I should know better than to volunteer

[VelmaD]

Well, I finally did it. After much agonizing I finally picked up the phone and called my local Democratic Party headquarters and volunteered to be a precinct chair.

Eep. Hold me. :scared:

[Richardo]

1. WTG, Velma...

...I got a letter from MY precinct chair the other day and I'm going to see what I can do to help. (Hell in this part of Houston I was positive we didn't even HAVE a precinct chair. Imagine my surprise)

Anyway, :thumbsup: and :hug:

[VelmaD]

3. I was stunned...

to find out my precinct didn't have one. In Austin. And my precinct votes pretty heavily Democratic at that. Go figure. I guess, like me, everyone assumes someone else is taking care of it.

And good on you for volunteering to help your precinct chair out. :hug:

[catzies]

6. Good on you, dear!

"GET INVOLVED - the world is run by those who show up."

[VelmaD]

9. Yup...

something someone said at an ACLU volunteer thing over the weekend helped seal it for me...that usually whoever shows up for the precinct conventions ends up being a delegate. It was sad to realize that even in Austin most people don't participate. I've sat on my ass for too long so I thought I'd call my precinct chair and see what I could do to help...and got a BIG surprise. :-)

[pmbryant]

2. So what does a precinct chair do exactly?

And who determines who gets the positions?

:shrug:

--Peter

[VelmaD]

7. I'm not quite sure exactly...

I know being an election judge if involved and running the precinct convention. Since there isn't a chair right now the county Executive Committee can appoint one (probably me at their next meeting). But, I think I'll have to run for the position at the next election (not sure if that's this primary or what). I'm really new to this and I just got the password to get to the part of the county party website with the precinct chair training materials. Got a LOT of reading to do. :-)

[pmbryant]

11. Good luck with it!

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I should check to see if there is a precinct chair where I live. (I've never even heard of a 'precinct convention'. I thought we had primaries here in Texas.)

:crazy:

--Peter

[VelmaD]

14. We do, but...

the precinct convention is where you elect delegates to the Senate District convention then on to the State convention.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Hey...congratulations!

:bounce:

[VelmaD]

8. Thanks.

Looks like I can save the ACLU a stamp at the mailer thing tonight. GO ME! :-)

[GOPisEvil]

12. Do you have your "list" of precinct chairs?

I'm in 141. :-)

[VelmaD]

15. Why yes I do...

you can get it from the Travis County Democratic Party website.

Go here:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/chairslist.pdf

[GOPisEvil]

17. Thank ye!

:D

I have a Precinct Chair. :whew: Not sure I'm up to that level of volunteerism. ;-)

[VelmaD]

18. I'm still not sure I am...

plus there's the whole issue of me likely not living in Texas through the entire 2004-2006 term. But I had to do something. Plus once I mentioned it to my guy best friend if I hadn't volunteered he would have kicked my ass. :-)

[GOPisEvil]

19. Oh yeah, I'm sure they'll string you up if you move.

;-)

[blondeatlast]

5. It'll be worth it on November 3rd.

Count on it.

Sadly, with my family situation, I may have to forego volunteering this year--I hope not. I would truly miss it.

On a happier note, kick those bastards back to Crawford!

[VelmaD]

10. Hope your family situation gets better...

not just so you can volunteer either. :hug:

[SOteric]

13. Oh, Velma!

:yourock:

[VelmaD]

16. Thanks sweetie.

I feel really good about doing something. :-)

[Whitacre D_WI]

20. You so TOTALLY kick ass, V.

Go get those puke fuckers! :yourock:

[VelmaD]

21. Why thank you kind sir

I have some rage I've been honing for a while now over this whole redisticting nonsense and the fact that I now live in a congressional district with NO Democratic candidate running. I may have to break off my foot in some rethug ass. :evilgrin:

I may have to use your quote though as a yardsign "Go get those Puke fuckers!" Has a nice ring to it. *smooches*

[prolesunited]

22. Way to step up to the plate!

:yourock:

Unfortunately, where I am, the Dem Party is so thoroughly corrupt, I don't want to have anything to do with them. Because my job is often tied into patronage, the only way I've been able to last through three directors is to stay out of it and do a damn good job. If the situation were different, it would be great to be a maverick and try to reform it from the inside.

[VelmaD]

23. That's a shame...

that you have to keep your head down to keep your job. That's so contrary to everything this country (and especially our party) is supposed to be about. *see Velma fume on your behalf*

[prolesunited]

26. Well, if I supported "the Party"

I wouldn't have a problem. Thing is, I can't tolerate corruption and tainting the voting process no matter what corner it comes from — Dem or Republican. Fact is, they know me and would love to have me on board, I just can't play their games. That's why I go for the Congressional and national level.

But, I'm really happy for you. Let us know how everything goes.

[tkulesa]

24. Good for you.

I respect people who volunteer and put their heart into it. We need good people working at all levels.

Now I'm even more of a fan of yours. :)

[Aristus]

25. Congratulations, Vel. I'm proud of you.

I know you will do a wonderful job.

Hold you? Thought you'd never ask.

:hug:

I missed you.

:-)

[VelmaD]

29. You mean all I have to do is ask?

Kewl. :-) Missed you too sweetie. :hug:

Sorry it took so long to reply. Was out doing grunt work for the local ACLU. We spent an hour stuffing envelopes and got pizza for our labors. WOOHOO!

[silverlib]

27. Thank you, Velma!!

That's great news.

I bet you'll enjoy this and what a contribution to be making in the process.

[KCDem]

28. Awesome, Velma!

I'm proud of ya. Let me know what it entails--I might be interested in the future. Right now, I'm busy trying to figure life out.

[VelmaD]

30. I'll keep you posted

I've been trying to figure life out for a while now and just decided that I was never gonna have it figured out so I might as well get up and do something with myself in the mean time. :)