This past week us interns, had the chance to speak at the Democratic Headquaters in Davie County. Now that was definatley a LONG drive from Greensboro, and the meeting was held at the City courthouse. We were welcomed to a large group of senior citizens, and some old lady who every five minutes mentioned something about seducing more people to come, quite AKWARD! Outside of that Shae shined as ususal, and I was quite PRESTIGIOUS! Suprisingly I got no constructive criticism from Jonathan, so I’ll take it as a job well done. Overall, it was a very successful meeting.
Democracy NC Blog
Welcome to Democracy North Carolina’s main newsfeed. You can review all of our latest blog posts below, starting with the newest post on top, or you can visit our individual sections for more in-depth coverage:
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The final stretch!
July 16th, 2009
DURHAM: It’s hard to believe we have two weeks left at Democracy NC… the summer is going by so fast! And although I look forward to going back to UNC for my last year of college, I’m really going to miss this internship. For the past month and a half, I have been learning so much about what it means to be a community organizer. On Tuesday, Brian and I visited YO:Durham, an organization dedicated to serving at-risk youth in Durham. We talked to about 30 students ages 15-17 for an hour and a half. They were so much fun! They were up doing skits and lots of group work the whole time. The theme of the morning was how they could bring change to their communities… it was like a mini-Wellstone training! I was struck by the way that these young people could really pick out the problems that they face in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods, and how they were able to communicate those problems. I was even more struck by the solutions that they thought of; they were so creative! It was encouraging to see these kids show a genuine interest in changing the life of their communities.
Another big project we worked on this week was our research project, which consisted of looking up campaign contributions from people appointed to different boards and commissions by former Governor Mike Easley. We definitely got to see first hand that there’s LOTS of money going to political campaigns from NOT a lot of different people!
As the week winds down, we’ve been less crazy than we have been for the last 7 weeks… it’s nice to have time to sit down and read some recent news articles about voter-owned elections and post on our blog!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!
-Cristina
A Victory for Democracy
July 13th, 2009
We must win this fight, not with well-paid lobbyists and slick ads, but with grassroots supporters like you and lots of hard work. That’s how we won before and it’s why we need your help now!
Last week, Democracy NC sent out an email alert to our Advocates with the message above in it, hoping people would take action to keep a bill to expand Voter-Owned Elections to more Council of State offices alive in the NC Senate. Within days, 250 people had sent emails to their General Assembly reps in support of the bill and almost 150 more had called to express their support for VOE. Democracy Summer interns helped tremendously in this effort by phone banking to alert supporters that it was time to take action.
Whether this will be enough to combat the well-funded efforts of the organized opposition remains to be seen. Opposition is based not on the actual bill but on a misleading ideological agenda that opposes all new programs requiring funding. Opposition leaders are using the highly inaccurate but effective scare tactic of “they are using your tax dollars” as a motivator to rally opposition — an objection that ignores the facts. This bill would be funded NOT by tax dollars, but by small yearly fees imposed on those who do business with each Council of State agency. This is an approach that would raise enough each year to more than pay for the program and that has been used in New Mexico with great success. They’re not telling people that, of course. And maybe they don’t even realize it themselves. Lord knows it’s harder to educate people than it is to scare them, but we are definitely going to keep trying.
Regardless of the outcome, it is heartening to see so many people acknowledging that our current campaign system is broken and then taking time out of their very busy lives to do something about it. This battle will, indeed, be won, phone call by phone call, letter by letter, just as the fight for the Council of State pilot program was won. But I think we’ve already had one victory of sorts we can be proud of: motivating almost 400 people to take part in democracy 1) takes dedication and hard work, and 2) is great for democracy in and of itself. Well done to all of you who helped!
June was a blur…
July 6th, 2009
Wow! What a busy start to the summer. In June, our 2009 Democracy Summer teams got off to a blazing start and they haven’t slowed down yet. Here’s just a brief rundown of some of the work that’s been done through July 4th:
* Made over 4,500 phone calls, getting over 500 people to take action for reform!
* Helped organize successful voter-owned elections lobby day in Raleigh with over 100 supporters meeting with nearly 75 legislators.
