30 organizers from 8 states at the DNC today for two-day training.

This is where part of the money is going that Paul Begala is so concerned about. I love this idea.

I love the idea that Howard Dean is going to Alaska for a fundraising dinner on May 31. I like that idea. Doing the same old things did not work since 2000, so this way of organizing all over just might.

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/05/organizers_in_t.php

"It's training day today. 30 Organizers, from 8 states, are here for an intensive two-day training, which will cover everything from building precinct teams, to communicating a message, to developing an election day plan - the nuts and bolts of an effective 50-State Strategy.

I just listened in on the morning session, a review of the 50-State Strategy, and I could smell the energy, the excitement and the commitment in the room. Signing on to be an organizer is a big step for a campaign staffer - making a multi-year commitment, instead of the usual few months, is a big change from the vagabond campaign lifestyle.

Yet that is what these 30, and 120 others, have done. They've committed to working in states across the country, from the reddest red to the bluest blue to build a party infrastructure that will take back the country.

Events like the April 29th National Organizing Day are just the beginning of what we can accomplish when we are fighting in every district, in every state, and these young men and women are going to be on the front-lines."

Organizers in the Afternoon
Posted by Tracy Joan Russo on May 22, 2006 at 01:05 PM

"I'm sitting in the afternoon organizer training session. It's a working lunch session: "Volunteers: The Building Blocks of Your Precinct Program".

Sandi Jackson, our Deputy Training Director, is leading the discussion and it's fun to hear everyone's tales from the field.

Building a solid volunteer team for a party, a campaign, or a cause is worth its weight in gold. But reaching out, finding those volunteers is often the hardest part of a field organizers' job. I read a study after the 2004 election that said the most common reason an individual didn't get volunteer for a candidate or attend a political event was that they had never been asked to do so.

This is a crucial part of the 50-State Strategy. It was one of the main goals of the April 29th Canvass: to get out there and talk with our neighbors, ask them if they are interested in learning more about the Democratic Party and ultimately, getting more people involved in the process."

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/05/organizers_in_t_1.php

And more:
New Targets
Posted by Tracy Joan Russo on May 22, 2006 at 02:10 PM

"We're on to a new session - it's all about targeting - i.e. deciding who we are going to spend our resources on, and where we are going to do it.

Parag Mehta, our Director of Training, is discussing new ways of targeting - of the importance of talking to everyone, everywhere - and not just relying on swing voters.

Things I've Been Reminded Of This Afternoon:

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is the most effective, important communication that can come out of a campaign or state party. Talking to people who you grew up with, live near and see on a daily basis means so much more than sending a stranger to do the job.
It's important to talk to everyone. Old-school targeting, which looks at past performance, means you cut out a large portion eligble voters - like new voters, young voters, or new members of your community.
Sometimes the larger goal isn't just to win - because some precincts won't cross into the blue in a single cycle, but you can move them closer to that goal, and you can help add votes from your precinct, to help reach state-wide goals.
It's been an interesting session, a lot of math, too many acronymns, but a good reminder of why we need a 50-State Strategy."

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/05/new_targets.php