With some hair pulling and cross words we finally landed an adequate staging location yesterday that will work. We traded a secluded residential headquarters in our precincts for a highly visible commercial office a few miles away from our precincts. Our bet is that people are willing to drive a little further if it’s an area they’re familiar with, they know parking will be available and it’s generally more professional looking. Gas is below $2 a gallon here so we’re hoping a few more miles won’t deter volunteers.
Today we start the actual get-out-the-vote process of canvassing all of our precincts multiple times before the polls close on Tuesday. We have a couple hundred volunteers signed up to knock on doors and make phone calls over the next 4 days. Our job is to keep them organized, provide direction and goals and make sure they have the tools they need to do their job. Our support staff will make sure they and our poll watchers have food and water and anything else they need (yeah, well, not that).
Jane and I will be working with the majority of the volunteers except for the phone bankers and the all-important polling place operation. We’ve been confirming shifts and making sure we haven’t forgotten to call someone. My car is loaded with clipboards, literature, volunteer lists, files, maps and directions, canvasser instructions, sign up sheets, pens, pencils and a BIG box with the rest of the treats. I hope someone remembers to bring aspirin.
We all have assigned roles and instructions to “stay in our lane”. No freelancing, no breaking the chain of command. Stay focused, encourage the other volunteers, answer questions, and for heaven’s sake, don’t leave your post on Election Day until the last person has cast their vote.
I’ll try to post again before Election Day but it all depends on what time I drag myself home every day. If you don’t hear from me that’s a good thing.
Thanks for all your efforts. It is making a difference!
Do you know there is nothing like that going on here. I’m a registered Independent and I thought I’d hear from either camp about my vote and nothing. I understand NY is for Obama but it beats me why people think so since all I hear are negatives about him, and mostly the comments are some of the more stupid rumors, the latest being that he’s not a citizen. Where the hell did people take their education? We’re voting for him from this house but the panic that he could win has a lot of people in need of medication. The Republican campaigns around here are nasty and petty – nothing on policy. It’ll be over soon.
I am amazed at all you are doing.
Thanks for all the Obama stuff. I love it! I will wear it with pride. Although I don’t put bumper stickers on my car, I put it (Stood it, not stuck it) in my hall window for all to see. And? I’m wearing the TATTOO!!!!
I love it!
Thanks for sharing!
xo