* Got media attention – TV interviews, radio shows, and letters to the editor galore!
* Held meetings with dozens of local supporters.
* Spoke to over 20 groups!
* Began a comprehensive youth services mapping project to promote youth civic participation.
* Attended 3-day Camp Wellstone training in Durham.
* Held voter registration drives and tabled at public events.
All in all, we’re having one of our best summers yet. I feel I can say this because I’ve been here for all 10 of our “classes” since 2000. I can’t wait to see what these young folks accomplish during the month of July. If you can, please donate and support this important program or give your local team a call and see what you can do to help!
Onwards,
Adam Sotak, Organizing Director
Democracy North Carolina
Democracy Summer @ Wellstone
Blackberry Brunch? I'd rather have Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch
June 30th, 2009
Although week four of Demcracy Summer has ended according to the Calendar, I still feel incomplete. Problem. Solution? BLOG!
Our week started early Tuesday morning at the Department of Homeland Security office, we were there again to welcome the newly naturalized citizens and inform them of their new right and duty: voting! Aside from the man wearing crocs with socks (on his special day!), the day didn’t vary from any other ceremony. We came, we saw, Sarah avoided the men’s restroom. Later that night, the Charlotte team did what it does best: phone-banked! We called dozens of people, (and I left at least 40 voice mails) and managed to get a good list of people to invite to our House Party.
Wednesday, we had a typical office day. We decided a theme for our house party (a luau!), designed our evite (it has beach music and hawaiian flowers), and worked on reformatting our youth mapping power point. All in all, it was a non-eventful day, however, I hit a personal record on being called a smart elec- 14 in an hour! This beats my previous record by 1. I get around.
Thursday, Adam came! Adam visited us and redirected our youth-mapping project. He got us back on track and re-energized the search. Later that night, we phone banked. And it was a disaster. Half of the numbers didn’t work, I got hung up on dozens of time, and between all the gibberish voicemails I left, it didn’t get any better when one of my callers shouted out “Michael Jackson just died!” Sad. Adam, Robert, America and I promptly diverted from our call list to call our mothers/signaficant others to relay the news. However, despite all the commotion, I managed to talk to one person, and she consigned to put our House Party information on her organization’s website. Victory! Afterwards, America and I discussed the disasterous phone banking sess and, we concluded sabotage. We have been so successful with our numbers and hitting our quota, the other teams sent us faulty phone lists. We know what’s up guys, so instead of hating, step it up. (Please know this is all said in jest. Maybe.) Oh and Tyler Hansbrough= #13 draft pick! Go Heels!
Friday was an interesting day as well. We spoke to Michael Dickerson with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections about the precint/early voting sites for municipal/local elections and bantered with him about the NBA draft, his daughter’s college search and the probability of Robert getting arrested in the future. It was an eventful meeting and, it was a pleasure conversing with him. Later Friday afternoon, America and I drove to the South Park area to meet with Diane Frederick, a woman very well-connected with youth groups in Charlotte. Before we met her, America and I stopped to eat at Burger King, where I was astonished by the fat content in a grilled chicken sandwich, 21 grams…without Mayo! I was immensely saddened by this. Anyway, back to Ms. Frederick. She advised us on which groups to cal, which not to waste time on and provided advice on our House Party. She loved the Luau theme as well, which was assuring.
