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.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Regional Communities in a full screen version.
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Note from navajo: Please welcome our new Monday diarist, Chitown Kev!
UID: 212,082. Joined Daily Kos: Jun 5, 2009. He's published 56 well received diaries and has made 8,596 comments. He belongs to the following groups: Overnight News Digest, Angry Gays, Milk Men And Women, Readers and Book Lovers, Black Kos community, Connect! Unite! Act! and Chicago Kossacks. Thanks for joining the Connect! Unite! Act! team, Kevin!
What is your favorite childhood memory?
I have two favorite childhood memories; both occurred when I was 3 years old and visiting southern California with my aunt and uncle for the summer.
Favorite Memory Number One occurred when I was standing on the front lawn of my uncle's relatives home blowing bubbles without a care in the world. I don't think I have the language to describe the memory and the thought of the 15-20 minutes that I stood on that front lawn on a typically warm summer morning in Carson City, California.
Blowing bubbles.
"Unencumbered" might be an SAT-word for how I felt at that time on that day. "Serenity" or "bliss" could be another word.
On occasion, I have used that memory of that three year old kid in southern California as a guide in meditation or to relieve stress. On other occasions, I've bought a bottle of bubbles and walked to the Chicago/Evanston lakefront. It does help to relieve the stresses of everyday life but I know that it is not and will never become that particular bliss that I felt over forty years ago on a warm summer morning in southern California.
Favorite Memory Number Two was also in southern California at Disneyland. I recall some of the rides and I recalled being irritated and crying because my uncle was teasing me by constantly putting the feathers of a feathered-something in my face.
And then my aunt took me on the Submarine Voyage.
I now know (thanks to wikipedia, dammit!) that none of the marine life (with the possible exception of the turtles) was real. But I still fondly remember sitting up in my chair, hands on the cabin windows, looking out in amazement and wonder at the varieties and colors of sealife.
And even though I now know that the "marine life" that I saw over 40 years wasn't marine life at all, this youtube video of the Submarine Voyage has moved me to tears that don't seem to stop.
My trip on the Submarine Voyage at Disneyland is probably the most formative experience of my life that I can remember.
To this day, I have always had a bit of an intolerance for homogeneity, sameness, ritual, habit. That applies to everything from the neighborhoods where I (for the most part!) choose to live to the food that I eat to those whom I choose to love. It has taken time, observation, and (most importantly) pain for me to appreciate the commonalities and bonds with others. But "difference" still fascinates me.
I was in my early twenties, I believe, when I heard a saying most often attributed to Aristotle, that "philosophy begins in wonder." The moment I read that statement, I instantly think of my ride on the Submarine Voyage.
True enough, I have both happier memories and more formative memories than these two snapshots of my summer vacation in Southern California over 40 years ago.
But no two memories combine the happy with the formative more.
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:
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington: Sundays, 3:30 PM Pacific
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kos
Rhonda, matts2, cat2cate, KatSkahnne, 714day, Chiwere, Teen Loner, Moody Loner, (in back) otoelbc, Zack from SFV, gmats, susans, Shockwave, Frank Vyan Walton, rserven and Joe Bacon's legs
You can join
Los Angeles Kos by sending a Kosmail to
susans.
Houston Area Kossacks had a great meetup
by Chrislove ♥ for Houston Area Kossacks


L-R: scott5js, JJR1971, Blood & cosette, Mary, and Chrislove
You can join Houston Area Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Chrislove.
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!
Monday, July 13th
Join the Forward Together/Moral Monday March & Rally w/ other DKos Readers
TIME: 5:00 PM Day-long events begin at 8:00 AM
LOCATION: Corpening Plaza
231 W. 1st St. • Winston-Salem

