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Friday, March 30
DFA Training Works for Iowa
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 30 Mar 2007 12:34 PM CDT
DFA Training Works for Iowa
By Sam Garchik
Last weekend, DFA Training Academy came to Eastern Iowa to teach us Iowans how to be good campaigners. I was surprised that, in a state where half the congressmen and senators are Democrats and we have a Democratic governor and state legislature, DFA could teach us so much.
The most interesting thing I learned from the Vermonters was how to be a better campaign data manager. I thought I understood NCEC and how to analyze targeting data, but I learned a lot about how to manage and massage public information to get a more accurate idea where to find votes. Kendra Sue Derby and Arshad Hasan did a great job of explaining the persuasion index, and helped me figure out how to use this model on every campaign I work for in the future.
The second training session I liked was on campaign finance and fundraising. Selene Hofer-Shall gave a great pitch on how to raise money without putting in any overhead of your own – you ask people to donate money for the building and for the food. Having worked on a campaign that made most of the mistakes she warned against, I knew what she was saying was true.
Beyond the information, the Academy provided me with a good sense of who else in the state was interested in networking. Iowa is a pretty big place, occupying over 60,000 square miles. It’s nice to see progressive networks growing. For example, Marshalltown and the Selden Spencer campaign (IA – 4) sent a significant contingent to the training. In 2006, we sent two new Democratic Congressmen to Washington, DC, and we continue to look forward to helping Spencer go there in 2008.
Missing from all of this was any notice of presidential campaigns. Most of us in the room seemed to agree that in-state party building was more important, at least at this stage. For example, two regional organizations – Progressive Action for the Common Good and the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa, were both represented. These groups work on issues rather than on individuals, and are effective means of getting messages spread quickly in regions.
In leaving the academy, I look forward to offering my skills to any campaign out there, and working with DFA activists around the nation to improve small campaigns abilities to take on significant challenges ahead.
Friday, March 23
Democracy for America Kicks Off Campaign Training Academy
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 23 Mar 2007 11:29 AM CDT
Democracy for America Kicks Off Campaign Training Academy with the Following Guest Speakers
By Rapid Response
Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America, Dave Loebsack, Congressman for Iowa's 2nd District Selden Spencer, candidate for Congress in Iowa's 4th District, Tom and Christie Vilsack will speak at a social open to the public Sat. eve. at 7:00 Rob Hogg (Linn), Elesha Gayman (Scott), Art Staed (Linn), Iowa legislators will hold a panel discussion Sunday Johnson
County's own Dave Leshtz will be facilitating 2 sessions on caucus
training and John Crabtree from the Center for Rural Affairs will be
facilitating break-outs on rural issues. It is not too late to sign up: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17104. Scholarships still available. Students, seniors and low-income may sign up at reduced rate (half price).
"The
DFA training taught my campaign how to analyze voter data, how to
establish real-world goals and benchmarks, and how to talk to voters,
volunteers, and the media. Campaigning is a skill, and it's something that every progressive activist should know. I'm certain we wouldn't have been able to win without the support and training of DFA."
--Rep. Elesha Gayman IA-84, DFA Training Academy 2006 Graduate
Friday, March 16
Democracy for America Kicks Off Campaign Training Academy with Governor Tom Vilsack and U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack in Cedar Rapids
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 16 Mar 2007 09:32 AM CDT
Democracy for America Kicks Off Campaign Training Academy with Governor Tom Vilsack and U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack in Cedar Rapids
By Sheri Divers
Building on the momentum of the 2006 electoral victories,
Democracy for America will launch its national 2007 campaign training
schedule in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with Governor Tom Vilsack and newly
elected U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack on Saturday, March 24-25, 2007
at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa Hall, 6301 Kirkwood Boulevard
Southwest.
The 2008 Presidential Race has begun.
Thousands of Democracy for America (DFA) grassroots activists from over
850 local groups across the country have registered for campaign
training in their cities because they are taking an active role in this
race as well as the state and municipal elections in 2007.
