Volunteer Spotlight: Ronald L., Central Louisiana
Through one grassroots movement built from the bottom up, millions of voices called for change and elected President Barack Obama. They proved that ordinary people, together, can achieve extraordinary things. Those voices enabled a new beginning. Now, it’s time to make that promise of change a reality.
Right now, hundreds of real Louisianans across the state have become volunteer "Community Organizers" and are building a grassroots network by organizing in their communities and standing with President Obama to bring about a new era of security and prosperity.
Today, we spotlight one of these Community Organizers: Ronald L., from Team Alexandria in Central Louisiana.
Name: Ronald L.City:Pineville Organizing for Louisiana in: Louisiana Region 2 / The Core: Team Alexandria Why do you support President Obama?I support the president because I believe in the change he is bringing to our nation. I want a better world for my children and grandchildren, etc. and I believe his vision will help get us there. I support the president because I believe he believes in people. Everyday people, like me, are directly involved in shaping policy. President Obama has opened up government to us all. Why did you become a community organizer?I am a community organizer because I know the President can’t change the country from Washington, D.C. He needs our help, and I answered the call to be part of change from the ground up. This is the chance for the American people to take back our country from big business and special interests and once again have a government for the people and by the people. What has been your most enjoyable moment at a community organizer? My most enjoyable moment was getting a chance to meet the President in person during the New Orleans Town Hall meeting. Wow, what a blast, and being there with the whole team that was special. I still lay awake at night thinking about it. Why should someone in Region 2 join their neighborhood team?You should join because not only will you see a change in government and your understanding of it, you will see a change in yourself and in the community. You will grow in so many ways and discover talents that you felt were long dormant. It also presents us with the opportunity to stop sitting on the sidelines, and actually get up and make an impact. Let's change the world.
Name:
Ronald L.
City:
Pineville
Organizing for Louisiana in:
Louisiana Region 2 / The Core: Team Alexandria
Why do you support President Obama?
I support the president because I believe in the change he is bringing to our nation. I want a better world for my children and grandchildren, etc. and I believe his vision will help get us there. I support the president because I believe he believes in people. Everyday people, like me, are directly involved in shaping policy. President Obama has opened up government to us all.
Why did you become a community organizer?
I am a community organizer because I know the President can’t change the country from Washington, D.C. He needs our help, and I answered the call to be part of change from the ground up. This is the chance for the American people to take back our country from big business and special interests and once again have a government for the people and by the people.
What has been your most enjoyable moment at a community organizer? My most enjoyable moment was getting a chance to meet the President in person during the New Orleans Town Hall meeting. Wow, what a blast, and being there with the whole team that was special. I still lay awake at night thinking about it.
Why should someone in Region 2 join their neighborhood team?
You should join because not only will you see a change in government and your understanding of it, you will see a change in yourself and in the community. You will grow in so many ways and discover talents that you felt were long dormant. It also presents us with the opportunity to stop sitting on the sidelines, and actually get up and make an impact. Let's change the world.
It seems to me that during the election and right after the election, everyone was excited and ready to get things done. Now it seems like it's hard to even find a meeting in which people can get together and discuss how we can help make changes happen. I am not finding any events in my area or people that would be willing to come to an event if I were to host one.
I have spoken to people (that said they wanted change) who have given up on our president (who they voted for) and everything we have worked so hard to accomplish. Their reason for this - they have not seen any change. This I can not believe is coming out of their mouths... really. It has been what, just months - MONTHS. Do they have any idea what so ever the amount of clean-up that needs to be done?? Do they really and truly think things will change over night?? Especially since they have given up and that means more work for everyone else to do. These people believed in and voted for Barack Obama. How can they give up so easily? How can they not see the work that needs to be done and their roll in it as an individual that wants change? Why dont they understand? These things frustrate me beyond belief. But the answer is, we need to find a way to help them understand. Help them to see what needs to be done to make change happen. Sometimes people just don't get it, they don't understand, they can't see it. So it is our jobs as American citizens to help our fellow Americans understand. We need to be talking to our friends and neighbors. Tell them to call their senators and tell them what they want for their communities. There are many things we can be doing.
People want change, but it's like they want other people to make it happen for them. This is your country, you want change then stand up and say so. Do something to help make it happen. Those people in office are there working for YOU. You put them there to represent YOUR voice. What is it you want them to say that YOU want??? Tell them what you want. It's what being American gives you the PRIVILEGE to do!
