A few days before attending my 1st Netroots Nation Conference, I decided to publish a diary to announce my travel plans. I also plugged my partner James Perry, a candidate for Mayor of New Orleans, who was appearing on a panel discussing the recovery of New Orleans.
I was humbled by the response I received from this community and wanted to give a special thanks to those who stayed around to comment (I'll be around for an hour this time as well).
While James and I were at Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh we met and talked to people from all over the country, who care about the future of New Orleans.
As I walked with James after his panel we encountered many people who, while impressed by and supportive of James, were curious as to how he could expect to succeed in a city like New Orleans with such a history of machine politics.
People wondered how he could harness the power of the local progressive community and use social networking to organize a movement that could finally deliver the dramatic progress that New Orleans desperately needs.
Well, it involves you having dinner with us. Interested?
UPDATE X4: I can't thank you enough for all of your comments and the support you've shown James in signing up to be a part of this Foundation for Change. I'll be back tomorrow with an update on where we are toward the goal of 500 Foundation members by September 15th. Thanks again and can't wait to have dinner with you soon!
UPDATE X3: I hope everyone here will take a moment to sign up to follow James Perry on twitter and on facebook and share with him your thoughts on NOLA and the campaign.
UPDATE X2: Hey people! I cannot even begin to thank all of you for such an overwhelming response! Just make sure to check the "monthly donation" box on both pages when you donate to enter!
UPDATE: I'm on the rec list? Thanks people!!
As part of our conversations with progressives James explained that his campaign is based on three foundational beliefs.
First is the belief that the people of New Orleans deserve better leadership. The spirit, resolve, and hard work of the citizens should be honored by having a competent, honest, visionary leader in the Mayor's office.
Second is the understanding that all of the all of the things that must be addressed by the next Mayor of New Orleans in order to move the city forward will require bold ideas and something just as important. Bold stands like the courageous stand James took this past Friday.
Third is the belief that New Orleanians and Americans all over this country still care about the future of New Orleans.
We both have spoken with and heard from thousands of people who are remain deeply committed to a full recovery in the city.
That is why today James Perry is announcing a Foundation for Change and I'm inviting you to be a part of it.
To offer a little incentive we are also inviting one of you to join James and me for dinner. We will travel to your hometown, have a meal, and talk about the future of New Orleans.
What's this Foundation for Change all about?
From James' campaign website:
I’m running for Mayor to bring long needed transformative change to the City of New Orleans. It is time us to have the New Orleans that we all deserve, instead of the New Orleans we have.
But our campaign won’t be built with the $5,000 checks that make up our opponent’s war chests. Our campaign will be built on a foundation of hundreds upon hundreds of grassroots supporters, like you, committing to giving smaller monthly contributions over the course of the campaign.
These supporters will be the Foundation for Change.
They will be regular people who, share the common goal of seeing New Orleans succeed in being the best City it can be.
This Foundation for Change will provide the ground floor that this movement and campaign will be built upon. The success of the Foundation and Campaign will require the commitment of our most dedicated members to help spread our message and recruit supporters to help us expand the foundation and bring change to New Orleans.
We want the Foundation to be 500 members strong by September 15th. We know that working together, we can reach that goal.
Help prove that grassroots campaigns can win and make a difference for a great American city by joining the Foundation for Change today.
Bricks & Mortar Member
Donate Now: $50/month
Sustaining Member
Donate Now: $25/month
So here is the offer:
1. Beginning today and ending at 8pm EST on Thursday anyone who joins this Foundation for Change will be entered into a drawing.
2. We will randomly select one of you to have dinner with James and me.
You'll get to invite up to 3 friends. (Heck you can host a party if you want, but we’re only buying for 4!)
3. James and I will travel to your town to have dinner.
4. If you choose to be a Sustaining Member your name is entered once (1). If you choose to be a Bricks & Mortar Member your name is entered three (3) times. If you pay your entire pledge up front then you your name is entered seven (7) times into the drawing.
5. For every person you sign up to join the Foundation (at any level), your name is entered three (3) more times into the drawing.
Send names of those you have signed up to info@jamesperry2010.com
So take a moment to visit James Perry's website. Learn more about James as a candidate and then make the pledge to be a part of this Foundation.
Oh yeah and start thinking of a restaurant!