Making Connections Key in Cook County (my letter to the Cook County Dems)

[Us vs Them]

I would like to volunteer my time to the Cook County Democratic Party. Upon review of your website, CookCountyDems.com, I was a bit discouraged to find no information available to those interested in developing firsthand the kind of leadership and productivity the Democratic Party needs at this point. The links made available include vital contact information (with no e-mail addresses), a $B!F(Bcalendar of events$B!G(B with one tentative item scheduled, and a link to send donations. As much as I love Hillary Rodham Clinton, and wish the Democratic Party much success in that fundraising event, this simply cannot be all the information made available by one of the most influential Democratic counties in the nation.

Furthermore, as an academic and student, I find it rather discouraging to think that monetary contributions are given such a precedence over the time and brainpower one can volunteer. As a student, I do not presently have the opportunity to make substantial monetary gifts. Time, dedication, inspiration, influential connections, and a valuable understanding of raising party awareness, however, I can offer. Some of the most important links we can foster, as members of a progressive party on the national and local scale, are those reaching out to the young minds who are influential in their own communities. Through a student base alone, we can initiate fundraisers, increase education of politics (in Cook County and abroad), and gain valuable manpower and a dedication to a cause much larger than ourselves. We may even get some pro-bono work on that horrible website of yours. Sorry, it had to be said.

In outlining these issues, I hope to raise awareness in the office of the Cook County Democratic Party. Again, I stand dedicated to the cause, and am willing to offer my services and myself – be it only for stuffing envelopes at first. Every little bit helps.

Thanks for your time, and do please get back to me.

[Robbien]

1. The Republican Cook Country party sends me

letters all the time about their meetings and their activities which need volunteers. I don't know how they got my name and address. I sure didn't give it to them.

The Democratic party on the other hand has been almost impossible to get info on their meetings and activities.

If it is like this here in a blue state, just think how bad it must be for red staters.

[DrGonzoLives]

2. Cook County

The Democratic party there is a pure old-boy network, the last of the true political machines around. You'd have to worm your way in with someone in power if you really want ot get involved with them.

[sjgman9]

6. It is the Machine

good luck

[Tweed]

3. It was great meeting with you the other day

We had a good conversation about the future of Chicago College Democrats. Look forward to seeing you again and seeing all the Chicago College Dems at the next meetup!

[seventythree]

4. this is sad

There used to be a young democrats group active in the last gubernatorial -- I used to see things about their events in Chicago -- what happened to them?

[Tweed]

5. Well there is a Young Dems Meetup Group...

I must admit I have not gone yet. I've only been signed up for two months. I have created a Chicago College Democrats Meetup and I'm really working hard on my DePaul Democrats chapter. I'm membership director and our E-mail list is almost up to 700 people after an aggressively tabling today in the Student Center.

Hopefully the Chicago College Democrats will be big for us. I already have ten people signed up and we haven't even met yet. I met with US versus Them to talk about setting up a College Democrats chapter at his school. He's all for it and has a lot of energy going for him. The CCD meetup will allow people who don't have chapters at their schools to get energized by coming to a large gathering of other people who not only have chapters at their schools, but are active in building them up. The goal is to have Chicago College Democrats Meetups all over the city and to have a chapter in every school. Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

[seventythree]

7. God bless you

How do you find time to study? What is your major? Does the state party know about you? You are a jewel.