Everyone should be volunteering once per week. If you haven't started yet...

[Infinite Hope]

you're very late, but it's never too late. You need to start this week. Stop talking about it, stop talking even unless it's to voters for at least 2-3 hours a week on the doors or on the phones. Wearing a shirt, wearing a button, talking to the choir does next to NOTHING. Get out on the DOORS. Get out on the PHONES. PERSUADE VOTERS 2-3 HOURS PER WEEK.

End of rant...this organizer is tired of lazy people who talk the talk, but never walk. Hopefully that's not the case here, but the reality is for many posters here it is. Are you going to play lazy and take it for granted...then bitch and complain for 4 more years? If you are not on the doors or phones 2-3 hours a week, you aren't even trying. Everyone can adjust their schedules to make room for 2 hours per week. You can call from an office, knock with local campaigns, or call from home even. There are programs for that. GET OUT AND ****WORK****!!!!

[Cant trust em]

1. Everyone who reads this should rec the thread.

I hope for this to be make the greatest page by the time I finish this response.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

2. Thanks.

Bickering and complain gets you nothing but 4 more years of stuff to bicker and complain about. Get off your asses and do something. If you believe in saying "Fuck McCain, and Fuck Palin" leave the computer behind for a while and get on the phones like some of us have been doing, stand in the heat and register people to vote. Convince, break it down to people. This is our chance and damn it I am doing the best that I can to help the campaign in anyway possible. Do it now.

[Extend a Hand]

3. If you live in the south dayton burbs (Ohio)

Please, Please PM me because we are canvassing every Sunday AND WE NEED HELP!!!!!!!

[ladym55]

4. And while volunteering

You'll meet lots of good people ... like-minded people ... and terrific staffers who are full of energy and idealism.

[gratefultobelib]

5. Like me! And you, too, I would imagine.

[Infinite Hope]

20. Exactly. It brings one so much hope to work beside such like-minded people...

contacting voters who are not necessarily like-minded. Even the most timid people can do it effectively once they try phoning or knocking. After 6-12 doors/calls, it goes well.

[Infinite Hope]

21. Exactly. It brings one so much hope to work beside such like-minded people...

contacting voters who are not necessarily like-minded. Even the most timid people can do it effectively once they try phoning or knocking. After 6-12 doors/calls, it goes well.

I should add one common technique is to make a few practice calls to friends or family before calling unknown voters.

[usregimechange]

6. NTL in MO.

[CitizenPatriot]

7. Kick!

You will meet GREAT people, it will alleviate your anxiety, you will make a huge difference and you will LOVE it.

I can't wait until the end of this week, when my team will be making a HUGE fucking announcement. You will see it in the papers -- but you got the first breeze of it here.

It feels AWESOME to be a part of this.

No, don't ask me to talk about it yet, as it's part of the strategy not to let it out yet. But as soon as it is, I will POST a huge post here! If you join the campaign, you will get all of the good news in disclosure, too:-)

I'm so Proud of this red-- no, let me say maybe BLUE now -- state!

Those of you in BLUE states can make phone calls to swing states. We need all of your help! People need to talk about the issues and be told what Obama's plans are. Sometimes they just haven't been paying attention.

GREAT POST K & R

[OHDEM]

10. Are you in Ohio?

I'm hoping!

I'm volunteering every other week & for different causes. This time my monthly group is for Obama! I think we're phone banking. I did canvassing for the first time Saturday & I enjoyed that more than phone banking. Although that was for a ridiculous issue to overturn the cap on payday loans. MOST people agree! It's harder for folks to be rude to your face.

The people you meet are great! Interesting & funny, in my experience. It helps you feel less frustrated, too. Like even if it's only in a small way, you're making a difference.

I met a Vietnam Vet who told me Giuliani's speech put him over the top for OBAMA! He couldn't believe he was laughing at community organizers. He knows McCain voted against vets, too!

[Infinite Hope]

11. Very interesting. n/t

[CitizenPatriot]

12. No, I'm in a RED state

that is NOT in "play";-) old south here

it's tricky sometimes registering people; a few whackos -- but very rewarding.

good for you for all the work you're doing!

[stillcool]

8. We have less than 2 months left..

it's now or never time.

[chicagoexpat]

9. Time spent blogging & posting to forums DON'T COUNT as "work"

[qwlauren35]

13. But the Internet IS a powerful tool if used correctly.

I actually spend a lot of time on line, connecting different people to campaign activities, letting a wide spectrum of people know about Canvassing and phone banking events that they might not have seen on my.barackobama.com, and just generally answering questions.

I try not to get too caught up in Palinmania, because it's such a distraction. But I do set the record straight about how dirty she is.

What my aunt does, is stays positive. She really does hate listening to us whine.

Oh... and I absolutely respect EVERYONE who chooses not to canvass, because it's hard work, and can be scary. So is calling. Why lie? Some people are pissed that you're calling, and will let you know in a heartbeat.

So, I tend to simply ask that everyone do what they can. If you have a bit of money, but no time, please donate. If you have time but no money, please advocate. If you have no money and minimal time, please consider wearing Obama gear, and just having conversations with the people you come in contact with.

It's only those who do NOTHING that fill me with despair. Not anger, just sadness. I save my anger for the other side.

[Infinite Hope]

14. Correct. However preaching to the choir is not useful.

That's not to say it's not okay to use DU. That's not to say there aren't other volunteer opportunities that aren't adequate as a certain individual claims was my claim. The point is, preaching to the choir is useless if you aren't helping to facilitate voter contact in some way. Whether that's letters to the editor, knocking, calling, etc...facilitate voter contact 2-3 hours per week (at least).

[chicagoexpat]

15. NOTHING you do online preaching to the choir or inflaming the opposition will help Obama get elected

That reminds me of the story about someone looking for their car keys...

I saw someone crawling around on his hands and knees seemingly looking for something at night,directly under a street lamp.

When I asked him about it, he said "I'm looking for my car keys that I lost in the bushes!"

I laughed and said, "Hey, buddy, if you lost your keys over there in the bushes,why are you looking here under the street light?"

To which he replied indignantly, "Boy are you stupid, it's too dark to look for them over in the bushes!!"

Not to offend, but what you're doing online doesn't do a thing to affect the election outcome. You're doing what's easy,when the votes are over there in the bushes. "Telling others" of canvassing opps by e-mail is not real work, it's SPAM.

[Infinite Hope]

18. Amen! Nobody likes doorknocking or phonecalling right away. It's something you quickly come to enjoy

when you make yourself initially step out of your comfort zone. Many of not most activists and organizers at some point had to step out of their comfort zone in order to start doing what they're doing (usually on a volunteer basis). You have to "just do it." After the first 10 minutes, it's easy.

[kayell]

16. Started last week - phonebanking

1 1/2 hours per night/ most nights

What's more important for the next 2 months?

[Infinite Hope]

19. Phonebanking and Doorknocking (Voter Contact) are the most important.

The fact that you are doing 1.5 hours per night several nights a week as a volunteer is insane, but completely awesome! That's a lot of devotion and THANK YOU from the bottom of my organizer heart. We need thousands more like you. For the next 55 days, people should be able to give up at least 1 night a week. That's only about 6 nights!

You, my friend, are going above and beyond and that is so very heartening.

[Fran Kubelik]

17. Yes yes yes.

Thank you for posting this!!!