When I first became involved in partisan politics in 1999, I was completely turned off by what I saw with the local Democratic Party. It looked like a bunch of old people who liked to hear themselves talk and hold boring meetings, but not much else.
In the decade since I’ve come to realize (with a lot of help from one Howard Dean) that for all its flaws, the Democratic Party is the most important and effective vehicle for progressive change in the country. And if we’re not satisfied with its direction, then it’s up to us to change it and not sit and grumble from the sidelines.
So let’s make it better, starting tonight.
DFA Night School kicks off it’s 2009 training season tonight with an hour long training dedicated to ‘Building a Better County Party’. I’ll be joined on the training by DFA’s Chair, Jim Dean as well as Jennifer Coken, the former Chair of the Denver County Democrats.
RSVP at the link above and you’ll be sent an email with the link to listen in live from your computer tonight at 8:30pm Eastern. Even if you can’t listen in live, you will be able to hear a recording of this training anytime.
This ‘Silent Revolution’ is one of the first and most important victories that we have accomplished together over the last five years.
As Training Director at Democracy For America, I’ve been lucky to get to travel the country the last few years training progressives in the art & science of a modern political campaign. One thing that I hear just about everywhere I go are stories about how progressives are taking control of their local Democratic Parties and turning them from social clubs to active and open organizations.
So many new volunteers have been brought into politics through the Obama campaign, and it is vitally important to get them involved now and not wait until the next election. Someone who started off phonebanking for Obama this year could become Chair of the county party after the next election, but only if we find ways to include them in the process and continue developing them as leaders in the Party.
Our training will focus on four main areas where most county parties can improve their work:
- Recruitment and Leadership Development
- Fundraising
- Precinct Organizing and Building Community
- Planning and Goal setting
We’ll be taking your questions throughout the hour via email. You can also leave questions in the comments down thread and we’ll try to answer as many as we can.
As one DFA leader and OfA volunteer put it in a message to me:
The County Party Dems here are hard working and sincere...they are surprised and pleased when new folks show up to help.
Don't be a critical outsider. Roll up your sleeves and become the party!.
Join us at 8:30pm Eastern tonight on DFA Night School as we work to make our local Democratic Parties better.