On 2/24 at 9pm EST, watch the CNN.com live State of the Nation Address and join in the online forum here to discuss issues with fellow voters. All political affiliations are invited to join in the discussion.
RULES OF PLAY:1. Pretend your 8 year old grand daughter is reading everything you type2. Treat those who disagree with respect3. Click 'report' on troll comments and ignore them. If you reply all attached conversations will be deleted by the system along with the offending comment.
Click on "COMMENT" at the top of the post to say something.
Clickon "REPLY" next to the person's post to say something about something someone said.
Sound good? Enjoy, and thank you for participating in this creative volunteer project.
Start the conversation here on this page --
On 2/24 at 9pm EST, watch the CNN.com live State of the Nation Address and join in the online forum here to discuss issues with fellow Kentucky Voters. All political affiliations are invited to join in the discussion.
Sounds good? Enjoy, and thank you for participating in this creative volunteer project.
Click Here: Link
You wrote25 minutes agoHere are my street creds: - Volunteer from April 2007 through 2008 Primary - 2007 Camp Obama graduate - Staffer during Primary - Admin for a large local mybo groupJust so we get those out of the way.To answer the question: The structure, style, leadership, groups, all of it is volunteer created and volunteer led. I emailed OFA and received a response that CAN is a volunteer created grassroots organization. Here is what I like about the CAN groups: - National network of volunteers that are active now, or at least will read their email and join an online group because a stranger asked them to - State network of the same - Updates of facts, action items, once a day under the "daily digest" option.Here is what I dont like about the CAN groups: - Aggressive against those elected officials who disagree. We received instructions during the Campaign by Obama himself to treat the other side (hillary at the time) with respect. See my MyBO blog for excerpts of his speech (under mybo username J. Lowe). - Admins are not clearly labeled a "Volunteer" - plus one of Lisa's titles are just like the DNC's official voteforchange.com campaign used during the general election - Establishes a top-down hieararchy, and the campaign was a flat organizational style.More on the last point - I was told by Matthew Barzun that the organization is flat, and received a diagram from him too. It is a circle of volunteers surrounding the staff at the center. There is no hierarchy - we are all equals. Also, Camp Obama taught that there are only two types of volunteers: those who make phone calls and knock on doors, and those who teach and encourage others to make phone calls and knock on doors. The organizer is not higher than the volunteer, it is just a role to complete the group assignment: to talk and listen to voters, and to bring that information back to HQ.What is the action to take on the CAN group? I can only tell you what I am doing: listening. I am not sold on this group right now, and am watching the communication style to learn how to be a better organizer for our local groups. My meditation on this group is to remember our call to Respect, Empower, and Include.As far as my volunteer action from here? Do what I have always done: Whatever the OFA website tells me to do, just like Forrest Gump in boot camp. And in the meantime mayb make something up that sounds like something they would like me to do.If I were to bet $20 on what the next OFA action is, it would be this: SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTANDThis was done during the first 6 months of the campaign and is what won Iowa. There was a link on the mybo website to submit ideas about important issues, and the field staff were trained in effective listening and knocked doors for months. All of the info was sent to HQ. Groups of intelligent minds were linked online who received our info, and researched and discussed it, and used it to create the Blueprint for Change and craft the course we are following right now. So it is most logical that there will be another round of what worked. So, good money is on house meetings led by you and me and everybody's cousin, using the question sheets they give us.Back to action (most important). I was thinking to host a health care meeting - I missed the opportunity during the holidays - and now since Daschle is out, staff would have time to incorporate our information into the health care design. Probably they may do another call under new leadership, i dunno. Or possibly i might host another USAservice.org volunteer project - doing something good for others. Then I'll feel like daisies and sunshine and the world will feel like the fabric softener commercial featuring a teddy bear.Either way, life is good.
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/race/2009/02/elwin-wilsons-story-is-one-of-transformationthats-why-it-resonates-so-much-its-a-story-of-changing-ones-self-an.html
I love Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell because of our common thread: we both fell in love with someone from outside our culture.
Here in rural and racist Kentucky, the Klan is relevant to a small percentage and has the weight of sympathy and mild agreement to a larger percentage of our population. In some counties in Kentucky, there are less than 10 black people -- not 10% but 10 total -- in an entire county.
It is with a reassuring sigh that Mitch McConnell an elected official to not have the heart of the racist. When he fell in love with his wife, he was forced to ask his inner self the ultimate racist question: is it wrong to mix the races? He has also an arranged marriage with her culture, and to understand deeply the value of other cultures & religions as well.
