Have Clipboard, Will Travel

Hey there, fellow citizens of Demlandia, that magical parallel universe where all Democratic candidates are ahead in the polls by way more than the margin of error. The pace is picking up as I continue my work for Ruth's List Florida, Orange County Democratic Executive Committee and Organizing for America.

Put another way, my avatar, Eileen from the Obama Campaign, is out of control. While I still need lots of quiet time to keep in touch with my Buddha nature, my avatar is hosting phone banks, setting up voter registration events, using the VAN virtual phone bank to remind people to vote by mail, and planning neighborhood organizing meetings. I am trying to keep up!

Are you registered to vote?

Registering voters is a humbling experience. If I look at the return on investment (ROI) from my finance perspective, the return is extremely low, hardly worth the time and effort. I am learning that ROI has a different threshold in the world of grassroots political organizing. This viewpoint was clear from the story Joel told at a recent OCDEC meeting, where he trained the assembled Democrats to register voters in compliance with the new, more stringent rules in Florida. Joel remembered going with a team of six organizers to an event with about 1,000 people in attendance. After several hours, the total number of new registrations was three! As Joel said, that was three more than would have been registered if they hadn't showed up.

I tried to keep that story in mind as I waited to see if anyone would show up to register to vote at the clubhouse of my apartment complex last Saturday afternoon. With support from management, I had included flyers on the registration drive to all residents in the monthly newsletter and followed up with flyers in the clear boards at each of the 14 buildings. A few more flyers taped to the wall of the mail room completed the publicity campaign.

I am happy to report that eight residents showed up, Florida Driver's License in hand, to update their registration information or to register for the first time. Everyone said they appreciated the convenience. In line with grassroots ROI standards, this was a real success.

Great Teamwork - and not so much

Joel, OFA co-coordinator for Central Florida, conducted voter registration training at the OCDEC meeting last night. The assembled Dems then took the requisite quiz and signed the affidavit qualifying them to register voters under the more stringent registration rules put in place by the Republican-controlled Florida legislature in 2011. Great teamwork between the local Democrats and the Obama campaign, which is taking the lead on voter registration!

Now, the not so much. At the start of the meeting, candidates for Orlando City Mayor hammered each other. A major point of contention was the endorsement of a Republican by a Democratic officeholder.

The Cookie Monster comes to the rescue. I bought a box of Girl Scouts shortbread cookies from a beautiful young girl who set up shop outside the meeting hall. The box did not make it out of the building. As the meeting passed the 2-hour mark, I shared the cookies with Anna, Ida, Joe and my other fellow Dems to reverse a dangerous drop in blood sugar. Next time, I'll pack a lunch.

Bumper Sticker Stories

Jessica tells me that the Obama campaign is looking for stories about bumper stickers. Here is my submission.

I noticed one other car in my apartment complex with an Obama bumper sticker. For weeks, I staked out the car at every opportunity, hoping to see the owners. One afternoon, as I getting ready to go to the supermarket, I saw a young couple get into the car. They locked the doors and were getting ready to take off. I did not let that stop me. Running toward the car and waving my arms in the air, I called out that I was another supporter of President Obama. While I must have looked like a lunatic, they did roll down the windows. I introduced myself; we exchanged contact information; and they are now members in good standing of the Orlando Airport Neighborhood team to re-elect President Obama.

Ladies Night at the Obama Campaign

Sign-in sheets ready. Check! Hand-outs on Obama accomplishments for women printed. Check! Door Welcome sign good to go. Check! Assorted edibles, including miniature pastries, on hand. Check! Speaker phone and dial-in information tested. Check!

Tonight I will host a Women for Obama gathering to connect with First Lady Michelle Obama on a national conference call. This is my third Obama event at my apartment since the beginning of 2012. I'm on a roll.

My Avatar Goes with the Flow

I am hosting a gathering on February 22nd for Women for Obama, to connect with First Lady Michelle Obama on a national conference call. Because of technical difficulties (you really don't want to know), I cannot use the VAN to schedule women who say they will attend when I call them. They have to go to the Obama website themselves to RSVP. Given the limited capacity of my apartment, I am trying to manage attendance carefully. That goal was thrown into doubt when the Obama campaign sent an email to "women who live in my area" with the event announcement, including my address. Control-freak Eileen freaked out.

Wisely, I entered Demlandia, my parallel universe. My avatar, Eileen from the Obama campaign, was not at all perturbed. She is ready to handle whatever happens on Wednesday with a positive, cheerful attitude. My avatar is so cool!

Let's register some voters!

I have my clipboard, my pen and my checklist of the voter registration process. Tomorrow afternoon I will be at the Osceola County Art Festival to register voters, whether they be Democrats, Republicans, Independents or members of the Party of What's Happening Now.

It will be a relief to take action after spending so much time reading about various controversies. First, Komen's decision to cut grants to Planned Parenthood to provide mammograms to lower income women. Then the uproar over the decision to require employers to provide health insurance coverage for contraception to women without co-pays. My brain hurts from trying to live in two historical periods at the same - Modernity and the Middle Ages.