Tonight I attended a very special house party. It wasn't a typical house party, it wasn't held in a house, nor was it a party. More than 25 people came to Cafe Kili in Temple Terrace. For team members who worked with Field Organizer's Genora Reed, Sheila Cherizard Donovan Nwokeji and Jill Stracko, Cafe Kili was our satellite North Tampa Field Office, our outpost, our home. Special, because Patrick and Rose, the owners, are Kenyans; they opened their shop to us, even opening for us on their one day off; they sacrificed their only day of rest to help the Obama Campaign, they gave more than any of us had been asked to give. You see, their son died in Iraq - the first Kenyan-American to die in service to our country. They knew the importance of our mission, they knew we needed the Change Barack Obama would bring; a man whose Kenyan heritage was part of their family and their countries, Kenya and America.
We listened to the message from the incoming Administration; we listened to our Field Organizers, Sheila Cherizard and Ryan Metcalf and from Jerid Fox, Biji Anchery and others who attested to the resolve of every individual who contributed their precious time canvassing, phone banking and registering voters. People who worked the Early Vote, Vote by Mail and finally the Get Out The Vote campaigns, the local candidate literature drops and even on Election Day were canvassing or driving people to the polls. We shared stories of the recent past while at the same time looked forward to, and planned for the future.
The Obama Administration has developed Obama 2.0, tech speak for the next phase. This Presidency is like no other in our generation. They built a network of communities, of neighborhoods; they spent countless hours and many millions of dollars to wake the sleeping giant of Democrats and Progressives in America. Scores of volunteers and organizers, who maybe until now had not realized their potential, who rose to the challenge, who now are recognized in their own towns as citizens engaged in the process of government; who found their voice. We can and we will Change the face of politics in America.
There will be one more house party, this one in a house and it is a party. Dr. Alayne Unterberger is a proud community organizer, who as one of the founders of the Florida Institute for Community Studies, was chosen to introduce Senator Hillary Clinton during the Florida campaign effort. She has worked to educate a community who others have ignored, her organization teaches English, conducts AIDS education and testing, provides health assessments for those at risk of Diabetes and offers after school child care. Her center is even a "Safe Place" chartered by the State of Florida is so committed to being the "Change We have been Waiting For" that she has opened her home to the campaign once again, this time not as a staging location for canvassers, but to continue to Change America has been waiting for effort.
If you can, please join us Monday, December 15th at 7pm to be a part of the Change which has come to America, to continue your service to your neighborhood, or to begin your journey of civic engagement.
Whether you are a Democrat, an Independent, an informed Republican, a Green Party member, or any associated with any other affiliation, you can bring Change to America, you can make a difference. Your community needs you. Tampa needs you, Temple Terrace needs you, and your neighbor needs you. Come to find out how you can make a difference.
Visit BarackObama.com search events for your zip code on a regular basis. We are out here, waiting for you, welcoming you, engaged in service to our community.
Wishing you Peace,
Lisa Montelione
Yes, we're working tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday (Election Day) to LEAVE NO VOTE BEHIND!
We are reaching every Democrat whose ballot was not in by Friday. Today, I worked for 2 hours on a list of voters who had not voted for the last 8 years. Of course, many of them were no longer at the phone numbers we had. But I found and got 4 voters to commit to go to the polls and vote for Barak Obama! This is what it means to get every voter to the polls! Come help!
After spending two hours on the phones, I hopped in the car with my buddy and hit doors in our precinct. Most voters were home and were happy to see us -- again we hit only Democrats who had not yet voted. You can help -- Monday and Tuesday. If you don't want to do what I did, you can help by putting together packages for the door knockers and making coffee for the callers. Come on down to HQ and we'll put you to work!
With only 8 days before Election Day this is a very critical time for Obama campaign volunteers to get out the vote (GOTV). Consider this a CALL TO ACTION!
Sabbatical implies a sacred time, that is"sabbath,"and I regard my volunteering with the Obama campaign as holy work. At the DC Obama office, I and other volunteers are making calls to Barack Obama supporters to sign them up for several major volunteer opportunities:
1) GOTV in VA by going to canvas and work with the VA offices for 4 days (or 3 days or the weekend) from November 1 - 4
2) Canvassing in VA November 1 - 4 on whatever days folks are available or
3) Working Mega Phone Banks November 1 - 4 at one of three locations (National Education Association at 1201 16th Street northwest, the Warehouse on 7th Street northwest, or the DC Obama Office on Florida Avenue northwest). Note: Phone banking continues during the week at the DC Obama Office on Florida Avenue prior to November 1 as well.
