Is there work to do in Ohio for Obama that doesn't involve canvassing?

[motorcity]

I live in Ann Arbor, MI and contacted Obama headquarters in Toledo about volunteering over the next week. Unfortunately, the person I talked to said they only need people for canvassing. I am not going to go into the reasons, but I would really like to do anything (licking envelopes, driving things around, data entry, etc) other than canvassing. If anyone here knows of any groups or people that need help doing non-sociable things for Obama, let me know.

[goclark]

1. just go to

www.barackobama.com and search for volunteering or phone calling

It's lots of fun!

I have been making phone calls all day.

[motorcity]

3. I'll probably just phone bank if I can't find anything else

Any tips? Do you get many pissed off people?

[goclark]

15. No ~ in California the majority

of the people were very polite!

I always asked for volunteers for the campaign.

I got three wonderful volunteers that helped me call the 428 people on my precinct list.

My favorite was an 80 years young volunteer named Carolyn.

Carolyn called 100 people and got most of them out to the polls. :bounce:

I've also done phone bank calling from the campaign office. That was fun in that you are able to meet others that are working for the same goal.

But I can get more done by calling from the names on the website. The
campaign is so high tech, that it's all so easy to do.

[NC_Nurse]

2. Their are probably other groups around.

Try his website and look for meetings and also try meetup.com.

They may also have people driving folks to the polls on primary day.

[DUyellow]

4. are you in Ohio?

[Blue-Jay]

5. Lesson 1: Read before you reply.

[DUyellow]

9. I asked ARE YOU IN OHIO, meaning currently, could live in one place, and be in another.

don't be such an ass

[EmilyAnne]

16. Lesson two: be nice.

:hug:

[motorcity]

6. I am about 45 minutes north of Toledo

in MI. It is an easy enough drive.

[Barack_America]

7. There's always stuff like that to do at headquarters.

Just go and sit your as down. They WILL find stuff for you to do, believe me.

There is a TON to do just getting those canvassing lists together, doing counts once the canvassers come back, calling other volunteers, etc.

You will be useful, so don't worry about that.

[Barack_America]

11. Here's the address for Toledo HQ.

Ohio for Obama Toledo Office
48 S. St. Clair St.
419.244.2008

I'm sure that they're going to be canvassing like mad this weekend and could use the help getting those lists together! There's also so much data entry to do that it's silly.

[elizm]

8. I was a team leader for Obama in SC...

When it gets down to the last week before the primary they are all pretty much in GOTV mode for election day. Phone banking now and on election day is probably needed....and I found it much more enjoyable the closer it got to voting day. When you make those contacts who say they are absolutely voting for Obama it is WAY fun...and you do get in a groove...and it does get you pumped up! I'd recommend going down to the local Obama headquarters and offer to help out with the phone banking...AND you will meet an awesome group of people, I can guarantee you! :)

[skipos]

10. Kick! nt

[mopinko]

12. i made calls on wis. primary day. no assholes.

mostly answering machines, of course. but i only got one real anti. he spouted some crap, i winced, asked if we could talk, and he said, eh, my mind is made up. ok, fine. that was it.
the pro folks were great. the excitement is really contagious, you will enjoy it.
just go. show up.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. you can make calls

[VolcanoJen]

14. At our Cincy HQ, we really need folks to do data entry.

It's not that "glamorous" and a lot of people don't want to do it. I've been slogging away! I would think the same opportunity would be available in Toledo?

:shrug:

[EmilyAnne]

18. Do you have a link about what that entails? Is it something that can be done at home? n/t

[VolcanoJen]

20. Unfortunately, it can't be done from home.

At the various rallies and initial organizational meetings, people were asked to fill out cards and forms with their contact information, and how they'd like to contribute to the campaign. Canvassers also collect the cards.

They bring them in stacks to the local HQ's, and then volunteers enter them into the massive Obama database. You'll have to make a trip to your nearest HQ to get into database entry, and the Obama people will love you for it!! :-)

[motorcity]

21. I just asked Toledo HQ specifically about doing data entry and they said "no thanks."

I am not opposed to driving further than Toledo. It seems like people in other cities are doing non-canvassing stuff, but Toledo says they have nothing for me. I guess I can always phonebank, but I still hope something comes along.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts.

[VolcanoJen]

22. Interesting, but I'd encourage interested Obama supporters to keep calling Toledo HQ.

Just to be sure, motorcity. It's a wonderful thing if the Obama HQ in Toledo is so overwhelmed by volunteers (as you're experience suggests!) that they don't have any office work to be completed, but it's always a good idea to keep checking. ;-)

The Get Out The Vote effort really ramps up statewide on Wednesday, so keep calling them. At the very least they could use your help putting canvass packets together!

[EmilyAnne]

17. Glad you asked this question. I'm in Pittsburgh and would like to help, but I can't commit to

staying in Ohio for more than one day at a time. I'm nervous about calling, but I need to suck it up.

[asdjrocky]

19. You should call.

I'm not even an Obama supporter, but I have to tell you, volunteering for the John Edwards campaign is without a doubt, one of the best things I've ever done in my life.

It's an experience you won't soon forget.

And welcome to DU :hi:!

[Stephanie]

26. You could call your local Democratic club.

They are probably organizing trips to go there and canvass for Obama. You could try PDA or DFA too. Any local club you have that endorsed him is probably organizing something. This way you could travel with a group.

[AZBlue]

23. You can do phone calls - they can even let you do it from home.

Are you signed up on the site to receive e-mails? I've gotten them about other states so far, but not Ohio yet.

I understand where you're coming from - I prefer not canvassing too. I'll do ANYTHING else first!

[aquarius dawning]

24. He can wash my car for starters.

[Stephanie]

25. I am sure they could use help driving things around.

They always need people to drop off the flyers to the canvassers, deliver the signs to the HQ, etc. I'm sure if you have a car they would really appreciate the help.

[Barack_America]

27. There's also a Sandusky HQ

Sandusky
2704 Milan Rd.
Sandusky, OH 44870
419.708.8539 office

And I don't know how you feel about "visibility" stuff (it's pretty social), but there will be groups leaving from Ann Arbor, going to Toledo.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/4rscz

FYI, I'm a pretty shy person and I've done both canvassing and visibility for Obama in NJ and I actually really liked it (really I just hate phonebanking).

[skipos]

28. Where did you get that address? Do you know if they have offices in

Findlay or Lima (Ohio)?

[City Lights]

29. They have an office in Lima.

226 North Main Street
Lima, Ohio 45801
419.999.2008 office
614.224.8980 fax

Here's a link to their Ohio offices. :-)

[ellacott]

30. I got a call last week asking if I could volunteer

I'm going to my local office today. They say they need canvassers, people to make phone calls but also food. I'm going to do some phone calling but I'm also going to bring them food.