So maybe we are all sitting around thinking the same thing. We 'want' to do something, but we might have questions on how to get started, or how to approach things - or whatever the question might be. That is why we get together and talk about it, put our heads together and come up with great solutions. We are Americans and can accomplish great things - together.
Remember we are the UNITED states of America.
Perhaps because we are best when we come together.
Greetings! My name is Steven Walker, I'm the State Director for Organizing for America-Louisiana. The primary goals of Organizing for America are
Over the next several weeks, we will have Listening Tours and other opportunities for you to provide feedback and share your thoughts. I just wanted to take a quick moment to introduce myself and encourage you to all attend an informational conference call next Wednesday, May 20, 2009, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Please RSVP for the call by clicking this link:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcpwh
In the coming days, there will be an official Organizing for America-Louisiana MyBO group, and I hope you each join that group to receive updates on our plans and activities here in Louisiana. I look forward to speaking with as many as you as possible on the phone next Wednesday, and meeting more of you in person over the coming weeks.
Steve Walker
OFA - Louisiana
walkers@dnc.org
832.724.3427
On the Small Change page of our Change Corps of New Orleans website you will find a new idea every month of how you can make a positive impact on our city.
http://www.changecorpsnola.org/small_change
Following are the entries for the first two months. Please feel free to send us your ideas!
What can I do right now?
FEBRUARY 2009
Throw Me Something, Mister... it's Mardi Gras in New Orleans! Catch all the beads that you can... but wait! Don't throw them away or sit them street-side hoping someone will come along and use them for something. The Green Project will recycle your Mardi Gras beads! Why not organize your office, your restaurant, your class, your dorm, your neighborhood and be the one who collects all those unwanted beads at the end of the season? Then take them down to the Green Project at 2831 Marais Street, New Orleans 70117. For directions, call (504) 945-0240. For more info on the Green Project, visit http://www.thegreenproject.org/.
JANUARY 2009
Last month, Change Corps joined Save Our Cypress and Levees.org in asking home improvement chains to stop selling cypress mulch.
Our coastal cypress forests that provide natural storm and flood protection for the communities on the Gulf Coast are being clear-cut to produce cypress mulch.
The easy way YOU can help with this effort is simply to not buy cypress mulch when you do your gardening. Sustainable alternatives that work well are pine straw and melaleuca mulch. Easy, right?
Get more information:
http://www.saveourcypress.org/
www.TheLouisianaMovement.ning.com
The Obama organizers in this state held a vested interest in this year’s campaign. We were here before the campaign, remain here after the campaign, and we are determined to bring about real change in our home state. Several of us have formed an alliance for change, and we invite each of you to join us.
We are Dawn Collins, Obama ’08 Regional Field Organizer for Congressional District 7 (and beyond. LOL); Diana Hamilton, Obama ’08 Field Representative for the Lake Charles Region; Patrice Jacques, Obama ’08 Regional Field Organizer for Congressional Districts 1 and 3; and Lynda Woolard, Obama ’08 Field Representative for the Orleans Region.
Many of you know us personally as we have worked side by side during the campaign. Many of you are just now being introduced. All are welcomed to join us at www.TheLouisianaMovement.ning.com. This site is intended to be used as a local supplement to BarackObama.com. From this site you can find the websites of each organizer, or you can view and join a few of the groups listed on the left under the “Members” listing (i.e. “Change Corps of Greater Baton Rouge,” “Change Corps of Acadiana,” “Citizens for Financial Responsibility,” and “Citizens for a Better Education”).
You can use the page to create a group to be used for your own area or for an issue near and dear to your heart. You can start discussion boards or forums. You can even add memorable pictures, videos, and music.
We welcome your enthusiasm, questions, and concerns. Reach out to us about how you can make strides in your own neighborhood, city or region.
We look forward to your continued involvement. Change cannot happen without you.
Sincerely,
Dawn D. Collins
Dawn.Collins@ObamaAlumni.com
1%, or 1 vote out of 100There have been 12 Presidential elections that were decided by less than a 1% margin; meaning if less than 1% of the voters in certain states had changed their mind to the other candidate the outcome of the entire election would have been different. More than half were decided by less than a 2% margin.
In 2004, 57,787 votes would have given us President Kerry.In 2000, 269 votes would have given us President GoreIn 1996, 575,515 votes would have given us President Dole.
