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 at Daily Kos 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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If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links.
If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
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Want to Meet Some Awesome kossacks?
Last Sunday we had our first full-scale meet-up when 12 kossacks from California's large First Congressional District made the trek to downtown Chico. We met old-timers! We met locals! We had one visitor from far outside the district, and best of all, we met some shiny new kossacks, some of whom hadn't registered an account yet!
But First: The Road Warrior Awards
side pocket jumped right in to greet Teresa and Jesterman of Oroville
My favorite good will ambassador side pocket drove all the way from Sebasapol and back in one day, a round trip of about 365 miles in order to "represent!" And guess what -- he also brought his famous tomatoes.
Everett and Alice drove down to Chico from Cottonwood, a 115 mile round trip.
Everett just created an account as pulsar and has also signed up for our google groups mailing list. There's nothing like meeting new kossacks and seeing the big smiles on their faces when they realize they are among like-minded people. Everett and Alice took up the email invitation to our event generated by HQ, which makes it all the more impressive that they would drive that far to meet perfect strangers.
Teresa and Jesterman, not only Road Warriors but first arrivals!
Teresa and Jesterman also responded to the email blast sent to registered kossacks within a 60 mile range and drove up from Oroville, about a 50 mile round trip. It wasn't hard to get them talking about their passionate political concerns, and I'm so glad they took a chance on attending our meet-up.
Jesterman had already registered for an account but was welcomed for his first comment by Partners & Mentors the very next day, and he also signed up for our google groups email list. Meet-ups are easy to put together (navajo is so much help) and you can see they do help people get more involved and more active.
Meet the Locals
Left: voracious Center: Chico David RN Right: FoundingFatherDAR
voracious could also be named vivacious, both for her intellect and level of local political savvy. During an impassioned rant on how the school board she attends is continually 40 years behind the times, I lamely suggested she run for school board herself, triggering another awesome rant on why she most definitely will not. I still maintain she is exactly the type of proud progressive we need running for public office.
I have long looked forward to seeing Chico David RN at a meet-up. David is a Registered Nurse and union activist as well as a member of the board of the California Nurses Association. David told us about that very morning's event registering voters in Chapmantown and also at the previous week's 50th anniversary celebration of Medicare at Chico's Farmer's Market.
The iconically named FoundingFatherDAR turned out to be a lovely woman who radiated kindness and also brought us delectable juicy peaches from the Chico State Farm. That she didn't turn out to be a big burly Father figure sparked an interesting conversation on the effects of the gender-neutral names that some of us deliberately chose.
A special shout-out to SoCalHobbbit for suggesting the meet-up in a Connect! Unite! Act! diary, and then for showing up! Hobbits are shy creatures, so he didn't want his picture taken, but we did have some interesting conversations at the after-meet-up across the street at Burgers and Brew regarding third-party spoilers.
I loved meeting fellow townie besame, who made it down the hill despite health challenges and who told us the delightful story of how her user name (which means "kiss me" in Spanish) came about -- ask her! Since she also preferred not to have her picture taken I'm blowing her a kiss here.
And, of course, my co-host
paradise50 for his advice and encouragement, as well as for taking photos, figuring out the check, and welcoming every one.
I couldn't make it happen without the menfolks, paradise50 and side pocket
As the host I gave a welcoming talk with bullet points and handouts helpfully provided by navajo. The discussion then ranged from Single Payer to the loss of Chico's liberal city council to local school board issues. I collected emails for a google groups email list where we can continue to discuss local issues. One acute need we saw was to have a group to exchange information with about the ballot and the way down-ticket people running on it.
I promised the out-of-towners that if they decide to have their own meet-ups I'll attend and help out in any way I can. Since they've already become active on the site since our event who knows what might could grow out of this?
kossacks in person are the best! I've come away from every meet-up happy and re-charged. If you haven't tried one you really must! We protected the privacy of those who didn't want pictures taken and I really do think a wonderful time was had by all!
This is an Open Thread. Have yourselves some Friday fun!
Latest Updates on 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
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Colorado: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Mountain
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington: Sundays, 3:30 PM Pacific
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, August 15th
DC Kossacks Happy Hour courtesy of Daily Kos
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Sky Bar, top of the Beacon Hotel
1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW • DC
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. mollyd
3. Edward Adams
4.
