This is a very simple diary.
There's effectively 118 days left till election day 2008. I can assure that you that anyone who has worked in previous election cycles knows just how precious each one of those days will be.
In that light, given all that is at stake this election year, given the very real challenges we face in our communities, our nation, and our world I have a very simple message for you tonight no matter where you live, no matter how "red" or "blue" your state, or how big or small your locale:
You can make a difference.
And if, inspired by that thought, you are interested in joining a group of fellow activists and community organizers taking action across this land, please read the rest of this diary and let me tell you how...
I've joined together with a small team of activists to create a listserv for local progressive community activists and organizers from all over the USA.
We're calling that listserv: You Can Make a Difference.
This listserv is a place for those who know how powerful setting up folding tables with voter registration forms can be...or would like to learn. Our listserv is a place for those who know knocking door-to-door and holding community meetings...or would like to learn how. This listserv is a place to trade ideas and best practices and get inspired by what people like you, in cities and towns and rural areas are doing all over the USA to take our nation back.
And if there's one core theme to this email group, it's this: you can make a difference by getting involved in your community and empowering others with your story and knowledge.
If you are someone who is interested in getting involved and taking action in this election cycle in your local community, if you are someone moved by the way people are coming together in communities across this nation, large and small, and ESPECIALLY if you are from a rural area or an underserved community, then I'd like to invite you to join us tonight.
How?
It's really simple. You are at the ground floor.
All you have to do is FILL OUT THIS FORM and you can start sharing ideas and best practices with other activists like you.
You'll receive feedback and tips when you're down and praise and support when you succeed. You'll meet other folks just like you from around the country.
Now, the form is a little beefier than your standard listserv notice. Heck, given the response, it's probably too beefy, period! (And, yes, it goes without saying, please only fill it our if you are sincerely interested in the purpose of this group.) It will take ten minutes to fill out...and it may take a couple days before you are signed up and logged in to the Google Group. But the information you share will allow us to begin building a map of local community activists from across the United States and connecting organizers with each other in relevant ways.
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Will this group be perfect? Will it be for everyone? Probably not. But the team of activists assembled to build this group know first hand the power of getting involved locally and then sharing information with others doing the same.
This group is for those who understand the challenge inherent in what I wrote at the head of this diary: there's 118 days to the 2008 election. Let's make each one count. There's so much to do, and so many friends to make.
We can make a difference, and in 2008 we intend to do just that.