Almost 200 Lakeview neighbors joined to hear Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech
Written by Miriam Carey
When the Chicago Lakeview Neighbors for Obama social committee first met about six weeks ago to decide on what we could do to get the word out in Lakeview, our goal was simple: Create a neighborhood buzz about the campaign, and host a few simple events where neighbors could mingle and find out more about Barack Obama.
More below the fold...
The Lakeview Neighbors for Obama '08 voter registrar training will by held on April 28th at 10am at John Barleycorn. We are looking for 8 volunteers to work the sign in/info table, set up, and clean up. Please contact me if you would like to volunteer.
Because our group is helping host this event, it would be great if we had a strong showing. Please sign up for the event here. When RSVPing, please provide your name and address for City of Chicago verification.
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A huge thanks goes out to Taaron for putting together the new group logo:
BOWL *O* BAMA: Bowl for the Goal '07 went off without a hitch. On a sleepy Sunday night we had 25 people show up ready to have some fun. The costumes ranged from 'Britney Spears' to the 'Beauty School Drop Outs' with many opting for the latest costume = streetwear. :)
As for bowling I'm not sure if anyone kept score but Obama came up a winner! We were able to raise over $400 and it was promptly sent over to Obama's office to EXCEED his first quarter fundraising goal.
Check out my page over at Webshots to see photos of the event. For a hefty donation to Obama, I will remove your photo:
Link
Attendees:
Kim Walz, YCL
Duane Hill, LNO
Jason Carlysle, LNO
Michelle Peterson, LNO
Shannon Connor, LNO
Nick Schilligo, LNO
Danielle Bright, LNO
Sarah Squires, LNO
The goal of deputizing our group as voter registrars is to maximize our visibility as an Obama group while increasing voter turn-out. The Deputy Voter Registrar class is taught by officials from the city clerk's office to a certified group. Our organization is not certified so I approached Kim Walz from Young Chicago Lakefront (a Democratic organization) to see if her group was be willing to team with ours on the proposed event. She was more than willing.
1. During the meeting we determined that the event will fall on April 28 or May 5 depending on the availability of keynote speakers. Possible speakers are Rep. Jan Schakowki, Sen. Dick Durbin, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Another option is someone from the Obama campaign.
2. The event will be held at 10am in the upstairs space at John Barleycorn at no cost. Refreshments will be provided.
3. We estimate that 200 people will attend the event. This is based on a large turnout from our group (Lakeview Neighbors for Obama) and outreach to other Obama groups through barackobama.com. Lisa Walz is going to invite her group (Young Chicago Lakefront) and extend an invitation to DFA (Democracy for America).
4. We discussed strategies for voter registration drives and the possibility of teaming up with Kim's group for future registrations.
Other Items:
1. Kim Walz has offered the 44th Ward Democratic office for our group's use.
2. Kim Walz is putting together an organization and website called 'Generation O' which will be an Obama volunteer group for young people. She plans on sending her group to Iowa for the primaries and hopes our organization will join her.
3. Kim Walz and Sarah Squires discussed visibility events in conjunction with the marathon and other races.
4. Kim Walz and Sarah Squires also discussed the possibility of doing Obama shirts together with our group.
Thank you,
Duane P. Hill
There was a Lakeview Neighbors organizing meeting this past Saturday morning at the Fixx Coffee Bar. Turn out was great, there were nearly 50 people that were able to join us. Agenda for the meeting was to split into groups and discuss two main topics:
I've been thinking about the despairing comments in the press concerning the exchange of remarks between the Clinton and Obama camps over Hollywood fundraising, and I notice two themes: (1) Both Clinton and Obama were "soiled," although which got dirtier depends on whose analysis you read, and (2) It's a shame that both candidates resorted to dirty politics, especially so early in the campaign cycle." Well, piffle. I can't see that anyone behaved badly. Let's try to keep in mind that Clinton and Obama are running against each other. Anyone who chooses a side, as I have, does so for a reason, and that reason is a combination of admiration for one's choice and some negative thoughts about the alternatives. If I have to explain why I don't support Clinton, I would probably start with all the reasons I like Obama, but then perhaps add some reasons for liking Clinton less. What's wrong with that?
When Obama says he wants to end "politics as usual," I assume he doesn't aspire to turn all voters into angels--or Pollyannas. All of us--come on, admit it--have some evil thoughts. I, at least, will be more than satisfied if he succeeds in restoring hope, providing health care to all, making America an inspiration to the world rather than a shame to its people, reducing income inequity, and--maybe--taking some of the pork barrel out of politics. I won't mind if he thinks or says a few unkind things about his opponents. If he's funny, I'll even like it. And I won't pretend to be shocked, shocked if his opponents attack him.
I noticed on the main page that Obama is supposed to be in Chicago for an AFSCME Rally on March 3rd. However, I did a little calling around today and found out the event is not open to the public. To get tickets, you need to be an AFSCME union member. So, if you are, enjoy the event. If you're not, you might want to consider attend a local Lakeview organizing event instead.
Yesterday I had (minor, ambulatory) surgery; I'm fine, but anyway before the surgery I had the routine conversation with the anestheologist. He went through the usual questions, and then asked if I had "ever" used any recreational drugs.
I replied, "Lets just say no."
He said, "Okay, I won't write anything down, but just between you and me let me know, because even years later use of psychedelics can make a difference."