The
DFA Training Academy features experienced campaign professionals and
covers practical strategies and tactics in areas such as
communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing, and
building a sustainable grassroots movement. The program is designed to
be practical and immediately useful in community organizing activities.
These skills are essential for activists who will volunteer with
presidential primary campaigns or run for elected office.
Currently,
DFA has trained over 10,000 activists across America leading to over
500 electoral victories at all levels of national, state and local
government. Representative Loebsack will speak with community activists
on Saturday during lunch at 12:30 and Governor Vilsack is scheduled to
appear on the same day at 7pm.
“Our DFA Training Academy
graduates are using their power to turn these victories into a lasting
movement,” said Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean.
Venue Info:
Grassroots Campaign Training Academy
Date: March 24-25 (Saturday & Sunday)
Time: 9:00am-6:00pm both days
Location: Iowa Hall, Kirkwood Community College
Address: 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
For more information, contact Trish Nelson at nelsonaction@yahoo.com 803-242-1150.
For more training locations, visit: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/training
Democracy
for America, which was founded by Howard Dean in 2004, is a political
action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network of socially
progressive and fiscally responsible activists running for all levels
of office – from the school board to the Presidency. DFA is empowering
everyday Americans to reform their political system.
Tuesday, March 13
DFA Training in CR on March 24/25
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 13 Mar 2007 06:45 AM CDT
DFA Training in CR on March 24/25
By Arshad Hasan, Training Director
DFA Training AcademyThe DFA Training Academy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is nearing capacity. Dozens of progressives from throughout the region have already signed up for this two day campaign training event on March 24-25.
Reserve your seat today
Whether you want to organize your neighborhood, manage a campaign or run for office yourself in Cedar Rapids -- you'll learn the skills to win. Congressman Dave Loebsack, Iowa Senator Joe Bolkcom as well as Iowa Representatives Elesha Gayman and Art Staed will join you in building the emerging Democratic majority.
At the DFA Training Academy, experienced campaign professionals will cover practical strategies and tactics including communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing, and building a sustainable grassroots movement. We design the program so you can go out and use the skills you learn right away. Then, we follow up with you to make sure you have the support you need to organize your community.
Unfortunately, our available seats are going fast. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn with the best!
RSVP today
I hope to see you in Cedar Rapids.
Thursday, March 1
DFA Training Academy Testimonial
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 01 Mar 2007 12:39 PM CST
DFA Training Academy Testimonial
By Alta Price
When Caryn Unsicker attended our DFA Training Academy last April in the Illinois Quad Cities, she was already a successful peace activist and had started to organize in opposition to the world's largest hog slaughterhouse that the powers-that-be were trying to foist upon her community, against the wishes of the vast majority of its citizens. I knew her well enough to drag her to the Training Academy, although never having been to one, I wasn't sure if it was designed for grassroots activists not interested in political campaigns.
As it turned out, Caryn - and everyone else - loved the Training Academy. She thought it was the most interesting training she had ever attended. Of course at the time she never dreamed she'd one day be running for office!
Caryn was able to put her training to immediate use. Her Silvis City Council was the only one of five local governments to vote against making the proposed slaughterhouse site an enterprise zone, thus giving them added incentives to locate here. The powers-that-be, including the local Democratic Party establishment, decided to punish the alderman who stood up against the hog plant by running pro-slaughterhouse candidates in the Democratic primary. Caryn decided to run for the Silvis City Council herself.
The strategies she and her volunteers learned at the Training Academy were invaluable in running her low budget, grassroots campaign. She knocked on doors and made phone calls, and DFAers turned out to knock on the door of every Democratic primary voter in her ward. On election day we knew how to get her supporters out to vote.
Caryn beat her pro-slaughterhouse opponent, 87 votes to 61 votes. Although that might not seem like a lot of votes, Caryn got more votes in her race than anyone else in the four primary races in Silvis, including three other races featuring incumbents with opponents. We were glad that the three anti-slaughterhouse incumbents all won as well. In Silvis Democrats get elected, so we are confident that Caryn Unsicker will go on to win the general election in April.
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