First-time diarist hits rec list. Blush!
This diary update expands a bit on the led up to our Aug. 3 meeting in Chesterton, IN with Rep Pete Visclosky. It's more for other organizers who want to try something similar.
The Democratic Alliance of Northwest Indiana (DANI) started in 2004 during the Kerry campaign. We are Progressive, Green activists from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party here in Northwest Indiana, Congressional Districts IN-01 and IN-02. Many of our members have memberships in nation wide issue advocacy groups such as OFA, DFA, and MoveOn. We also have strong overlap with county level Democratic clubs.
Meet me below the fold for more on DANI, our recent history, and details on how we arranged our Aug. 3 with Rep Visclosky as guest speaker.
DANI
In the comments to my original diary, someone suggested that I post a way for the Alliance to receive donations. Sure!
The Democratic Alliance of Northwest Indiana
PO Box 272
Beverly Shores IN 46301
If you live in Northwest Indiana and would like to join, please send your contact information and $10 for annual dues. Karen Kroczek and I co-chair DANI. She lives in IN-01, Pete Visclosky's district. I live in IN-02, Rep. Joe Donnelly's district. Brian Babcock is our secretary, and Roz Potter is our treasurer. We meet monthly, usually in Chesterton. Our next meeting is Sept. 8.
Recent DANI Background
This year, our focus has been on Health Care Reform and Clean Energy. Last year, our membership was fully engaged in the Obama campaign well before the Indiana primary. Our members canvassed, phone banked, and registered voters starting in February. We were decidedly out of step with the Indiana Democratic establishment, which backed Sen. Clinton in the presidential primary season. Before the Indiana primary, Scott Pelath, State Representative for the Michigan City area, led a block of 29 State Reps in breakaway support for Obama. Indiana went narrowly for Clinton in the primary on May 6, 2008. Our September 2008 DANI monthly meeting was at the Michigan City, IN Obama headquarters, where we joined in the phone banking effort. Indiana went narrowly Blue in November.
Organizing the Aug. 3 Chesterton Meeting with Visclosky
DANI and Karen Kroczek were on long-standing good terms with Visclosky. In mid-July, Karen Kroczek asked Rep. Pete Visclosky if he would be willing to speak at a DANI meeting on Health Care Reform and Clean Energy. He agreed and set the date. The DANI executive board then secured the venue, Chesterton's Westchester Library Service Center, and worked with Visclosky's office and agreed on a Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for local media. Visclosky's office insisted that the PSA announce Pete as the "Guest Speaker." It was important to establish that independence. We proposed the following ground rules for the meeting, and Visclosky's office agreed:
The Democratic Alliance of Northwest Indiana convenes this meeting.
• The public has been invited.
• We invite you to sign in.
• Rep. Visclosky (IN-01) is our guest speaker
• After his opening remarks,
• he will answer written questions submitted by those in attendance.
• After 7:30 PM, the meeting will revert to Alliance business.
• We must conclude at 7:45 PM and yield the room for the next meeting at 8 PM.
• Our time together is a valuable shared resource. We'll use it effectively for a common purpose.
• No one person or group will dominate.
• Participants must be respectful of each other, the conveners, and our guest speaker.
• Submit questions in written form on index cards provided:
• Print your question on one side.
• Please print legibly.
• At the top, please print your question's topic, so related questions can be treated together.
• Optionally, print your contact info on the other side.
• Alliance officers offer help to the disabled.
• All written questions will go directly to Rep. Visclosky's staffer.
• His staff will have the opportunity to respond to any questions remaining (will need contact info).
• Rep. Visclosky may engage a question's submitter in one-on-one conversation .
• Rep. Visclosky may open the floor to broader discussion at any time.
• Priorities:
• Health Care Reform questions first,
• then Clean Energy.
• We'll reserve some time at the end for other topics.
DANI then proceeded as usual for what we thought would be a rather simple but interesting and topical special event. We notified our membership and sent the PSAa to the local media. The PSAs listed Karen and me and our phone numbers as contact for the event.
Here Come the Tea Baggers
Shortly after the PSAs hit the papers and radio stations, we got a few phone calls about the event. My first phone call seemed innocuous, but I quickly did a web search and discovered it came from a local organizer of the opposition. We were aware of the nation wide Tea Bagger effort to ambush Representatives, and so the DANI executive board prepared specially for a local skirmish, as described in my Monday night diary.
The Event
I arrived 50 minutes before the event to help set up. Karen, Brian and several other DANI members were already there. And the Tea Baggers were already amassing outside with their signs. But, we also had a cadre of Health Care Reform supporters with signs. These included local Labor, MoveOn, OFA, and DFA members. Rep. Visclosky and his chief of staff arrived on time and the Tea Baggers outside booed him. But, he trusted DANI as a competent "friendly." The Tea Baggers were a hostile component of the audience. In front, Pete found many friendly, familiar faces. That helped.
Westchester Library staff found out about the prospect of a strong Tea Bagger presence, and called the local police Monday afteroon. They were promised two uniformed police at fifteen minutes before the meeting. But, the police took note of the early Tea Baggers and scaled up their deployment as the Tea Baggers arrived in force.
Conclusion
DANI built on our long-term positive relationship with Visclosky to hold its Aug. 3 on Health Care reform and Clean Energy. But, the Congressman was a "Guest Speaker" with no responsibility for DANI's actions. DANI officers prepared measures for dealing with the Tea Baggers, but we did not call on the police. It was a very good thing indeed that the Library staff did alert the police. We had a successful meeting. The Tea Baggers FAILED to disrupt it. DANI remains on good terms with the Congressman and the Library, it seems. We're glad to share the lessons we learned with other Progressives through Daily Kos.