So, although I disagree with Senator McConnell on many issues (including the Economic Recovery Bill), I hold him in high regard and respect, and kinda like him a little. Although I liked him more on election night when he almost lost to an unknown Democrat.
Watch this video of President Barack Obama announcing the futureof the movement: http://my.barackobama.com/thefuture Watch this video of David Plouffe introducing Mitch Stewart, the new director of OFA: http://my.barackobama.com/neworganization **** **** Notes of conference call summary listed below:
SOURCE: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=9400135#/topic.php?uid=50127317171&topic=7448OFA Teleconference Summary February 3, 2009 9:30 pm EST The following notes are courtesy of Marta E. Thank you, Marta! On the call: David Plouffe, Mitch Stewart, Director of OFA and Jeremy Bird, Deputy Director, OFA Plouffe opened with a brief intro thanking everyone for their work on the campaign, reminded us how important we are, yadda, yadda, yadda They've reviewed half a million surveys and gone over feedback from 5,000 Change is Coming House parties. Goal is to have a "House Meeting Host" (his words, not mine) in every state. (my interpretation - OFA intends to have staff in all 50 states, and one of the designated positions would be just to coordinate more house meetings and gatherings, emulating the infrastructure of the campaign) Introduces Mitch Stewart: OFA has three long-term goals: 1) Staff in every state (again, that "House Meeting Host" position) 2) Training. OFA intends to conduct ongoing training to teach us how to carry their message to the streets and how to talk about the issues in a cogent way. No word on what form that training would take. 3) Create a feedback loop. OFA intends to keep an ongoing dialogue with volunteers (for instance, at the end of the call, we were asked to stay on so we could leave a message suggesting ways Obama could more successfully get his message out about the economic stimulus package - more on that in a minute) They are particularly interested in feedback on strategy and tactics and are looking for information on how the message is playing out in the field. OFA intends to have these conference calls once a month. They will attempt to make these conference calls interactive, but weren't specific about how that would happen. Mitch Stewart introduces Jeremy Bird: Jeremy talked about the house parties this weekend....... Packets will be mailed to all hosts who have signed for house parties by Thursday night (packets go out on Friday) A video featuring Tom Kaine answering questions about the stimulus package will be featured at the house parties. Jeremy said it will be available online. I was unclear wether or not a video would be mailed as well, or even if that is the same video that's available online. Suggested strategies for recruiting attendees, signing them up, etc.........their goal is to have 15-20 people per meeting. **** **** So that is the game, guys and gals. The strategy is the same as what one the first four primary states, and what eventually won the election: Good hard listening and feedback. If you are not hosting a house meeting this weekend, will you please seriously including this activity in your 2009 schedule? The amount of good that your active listening, asking questions, and providing feedback is what will guide our country in the right direction. Remember, its "We the People" not "those guys in Washington" in which the future of our country rests. Thanks for everything you are doing. J. Lowe Volunteer
This is the entire interview from 2004, when Cathleen Falsani was writing her book, "The God Factor, Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People" Click here to see book: http://www.amazon.com/God-Factor-Inside-Spiritual-Public/dp/0374530920/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226436116&sr=1-2
Click here to see entire interview between then Senator Obama & Cathleen Falsani: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/obamas-interview-with-cathleen.html
Here are a few nice quotes from the article:
So, my mother, who I think had as much influence on my values as anybody, was not someone who wore her religion on her sleeve. We'd go to church for Easter. She wasn't a church lady.
As I said, we moved to Indonesia. She remarried an Indonesian who wasn't particularly, he wasn't a practicing Muslim. I went to a Catholic school in a Muslim country. So I was studying the Bible and catechisms by day, and at night you'd hear the prayer call.
So I don't think as a child we were, or I had a structured religious education. But my mother was deeply spiritual person, and would spend a lot of time talking about values and give me books about the world's religions, and talk to me about them. And I think always, her view always was that underlying these religions were a common set of beliefs about how you treat other people and how you aspire to act, not just for yourself but also for the greater good.
This article sums up nicely the leadership style employed by the Obama Campaign. Although the author is not aware of one of the major principles -- and one of the most important factors of success: <B>Seek first to Understand, then be Understood<B>
Link to article: http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/07/management_secrets_of_barack_o_1.php
Hello Blog Buddies it has been a while. The road has been long and filled with golden bricks of knowledge and experience, some of which I may share soon but not now. The totality of this year's volunteer and staff member experience it still out of the reach of words, so profound and close to the heart that it has not passed through the filter of my mind.