I still hesitated.This hospital being in the middle of downtown Chicago, very blue Obama territory, I felt comfortable to say, "Well, what would you write down if Barack were having surgery then?"
"Oh, HIM." I'd write down everything he admitted to and more. Did you know he went to a madrassa in Indonesia?"
My husband Jef, who is the real Indonesist in the family (taught Indonesian at the U's of Wisconsin and Washington) and I both protested strongly. "Not true. He went to a public school. Public schools in Indonesia are secular. We know. We lived there for almost two years. Our son went to a public school Obama did NOT go to a madrassa.
The anesthesiologist was not please; he muttered something and left the room rather quickly. I suddenly realized that this man was about to GAS me, and I had jost told him he was a fool.
All went well. He did not substitute Zyklon 8 for whatever anesthsiologists normally employ, but I left shaken--not for my own health, but here, in downtown Chicago, only two blocks from Michigan Avenue, I had encountered a highly educated man with a prestigeous job who actually believes that nonsense. How many others are there like him?
Being in Chicago, it is difficult to feel anything but complete faith for our neighbor, Mr. Obama. Living in this bubble of joy, I have been trying to get a feel for what the rest of the country might think about our man. When running blog searches, it seems that for every positive response, there are three times as many negative ones.
While we know that most of the writers don't know what they are talking about, it is very discouraging to see so much drivel being passed off as political commentary. Unfortunately, this hate mail is so easy. All one needs to do is copy and paste any ridiculous commentary from the folks at Fox, and BINGO. Instant garbage.
You need to respect the right-wingers. No one can bring together a grassroots smear campaign like the Republican machina. So how can we respond?
We need to respond in kind. So I am throwing out a challenge. If y'all have a blog outside of this community, write up responses to any inflammatory articles. If you have serious opinions on the non-issues being raised against our friend(s), write them and raise them. Come up with talking points to respond to your co-workers who might be saying something insane. We don't have sponsored talking heads to do the work for us. Heck, post a link here so we can all give you a shout-out for your efforts.
We should show support for Mr. Obama, and quite frankly, all candidates that have been attacked by nonsense. Let's help turn the angry voice of politics into something Americans can actually work with.
Even though I live in Chicago, I'm happy to have come from a Red state, (or should I sayCrimson), which I will forever call home. The beauty of Oklahoma is in it's people, and I cannot find anyone in politics that reminds me more of the good-hearted, caring nature of my fellow Oklahomans than this man.
I find it difficult to believe that this is actually happening, now. When I saw that keynote in 2004, I heard the one thing that has consistently flown from the heart, mind and soul of Senator Obama ever since. I heard hope. Like everyone else that has come to this website, I was swept away. Despite my cynical roots that usually kept me impervious to the standard political rot, I bought into his words and his spirit. Then again, that speech was anything but standard. It was the first public speech which had the sole purpose of reminding us who we are and where we come from that applied to everyone, red, blue or green. After 4 years of turbulence, distrust, bad decision-making and divisiveness, there was this man talking about all the good stuff we'd forgotten. All the stuff we knew, but hadn't heard out loud in so long that we ached to hear.
When Kerry lost, the only thing that kept me going was that speech. I watched it over and over again. My hope in America was kept alive through his. That is worth something. That is all anyone can ask for in a president. Just hope. Just enough of a vision, and the conviction with which to obtain that vision, that the American people want, and that brings them hope that their government will do as much as it can for them. We want to believe in ourselves and what we can do for one another, but when our leaders remind us of our lesser selves, it makes it so much more difficult.
I know the Lincoln quotes are going to inundate this campaign, but the truth of the matter is that Barack Obama appeals to the "better angels of our nature." In this way, he reminds me of a coach. A true coach. A man who focuses his energy on reminding you why you're here and why you care and giving you the motivation to do something about it. This is why I support this man. Because I want to be on his team. I have confidence in his words and I trust his decision-making. For these reasons, I will spend the next year and a half working to spread this feeling and invite others to this team. I hope you'll do the same.
Well, I knew it was going to happen. I knew Obama's first official visit as a presidential candidate to Chicago would sell out. What I continue to underestimate is how many people there are in Chicago. :)
Erica and I watched Obama's announcement in the morning on TV and headed out for tickets shortly there after. We tried the 49th Ward Democratic office, but apparently arrived too late. After a bit more calling around, turns out we were too late for any tickets anywhere. I've heard the tickets sold out everywhere around noon on Saturday.
So, I missed my chance at tickets for the Sunday night event. But, with the UIC Pavillion holding 6000-10000 people, a lot of people had to of snagged a ticket. So, any of you out there get one? And if you did, you'll have to tell us how it was.
Greetings! Welcome to the Chicago Lakeview neighbors for Obama '08 blog. Wow, just typing that makes me realize the need for a good acronym, but more on that later.
I set up this group and this blog with the hope of keeping everyone in Lakeview informed about all the latest Obamania in a single centralized source. Also, I'm hoping we can use this group to organize at least a few local events and maybe a fundraiser or two.
(more below...)
Ok, this is kinda cool. I don't know if I'm excited about supporting Obama or excited for all the cool tools that are on this site. I think its the earlier, with a splash of the later.
I've setup my own fundraising page, and I hope if you give to the campaign, you help me reach my modest $100 goal. I don't think I've ever given to a presidential campaign, but might as well start now with such a quality candidate (so far that I can see).
Join me now by clicking the image below and join the Link for Obama fundraising team, become a fundraiser.
