My experience volunteering for Obama today was...(Pics, too!)

OUTSTANDING. I'm so tired from today...woke up early, was really excited all the time - draining in a good way! - phone banked for a while until one of the coordinators pulled my friend and I from our call list and told us to sit at the main desk, man the phones and welcome people. We ended up doing a lot more than that, but it never got boring. We were really outgoing and friendly and in a great mood all day, so I guess that was good :P

I was there from noon til about nine and got to know some of the volunteers who stayed allllllll day pretty well. What great people! Everyone was nice and funny and smart and laid back and respectful and helpful at all times. I was on the phone with a blind man for 45 minutes, reading him the call script word for word and then reading him a list of 15 senior voters he could call in PA because he was so determined to help out, despite his disability. I contacted a supportive Dem. in PA who is wheelchair bound and was sad that she couldn't volunteer in any way - until I told her about the Neighbor to Neighbor tools and she promised to get right on it!

I'm going back in even earlier tomorrow and probably Monday, too. A ton of people complimented my friend and I for coming to do this even though we can't vote (I'm three months too young and she's one year too young) but we explained that we just can't imagine how someone could not want to be part of this. Gah. I just can't express how wonderful today was. All my fears of not knowing enough or not fitting in or not being ok on the phones...just went away! It was such a great atmosphere. We cheered each other up after the occasional nasty phone response...

Guys, go out and do this. Do it from home but also try and go to your local campaign. We called somewhere between 3,600-3,900 people (I forget the number and it was only a few hours ago! Pfft.), got through to 666 (I remember that one :P I was the tally-counter-poster-making-person for the evening) and had about ~250 strong supporters of Barack and Joe. Take that as you will. Each person who entered the room added anywhere between 30 and 200 calls to our list for the day. YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. You wouldn't believe how many people are still undecided - and opening yourself up to a conversation with them is a great thing!




My long-time friend Sydney who I haven't seen in 6 years...but I decided to ask her on Facebook if she'd come to the HQ with me for the first time (knowing she's of a similar political mindset) and she was ecstatic! It was great to see her and be able to reconnect through such cool means.




Two little kids making posters!





Our call lists for the day...two on the door in the background, one on the wall in the foreground. The third one was full by the time the day was over.




Self in the window on the left. Hello, self!



Sign up sheets for phone banks in NYC...for just Saturday (today, which is now over) and Sunday. LOOK AT THAT!



I'm gonna print out some great Obama/Biden pics to hang on the walls tomorrow...looks a little bare in the main hallway. What do you suggest?

oops. Forgot to mention those were great pics!!!

going back to high school on Tuesday where no one gives a damn is going to be heartbreaking, but I'm already working out my schedule so that I can be there after-school on at least three days a week. I must help out more, I've gotta have this sort of positive force in my life. Can't belieeeeeeeve I put it off this long!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now I'm verklempt.

and the one I'm gonna wear tomorrow has a picture of Barack and Joe, the Hebrew year on it and beneath that it says "Such a ticket!" ahahaha, thanks, grandma...

at our head quarters there's always food for the troops. And recycle bins.

a box of cookies, a big dunkin donuts box-o-joe thing and some pistachios. mmmmmm.

bring some fruit

Here is a good source for pictures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rUAFUoz3jc

The contrast could not be more stark. May God protect Obama from all hatred, lies and violence. It will be a privilege living in this country while Obama is president. I can't wait for the unfolding of this beautiful story.

Good job. Excellent post!

:hi:

getting an early start by getting Obama and Biden elected in three weeks!

Wonderful post, wonderful pics, wonderful young lady and friends.

It seems that everyone here at DU has either 1) time or 2) money.

Those of us with more time than money can volunteer, even from home (if that blind guy in parabolabear's post doesn't inspire you, nothing will). Too shy to phonebank? (that was me 20 years ago) They always need folks to run errands, man the front desk, or do organizational tasks. No matter what your skill set, they'll find a role for you.

Those of us with more money than time can drop off financial support or supplies. Stop by your local HQ with a gift card to your local office supply store - that's what our local coordinator requests in lieu of actual cash. Or just go ahead and buy a few big packs of posterboard (notice in all the pictures how much posterboard there is?) and show up - they always need posterboard, and will need it up until Nov 4.

Or stop by with food or beverages - water, energy drinks, fruit, snacks, pizza

(idea #1 is mine - idea #2 is from a DU person in Wilmington who is swamped with work, but wanted to do something for his local Delaware volunteers)