A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Do you "Press the flesh" with ease?
I am a limp one.
No. Stop it. That isn't what I am talking about and you know it. I'm talking about handshakes, hugs and platonic kisses. In fact, all those pesky greetings that require meat-on-meat interfacing from those of us
vegetarian-inclined during first meetings.
Grab Those Five Digits!
I've got to do a lot of that in my job. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is not so easy. First of all, let me admit a shameful secret...I have a limp handshake. Try as I might, I can never get it firm. I have taken handiagra, but it just does not do the trick. Too many years of trying consciously not to appear to be an aggressive-in-your-face-overpowering personality-type. I am always worried about coming on too-strong and being scary when folks first meet me. Too many people have told me over the decades that I look like some kind of a police officer. Heh. I am not. I think I have never ever said "spread 'em", patted anyone down or handcuffed them. Certainly not in the line of anyone's duty. Ahem.
I always, always, feel like the grinning fool in the photo while hugging.
Half A Hug
I am a little better at hugs, but not by much. I tend to do the one-handed hug thing. Of course I never know what to do with my face while hugging, and luckily I do not have to look at it during the process (or any process for that matter).
Kissy Fa(r))ce
Kissing? Oh lordy dordy doe. I am way too insecure to ever initiate that. Usually the other person will have kissed me and already turned away by the time it occurs to me to kiss back. Ever kiss the empty air as someone has already given up on waiting for you to kiss back and turned away? Talk about awkward. That keeps happening to me. I think I am developing "kiss-the-empty-air-in-front-of-everyone-itis" or something.
So if you meet me, have some sympathy. Give me an extra firm handshake, a tight hug and a retively long cheek kiss. I might then just be able to catch-up with you.
Do you suffer from awkwardness during greetings?
Does "pressing the flesh" make yours crawl?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
More Than 40 Kossacks Get High in Phoenix
by Mother Mags ♥ for Phoenix Kossacks and Baja Arizona Kossacks
Kossacks attended the meet-up from around the state, helped out by strong recruitment from Azazello and other Baja Arizona friends south of the Gila River.
[...] A week before the meet-up fewer than 20 people had registered, and we anticipated a big table where we could discuss specific races and issues in our communities. Then something happened, and the RSVPs more than doubled in a week. Thanks, Markos, for the recruitment tool!
navajo: "I had a great time attending this meet-up. I chatted with almost everyone individually and then spoke to the whole group about what Daily Kos can do for them in terms of organizing and helping their ranks grow. Not one person wanted to rehash the online dispute. Everyone wanted to move forward. What a great group! The evening was extremely enjoyable and I look forward to working with Arizona Kossacks on ACTION items in their state going forward."
Here's one photo:
See Mother Mag's diary for individual headshots and usernames ~Photo Courtesy of Richard
Please visit Mother Mags diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it.
You can join Phoenix Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Mother Mags.
You can join Baja Arizona Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Azazello.
Uniting Kansas: Recap of Meetup, Hutchinson (Video)
by tmservo433 ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
tmservo433 organized a successful event featuring 3 candidates and a AFL-CIO endorsement.
Despite 100+ degree temperature, and a normal size crowd (about 50/60) the event in Hutchinson quickly went viral, with a few thousand watching the streams online, thanks to agressive sharing, emailing and people encouraging others to spread the live stream of the video.
Please visit
tmservo433's diary for the videos of this event. You can still REC it. You can join
Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
tmservo433.
Connecting Kansas:
Democrats Unite in Emporia
by tmservo433 ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
So our latest hero, tmservo433 provides a great re-cap to the event we promoted here for him.
At the time Paul Davis spoke, I had an in room headcount of 166, which is a heck of a turnout. Sam Brownback couldn't bring in 200 in the Kansas City Metro when Rick Santorum came to town.
Kossacks showed up. Several Kossacks were in the hall, as well as individuals who noticed I still had on my Netroots gear, and were happy to come and tell us how they are working for change in our communities.
tmservo433 is doing great work seeking out Kossacks and moving his state's progressive agenda forward.
Please visit tmservo433's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to tmservo433.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, August 9th
Northern & Central Florida Kossacks Meet-up
with Charlie Crist and DC Koller (D) who is running for House Representative against Rich Nugent plus other house and senate candidates.
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Vetwife's Home
Kosmail Vetwife for address • Inverness
ORGANIZER: Send Vetwife a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Vetwife
2. Vet
3. Gordon20024 (supplying all the food!)
4. nancyjones
5. OleHippieChick
6. pamelabrown
7. whatgodmade
8. SemDem
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Florida Kossack Meetup, Disabled Vets and why Meetups are important !
