DU Needs a forum for gatherings & Dem get-togethers.

Does anyone know if there are any locations on this site where you can post info on local Democratic or DU get-togethers?

If there was a happy hour or other type of gathering occasionally, I would go and I bet a lot of other people would too.

I think get-togethers should have their own forum, broken down by state. Progressives getting together and trading ideas in person is going to be essential to re-building our party and maintaining some urgency, commitment, and cohesiveness.

My 2cents.

look on the right side of the home page -- then notice that it says "there are no local gatherings listed."

Maybe we can email the Admins and ask them to set up a way for people to post messages there, and ask them to advertise it a little? Of course, right now we Texas DUers use this forum for such items -- need to figure whether adding another "place" to visit on DU for such info would be helpful or not. There might be value in seeing what's going on outside of TX too, to get ideas.

We could set it up with a protocol where it runs like any other forum, but each thread title should include the geographic area, date, and type of event, like "HOUSTON 2/26 -- Progressive Populist Caucus", etc.

There should be a constructive way to set this up so users can easily see what's going on in their state, or give them something to do if they are visiting another. Online interaction is nice and all, but I think it's essential that people be able to get out and meet other Dems in order bring about any kind of action.

Seems to me like us here in the Texas forum do a pretty good job of keeping each other informed though! :P

By the way, I really like your blog. Great story about the SS meeting.

What part of the state are you in?

I guess not a bad part compared to some. Seem to be a lot of Kerry and anti-Bush stickers on cars in my neighborhood. It's trying, but it's no Austin.

How are things in your area?

We elected three Democratic judges and LUPE VALDEZ as our new Sherriff! Weeeeeeee! Damn, I'm still happy about that. We also have a buttload of activist energy which we're struggling to direct.

Now, the burbs, pfffffft.

Hey, I went to school in SA! I hear it's changed a LOT since I went there though. None of that north of the city development was there. Now, at least you've got Van Os to spark your scene up. He's quite a pistol. What's he running for next, do you know?

And What we wanted him to run for. I said Senate.

What's his background? I just moved here from Chicago so I'm not super familiar with the local political scene. Just watching in horor as the GOP panders to the hispanic voters.

labor lawyer, populist firebreather. Check him out:

http://www.afightingdem.com/

You should join the yahoogroup TexasKerry; there's a gal on there from S.A. who appears to have a pretty good grip on the local scene, if you want to meet some more locals. :)

Bonilla plans to run for the Senate when Kay Breck Girl runs for governor so it will be an open seat. Davaid is very passionate about winning back rural Texas. With his fire-breathing populism, maybe he can show that it can be done and run well enough in West Bexar County and East El Paso to actually win. Imagine David Van Os in Congress!

Bwa ha! Good one!

FSC