Memorial Day for many of us is not a day of celebration or the first day of summer. Instead, it is a day of reflection and, for many, a day of sadness because they have lost a family member or a friend to war. I ask that everyone who reads this diary today take a moment and place those family members and friends in our hearts and to send them our love and commitment to find peace in a world where it seems ever harder to do so.
There are many great Memorial Day diaries to read - some sad, some heartbreaking, some informative, and some just plain old mad. I'm trying to catch them all and republish on our group website! If you see some that I miss, feel free to republish yourself. We'll have weeks worth reading to catch up with!
In the meantime, I have some important news for military community members looking for a job. There is a great opportunity to work with a progressive political organization and they need people who understand the military community to apply for these jobs!
TRUMAN NATIONAL SECURITY PROJECT – SUMMER VETERANS ORGANIZING POSITION
Title: Summer Veterans Organizer
Locations: Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri
Do you want to do something different this summer? How about helping change the country!
The Truman National Security Project is a national security leadership institute, the nation's only organization that recruits, trains and positions a new generation of progressives across America to lead on national security. Having progressive veterans and military families leading on security issues makes America a better place, by putting these patriots where they belong–leading on the frontlines of the democracy they fought to protect. No one plays a greater role in securing America than our veterans, and the Truman Project has launched a new summer training and organizing program aimed at recruiting and training veterans in key districts across the country.
Individuals who are chosen for this highly-selective organizing, recruiting and training opportunity will be brought to Washington D.C. for a three-day training with some of the country’s top political trainers before beginning the seven week position. While organizers are out in the field transforming veterans networks in key locations, they will report directly to the Truman Project's nationally recognized advocacy staff.
Military background or connection to the veterans community
Excellent communication and writing skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Knowledge of and interest in current affairs
Willingness to travel
Ability to use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Microsoft Office
Participants must have a reliable vehicle and will be responsible for their own housing while in district. Organizers will be paid a living allowance of $350/week and will be reimbursed for mileage incurred while working.
If selected, organizers will be brought to Washington D.C. to attend the training from Monday, June 20th to Wednesday, June 22th. The in state field program will run from June 27-August 12th.
Deadline for applications is Wednesday, June 8th. Please email cover letter, resume and two references to lwolfe@trumanproject.org. Please put “Summer Organizer” in the email subject line.
I think it's a neat opportunity and wish I could take advantage of it. How about any of you?
On to the housekeeping portion of the open thread!
- SaraR still needs messages for Jester's quilt- you can leave them in the comments below. Please preface the comment with "Dear Jester" so I know the message is meant for him! Also, you don't need to know Jester to send him a healing and helping message. This one is hard because Jester is a friend to a Kossack so none of us have really developed a relationship with him. We're doing this to support a family member as much as we're doing this to support a veteran. Please write a message if you haven't already.
- Volunteers for hosting an open thread? All Mondays are wide open. Please leave a comment below or send me a private message!
- Today is a great day to share this link on your Facebook page or send it to family and friends: Please Donate to Netroots for the Troops and help send care packages to deployed soldiers. Today is the last day of this year's big fundraising effort. Let's help them make that final push!
I welcome any and all comments below! We have some new members this week. I hope they speak up and say Howdy! As to the rest of you, you are my only military community right now (minus a marine and his wife). My husband managed to get us assigned to a place with no base (and I'm loving it!) and that means no clubs, no squadron get togethers, no lectures about driving safely for the summer season. Just you guys! Let me know what's up in your neck of the woods!