Democracy For America is providing Netroots Nation scholarships again this year. Some dude named "teacherken" is way out in first place, with 1027 votes as I write, almost 50% more votes than the runner-up. He is prominent, not shy about asking for help, and has to be the betting favorite to bring home the gold next Monday.
Others Kosters are also applying and also no doubt have good arguments for why they need the scholarship. I'm just going to write about one of them, the person currently ranked #21, with 113 votes, as I write: Got a Grip, who, so far as I know has had no idea that this diary was coming. (Nor does she know about the diaries that may come between now and Monday with those who agree that she deserves the scholarship -- including yours, dear Reader, if you wish to pitch in. I wonder how well she could do?)
Being in serious need is one thing. Serving the community admirably is another thing. Both being true -- well, that is something else.
For Got a Grip, both are true.
This is what she has to say about herself -- and if you haven't read it, you should. This is an inspiration.
She put the information out publicly, so I don't feel improper in quoting it:
Currently I live on $8200 a year. I know that sounds meager, but I still manage to give the majority of that paltry sum away to others in need, thanks to the generosity of my sister who shares her home with me. I donate time and money to worthy candidates in both local, regional and national races. I also donate everything possible to environmental causes and organizations such as the ACLU and Doctors Without Borders. No one gets as much I wish, but they get as much as I can give them.
And, do you know what? For me, pulling at my heartstrings as it does, that would still not necessarily be enough for me to vote for her. (I'm a hard sell.) Many other people have low incomes, deep generosity, and excellent political taste. No, what gets me is that in combination with this:
I've also given my time to the unknown writers of Daily Kos for the last 4 1/2 years as a Rescue Ranger, helping pull diaries written by unknown diarists lost in the fury of the blog out into the bright light where they will hopefully find their voice and the recognition they deserve. Recently that project went from a once a day article on the front page to a 24/7 real-time effort that has become a full time volunteer job for me.
That's right -- she's a honcho with the Rescue Rangers. I knew of her as one name there among others -- until I took part in the late beta testing, and saw her all over the place, like a speed demon, helping to figure out how Community Spotlight would work and work well. And, of course it does -- I have literally, so far as I can remember, never clicked on a Community Spotlight diary since DK4 opened and said that "that was a waste of my time." (It's not like there's not much good material to work with, but even so, keeping it consistent and keeping it moving is an incredible track record.)
I know that many people are behind Community Spotlight -- but I also know that Got a Grip continues to show leadership and caring and wisdom.
(True story: I got into a mild scuffle with her a few weeks ago when I expressed the concern that maybe it was working too well, that so many of the Community Spotlight diaries were making the Rec List so that other diarists had less of a chance. Despite what may have been an understandable desire to throttle me for talking that way about her baby, she was actually able to disagree firmly but pleasantly. She heard me out, showed she thought about my perspective, and was able to offer a good and productive policy discussion about it. Indeed, as the site has gotten its sea legs, the Spotlight seems to be a welcome part of rather than a supplement for the Rec List. Someone who can discuss DK4 meta without putting a chip on her shoulder? O rare gem!)
So, yeah, she's a leader and she's helped to bring us a feature so consistent and high-quality that some people may think that it just happens effortlessly by itself. Do you appreciate that leadership? Well, now is the time you can thank her.
Her statement for DFA concludes:
I've gone to every Netroots Nation and Daily Kos convention except the first one.
I've never asked for help before, but this time I must.
Well, just -- damn. Go vote.