So... How was Meetup?

[NoPasaran]

The one in Austin was great. Several hundred people, LOTS of new faces. I have the feeling that now that the election is over, a lot of folks who were energized and want to remain active are latching onto DFA because we are a group that is continuing the fight. We need to spread the word: DFA---Not just for Deaniacs anymore.

We had a speaker, David Holmes, an actual real life member of the DNC. Listening to him I got the impression that the work we're doing in DFA---training leaders, registering people to vote, etc, is really more important than anything the DNC does. He did say that pretty much everyone running for DNC Chair spoke of the need for a fifty-state strategy.

Afterwords we watched the Lackoff DVD and then practiced framing issues. And since I've had an inordinate amount of free time on my hands since November 3 I signed up as a volunteer for a city council candidate.

How did things go in your neck of the woods?

[Maat]

1. Good.

No Lakoff DVD. One of the family therapists in the group helped us do some really fun exercises.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We organized sub-groups, if you will. I'm on the Separation of Church and State group. We also worked on our new local website (my hubby is helping with that).

And, most important of all, I GOT MY BUMPERSTICKER!!!!

Same with us, though - many, many new members.

In fact, one problem we have is that we are going to have to find a new meeting place. Isn't it neat, though, to see progressives uniting?

[Larkspur]

2. I didn't get a bumpersticker!!!!!

:cry:

Can Capn Sunshine brighten my day with one? :shrug:

We met at the Irish Times Pub in Worcester. Thank Goddess there was a break in the the winter storm around the Meetup time. We had about 20 people show up and that was more than the 8 who had RSVP'd.

We started with the traditional self-introductions and then proceeded to Lakoff's DVD and exercises. I had volunteered at the December meetup to bring my laptop and Lakoff DVD, which I did. I also had gotten a laptop stand at Comp USA which was a bing help. It raised the laptop so that those in the 2nd and 3rd rows of chairs could see it.

Everyone enjoyed the Lakoff DVD and we had lively discussions on how to apply his theory to our state and local needs. Some did find Lakoff's use of the "strict" father and "nurturant" parent metaphors troubling.

For me personally, because I'm an active LTTE and op ed writer, I will work to apply the Lakoff "framing" theory to my future writings, but I found that because I've been writing for 20 years that Lakoff's theory comes more naturally to me. I'm not perfect at it but writers are always "framing" and "reframing" issues.