5. |
Maybees: |
Friday, August 14th
Inaugural meetup for Northwestern MI Kos
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Benzie County Democratic Headquarters
9930 Honor Highway • Honor
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate (State Leader)
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Calling All Northwest Michigan Kossacks: Meetup in Honor, Friday, August 14, @ FOUR PM!
Saturday, August 15th
Denver KosKaffeine Meet-up
TIME: 9:00 AM
LOCATION: Common Grounds
2139 W. 44th Ave • Denver
ORGANIZER: Send Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Leftcandid
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DENVER: Caffeinating Kosserians, This Saturday!
Saturday, August 15th
Kickoff West Michigan DKos Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Private Residence (Lunch served)
[Address given privately to RSVPers] • Holland
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate (State Leader)
2. Jackaroo (NEW West Michigan Leader)
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: One Week Warning: Kickoff West Michigan DKos Meetup, Sat 8/15, Holland
Saturday, August 15
Silicon Valley Kos Meet-Up
CA-17, CA-18 & CA-19
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Habana Cuba
238 Race St. • San Jose
Map
ORGANIZER: Send Glen The Plumber a KosMail or tweet to attend.
RSVPs:
1. TheLittleOne
2. remembrance
3. Glen The Plumber
4. slowbutsure
5. Joe D.
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Maybees:
1.
2.
3.
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Saturday, August 29th
Boston Kos Meet-up
TIME: TBD, early evening
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Boston
ORGANIZER: Send GreyHawk a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. GreyHawk
2. HawkWife
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: BosKos - End of August Meetup
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
by navajo ♥ for Connect! Unite! Act!
Outstanding leadership in Colorado forced Daily Kos to make a personal appearance.
We had a terrific event in Denver on Sunday, July 26th with 50 readers of Daily Kos. Read the details about it
here.
A special thanks to Leftcandid and ColoTim for leading the Daily Kos Denver group! Leftcandid spent several hours after the event inputting all the email addresses collected. These two are determined and that's why we made this trip happen!
If you'd like to join Denver Kos, please kosmail Leftcandid.
The following evening, Monday, July 27th, we had 30 readers attend. Read the details about it
here.
Another very successful event, great food, drink and conversation! We both gots lots of hearty handshakes and thank yous.
If you'd like to join Pikes Peak Region Kos, please kosmail thanatokephaloides.
Durango, which is 314 miles from Colorado Springs, was our final destination. Our early evening venue was the beautiful home of
nzanne and her husband. It was very generous of them to host. We had 32 Durangotangs attend.
What a pleasure to visit beautiful Durango! A special thanks to Thinking Fella for setting such a great example of leadership by winning a seat with his local Democratic Party Executive Committee! Yes! Go Local!
Durango had the largest collection of readers with user names:
L-R: Thinking Fella, mnguitar, COMTNGRL, Meteor Blades, nzanne,
Gary Norton, navajo, Merry Light and Warkman
If you'd like to join Four Corners Kos, please kosmail Thinking Fella.
The entire state of Colorado has almost 50,000 subscribers to our Daily Kos emails. We can't wait to tap into that more. We've got a lot of organizing ahead of us for Colorado. Leaders, please step up!
We've declared this road trip a great success and look forward to doing some more around the country. It's important to unite entire states in addition to cities and towns. I hope you'll contribute in some way to this effort.
by AndyT ♥ for Dallas Kossacks
AndyT had his largest event ever, 28 people in Dallas! Here's one photo:
Please visit AndyT's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Dallas Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to AndyT.
by ZenTrainer ♥ for Nashville KosKats
Clockwise from bottom right: Anonymous L, Anonymous M,
Patrick is Lucky, Zen Trainer's water, Jon Sitzman, Al Fondy
You can join Nashville KosKats by sending a Kosmail to ZenTrainer.
by GreyHawk ♥ for Boston Kossacks
Mad Mary, CwV, a snapshot via his blog of gmoke, GreyHawk, HawkWife, Knockbally
You can join Boston Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to GreyHawk.
by Sara R ♥ for Koscadia
L-R: ozsea1, also mom of 5 (hiding), winglion, Faye, pdxteacher, quill, Sara R & AK Bear
You can join Koscadia by sending a Kosmail to Sara R.
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.