Pro Tip: Be a Yardsign

I made my yardsign Halloween costume yesterday. I know what you're thinking, but it took less than 2 minutes to make. I did it while being yelled at by a town party chair about lit. All you need are scissors, and a yardsign bag. Cut a hole in the top for your head and two on the sides for your arms. Then tape the above poster on the back and...voila! A campaign friendly Halloween costume!

Someone trained this kid really well...

So I know you probably saw this a year ago, and probably sent it to me, but I was blinded by primary campaign bitterness at the time. This kid gives me hope for the future. The best part is the end.

Matt Damon supports WFP. How cool is that?

I'm conflicted...I really don't want Matt Damon to support the Yankees. I love the Red Sox, but I love WFP more.

If you live in New York Please consider voting your values on Row E.

-Nancibeth

The 15 Commandments...

How have I not posted these yet?

15 Commandments towards Effective Organizing


1. You are an Organizer...Be organized
2. Things are always great… Be positive
3. Think with your head; be driven by your heart
4. People come to a campaign for a candidate… they stay because of you.
5. Empower yourself, empower others
6. Respect your co-workers.
7. NEVER lie
8. The phone is your weapon
9. If it's not written down it doesn't exist.
10. Numbers win Campaigns
11. Have goals… Be Accountable… Make others accountable
12. Some is not a number, soon is not a time. HARD NUMBERS COUNT
13. Keep it simple, stupid
14. Time is the most valuable resource you have. Don't Waste it
15. When you are not working the other side is!

HOPE

President Obama for the "It Gets Better" project. I am very curious to hear what Dan Savage has to say about this given his recent comments about the President. I personally think Pres.Obama hit just the right note here.

2 Legit 2 Commit

I LOVE the OFA New Media team!

Awesome tool to share your reasons for voting with your facebook friends.

You can jump "levels" by getting others to commit to vote too, it's like a game! (Only with important consequences for health care, civil liberties and the environment).

New media has come so far since I started organizing, and although it will never replace field, when well done it is a great supplement to other efforts!

Hooray!

Did you know....

That a voter who you knock with a GOTV message on election day is 10% more likely to vote AND other registered voters in their household are 6% more likely to vote, even though you didn't actually talk to them?


Now you do. Thanks Analyst Institute!

Pro-Tip: Send Cookies

We always love the volunteers who feed us, even if they refuse to do voter contact. It's not like we couldn't order pizza on our own, but there's something comforting about someone trying to nurture us in a world filled with crazy activists, angry voters and demanding bosses.

With this philosophy in mind, I sent GOTV cookies to some of my friends working on Senate races across the country. I went with KelleysKookies because they looked more homemade and less corporate than a Harry and David affair, although for all I know they are baked by Republicans.

This turned out to be therapeutic for me as well as them. They got cookies and the message that someone out in the "real" world cares about them and I got to feel connected to them if only via baked good.

I also found this particularly useful when I had to ask for data help from one of their GOTV Directors, who had profited from my care package.

13 Days out from an election, who couldn't use a little good karma?

Peace, Love and Walk Lists,

Nancy

Why We Fight

Sometimes I really can't remember why I do this job. The long hours, the stress, the screaming matches, and total lack of respect...and that's just from the volunteers!

I was listening to a piece on NPR this morning about the Chilean miners and how most of them want to go back to work in the mine!

"It gets in your blood," said one miner "it's part of you and that pull, it keeps pulling you, pulling you, pulling you in."

I feel you, buddy.

Best. Halloween Decorations. Ever.

Somebody in Hartford has up an AMAZING Halloween display. I only wish I had thought of this.




Red-Queen-Sarah-Palin terrorizing Alice-in-Wonderland-Michelle-Obama


White- Rabbit-Bill-Clinton



Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb-George-Bush

PROGRESS

http://progress.barackobama.com/

Click the link above, this is a great tool to show REAL PROGRESS in your state since Democrats have been in power.

It Gets Better

This is what integrity looks like. I would work on his campaign for free. Also,he met his partner in a campaign office!

Just a little motivation for your Monday

Sarah Palin is voting. Are you?

Even Better

I don't know who is making these, but we should probably be friends.

In some counties, Yard Signs can Vote by Mail

Raise your hands higher!!!

My first GOTV training ever our State Director did the following exercise:


State Director: Everyone raise your hands!
Field Staff: (Raises hands)
State Director: As high as you can!
Field Staff: (Raises hands higher)
State Director: Higher!
Field Staff: (Raises hands higher)
State Director: Higher!
Field Staff: (Raises hands higher)
State Director:Liars.


The message? No matter how much you are doing, you can always do more.


26 Days Until Election Day!

-Nancy

Printing from VAN on a Mac

In case anyone is curious, the best way I've found to print from the VAN on my mac is by setting page side at 98% and making sure all the fields at the bottom of the print screen say "blank."

Cheers!
-Nancy

Month Out Madness!!!

One Month Until Election Day!

Poop, there it is!

I've gotta admit, I woke up in a cranky mood this morning until the following happened:

Driving on 684, by the side of the road, I saw a porta potty with a homemade "Democrat HQ" sign on poster board taped to it. Would that I could have pulled over and taken a picture!

So many questions! Who did this? Did they import the potty, or was it there and inspired them to make the sign? And...why?

If they were trying to offend people, I'm pretty sure I was their target demographic. I was, after all, on my way to a Democratic headquarters. But, I found it hilarious. I love the idea of the satisfaction this person would get if they knew how well timed and well placed this sign really was.

So to you mystery Tea Party member/High Schooler/Drunk Field Organizer...I salute you! Thanks for brightening my day!

Exactly One Month 'Till Election Day!

-Nancy