Deaniacs & DFA'ers, how did/do you use UR meetups back in the day......

[FogerRox]

I joined DFA after the 2004 election and I am trying to reconstruct what/how happened in Deans Primary run, I want to know how it was at the street level. I am working for a congressional candidate in NJ11 (Tom Wyka) that lost, but set a record for DEM votes in the most heavily Repub populated District in NJ.

So far I have an image of a decentralized NON top down campaign, 2 way communication between the meet ups and the campaign managers. What really piques my interest is what activilties were used at the Meet up level. What was exciting, what created BUZZ? What was yor take on those days....

- Group LTTE's ?
- Fundraising ?
- Rallies ?

After reading about the stunning win in NH01, where the DEM was underfunded but won, apparently on the backs of a Dean/Wellstone style of campaign, I was interested in getting back to Dean basics, for both my local DFA and Tom Wyka who has thrown his hat into the ring for '08, after his 7% inprovement over the DEM challenger in '04.

Any thoughts or commentary would be appreciated, thanks, Roger Fox.

[patrice]

1. They began with letter writing, some people wrote others didn't.

While people were working on their letters, there were local candidates and local organization speakers, or DFA members would address the group.

Then we always talked about things going onto the calendar. The letters would be collected at the end of the meeting. People would hang around and talk for a while or have dinner together.

Some other DFA groups didn't write letters. There was more group discussion; people saying who they are and why they came to DFA.

P.S. I consider myself a Deanocrat. I don't particularly like "Deaniac", because rational understanding is precious to me.

[FogerRox]

2. LOL, Deanocrat it is

"Then we always talked about things going onto the calendar."

Yeah, folks organizing events on their own.

[patrice]

7. I would love to have some Dems over; just too busy with my job.

Family and job keep me too busy now. I would love to have some MeetUps this Summer and/or next.

But, I should think about it for Summer '07 or '08. I have a very big, ground level deck.

[SCDem]

3. Take advantage of people's talents

We met up and like the previous poster we'd have a calendar. But everyone comes to a meeting with specific skills that they are good at in the real world. We encouraged them and put them to use in the local political world. Graphic artist among us - created bumper stickers that were eye catching. Re-invigorated the old county-wide Democratic journal. If a person is good at computers then get them to look at the state or local database and update it. Include everyone and everyon's talents. Music. Fundraising. Created events at public places and used word of mouth and informed the official county Democratic Party leadership. We would organize them and plan them and as it would get sooner to the date more people, "official" people, would get involved. Pretty soon the exclusive old party circle widened because they saw that we were active. Many of us are now on the Executive Committee and continue to do what we started doing.

Also look at your precinct numbers - target the high performing Democratic precincts and low voter turnout. We started in August this year and walked a targeted precinct a weekend starting in September and continuing until election. Also make use of key leaders in those high Democratic and low voter turnout precincts. Whether they have official positions or not.

Anyway we're still working on it.

[FogerRox]

4. Talent, yes. Can you give one example of an event?

[SCDem]

5. Events

Well when we were DFA - Dean for America days! - we had a rally and invited people to attend. It was at a public park - on a main street so we had people waving and holding signs up encouraging them to come in. We didn't have Dean there but we had Flat Dean (a life size cardboard Dean).

But there also high money fundraising events - Having an event at someone's house or business - catered more towards the high donor Dems. Meet out all the Democrats in the area that can give cash or in-kind. Our county party is still living off of our 2005 fundraiser. Catering and alcohol was provided for free. Also don't be afraid of having fundraising events on off years. In fact I encourage you to do your major fundraising on off years. That's when people are not getting called up every other day.

Other events - Thanking your volunteers. Encouraging people to come including officials or candidates but not asking anything from them. Just a thank you and hang in there - hot dogs and chili. We got unsolicited checks during that event.

Do a small event - say for Valentines Day - Like the Dean days encouraging people to give at a smaller level - $20 or $10. Hug-A-Democrat or something like that.

Other events we've had were just workshops. After the workshops we learned what we needed to do - meaning no African Americans attended the workshop we need to reach out to that community more effectively. So for our second workshop we had it in a church in an African American elected official's precinct and we got great turn out.

[FogerRox]

6. Yes, Yes, I am feeling it, Hug A DEM day, Thats great, LOL.

[patrice]

9. Hugs are permitted! and deserved!

[patrice]

8. That's Great! We should! be in the Streets, to see the People in our community.