Saturday, August 9th
LA Kossacks Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
Regional Planning Session for Potential Southern California Groups
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Guild Restaurant
611 W. 7th St • Downtown Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. Shockwave
3. navajo
4. Meteor Blades
5. Knucklehead
6. SanFernandoValleyMom
7. Otoelbc
8. Chiwere
9. Vyan
10. 714day
11. Ducktape
12. Mugwump Blues
13. Just Saying
14. Just Saying's friend
15. Panorama City Chick
16. jakedog42
17. Santa Susanna Kid
18. La Gitane
19. KatSkahnne
20. gmats
21. Dave in Northridge
22. Teen Loner
23. Moody Loner
24. Mommy P00ka
25.
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Maybees:
Joe Bacon
Bruin Kid
Cany
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Latest diary: Attention Southern California - Yes, I'm Looking at You
Special treat for LA Kossacks this Saturday
Sunday, August 10th
Last-Minute Lawrence, Kansas Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Rudy's Pizza
704 Massachusetts St • Lawrence
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. stepleftforward
3. k4dean
4.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, August 16th
Nashville KosKats Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Shipwreck Cove at the Elm Hill Marina
3361 Bell Road • Nashville
ORGANIZER: Send ZenTrainer a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. ZenTrainer
2. Jon Sitzman
3. Sow Hat 1
4. Sow Hat 2
5. oh4thelove
6. Red Country anonymous 1
7. Red Country anonymous 2
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Maybees:
Patrick is Lucky |
Latest diary: Nashville KosKats, please help! Plus meet-up news
Saturday, August 16th
DC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: National Mall
at the Smithsonian Metro stop • Washington DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, August 23rd
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper SO
3. doingbusinessas
4. cinnamon68
5. bleedingblue
6. momomia
7.
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Maybees:
mlharges
N in Seattle
Penny GC
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Latest diary: Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks "Dog Day Afternoon" Meet-up
Saturday, August 23rd
VA/DC/MD Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 12:30 - 4:40 PM
LOCATION: Union Station
Food Court • Washington, DC
ORGANIZER: Send JamieG from Md a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. JamieG from Md
2. mollyd
3. Diana in NoVa
4. NinthElegy
5. mimi
6. STI
7. VeenaS1
8. JanetT in MD
9. webgenie
10. Edward Adams
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Maybees:
BDA in VA
dadadata
Uncle Cosmo
Tamar
stevenwag
Teacherken (small possibility)
TheOtherMaven
cobart
Elizabeth Amy Miller
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Latest diary: Union Station MD/DC/VA Meetup, Aug 23rd
Sunday, August 24th
Portland Kossacks Meet-up to Stamp Big Money Out of Politics
ACTION planned: Join the Stampede of tens of thousands of Americans legally stamping messages on our Nation’s currency to #GetMoneyOut of Politics. As more and more stamped money spreads, so will the movement to amend the Constitution. The Koscadia Kossacks will be bringing Ben & Jerry's stamps to the event so bring your cash to help spread the message about reversing Citizen's United.
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: à la carts Food Pavilion
SE 50th and Division Street • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Sara R (2 stamps)
2. winglion
3. llbear
4. rexymeteorite (1 stamp)
5. James Allen
6. Damnit Janet
7. Wesley
8. loggersbrat
9. Angie in WA State (birthday girl!)
10. 6412093
11. ozsea1 (1 stamp)
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Maybees:
watercarrier4diogenes
Danni
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Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up, Sunday, August 24 - Stamp Stampede!
Sunday, August 24th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. kathny
2. belinda ridgewood
3. rubyr
4. joanbrooker
5. mconvente
6. ericlewis0
7. No Exit
8. sidnora
9. gchaucer2
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Maybees:
BaritoneWoman
jfdunphy
David Nir
Lysis
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup Sunday August 24 at Spitzer's
Saturday, September 6th
Sacramento Kossacks Meet-up
Potluck with BYOB
Special Guest: Derek Cressman with Yes on 49 - Money Out Voters In
TIME: 4:00 - 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Kestrel's home
Address given privately to RSVPs • Sacramento
ORGANIZER: Send cooper888 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tgypsy
2. cooper888
3. gotmooned
4. Kestrel
5. shigeru
6. TrevizOlga
7. paradise50
8. smileycreek
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Maybees:
navajo
Meteor Blades
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Latest diary: Sacramento (area) Kossacks Meetup With Featured Guest!
Join the Sacramento Kossacks Google Group to receive invites for future events.
Saturday, September 6th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Saturday, September 13th
Pikes Peak Region Kossacks Inaugural Meet-up!
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Panera Bread
7344 North Academy Boulevard (general address) or 7351 Atlas Walk Way (mall address) • Colorado Springs
ORGANIZER: Send thanatokephaloides a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. thanatokephaloides
2. tmservo433 (visiting from Kansas)
3. AmberChaos
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Our First Meeting: An Announcement
Sunday, October 19th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up with navajo
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.