The New York grassroots ROCKED the phones again this weekend. Nearly 60 OFA volunteers gave up their Saturday afternoon (and a beautiful day it was) to make health care calls at a Times Square bar. When the tallies were complete, we had made over 2,500 calls.
But this diary isn't so much about what we accomplished yesterday as it is about our amazing volunteers. Indulge me as I talk about these very special people who work below the radar and deserve our recognition and our thanks.
I've done a fair amount of organizing over the past two years, first in the primary campaign, then during the general election, and now for health care reform. But no matter how many events I work on, the volunteers still blow me away. These people show up, work hard, and leave happy knowing that what they are doing matters.
Yesterday's phonebank was typical of many similar events I've been involved with.
My fellow-organizers and I arrived early to get set up, not sure how many people would be coming. Volunteers begin to trickle in -- just a few at first, then several more. Soon the space started to fill up. Before we knew it, the room was buzzing with 40 people making calls.
And they kept coming. An hour or so in there were more callers than seats, and we spilled over into a second room.
And as I've done so many times before, I shook my head and thought to myself, "I can't believe all these people came out to volunteer." After over two years of doing this, it still astounds me that so many people are willing to give up their time to work for something they believe in.
As the afternoon progressed, one volunteer after another handed me their completed call sheets and asked for another set. Again, I was amazed. I felt like saying, "You mean you're not ready to go home, or at least take a break? You want to keep going?"
And as these incredible volunteers handed in their final lists and packed up to leave, the question they asked us was: "When is the next one?"
These people are really dedicated! Some come to several phonebanks each week.
Some travel far out of their way to join us and make calls.
Some stop by to make calls for an hour on their way to a previous engagement, apologizing that they can't stay longer.
Some have made calls for many campaigns and issues over the years. Others only recently became involved to work on health care reform.
Most will jump in and do whatever needs to be done -- data entry, tallying, answering questions for other volunteers, running out for supplies.
These people are amazing. They show up. They do the work. They don't ask for recognition.
I'm immensely proud of, inspired by, and grateful to our volunteers.
These are people who care deeply and who believe their actions can make a difference.
To all the volunteers out there making calls, canvassing, writing letters or op eds, entering data, etc. THANK YOU! You are appreciated more than you know.