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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What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid?
Did any of that dream become part of you?
1960 vintage fire truck. I wanted to be the guy steering in the back.
One day when I was five years old I was sitting in the dirt in the front yard, playing with a pill bug and sucking on a stalk of sour grass, when a very large, very long fire truck went slowly rumbling down our residential street. I could feel the vibration of it through my bottom, and I gazed agog at the two firemen in the cab as the seemingly endless length of red truck went by. At the very back of the truck sat a man in a fireman's hat, turning a steering wheel of his very own as the fire engine slowly turned right and headed up 34th Street. He waved at me. I tentatively waved back.
I wanted to be a fireman. I wanted to be him, sitting apart and above everyone, steering his own path while also being part of that massive truck.
It wasn't long, of course, before I was informed that girls couldn't be firemen, nor could they be my second choice, train conductors. I now know women in both professions.
And though I never did become a fireman it recently occurred to me that, in a sense, I have been like that guy all my life. I've been drawn to helping professions, mostly medical in nature. I've always arranged my work life so that I'm part of a larger team with a positive purpose but, at the same time, I've gotten to steer my own path. As an X-ray tech I was part of an interconnected team of doctors and nurses and administrators and technicians and clerks, but I gravitated to working alone on nights and weekends where I could make all my own decisions. Now I share a private practice with paradise50 who works opposite days from mine, and whoever is in the office is running their own show for the good of both the practice and the patients. Even in my 'hobbies' the same pattern has held, that of joining worthwhile groups while finding ways to make contributions in my own way on my own time. I've joined up with groups in Daily Kos like Welcome New Users and Partners & Mentors where I'm part of this greater whole which has a positive mission but where I do most of my work all by myself, in front of my own computer.
I do like having that little steering wheel, that little illusion of autonomy.
How about you? Did what you wanted to be as a kid show up in some way in your adult life?
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
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Three Star Kossacks & Nashville KosKats Meet-up
by marykk ♥ for Three Star Kossacks
The Three Star Kossacks and the Nashville KosKats met Saturday, March 8th for dinner and then a show afterward to welcome Sandy on Signal to town. About 15 people attended. The organizer marykk said it was the most well attended and succesful event yet for her Kossacks. State Senate Candidate Mary Mancini attended as well as a representative from Planned Parenthood due to an upcoming amendment to the state Constitution which would allow more restrictive abortion legislation.
Here's a couple of photos:
L-R: Patrick is Lucky, sow hat, Mr. sow hat, Sandy on Signal
L-R: Mr & Mrs JKTownsend
You can join Three Star Kossacks, which includes the entire state of Tennessee, by sending a Kosmail to marykk.
Also, you can join Nashville KosKats by sending a Kosmail to ZenTrainer which is for the city of Nashville.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, March 15th
LAKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for shanikka!
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: City Tavern
9739 Culver Blvd. • Culver City
ORGANIZER: Send Dave in Northridge a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. shanikka (Guest of Honor)
3. jakedog42
4. Gay CA Democrat
5. Otoelbc
6. susans
7. gmats
8. Mugwumpblues
9. Shockwave
10. SanFernandoValleyMom
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Maybees:
homogenius
Former Chicagoan Now Angeleno
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Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks - Rolling out the Red Carpet for Shanikka - March 15, Culver City
Saturday, March 15th
Sacramento/Central Valley Kossacks, Silicon Valley Kossacks and the SFKossacks Demonstrate at "Don't Frack California"
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: California State Capitol lawn
1315 10th St. • Sacramento
YOU CAN FIND US GATHERED AROUND OUR DAILY KOS 7 ft. BANNER
-courtesy of tmservo433.
After the protest ends we'll be heading over to a local watering hole. Meet us at KBar at 1000 K Street, a couple of short blocks north of the Capitol building.
The Don't Frack California website has also arranged for buses from all over California. Places as far away as San Diego and Los Angeles. Check out their ride board and buy a ticket STAT.
RSVPs:
1. Anthony Page aka SecondComing
2. mrsgoo
3. Dan Bacher
4. smileycreek
5. paradise50
6. navajo
7. Meteor Blades
8. dsb
9. Where4Art
10. remembrance
11. Glen the Plumber
12. TLO™
13. Lusty
14. kimoconnor
15. stagemom
16. cooper888
17. gotmooned
18. aitchdee
19. ybruti
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Maybees:
jpmassar
dharmasyd
Glescagal
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Latest diary: The California Frack Wars: Episode 3 Revenge Of The Greed
Quick re-mention of March 15 statewide "Don't Frack California" demonstrations
Sunday, March 16th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
UPDATE: Special Guest Star! It's Juliana Forlano, known on DailyKos as IronicNews. She's a political satirist and the host of the news parody series Absurdity Today.
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. rubyr
3. joanbrooker
4. belinda ridgewood
5. MBNYC
6. jfdunphy
7. communitygis
8. No Exit
9. Its the Supreme Court Stupid
10. Denise Oliver Velez
11. Mets102
12. plf515
13. IronicNews
14. Ian Reifowitz
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Maybees:
Laura Clawson
Rosalie907
kathny
Bethesda 1971
David Nir
wader
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup This Sunday, March 16 - Plus NEW EVENT News!
Saturday, March 22nd
Motor City Kossacks Welcome Dave in Northridge to Town
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Downtown Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate
2. Dave in Northridge
3.
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Maybees:
ChemBob
Amber6541
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Latest diary: Motor City Kossacks Meet-up! Sa 3/22, 6:00 PM, downtown Detroit (venue TBA). WSG: Dave in Northridge
Monday, March 24th
NYC Kossacks Welcome Chaucounne!
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex-3rd) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Chaucounne
3. thankgodforairamerica
4.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: NEW EVENT: NYC Meetup 3/24– Dinner with Chacounne!
Saturday, March 29th
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Fadi's Mediterranean Grill
4738 Beechnut Street • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. htowngenie
3. Libby Shaw
4. MarciaJ720
5. Bree Davis
6. krwheaton
7. Mary (Honorary Kossack)
8. Alan (Honorary Kossack) |
Maybees:
Mr. Libby Shaw
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Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, March 29 (plus a note on future meet-ups)
Saturday, April 5th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon - 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send EagleOfFreedom a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. EagleOfFreedom
2. Reetz
3. John Crapper
4. John Crapper's S.O.
5. WisePiper
6. bleeding blue
7. mlharges
8.
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Maybees:
Ojibwa
otto
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Latest diary: Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks April Meeting
Saturday, May 3rd
DKos Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. GulfGal 98
8. Otteray Scribe
9. flwrightman
10. people power granny
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Maybees:
Audri
Mr Audri
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Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Tuesday, May 13th
SFKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for LeftOfYou & Expat Okie
TIME: 11:00 AM, Early lunch!
LOCATION: Yank Sing
Rincon Center, 101 Spear St. • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. LeftOfYou
3. Expat Okie
4. side pocket
5. Justice Putnam
6. dharmasyd
7. Lorikeet
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Maybees:
annieli
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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.