Saturday Morning! So, when Robert told us about this event on our first day of work, I have to admit, I was a little excited. I mean, I love breakfast, and when breakfast falls at a time when I don’t have to wake up early, I”m even more on board. I mean waffles at 11? Right on. However, I learned quickly how wrong my expectations were. Right when we arrived at the Blackberry/Wackberry/Worst event of my life, America, Robert and I were ushered into a “waiting room” and recruited to stuff 2″ by 4″ bags with Census propoganda- pens, magnets..etc. and properly folded pamphlets containing census information with 2 other women. I, being me, tried to strike up a conversation with the two ladies…to no avail. Apparently, they were not in the mood to jest with the Charlotte Conversation (which really consisted of me saying, so what connection do you have with the census burreau? crickets…). To quote my youtube idol, Bonquiqui, “Rude.” After America and I finished THEIR task (and mind you, I’m all for team work, but when someone asks “How are you?” answer with more than a snort), we followed Robert to the dining hall to find our tables. However, we hit a snag. The Blackberry ladies set up a table to collect tickets before patrons could enter the brunch. Robert had apparently already given our tickets to the lady, who apparently did not remember. So, after Robert sprinted off inside the doors, the lady with the 2 foot hat badgered us, repeatedly, “I need your tickets, I need your tickets, I need them NOW!” She sounded like a broken record. Finally, Robert told her he had already given her our tickets, another lady calmed her down, and America and I emerged into a sea of pastels and flowered hats, talk about overwhelming. We waded through the circular tables, somehow navigating around all the pushed out chairs and found ourselves standing in the middle of the room with no place to sit down. I repeat, we were standing in the middle of the room, blocking the entertainment, with absolutely no place to sit. Finally, we were seated, at seperate tables no less, and my tablemates looked at me as if my spaceship had just landed. I had to suppress the urge from warbling I come in peace. Meal time came and I felt reinvigorated, until I found out what it was. Well, I saw it, I still haven’t figured out what it was. When the table finished eating, the lady beside me leaned over to talk! Finally, I thought, someone wants to talk to me. She asked me to refill her tea. Fail. So all in all, not my best day.
As I look back over this week, I remember the book of Job. For those who aren’t as familiar, it tells the tale of one man so bound to God by his faith, that after trials, tribulations and possibly the worst experiences Hollywood couldn’t write , he still called out and worshipped God. I am in no way comparing myself to Job, well except that I am, but, this week I re-learned, it’s not always sunny. The days aren’t always the best; sometimes you have to stuff nylon bags and refill tea glasses to get to tomorrow, but I am faithful in tomorrow and all the promise it brings.
Sarah, QC
PAC Wars: Episode II – Revenge of the Stiffs
June 29th, 2009
Things are getting heated over in Raleigh in lobbyist circles as special interest PAC’s seek to be the last loophole standing when the budget is signed. If you want to follow the players in this scramble, check out Democracy NC’s new research report entitled NC Budget, Tax Loopholes & Special-Interest PACs
This report shows that 3 dozen of NC’s biggest political action committees (PACs) donated $7 million to state candidates and political parties in the last election – and now many of the groups are now scrambling to make sure their interests, including tax breaks worth at least $1 billion a year, are not harmed in the new budget being hammered out in Raleigh. The list of top PACs includes groups of developers, attorneys, university patrons, doctors, auto dealers, state employees, teachers, and beer wholesalers, as well as executives with blue-chip firms like Progress Energy, Wachovia, Blue Cross, AT&T, and Nationwide Insurance.
Our analysis shows that legislative winners in 2008 received 94% of the $5.7 million big PACs donated to all legislative candidates. The PACs also gave $770,000 to gubernatorial and other statewide candidates, as well as $590,000 to political party committees, much of which gets funneled into legislative races. . . access the entire report here. (The chart of PAC donations is on Page 4 of the report.)
Lights, Camera, Action!
June 29th, 2009
The Greenville team took Democracy NC to the lights of G-vegas as we made our first tv appearance! Oh yea other teams, be jealous! Pastor Rodney Coles of the Children of God Church was our delightful host for his weekly segment of Churches Outreach Network. Our tv debut was definitely the highlight of our week (though it took us 40 minutes to find the station– thanks Tia!) and the three of us are looking forward to our 3am running of CON on Cable 7.
The Greenville team is also excitingly planning our first ever open house for Pitt County. On Thursday July 9th, Brittany, Tia, and I are going to spend a couple of hours partying it up with people who care about voter rights and campaign finance issues and we hopefully will be able expand our mission to the people of Pitt County!
We also spoke to the Greenville Youth Council about the pre-registering teenagers to vote and they were all really supportive. It was cook to see their minds working as they planned ways to get the word out to their peers about the importance of voting and the pre-registration bill.
After Camp Wellstone this weekend, this week sure felt long, but, looking back, we got a lot accomplished and I’m incredibly proud of how the Greenville team is helping to develop Pitt County into a more progressive area and I’m excited to see all we will produce while we’re here.
