If I had a photo of me shooting myself in the foot, I would post it here:
For I have now signed up on Plurk and Twitter.
Oh what have I done?!?
Yesterday I met an interesting person who happens to share some of my political views. She recently moved from a place where her views were in the minority and she is finding it much easier to express herself here in Portland. That got me thinking about all the great people I know who do not agree with me on politics and/or religion. Many of them are in my family and some of them I would never discuss "touchy" subjects with. (Sorry about that dangling preposition, Ms. Brunken.)
For all the talking we have on TV and Radio, we have precious little communication. So I decided to send the following letter to my circle and will see what happens.
__________________________
Last night I heard Sarah Vowell (a wonderful author, comedian and history buff) talking about FDR's fireside chats. I had to go check them out.
To read or listen to them: http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches
FDR showed real leadership and not just in dealing with congress or dealing with crisis. I feel he provided links between the people of the nation and their government. He explained and he cajoled. He stressed what individuals could do and helped to dispel fear by urging individual action. I have heard nothing so inspiring from my current president.
I do not feel that our nation is teetering on the brink collapse. But the situation will get worse if we believe it will and if we see more situations like the recent post-bailout $400,000 AIG "retreat." It will get worse if we do not have leadership and if we are fearful of our government and of each other.
I think everyone knows who I support for president. I don't mean for this to be a campaign ad, but forgive me. This current election is the most important one I have ever experienced and I would like to be open & respectful with my friends. I support Obama because he is level-headed and smart. I trust his motives and his consistency. If he were (heaven forbid) not able to complete his term, his vice president has the depth of experience to lead us.
So, feel free to talk to me about why you agree or disagree. Feel free to talk to your neighbors about the same. I respectfully ask that we avoid demagogues and inflammatory rhetoric and speak about solutions. When we only talk to people we agree with, life is a bit boring, no?
Heidi McNamee
My friends and family are ready for a change in our nation's leadership. We worked with our neighbors and with friends whom we had never met before to create an enormously popular bake sale for Barack. Not only did we watch community building in action, but we made $1400 in seven hours.
This amazing experience had its beginning at a "Mom's Night Out." Kristin, Dawn, Amy and I were bemoaning the state of the nation and the closeness of the presidential campaign - this was before the conventions and the VP announcements.
We decided we needed to do something productive with our passion.
Yes, it was some work. Joyful & fulfilling work. Anyone could do this and I think more people should. Hence, this posting on my otherwise not so useful and neglected blog. We had a blast, our kids had an important civics lesson and we put our beliefs into action. It felt great.
If you want to do this, here are some things to think about:
Before the event
- Get a commitment from a small group of friends
- Send out evites
- Open an account on the Barack Obama website so you can post your event. We had 14 RSVPS from the site. Everything from mountains of treats to all-day help. Outstanding!
- Get Schwag. Schwag= branded merchandise. If you are in the Portland area and need resources because the campaign is all out, email me for help
- Check in with your local Obama HQ beforehand. Get the rules, donation forms, voter registration forms and handouts
- Get balloons & decorations
- Bake some yummy treats
- Move the cars in front of your selling area so you have good visibility on the street.
- Make yard signs/chalk signs and get neighbors permission to use their property to post signage
- Make table top signage
- Get ice and drinks
- Have stuff for kids to do: bubbles, chalk, coloring pages
- Pre assemble yard signs so they are grab-n-go
- Have extra tables and chairs handy. We needed every table I could scrounge for backstock and hanging out
- Get a cash box, change, paper & pens
- Pre plan healthy food for your volunteers. Silly me, I thought I'd be able to cook pizza. Not a chance
And during the event
- Have 2 people on the money table at all times
- Make sure you fill out donation forms for checks, credit cards (!) and sizable donations
- Invite the kids to yell up business on the street corners. They loved this as much as the goodies
- We priced things "small: $1-2, medium: $2-3, large: Make an Offer". Worked great
- Make regular money drops to a secure location
- Be prepared for undecided/McCain voters. Listen to their concerns and strive for dialog. You are building community not performing on a cable "debate"
- Take photos
- Have fun
And after
- Take the leftovers and money to the Obama HQ volunteers
- Send out thanks and follow-ups
- Put up a sign after the event with a big THANKS and the total raised
- Tell everyone you know how fun it was so they will do it too
Never underestimate the power of a cute kid or a silly hat.
You will have business if you create a happy scene.
Shyness or decorum are not assets.
Get out there and get busy
Taking (another) quick break from filing the paper debris of my life.
I would ask how this tall pile of deferred anxiety could happen, but I know the answer all too well! Living life is much more interesting than keeping it all organized. And yet, I am the type of person who thinks everything might be useful later. This is not always the most productive combination.
Today's momentary clearing of flat surfaces is brought to you by:
a friend who will be using the computer later
my dear loved ones who are building inventions at another friend's house
my own chagrin
lots of caffeine!
Powered by the sounds of Yoav http://www.myspace.com/yoavmusic
This is my second year dabbling in 4H at Audra's school. Originally, I wanted to find something fun to do together, make friends at her new school, and learn something new.
It worked!
This year, I wanted to learn more about things I've never done before. It's great fun working with my friend Jess. She's the one who really knows how to hold the compass; I'm just exploring like the kids. We're doing a longer class (1 1/2 hours) over a shorter timeframe (8 weeks instead of 16). We still run overtime and have more material than we can use, but it's good to leave everyone wanting more!
After saying for years that we would get chickens, this is finally the year!
If we had added birds to the family 'way back when we first started yammering about it, we would have been cutting edge. Now we're just following the flock!
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O, well, thank you for the article that you wrote article. A lot of time I was trying to find... read more
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