My first day at the DC Obama Office I had a blast phone banking to recruit volunteers for VA GOTV. It's much easier talking to people who are enthusiastic about Obama. Almost everyone I spoke to wants to help in some way, if only for a few hours. I was even able to convince another phone bank volunteer to go canvassing this weekend in VA.
In addition to talking with other enthusiastic supporters, I connected with people I know like a church member who was calling volunteers from the McLean campaign office to do GOTV in Richmond, VA and my Pilates instructor's husband who will GOTV in NV. Later in the afternoon I was making calls with a local storyteller I know through my sister, and I ran into another church member who gave me an Obama button she was wearing.
I will work the phone bank or do whatever else I can to help the Obama campaign every day this week, and I plan to return this Saturday to Prince William County with the DCtoWoodbridge Team, and will work with the Woodbridge office November 3 and Election Day. I am grateful that I have this time to give to the Obama campaign, and for the community that I am finding along the way.
During the past 20 months millions have been inspired by Barack Obama’s message of change and have demonstrated their commitment to the campaign by volunteering. NJ Campaign for Change has been fortunate enough to have a number of extra special people who we call “Super Volunteers.” These individuals are powered by Barack Obama’s vision, probably lots of coffee, and desire to bring about real change in Washington. They are pushing themselves to do everything they can to help elect Obama as our next president.One of these Super Volunteers is Angie Stith from Willingboro. “Angie is the heart and soul of the office. Volunteers come for Obama and return repeatedly because Angie makes everyone feel valued and at home,” said Adam Goldfarb, regional field organizer for NJ Campaign for Change. “She always has a smile on her face and it’s contagious.”
Angie has volunteered everyday since February. She serves as the volunteer coordinator, and local grassroots captain, and has organized a number of successful campaign events. For Angie’s first Obama meetup event this summer, she drew over 80 people to her cookout in Mill Creek Park. She also helped to lead her team’s successful voter registration drives. Since July 4th, her team has registered thousands of new voters in Willingboro. When asked why she is so devoted to the campaign, Angie responds: “I have been waiting all my life to witness what is happening in this great country now. Obama represents what has been needed for so long. Obama is all-inclusive and he wants to bring everyone to the table. As a child, I was very much aware of the plight of poor people, especially people of color. Maybe now, for once and for all, we can live as one people coming together for a just and fair society. If there were eight days in a week, I probably would volunteer my time just as much. So, I pray my God continues to give me strength and guidance to push on until Obama becomes our next President of the United States.”Angie was first drawn to the political process earlier this year by Obama but since then has become completely immersed and will now be engaged in the long term. In June, Angie’s name was written in for the office of Democratic Committee Vice Chair, a non-paid elected position, and she won. “She’s the perfect mix of professionalism and enthusiasm,” explained Democratic Chairwoman Lavonne Bebler Johnson. “She’s a chairwoman’s dream.”
If you are interested in matching Angie’s enthusiasm to elect Obama, visit your local NJ Campaign for Change office and volunteer today.
Now is the time to get involved! - we can't take this election for granted, there are still too many days left before the Presidential Election on November 4th, 2008.
Won't you please consider volunteering for a few hours? There are many way to become involved with the campaign. You could join the phone bank volunteers or register voters, canvassing or whatever else appeals to you.
I was at the Obama headquarters *(in San Diego) volunteering for the phone bank this past week. It was a blast! It's easy, they show you exactly what to do and you don't have to be nervous, you are sharing and reaching out to other Obama supporters. I highly recommend finding a way to get involved - even if it is rallying your friends and family and making sure that everyone is registered to vote before the cut off date.
I also took friends and family with me to the official Obama campaign "Final Debate Watching Party" at Stingaree, in the Gaslamp district of San Diego. We had a blast watching the debate and the excitement of the other Obama supporters was infectious!
Search this site for an upcoming Obama/Biden event, Or find volunteer opportunities in your vacinity. There's also plenty of things you can do from your own home computer or phone, if you'd like to get involved.
You can make a difference! It doesn't take much. Form your own groups online or get your friends and family together and start your own rally group for Obama. Use your email as a vehichle to build a network with friends and family ... decorate your house, yard, balcony, dorm room, etc...
You will have fun and so will your group.
You'll be sending a powerful message to polititians when they see millions of people getting involved in this movement. Millions of voters of every walk of life uniting for change.
Support the Process! EDUCATE, VOLUNTEER AND VOTE!!!
Sincerely, Diana Fragoso
Supporting Obama from Chula Vista, California
The Obama office is located in a storefront at 55 West Main Street in Platteville, WI. Things are really hopping there and we could use more volunteers to keep the office open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day till election.
Please come in and sign up or e-mail me at ebko_eb@yahoo.com if you can help.