Panic ATTACK….and other things
June 29th, 2009
Here in Fayetteville we were really busy trying to organize (since we are called organizers) and get things together for lobby day, which turned out to be a huge success. I never was very civically engaged and I felt as so many other people do that all politicians were corrupt and that they didn’t actual care about my issues. However, thru this internship and thru having the opportunity top meet with my legislators at events like lobby day, I realized that they are accessible to us and that we are who they serve. Therefore people should not be afraid to speak and meet with them because they are people just like we are!
Camp Wellstone training was a very informative event. We got to meet and network with other people that are passionate about issues just like we were. And by the time we left, everyone knew what Dem NC was as well as campaign finance reform!!! We had been preparing for our radio segment all week and had Terri Robertson, Director of The Board of Elections and Chase Foster, Executive Director of NCVCE. Being the detailed prepared person that I was, I made detailed outline with everything we needed to say as well estimated time and everything. But to our surprise when we got in the radio show they basically threw us in the water with the sharks and we had to swim. We had certain topics to talk about but since no one was there facilitating at the radio show we had no way of knowing if our caller had called in. This is when we all panicked! But Ashley can in ad libbing and asked us questions about the experience, etc. so that filled up much of our time. Then we got someone in there and Jackie began the first interview with Ms. Robertson. Then we ran out of questions for her and make up more because we needed to keep talking! Im looking at Jackie and she’s just like OMG what do I do next??? The look on her face was a classic moment! But we got over it and my interview with Chase went smooth because he’s like the expert on answering all of those question about campaign finance reform. It was definitely an experience!
Brian's Verbal Diarrhea
June 26th, 2009
It happens to all of us eventually… a slip of the tongue, a mixing up of one or two letters, a brief lapse of concentration and out it comes… a parapraxis (the dreaded Freudian slip)!
This week, while explaining how Voter Owned Elections will work in the town’s local races, Brian told our Chapel Hill Town Hall audience (as well as ALL of the folks watching on TV from home) that, “Once a candidates collects a minimum number qualifying contributions, he or she will get the runs for the rest of their campaign.” Um, yeah, Brian. If that doesn’t convince candidates to opt into the program, nothing will!
Obviously, Brian mean to say “funds” but also had the word “run,” as in “run for office” in his mind and out came the… well, you get it.
This slip caught me so off guard that I laughed out loud, perhaps the greatest compromise of my professionalism since the staff holiday party. I’m just EXTREMELY glad Jonathan wasn’t with us in Chapel Hill that night, because it would have been “That’s the WORST!” all over again!
Several people in the audience struggled (and failed) to suppress their giggles, including one older woman who almost fell out of her seat trying to hold back a cackle. Way to connect with the older generation, Brian!
Luckily, Brian recovered quickly, despite his own chuckle at his mistake, and went on to give a great presentation.
Durham team: Thanks for another GREAT week!
Listening to Ben Folds inspires me to blog!
June 25th, 2009
DURHAM: What a crazy two weeks!! Brian and I have been keeping busy in Durham with speaking engagements, a very successful Lobby Day at the State Legislature, a fun summer baseball game, and Wellstone Training all weekend.
On Tuesday night we held a public forum at the Chapel Hill Town Hall to explain the Voter-Owned Elections program that will be used in Chapel Hill this year. Brian and I were in charge of giving a basic but detailed overview of the program… it’s challenging to keep people interested and not falling asleep when you have to explain boring details! But we had people laughing at several points, so that’s a good sign. It think what made us most nervous was that Bob Hall was actually sitting in the audience… but he liked our presentation! We were even on TV. You know you’ve made it far when your event is broadcasted on Chapel Hill Government TV! We’re pretty much celebrities now; the paparazzi wait for us every night outside the office… it’s pretty crazy.
But seriously, the forum was really cool, because we got to share the VOE program with Chapel Hill residents. As ‘Chapel Hillians’ (is that a word?), we should be proud to be the first city in the state and only one of three in the nation to have publically financed campaigns for all municipal races! Mr. Mark Kleinschmidt, a current Council Member who is running for mayor this year, was there, and he is a big fan of VOE. Thank you for being there! We hope all other candidates use the public fund for their campaigns!