From ABC News:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/scienceandsociety/2008/09/squeakers.html
=========="Squeakers"Ned PotterABC NewsSeptember 29, 2008How close have Presidential elections been? Closer, perhaps, than we ever guessed. Mike Sheppard, a grad student in statistics at Michigan State, has done a mathematical exercise that shows it.He ran a computer program to answer this question: "What is the smallest number of total votes that need to be switched from one candidate to another, and from which states, to affect the outcome of the election?"The answer: in some years, very, very few. Take a look at his analysis HERE. It shows the powerful interaction between the popular vote and the electoral college.[...]==========
Full article here:http://blogs.abcnews.com/scienceandsociety/2008/09/squeakers.html
Detailed analysis here, including colored maps:https://www.msu.edu/~sheppa28/elections.html-Mike Sheppard
share this link... www.voteforchange.com
guard against surprises on election day... make sure you are registered and know where to vote... check to see that all your family and friends are registered... post this link everywhere so others can check their registration status...
be the change!
work for change!!
vote for change!!!
www.voterforchange.com
GOP strategist Karl Rove and former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards will debate the issues of the presidential campaign Sept. 26 as part of the university’s Distinguished Speakers Series, The Buffalo News has learned.
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/384676.html
Saturday, June 28, 2008, I invited my 150+ neighbors to join me for a Women's Roundtable.
I live in a very heavily Republican stronghold. I'm not from here, so I'm still viewed as an outsider.
None of my neighbors showed up, however, my friend Linda, plus a new friend, Paula, did show up. We discussed ways to reach out to people in Mandeville and surrounding areas, to try to get them interested in and excited about Obama.
We will likely meet again, soon, with other like minded people, to continue to brainstorm ways to bring others into the fold.
One important thing I should mention is, in placing invites on mailboxes, I added "Know The Facts" fliers on the back of invites, because there is so much misinformation floating around, one of my goals is to dispel myths and rumors about Obama.
In that respect, my Unite for Change invent was a success. Linda, Paula and I will continue to work to build support, while I will continue efforts to ensure my neighbors know the facts.
Further, Linda suggested a women's night out, because so many moms in the area are busy with their kids' sports events on Saturday afternoons, so next time, we'll try something different, to attract Republicans, Clintonites who haven't come around just yet, Independents, and anyone who wants to discuss political issues and the importance of the upcoming election!
This past Saturday night, Michael and I went to dinner with some friends. My chiropractor's brother, Scott, and his wife Pam, invited us over. My chiropractor was there with his girlfriend, along with another chiropractor and his wife. Pam's sister Kim was there as well., with a couple of her friends.
Michael warned me to steer clear of politics. I tried. It didn't work. My enthusiasm for Barack, this movement and what Team Obama has accomplished and continues to accomplish, had me bubbling over!
Someone asked and I exploded, saying I support Barack Obama and my commitment to this campaign is "unshakable." I went on to describe how this campaign intends to change politics as usual and how we will bring about 'change' in the United States and ultimately, the world.
The consensus in the room was, "I know nothing about him."
I was in a Republican crowd, along with some suburban women who were still hurting over the Hillary loss. By the time the evening ended, I had addressed many email smear rumors and convinced the crowd that Barack, his supporters and his intent was to protect the United States of America! The country we all love!
I began to ask Scott, who has cancer, about his health care plan for the business/personal care, and what he thought of "universal health care." Scott called it "socialized medicine." I asked him if he thought a plan that would ensure everyone "affordable health care" would benefit him and his business. He acknowledged that he is enrolled in some kind of state plan that subsidizes his business/personal health care plan.
By the end of the evening, I felt a bit embarrassed that I had politicized the dinner party. It was not my intent, but overwhelmingly, people wanted to learn more about Barack Obama and this movement. It was a wonderful thing to experience.
The next couple of days, I called my hostess, Pam, and she asked if I would come over soon, for lunch, to answer questions she, her mom, dad and others, have about Obama! I told her I would be honored to come over and discuss this campaign and any other issues she and her family and friends have about Barack.
I have sent out know the facts information, web site information and I'm planning a women's roundtable on Unite For Change Saturday. It is extremely rewarding for me to educate people about Barack and this movement, in a very conservative district where people claimed to know nothing about him, yet held the views of the smear campaign emails that are circulating. I got to dispel some of those myths. All and all, it wasn't so bad bringing up politics!
