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Last weekend I attended a Train To Win event for candidates and campaign managers sponsored by the local county Democratic Party , and I learned an incredible amount about how to run a campaign and where my skills might fit into a campaign. Get thee to a training. Learn how campaigns work. Meet candidates. Meet campaigners. If we want to elect more and better Democrats, we need to put down the keyboard and pick up the ________________ [your choice] in the real world.
What I learned
I learned where my skills and my limitations would fit into a campaign. My wife is disabled, and I cannot spend a lot of time out of the house. But I can help candidates with my writing, editing, graphic design, and Daily Kos skills. Based on my experience at the training, many Democrats do not have a single clue about how valuable a tool Daily Kos is for electing more and better Democrats.
Overview of the Train To Win Two-Day Session
Such topics as:
- Washtenaw County Welcome
- Why We Are Here
- Why We Need Help
- Things I Wish I Knew Before I Ran
- Creating an Effective Plan
- Things to Consider Before Deciding to Run
- My Decision to Run
- Mechanics of Filing and Reporting
- Building Your Team
- Volunteer Recruitment and Management
- Fundraising
- The Treasurer
- Campaign Materials
- Using and Handling the Media
- Value of Endorsements
- Direct Voter Contact
- “Governing While ________”
Among the speakers were Eclectablog and peregrine kate. All the speakers brought terrific materials, slides and handouts.
Tonight’s Discussion
If you have been to a campaign training or know of one in your area, please let us know in the comments. If you are not yet a member of Daily Kos, you can sign up, become a member, and post comments immediately.
"Well actually, I have," she said. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) spoke briefly at the Ann Arbor meeting, and we all stood for a group photo. As we gathered for the picture, I introduced myself and told her I blogged on Daily Kos. She indicated with her eyes that she knew about Daily Kos. I then asked her if she had heard of the Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights bill (which the Daily Kos group Support the Dream Defenders crowd-sourced last year), she replied "Well actually, I have." After the picture-taking, as we returned toward the learning area, she said “That law is very important, we need to work on that.” I said “Shall I come to your office? When?” She said “The best way to contact me is via email. I am very receptive to email.” I sensed that she was inviting greater involvement, not putting me off.
Open Thread and Cross-Post with Our Sister Diary This is a Michigan open thread diary. I think another state will be posting at the same time, and I plan to invite cross-posting of the two diaries. Please Recommend, Tip, and broadcast to social media, and please do the same for our sister diary. I will post a link in the comments.
Tech Talk, DK5, Ask Us Anything I am loving DK5, although I stand in solidarity with Kossacks and readers who are having visual problems with the font and spacing. Ask us anything, and if I do not know, I am sure someone else will come along with an answer. I know a few workarounds already.
If you need writing, editing, and/or graphic design for campaign materials such as postcards, brochures, and or flyers, please let me know. For samples of graphic designs, please go here. |