Ms. Lovely Linda Dungey did bring some words out of my heart today. Here is a copy of the reply I gave her, along with prayers and wishes of good will:
Sent through the website suggestions form today:
Dear Obama Staffer responsible for posting speeches on mybo:Request please to post today's speech Obama gave resigning from his church, in the area "Learn -> Obama Speeches".Transparency is the one thing that I love about this campaign, and I would love to see the transcript posted along with the other ones. It would mean alot.I relate personally to the loss to everyone involved, and the emotional weight of this decision on the family and campaign. Our church, St Stephen in Louisville, was recently run through the local news when a gay church leader was arrested for the act of being gay. This in a state that recently and overwhelmingly outlawed gay marriage - a Constitutional Amendment even! Arrgh!
I mourn the loss to the family, and send good wishes and positive prayers to the First Couple, Rev. Wright and his family, and to the campaign.Thank you for everything you are being and doing.Jen Lockhartaka j. loweCurrent Obama Volunteer and recent Ky Staff Member :0)
**** ****
Sidebar:
Rev. Jeremiah Wright was very controversial on a number of issues. These are the culmination of his life experiences, and how Rev. Wright sees the world.
Here is an excellent example:
Rev. Wright's church has a gay singles ministry. How cool is that? C'mon now dude that is cool. There are also openly gay church members serving in leadership positions in the church. Now that, in the world of the banned gay marriage constitutional amendment, shows that there is hope for everyone.
J. Lowe
Current Obama Volunteer and recent Kentucky Staffer.
Obama said yesterday:
"I wanted to take the time to talk to all of you a little bit because I am concerned about the tenor of how the campaign has been going the last couple of days.
"I got into this race because I was firmly convinced that the American people are looking for a different kind of politics, and that we are not as divided as our politics would suggest.
"Everything that I have heard from the American People over the last eleven months confirms that faith, that people are ready to move forward and to get things done. Because they recognize that unless we pull together, we are not going to be able to solve. . . (issues listed)
"I think over the last couple of days you've seen a tone on the Democratic side in the campaign that is unfortunate. "What i want to do is just to stipulate a couple of things. I think that I may disagree with Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards on how to get there, but we share the same goals. . . I think that they are good people, they are patriots, and they are running because they think they can lead this country to a better place.
"I dont want this campaign at this stage to degenerate into so much tit-for-tat, back-and-forth, that we loose sight of why all of us are doing this, and its because of some of the people that I met here today, who are losing there homes, or struggling with healthcare, or dont have enough money to help their children. And I am worried that that may get lost.
"I want to try to send a strong signal, certainly to my own supporters, but i would also say to everybody who is involved with the campaign at this stage: Lets try to focus on the work that needs to be done.
"If I hear my own supporters engaging in talk that I think is ungenerous, or misleading, or in some way is unfair, then I will speak out forcefully against it. . . We've got too much at stake at this time in our history to be engaging in this kind of silliness.
***
So here is the challenge, Obama Bloggers, are you willing to go further?
Are you willing to honor Obama's call?
Will you commit to a new kind of politics?
Obama supporters from the Louisville KY area will be meeting at a local restaurant to watch the returns. Local TV will be invited. It will be cash bar and food. Under 21 year olds are welcome. Bumper stickers will be available for a nominal donation.
Click on LINK to sign up:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/debatewatchingparty/4vywq
Ready to volunteer? Click on this LINK for official HQ volunteer training packet:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/actionguide
MSNBC article: Huckaboom and Hillabust"...But the irony is, South Carolina African-Americans I talked to last weekend want to see if Obama can win white votes before they commit to him..."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22217110/As i listen to black folk, they are opening up and saying the same thing. (I live in a black community, member of a big black baptist church, and work in a barber shop, so dont let the profile picture fool ya)I heard stories about when Jesse Jackson ran for president, the whites who had promised to caucus for him did not do so, and he lost Iowa by a wide margin. I dont know if that is true, but it is the story they know. Yes, yes I know that this is not reality now, but I share this in the hopes that we white people can understand why blackfolk are playing their cards so close to their chest. You see, whispering is a fundamental part of their culture. For example, did you know that Rosa Parks did not act alone? Her act of civil disobedience was coordinated through their local branch NAACP, and occurred on the day of their local branch election. (the NAACP meeting that every member is sure to attend in order to vote)I am sitting here hoping with all my heart that you who are not close to the black community will feel the reverence and respect I have for the whisper. I wish you could feel the gratefulness I feel in being lucky enough to be a part of the whisper. In my humble opinion, our sales pitch to the black community begins the day after the Iowa caucuses. We've got 30 short days to ask for dollars, volunteers, and votes. Because, all of us together, once we do our part, we ALL will turn the whisper in to a ROAR!