ORGANIZER: Send DocDawg a kosmail to connect with other readers. Join North Carolina Blue kosmail group for updates.
RSVPs:
1. DocDawg
2. MsDawg
3. randallt
4. TexDem [can carpool from Lake Norman]
5. LamontCranston
6. DawnN
7. SteelerGrrl
8. Mr. SteelerGrrl
9. Marihilda
10. Mystery Guest
11. SolarMom
12. davehouck
13. Joieau
14. Lamont Cranston
15. Gordon20024
16 mixedbag
17. Leslie Salzillo
18. FarmerG
19. eeff
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: North Carolina's Selma

Wednesday, July 15th
Phoenix & Baja Arizona Kossacks Meet-up with Many Out-of-Town Visitors!
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: NO-HOST Dinner Majerle’s Sports Grill, in the Cotton Club room
24 North 2nd Street • Phoenix, near the Convention Center
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. Azazello
3. Mrs. Azazello
4. rasbobbo
5. navajo ✓
6. vicki ✓
7. Beth Becker ✓
8. Mark Mohundro ✓
9. brillig ✓
10 mik ✓
11. DebtorsPrison
12. jlms qkw ✓
13. Arenosa ✓
14. Pam Miles ✓
15. ramara
16. ItsaMathJoke
17. Perfect Stormer ✓
18. SanDiegoDem ✓
19. DaNang65
20. slowblues
21. mrs slowblues
22. Kid 1 ✓
23. Malacandra ✓
24. shayera ✓
25. edgery ✓
26. edgery's grandson ✓
27. Sun Tzu
28. MsSpentyouth ✓
29. BruinKid ✓
30. CenPhx
31. State Sen. Andrea Dalessandro
32. artmartin
33. afrodamus
34. Lulu ✓
35. elk18
Seating MAXED out at 35
✓ facebook group |
Kiddie Table:
loggersbrat
cooper888
gotmooned
Letesia
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Saturday, July 18th
Koscadia Meet-up in Portland, Oregon!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Portland Mercado
7238 SE Foster Rd • Portand
ORGANIZER: Send [organizer's linked user name] a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Sara R
2. winglion
3. Pdxteacher
4. quill
5. AK Bear ( +1 or more)
6. Angela Marx |
Maybees:
llbear
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Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up on Saturday, 7/18 at the Portland Mercado
Saturday, July 25th
Dallas Kos Meet-up
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Ojeda's Mexican Restaurant
4617 Maple Avenue • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT's a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday AND Sunday, July 25th & 26th
Boston & New England Kos Meet-ups
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Applebee's
200 Hancock Street • Quincy
ORGANIZER: Send GreyHawk a kosmail to attend
SATURDAY RSVPs:
1. GreyHawk
2. Hawk Wife
3.
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Maybees: |
SUNDAY RSVPs:
1. GreyHawk
2. Hawk Wife
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: BosKos & NE Kossacks


DAILY KOS COLORADO ROAD TRIP!
Sunday, July 26th
Denver Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Mercury Cafe is powered by the Wind and the Sun. We serve Local, Organic Food, and Community is our purpose.
2199 California Street • Denver
ORGANIZER: Send ColoTim or Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. ColoTim
2. Leftcandid
3. Meteor Blades
4. navajo
5. acpa
6. Ginny in CO
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Maybees:
Sol Fed Joe
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Monday, July 27th
Colorado Springs Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: MacKenzie's Chop House
128 S Tejon St • Colorado Springs
ORGANIZER: Send thanatokephaloides a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. thanatokephaloides
2. Meteor Blades
3. navajo
4. Madam Poopsy
5. Piano Guy
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Maybees: |
Wednesday, July 29th
Four Corners Kos Meet-up with Meteor Blades and navajo
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Private Residence
[Address will be given to RSVPers, Entrance is mobility impaired - there are steps going down into residence that are unavoidable.] • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. Meteor Blades
3. navajo
4. nzanne
5. Gary Norton
6. redmoondog
7. relleno
8. mnguitar
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Maybees:
vexed weasel
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Saturday, August 1st
DKos Asheville Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send [organizer's linked user name] a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Lamont Cranston
4. Joieau
5. DawnN
6. Otteray Scribe
7. FarmerG
8. Gordon20024
9.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread

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!

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.