Organizing for America | Posts with the tag Milford

All this week, we'll be featuring Michiganders who have been volunteering and working to bring the change we need by helping to elect Barack Obama. Today, we're featuring Sherri from Milford, who sends in a photo of "the real reason I've worked so hard on this campaign - my new grandson Wyatt."

Join the Obama Campaign for Change and help us in this critically important stretch before Election Day. With only 15 days until the most important election in our lives, it's so important to keep our momentum going and keep making the phone calls, knocking on doors, and doing everything possible to bring about the change we need on November 4. Visit a Campaign for Change office near you to learn more about how to get involved, or check out our online action center today!

As a retired public school teacher of 30 years, I would obviously count education as one of my top priorities in terms of issues facing the new President. Several years ago I listened to an interview on NPR with Barack Obama, at the time a brand new member of the U.S. Senate. I had been following his career and was particularly interested in this interview because the topic was education. He spoke about the fact that there were some excellent places of learning in this country and we needed to study those places of success in order to find models for educational reform in districts that were failing. I was currently involved in a program that was developing lab sites where teachers could learn from other teachers, so I was impressed with his depth of understanding the power of professional learning communities. I looked up the names of some of the individuals advising him on educational matters and was further impressed by a line-up of professionals whose books I’d read and used in my own teaching practice. Barack continues to inspire me with his broad understanding of issues and his ability to find the brightest minds in the country to advise him on the details. I sincerely believe it will be the American children who will most benefit from an Obama administration.

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Unite for Change in Milford, MI

By Sher - Jun 30th, 2008 at 9:17 am EDT

Also listed in: Action Wire | Obama in Oakland County | Women for Obama

Hi Everyone,

I hosted a "Unite for Change" meeting at my house Sat. night and we had approximately 23 people in attendance. I believe at least 4 people there agreed to host their own house meetings in the future. We had 3 or 4 Hillary voters as well. It was a fun get together that began with story telling, which always seems to energize and validate the work we've done and the work to come. We heard from a parent with 2 sons in the military and were moved by her appreciation for Barack's desire to end the war and his courageous stand against going there in the first place. We heard from a 92 year old political activist who is still fighting for social justice through her support of Barack. There was the woman who spoke eloquently about how she is looking forward to displaying her flag with pride again. There were many who identified themselves as "independents" who vote and work for the person, not the party. The majority of participants were new to politics and felt compelled to be a part of history.

A bonus for our event was the presence of 3 young Obama for America field organizers who were staying with us. They were able to speak to the group about their connection to the campaign and why they were taking time away from college to work for Barack.

It's my feeling that everyone there had come in with "the fierce urgency of now."

Sherri Masson
Milford

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A Report from the Frontlines: Milford, NH

By Michael Negron - Jan 6th, 2008 at 8:33 am EST

Two days out, our dedicated staffers are working with thousands of volunteers to ensure that New Hampshire takes advantage of this moment in history to bring about the fundamental change we need. Operating from staging areas in wards and towns throughout the state, our grassroots movement is hard at work to build on the momentum and energy as we approach the primary.

I dropped by our Milford staging area earlier on Sunday to visit with volunteers toiling throughout the weekend.

The group I met with had just returned from canvassing the neighborhoods of Milford, and my eyes immediately focused on the piping hot beef stew in the corner which had been prepared by star volunteer Joan. Joan is a Milford resident who has been involved in presidential campaigns before, but believes that Barack stands apart because of his ability to inspire so many others to get involved.

Joan chats with fellow volunteers.

“He is proving to be such an inspirational figure, getting so many new people interested in the political process,” she said. “At the same time, he is such a calm and collected leader, you can see him leading the nation through a crisis.”

I also spoke with Gail, another Milford resident, as she returned from her first canvass ever. Gail is inspired by Barack’s capacity to heal the country of the partisanship of the past two decades.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say one person can’t make a difference, but that doesn’t mean that I have to listen to them,” she said with a laugh. “I was scared to death about knocking on another person’s door, but I believe in him so much that I’m going to be doing it from today until Tuesday.”

Gail just left a job and her husband is self-employed, so she is feeling increasingly squeezed by rising health care costs. The couple pays over $1,100 a month in health insurance premiums, and Gail is worried that they will no longer be able to afford coverage if she can’t find a job soon.

“We’re going to need a president with the character and integrity to push back against the lobbyists and insurance companies, and Obama is the only one I see that can get the job done,” Gail said.

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Grassroots Organizing in Souhegan Valley

By Michael Negron - Dec 8th, 2007 at 2:34 pm EST

As voters begin to pay closer attention to the campaign, the race for the Democratic nomination has tightened in the past month. Organizations like Souhegan Valley for Obama, founded and led by volunteers in Amherst and Milford, play a big role in building the momentum of our campaign in neighborhoods and communities across New Hampshire.

The effort began months ago, when Soughegan Valley supporters set up their own small weekly phone bank at Jack McBriarty’s office. With only 31 days to go before the primary, that same phone bank is now filled to capacity every week.

Enthusiasm for the campaign grew over the summer and into the fall. At an organizational meeting on November 7th arranged by Nan of Amherst, the group elevated their support to the next level.

“Things just sort of took off from there,” said Nan. “It became clear to many of us that if we wanted Barack Obama to win, we needed to take some real responsibility for the campaign’s success.”

Supporters agreed to each commit to a concrete responsibility for the rest of the campaign. Howard Morse and Ruth Heden have turned their homes into yard sign distribution centers for Amherst and Milford. Frank Cinque and Lee Kass have directed their efforts to their peers—with Frank targeting high school students and Lee planning an information center for residents of a local senior living home. Other supporters, like Jeanne Ludt, have hosted house parties to offer their neighbors more information on Barack’s vision for change.

Eight years ago, Jeanne won an uphill race for the local school board thanks to a grassroots effort that began with house parties. In supporting Barack, she returned to the same house party model that worked for her.

She said, “People are willing to give their neighbors a fair hearing, so this is a good way of reaching out.”

Nan Stearns introduces Barack's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, at a house party.

Mindful of the important role to be played by Independent voters in the New Hampshire Primary, lifelong Independent Jeanne Emmick started a postcard-writing operation to target her neighbors who are also unaffiliated with either party.

“We are trying to convey to other undeclared voters out there that, in these desperate times, we need someone who can talk to both sides of the aisle and bring people together,” she said. “And Barack is the only candidate in either party that can do that.”

Grassroots organizations like Souhegan Valley for Obama are about to take center stage as we work to seal the deal with New Hampshire voters and get out the vote for Primary Day. Join the campaign and help organize your communities.

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