about voter's registration drive

Stephanie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:18:15 EDT

When I was getting started on making calls to supporters a couple of days ago I thought I should check out the vote for change home page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vfchome. I wanted to be sure I knew how it was set up in case I got any questions. So, I looked up Madison where I knew there was an active drive with multiple groups. I was quite surprised to see no events listed. I realized that there must be a lack of coordination between on-line and locally organized events. There is one listed for Madison now (I made a call to the field office), but I know that all the events are still not there. So, two things:

-When making calls be sure not to just give out the website but to suggest that they contact their field office, or perhaps county clerks office to see if an active drive exists in their area. (In WI you have to be deputized by the county clerk.) Please let me know if anyone has other ideas on this. I happily was calling Madison so was able to give out specific info. I think the site is set up to have people calling locally but I did get some numbers from the north part of the state.

-If you are involved with an event, be sure to post it on the website so that we can remedy this problem. You can of course also encourage those you're calling to post an event if they find one that hasn't been listed.

I also think it would be helpful if the home page didn't just list specific events, but gave contact information for local organizers so people would know where they are needed most. I think people are more apt to follow though if they talk to an actual person than just find out about an event. Finally, I would like to see a link for the vote for change home page on the action center page. Please let me know if any of this is wrong or if I've been missing something.

Hope this is helpful and please do make the calls. It's great to connect with other excited supporters. By getting others to volunteer you are multiplying your own impact.

enjoying the calls

Stephanie — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:48:46 EDT

I just wanted to write and share what a positive experience I've had making calls for the campaign. I'm a mom with two small kids so it can be hard to get out to many events, but the on-line phone banking has allowed me an outlet to get involved and make me feel like I'm making a real difference. While I've encountered a few grumpy folks, the many people who have been so happy to talk to me has more than made up for it. I find that the vast majority are at least polite and willing to listen, and many have warmly thanked me for my efforts. It has been interesting and rewarding to connect with people from all over the country and share a renewed enthusiasm and hope. I've also enjoyed the concrete results of being able to sway peoples votes, get them to volunteer themselves, or help them get a ride or needed info to vote.

I wanted to encourage everyone to keep up the calls, or to give it a try if you haven't already. You can try making just a few calls, but you might find that it's hard to stop. :)

Olbermann comment on Clinton "assassination" comment

Stephanie — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:52:55 EDT

Forgive me for focusing on the negative, but please watch this, he has done as excellent job of saying the many things that are wrong with her comments.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...

WV calls--thanks

Stephanie — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:35:38 EDT

I just wanted to quickly thank everyone for all the responses to my request for tips for WV calls. It has proved useful and I have had a bit more success since then. I have primarily started out (after asking them how they are) by reminding them about the primary and giving them some general information about poll hours etc.--kind of a public service call. That has helped me ease in and have gotten a few people talking and may have convinced a couple. :)

Keep on calling...

tips for WV calls?

Stephanie — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:57:07 EDT

I have called a lot of states, but so far I'm finding it tough to get people to talk in WV. Any suggestions for those who may have had better luck? I know there is a conference call tonight but unfortunately I won't be able to call in at that time. I hope that it will be available to listen to on the call page.

Thanks in advance, Stephanie from WI

reminder-deadline tonight for letters to WI State Journal

Stephanie — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:54:59 EDT

I tried to send a reminder about this earlier today on email but it didn't seem to go through. In any case, I thought I'd include my response to the paper's request for comments on the Wright controversy:

While all the negative publicity surrounding the Wright controversy has certainly not been helpful to his candidacy, the fact that Senator Obama was still able to win North Carolina by a large margin, and almost completely close the gap in Indiana, makes the question of his strength and resiliency as a candidate mute. I think that most people would rather hear what he has to say, and what he has done himself. We all have that person in our lives for whom we have a conflicted respect and affection. Nor does this present a concern for Obama's prospects in the general election when considering radical anti-American and hateful statements made by religious extremists embraced by Senator McCain, such as Pat Robertson and John Hagee. I do think that the controversy itself has been a ridiculous distraction from the many, many other issues that could be further explored. Could not the space dedicated to the discussion of the impact of this “brouhaha” been better used to more deeply explore the candidates records and the merits of their plans to address issues like global climate change, war, tax policy, international trade, education or any number of more substantive issues?

There is still a little time to send in your comments--the original post is below with info on how do do so:

The Wisconsin State Journal ran a big special feature on the Wright controversy yesterday (5-4) on the front page of the Forum section. They have invited readers to answer the following questions: Will Sen. Obama be able to overcome the controversy over his former pastor's outspoken views? Is the flap merely overblown media hype?

Submissions must be 200 words or less, submitted by Wednesday (5-7) to wsjopine@madison.com, for publication next Sunday.

Please write to show your support for Sen. Obama, and ask them to devote their time to more substantive issues.

letters to the editor, deadline 5-7

Stephanie — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:19:33 EDT

I hope you can participate in the following event:

senate record

Stephanie — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:52:04 EDT

I just thought I'd send out a reminder to folks to check out the "know the facts" section under "Learn" on this (the Obama) website. I hadn't checked it myself in a while and realized today that there is some great information there on Obama's record in the Senate that I had been looking for previously. I knew a lot but was once again amazed at the breadth of this man's accomplishments and his excellent forthought. It lists them by topic and has some information about each so it's great info for convincing undecided voters. There is also some good info on the same page about Hillary's hypocracy and selective memory regarding Blackwater and other contractors.

So to quote a woman I called today in Indiana, "We've just got to get this man elected."

some good info for phonebankers, etc.

Stephanie — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:56:23 EDT

I just wanted to share this blog entry written by a "grassroots mom." She did some research at the library of congress website, looking at the accomplishments for Clinton and Obama in 2007. She found that Obama had passed more, and more meaningful legislation. I checked it out myself and found it to be accurate. Going back the pattern seems to hold. I have convinced a few undecided voters wtith this information, those who think this is a choice between an experienced and an inspiring candidate. It helps to break down that whole way of framing the choice--with Obama you get proven competence and inspiration. Hope it can help some fellow callers. cheers, S

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633