Tomorrow we will attend the Durham NAACP Conference, so we’re really excited about meeting more people who are really active in the community and see how we can unite our efforts towards social change.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful week! It was fun to reunite with all the interns and with Ashley and Jonathan over the weekend! Apparently people at Wellstone liked us… at least that’s what Katy said when we got back 
More to come next week!
-Cristina
Crocs with Socks and a Whitman’s Chocolate Box
June 23rd, 2009
Week three of Democracy Summer was by far the MOST eventful. Between the Charlotte Team’s brief grapple with fame, a 6-hour round trip to Raleigh in a rolling icebox and Camp Wellstone, let’s just say I have a lot to blog about. I’ll get right to it:
Monday evening, America, Robert and I journeyed to the Charlotte Public Access Channel (Channel 21!) to film a segment with Austin Roper (feel free to make an Al Roker joke here- I did; Several times, actually), president of the Urban League on Voter Owned Elections…or so we thought. We pulled up to the station only to be informed our act was to address pre-registration and voting participation. After taking pictures in the green room (it was severely lime green, see facebook for details), we settled into chairs to watch the segment about prostate cancer, which was filming before us. Needless to say, our silence was demanded. However, we didn’t comply, as Mr. Roper leaned over his desk, uttering in his Horatio Caine- inspired voice, “This is the Chocolate Box.” We dissolved in giggles, which were met with go-sit-in-the-corner stares, but we made it through the segment without further interruption. Then it was time for our 15 minutes of fame! Frocked in our Democracy North Carolina T-shirts (America and I at least, ahem Robert), we answered questions about HB-1260 and spoke about the importance of youth engagement in civic society. We did an excellent job on staying on point, if I do say so myself, however, our serious demeanor vanished when Mr. Roper, again impersonating Horatio Caine (minus the aviators), leaned into the camera and signed off, “This has been the Chocolate Box. Would you like a chocolate?” I’m totally certain we’re getting call backs from the station for our own show.
On Wednesday the Charlotte team loaded up early in a 15 passenger van to head to the General Assembly for Lobby Day! Whoever said “getting there is half the fun” did not ride with us. Imagine if you will: 15 people, 6:00 a.m. (well 4 a.m. I had to get up) NPR on full blast, 45 degree temperature and 2959724598 bazillion different conversations going on simultaneously; I had to restrain myself from kissing the ground when we rolled into Raleigh. Thankfully, the day looked up, aside from the 100 meter dash to Rep. Nick Mackey’s office as soon as we arrived, as the trip home was at least 5 hours away. The day seemed methodical: we announced a Rep./Sen., located the office number, affirmed the office number, piled into an elevator, re-affirmed the office number and filed into hallways/offices/conference rooms to discuss opposition or to give thanks for sponsorship on HB 1260 and SB 966. We met with Reps. Ruth Samuelson, Nick Mackey, Beverly Earle, Alexander Kelly and Becky Carney. We tried to talk to Clodfelter and Pryor Gibson, but no dice. It was a terrific learning experience and I grew more knowledgeable about the North Carolina budget crisis and lobbying in general.
Thankfully, following Lobby Day, Robert awarded America and I the day off on Thursday. I slept until noon. Friday morning, the Charlotte Team (minus Robert) ventured to Durham to participate in Camp Wellstone, a training camp for ambitious activists in memory of the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone. It was a treat to meet up with all the Democracy Summer interns, as we hadn’t really spent any time together since camp Wilderness. Camp Wellstone, to be completely honest, seemed at times, redundant. It was essentially a review of all the things we learned at Efland, only much more general. That being said, I’m a firm believer in participation, and I know that you get out what you put in, so I jumped in with both feet and had a really good time, up until hour 56. I met new people, learned a kick butt new ice breaker and bonded with the other Dem Summer interns. I learned about conversation styles, volunteer recruitment, media messages and PEAK, a great get-to-know-you activity where I had an enlightening conversation with Jonathon, the Greensboro Dem Summer Organizer. I was touched by the level of compassion at Wellstone, and the amount of admiration I had for our instructors Melvin Carter and Mattie Weis surpassed any frustration I had with the cream cheese on the turkey sandwiches, who does that? However, the banana pudding was delightful, the discussions informative and the exercises gave me a chance to connect with George, my Machiavellian friend, Jason, the Cutco enthusiast who really liked high fives, Risa, a comforting and encouraging idealist and of course all the lovely people with Dem Summer.
