I've just agreed to accept the position of Director of Activism at blogpac.org. Like all of my other jobs - culture-jammer, blogger, dad, husband, law student, household bathroom cleaner and dog poop picker upper - this job is unpaid.
No matter. It's immediately become my third-favorite (after dad and husband). (Good God... did I just type those words? I am such a sap... but it's true...)
Anyway, what do I do? Well this is the part that will make my third favorite job your favorite job for me to have.
I actually have two jobs. The first is to develop a method for awarding the Citizen Hero checks we are going to cut every month for outstanding activism.
Follow me over the flip...
At law school, I'm often asked what I want to do for the long term. After all, I'm pushing 40 and it's about time I set a course for the rest of my life... My answer has been that I want to find ways of incentivising political activism and participation... So you can imagine why I'm so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this innovative new project.
OK then... the ground rules. Every month I can give away up to $1,750 dollars.
Right now, there are no rules per se, but I was thinking of a $1,000 first prize, $500 second and $250 third. I want to know what y'all think.
Next, it is my job to identify the method that will be used to award the checks. I have a general idea of what characterizes good netroots activism and I could, if so inclined, simply reach out to individual bloggers and activist and tell them they've won. But I don't want to do that.
Instead, I want to hear from all of you - whose work have you found inspiring this month? Who are the little known ambassadors of the netroots that are doing the work of the angels without the recognition they deserve? Who's building the online network of progressives in your community that will be so influential in the elections of '08? Who has a great idea but can't get it implemented for want of a few dollars?
I know the story well. When I needed a few thousand dollars to make radio ads, y'all stepped up for me. I ended up making a YouTube ad and, in addition, spent some time making Senator Allen's acquaintance. It was nice.
But I can't be sure it would have happened if I hadn't felt your wind in my sails. I will say this plainly as I can. My knee was shaking uncontrollably when I approached Senator Allen - both times. I looked within, heard all of your voices, and knew I had to sieze the moment. Your support pushed me to do something I never would have been able to do on my own.
That kind of gift - your support - defies valuation.
So now we have the chance to spread some more of our lovin' around. As I said, this process has not yet been defined. I'm coming here to ask for your help. Help me answer the following questions:
- How do we identify nominees?
- My proposal: In the comments of the Tuesday diary I'll post every week
- How do we determine winners?
- My proposal: through the rec comment function
Next: how do we open up the process further? Eventually, we would like to make recurring payments to people that do sustained value-added work that furthers the voice and effectiveness of the netroots. we need to think long term about that goal...
Alright - I've got to talk about the second part of my job. You know, the truth is, I've never enjoyed asking for money. I've had to do it a few times to pay for hosting over at CallingAllWingnuts and to finance the anti-Allen ad campaign, but every time I went to the well, I felt kinda icky after hitting the submit button that launched the post...
Well, this time is different. I feel absolutely awesome about this, and I hope that hundreds of you will feel the same way as you click over to the blogpac donation page and make a deposit. Before you go though, please let me make a special request...
I want to see this project sustained. actually, that's not quite true - I want to see this project grow. By 2008, I'd love to see blogpac be a force in its own right. There will be billions spent on elections in the 2007-8 election season. As Chris Bowers noted yesterday, most of that money will go to marginally effective old-school consultants and media companies. Millions of dollars will come out of the netroots community. It is my sincere hope that we develop some horse-sense and learn that money spent best is often money spent in our own community.
So by all means, please go donate to blogpac, but let me ask something special. On the second page, after you submit the amount you want to donate, you will be asked if you want your donation to be a one-time donation or if you want it to recur. Please choose the latter. It's the only realistic shot we have of achieving any meaningful growth curve.
Finally a word or two about blogpac. It's principals are Matt Stoller and Chris Bowers. I can't think of anybody whose commitment to the health and welfare of the blogosphere has surpassed theirs. Sure, they may have equals, but nobody I know of has sacrificed or devoted as much to this netroots movement as they have. This organization's commitment to you... Well, to me, it's beyond questioning. I can think of no safer place to invest if your goal is to grow the netroots.
Oops - I guess I didn't mean it when I said "finally" in the previous paragraph... I just want to let you know that I'll be in and out of the comments answering any questions y'all have and talking more about some pretty exciting things blogpac is doing...
pss: don't forget ActBlue - they are an extraordinarily important component of the netroots juggernaut...