Well, this entire venture is certainly different. We are not only Crashing The Gates, but learning as we go how to run a People Powered campaign.
Last night was a perfect example. Tom Ball stepped forward and got it all going...and the more we talked, the more the details of a "Blog-Raiser" came together. Pieces fell into place...the location...the volunteers...the wireless network...then lipris and Night Bird stepped up to live blog the event...KK and Suzanna and Tun worked the door...Gary, Susan and Audrey did the greeting...and we sent out thousands of emails and invites...and it all came together.
We tried something new (and BTW, all the conventional wisdom folks said we were wasting our time) and it worked.
The entire Democratic Leadership of the New York State Senate showed up to see what it was all about. We had over 150 people stop by and the Governor of Montana came on the thread to donate and offer up a bola tie to entice us to exceed our best case goal in fund raising.
But most of all, this event reaffirmed in my mind and in my heart what we are all about. We, the people.
And it feels so right to be making an end run around the establishment to win one for the citizens of New York and, in turn, America. Maybe end run isn't the correct analysis...maybe more like taking the path less traveled. Because of it, I feel a strange sense of calm and freedom today. I know we are doing this the right way. We have smart, motivated, passionate people on our small staff...and no professional consultants. We aren't bound by our own experience.
I said in Las Vegas that we have to participate in this thing called democracy in order to save our future and I believe it even stronger now.
If you aren't involved, get involved. If you aren't plugged in, plug yourself in. If you aren't a school board member, a Democratic committee member or an agent of change, sign up. It will be the best thing you can do and if you feel half as hopeful as I feel today, you won't regret your decision.
And now the real point of this entry: THANK YOU!
Thank you for your support, your encouragement, your donations and offers of help. We are working on a plan to get housing for people who want to travel east to work on the campaign. Drop me a line at keeler2006 and let me know if you want to join our merry band of People Powered Kossacks.
We CAN make a difference. We can all be part of a NEW team, with a NEW vision of the future, a NEW sense of hope, and, together, we can build a NEW New York.