Since this blog entry is lengthier than War and Peace, I’ll stop typing. But more to come later!
Sarah, QC!
A True Test of Sarah’s “Gangster”
June 23rd, 2009
This week started off with a bang! We were invited to the Young Democrats to give a refresher course in HB:1260 and SB:966. Mecklenburg YD’s have one of the longest meetings I have ever been too and because of certain circumstances, were unable to stick to schedule, including the last minute building switch (because of aid condition…pluhlezze! ) Anyways, I was introduced to Representative Nick Mackey who is quite the character but relayed very informative information in regards to the budget proposal. Since we waited 2 hours to speak, my anxiety continued to worsen and I felt the strong desire to vomit….and it would have been on Representative Mackey. Not intentionally, but Sarah was on my other side and since I like her my left would have been the better option of the two. Since we were moved to the Hilton Garden Inn Bar, we were unable to incorporate our jazzy PowerPoint and were forced to read from the handouts we received at training. Considering we were thrown with this change two minutes prior to show time, we were flexible and I believe we did an awesome job! 
(and collected 12 postcards!)
Monday we were enjoyed the luxuries of both air condition AND internet! Man, first class living. A side note: you would be surprised how lack of air condition and internet would affect a person’s PMA (positive mental attitude). It can make the most highly motivated individual extremely angry. Anyhow, we had an interview set up for Public Access TV (Charlotte Channel 21) with Mr. Roper from the Urban League. It was hilarious! The name of the show was, “The chocolate box” and he was filling in for “the chocolate drop.” Trust me when I say hearing Mr. Roper say this was a laugh you couldn’t pay for. Considering the taping was already an hour or so behind, we had a good ten minutes and decided (well I yelled out) to discuss HB:1260 and it was great. Robert did most of the overview and background, while Sarah and myself discussed the importance of youth voting and what we saw during the Presidential election.
Tuesday: I don’t know about ya’ll, but I have been LOOKING FORWARD to TODAY! IT WAS PAYDAY!:D and it definitely overshadowed the idea of phone banking So anyways, my first phone call was a very conservative man who asked me who he contacts to get Obama “the non-US citizen” out of office and the “crazy corrupt hippy liberals” then rephrased “all those hippies” Now, although I took a small amount of offense because I consider myself a liberal/hippy individual. ANYWAYS, I giggled and explained that President Obama’s citizenship was not a part of Democracy NC’s issues because of our non-partisanship we focus on policies and issues that support “one person, one vote” He said he appreciated my response, but something needed to be done to get President Obama out of office. (Whatever) He is one of those I wish was W#H or LMH.
Lobby Day: So, I am not going to lie. Although I get up pretty early during the week anyway, (working on my fitness) the thought of waking up THAT early and being on a van cramped with 14 other people didn’t excite me. Actually, my head began to throb with the thought. But we suck it up and make it happen so-after the 30 degree cramped ride and constant bathroom stops we made it to the legislative building. Speaking with the representatives was interesting, I learned a lot about VOE and HB:1260 opposition from Rep. Ruth Samuelson which was great.
Camp Wellstone: Honestly, camp Wellstone is something that should be done BEFORE we begin work. It would be much more beneficial to learn about lobbying before we do it and to develop organizing skills prior to beginning work. There should be some way that this is implemented into the first three day retreat rather than want people to willingly give up another 3 days. I think because of this the instructors got the vibe that we didn’t want to be there especially during the lobby session. I do not think we are experts by any means it just felt that we could have benefited from that beforehand. But I did enjoy the first session and found it very relevant. It was about One on Ones and developing relationships. Other than the session topics, Wellstone went well. Nice hotel room, tick-less food and NO KICKBALL!
Well I’m running low on thoughts! But I hope everyone has an AMAZING week! Don’t work TOO hard!
Ya’ll are awesome!
America
-704! Read the rest of this entry »
Good Sports!
