Does anyone else have an extraordinarily disorganized local party?

[gollygee]

I have twice now shown up for a time I volunteered to work and both times been turned away. Well, the first time the office was closed, even though they'd called asking me to go. This time I showed up at a festival where they asked me to work and they said they had enough people and told me they didn't need me. After I'd spent $10 to get into the festival.

I'm getting very frustrated. We've decided to just give money since my time is obviously not needed.

It reminds me of the old Will Rogers answer when he was asked what party he belonged to. "I am not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat."

[RubyDuby in GA]

1. Um, that would be me

Yes, which is why we just had a huge brouhaha this past Monday night and our chairman quit. I am now the Co-Chair and I will have this party organized within one month. I've got big plans for the good people of Newton County, Georgia.

[ClassWarrior]

9. You go Ruby!

[Maat]

2. Actually, here, in temecula, ca, the Rethug Congressman...

Issa...of "I paid to Recall the Governor to pave the way for Arnold's entry" fame ... apparently runs unopposed. I can't even find the local org in the telephone book...or on the Website. Still searching.

A MoveOn meetup had better luck.

[ClassWarrior]

6. If you can't find one, start one!!

You go LSM!

[SharonAnn]

14. Contact your state party to get the local contact information.

They should have the name, number, and address of the local chair.

[Lefty48197]

3. We don't have a disorganized Democratic party here in Michigan

because we don't have a Democratic party.

[ClassWarrior]

7. Start one!

[Beaverhausen]

4. well at my first Kerry meet-up last night

I was told they have no flyers anywhere. No flyers on any website to download and print. I asked what they brought when they table? They said "uh uh...the campaign is in a state of flux...it's all grassroots..."

a woman asked about comparing Bush to Kerry to talk to voters, are there any bullet points and the leader suggested reading the website reapid response section...

Having been a Dean person where the campaign was very organized and there were more flyers than you could ever need I just couldn't believe it. That seems so simple.

come on...the national campaign needs to get it together with little things like flyers!

[ClassWarrior]

8. Where are you? In this battleground state, the campaign is SHARP.

[Beaverhausen]

12. california

I couldn't believe it myself...

if you have a link to any fliers I'd appreciate it!

[cally]

17. I live in Calif....

Our local campaign has found fliers on Kerry's website and we've created our own. Let me know if you want some links. The Dems in California are just disorganized but I do see some energy and organization starting....slowly.

[arbusto_baboso]

18. What county are you in?

Because where I am, we're pretty well organized for a grass-roots effort.

[RubyDuby in GA]

13. I agree

Being a Dean person too, I wish they had flyers to pass out at events too. But I'm not complaining, I'll just make my own. B-)

[ClassWarrior]

5. If you have more money than time, great - they can probably use that more.

But if you have more time than money, don't give up. Just show up, jump in and start doing a job. You may very well be the one to bring order to the chaos!

[gollygee]

10. I can't bring order to the chaos if they tell me to leave

I wish the national party could send people out to the swing states to get things organized. But I know it costs money. Thing is, it would get votes.

[ClassWarrior]

11. You can eventually bring order if...

...you can hang around, make yourself the most useful volunteer in the room. Sounds like pretty soon you'll be running the place.

[gollygee]

24. If only I didn't have a young child

I have time to help, but not time to take over the place. Unfortunately.

[knitter4democracy]

15. Ours seems to be that way too

I'm on their e-mail list, and that seems to be the main way they contact people. What about everyone who doesn't want to or can't do that? We have more Dems that we think here in SW MI, but the party isn't organized enough to take advantage of it.

If my kids were older, I'd start working harder, but I have all I can do now . . .

[gollygee]

16. LOL yours is like that too? It's the same one!

:) Yes that's the one I'm finding to be disorganized.

[knitter4democracy]

25. Oh, well

I went to a couple of the monthly meetings, but they really didn't seem to be worth giving up one of my Thursday night knit nights for. I'll give them money and go door-to-door, but honestly! I'm sticking with the DFA group.

[cally]

19. Mine, too.

I have to give credit to one volunteer coordinator. She, almost by herself, has organized volunteers. I'm working with her and I know from experience that you don't want to forget to do something. :shudder: My local party is a disaster but she has turned it around. Don't give up. I think the most important position is volunteer coordinator. We have so much energy this election and we have to figure out how to use it effectively.

[duhneece]

20. Otero County, NM-I printed & posted a copy of Will Rogers quote

so we could laugh at our lack of organization.
We've mostly had the problem of volunteers NOT showing up when they had committed.
But we have a lot of motivated members and we're taking baby steps toward creating a stronger party here.
We do have a headquarters and tomorrow we are having the first-ever official Grand Opening (we've been open a month now)in Alamogordo. This is a very conservative military town, so we find the newspaper extremely one-sided.

[hellbound-liberal]

21. My state, MD is surrounded by swing states and my county organization

is doing NOTHING this weekend! I can't even get them to answer my e-mails. I wrote to them a few days ago and told them that we can not afford to waste a single weekend between now and November but they don't seem concerned. I'm going to Virginia tomorrow to register new voters.We're turning the Old Dominion State BLUE!!!

[bobbieinok]

22. comments heare remind me of comments during primary......grassroot or

ganizing!!!!!!!!!

from comments, it sounds like a lot of the 'important people' in the various state parties have forgotten the grassroots, the precinct level

[lapislzi]

23. Actually, that's a good thing

You can jump in and take over if you're sharp. A few of my local compadres and I have done just that. We're in the process of revamping a tired, apathetic organ into a progressive body. It's a blast.

[MGKrebs]

26. Don't get me started! eom