June 23rd, 2009
Despite several weeks of phone banking, night time presentations, weekend work and long hours — plus a long weekend of Wellstone Training ahead – Brian, Christina (both with the Durham Dem Summer team) and Katy (Greenville Team) all showed with friends to join us for the benefit baseball game on June 18th. Dem NC staffers and supporters joined them, along with the folks from the Coalition for Southern Justice who had organized the event to raise money to pay for scholarships to Wellstone Training. The night was HOT, the game was irrelevant and the company grand. Before the game, there was a Happy Hour and reception at the West End Wine Bar on Main Street and the joint was PACKED with people who were chilling in the air condtioning before wading out into the hot and muggy Carolina night. Baseball is almost an anachronism to a generation used to nonstop movement and the instant joys of technology, but it retains its beauty and there’s a lot to be said for sitting for a few hours, no multi-tasking possible, and simply taking a deep breath. Many thanks to those of you who participated and helped raise money for the cause!
I'll just meet you in the LOBBY (DAY)
June 23rd, 2009
Lobby Day (June 17)
It was our first meeting of the day with representative Timothy Spear and I was hoping I wasn’t about to be SPEARED. I was pretty nervous going into his office (hello: this guy is the big leagues!) because this was the first time I had ever done any sort of lobbying and the last thing I wanted was to make a fool of myself in front of a politician. But, fortunately for me, Tia was calm and collected (as always) and SPEAR- headed our campaign for HB-120, HB-1260, and SB-966. She is so poised when she speaks, I was put at ease almost instantly and speaking to a legislator became no different than speaking to an average Joe on the street. Spear, unfortunately, was hesitant to pledge support for our cause (a disappointing start for the day) but having one “no” under our belts made the rest of the day sail pretty smoothly. We met with several other legislators including Representatives Owens, Allen, Davis (Who was an absolute delight to meet and hear speak!), and Braxton.
The most interesting aspect to lobby day was uncovering why certain legislators voted as they did. It was the inevitable battle between “should I vote as a representative of my constituents/to get reelected?” or “should I vote for what I believe is legislatively right?” It was incredibly frustrating for me to realize how easily a politician can be persuaded to vote a particular way because influential backers that supported them do not support particular legislation. For the first time, I SAW and HEARD why our work at Democracy North Carolina is so important. Legislators should represent all the people, not just the ones with the most power.
Overall, though, Lobby Day was a really exciting experience and hopefully we’ll be able to head back up to Raleigh sometime soon and we’ll return to Greenville with less “maybes” and more “yeses!”
Brittany, Tia, and I were joined by Ryan Downey of Greenville and Marvin Arrington of Nash County during the day. Ryan, with his endless supply of history and information about Raleigh and the North Carolina legislature, and Marvin, with his enlightening insight and immense popularity with the legislators, were both great additions to our trio! Thanks guys
That’s all for now!
- Katy Koesy
More on Lobby Day….
June 18th, 2009
This week we had our first experience lobbying our elected officials regarding legislation that we want to see passed and I must say, given the hardwork me and Cristina put into calling supporters to invite them to lobby day, calling (and according to Cristina, my “sweetalking” the Legislative Aide’s into meetings) legislators, and finally showing up at the General Assembly ready to talk to legislators, it was rewarding.
It was interesting for me as I showed up late to the General Assembly, even though this time I wasn’t lost (my directional challenges are a bit of a running joke here in the Durham Office). I actually woke up the morning of the Lobby Day without cufflinks for my shirt, which I left at my parents’ house. Even worse, I discovered that no store that sells cufflinks is open at 8 in the morning. So I go into Wal-Mart, in a frantic last-ditch effort to buy a regular shirt, and a pair of cufflinks mysteriously appear on the Wal-Mart floor (who mind you, has never sold cufflinks a day in the store’s history). I knew right then that God is a supporter of Voter-Owned Elections!
It was really cool meeting with Sens. Atwater and McKissick, who offered really good advice on who in the legislature to talk to to push our VOE bills. It was really great meeting with other legislators like Rep. Insko, Speaker Hackey, and Rep. Luebke who invited us into their offices and seemed to really enjoy talking to us about the issues that we support.
All in all it was a great experience…
Stay Tuned,
Brian
