"Fired Up and Ready to Go"
Gathering
Political Action, Democracy in Action
In the past months we've all witnessed history, and we've
been a part of making it. But as Obama has said, the
election did not bring the change we seek – only the
chance to make that change.
Tonight, along with over 1,300 other gatherings like this
one around the country, we'll take the next steps forward
by launching our Real Voices for Change campaign to
ensure that Obama can end the war in Iraq and pass a
bold agenda on health care and clean energy.
Opening Statements
Since I am not used to hosting such an event I am using
PowerPoint to read off and you can read along. These
first 4 slides should only take about 15 min.
Thanks so much for coming this evening. Tonight we’ll be
celebrating all the work we’ve done this election season,
and we’ll talk about how we can help Obama enact real
progressive change in 2009!
The purpose of this gathering is to help make sure the
change we fought for this year becomes a reality. We’re
launching a massive new campaign to make sure
Congress and the media know that people everywhere
are standing with Obama, and we’ll keep fighting to get
our country back on track.
Agenda of tonight’s Gathering
• We’ll launch our (MoveOn.org) big new campaign to demonstrate the power
behind the progressive mandate, and plan our first organizing steps, along with
hundreds of other Councils nationwide.
• We’ll listen to a national conference call (webcast) to get the ball rolling. (About
15 Min.)
• Then, we’ll have general discussion about Step 1 Photos and discuss next
steps for the Real Voices for Change campaign as a large group (About 20
min.)
• Then we’ll break up into small groups to brainstorm what else we can do to
back up Barack as he pushes for real change on issues like the economy, clean
energy, health care and an end to the war in Iraq.
We will spend some time brainstorming MoveOn.org’s National Issues, goals,
events, and agenda. All ideas will get written down and sent to MoveOn.org.
Then we can move into other local events that could be possible. (About 25
min.)
• We’ll finish the night with some celebration. This is also the time to take some
photos (20 Min)
All told, it should take about an hour and a half
but we have until Caribou closes at 9pm if needed
Rules
(I only have a few small rules)
• Be positive. Not everyone is going to agree about how to execute
our campaign or what to do next. Everyone is going to get a chance
to be heard. Let’s all agree that we can disagree. Everyone has an
opinion and feelings and they can think any way they want and that
might be different than your own, but that is ok. Don’t try and attempt
to get everyone on the same page or enforce consensus in the
group.
• There are no dumb questions or answers
• Let me know if you don’t want your picture taken since these and
any pictures taken by other guests might end up on websites like
MoveOn.org
• Please make sure you have signed the Sign-in sheet. You can put
as little or as much info down as you want but I do want a good
count of how many people came.
National Webcast
• http://pol.moveon.org/changeweneed/w
ebcast.html
• NOTE: The webcast includes a few silent
minutes when attendees are encouraged
to introduce themselves to others sitting
near them and talk about what they did to
help elect Obama and what they hope for
from his Presidency.
Real Voices for Change Campaign
Photos
• Scribe, can you please handout the Campaign Handout to
everyone. I have digital copies of all of this info so if you need it
please email me at redwingforobama@yahoo.com
• As you heard on the webcast, we’re going to be reaching out to
friends, family, and community groups we’re involved in to collect
their photos.
• We're asking people to add their name to a petition and then take
a photo showing that they stand with Barack Obama for change
in Washington. Starting with the gatherings on November 20th,
we're asking everyone to gather "I stand with Obama" photos
from people they know, or from busy locations in their
community.
• This is so important because we need to show the diversity and
passion of the millions of Americans who are demanding change.
Real Voices for Change -Photos
• We’ll deliver these photos to Congress so they see the faces of
thousands of their constituents who are standing with Barack.
• But to do that, we need to gather as many photos as we can.
• Where could we get lots of people's photos? Public places. Let’s
think big – friends and family, neighborhood and school groups,
community centers, shopping mall parking lots, churches and
other places of worship. Collectively I’ll bet we know a ton of
people. So, where can we go to get a lot of photos? Some
examples: going to a busy neighborhood, to a supermarket
entrance, or to a farmer's market, and asking people there to
participate.
• I am asking everyone to commit to help gather photos
somewhere in the community. (over the next 6 weeks)
• In order to make this campaign effective, it will take all of us
chipping in. If you don’t have a camera or a cell phone that takes
pictures, that’s OK – you should just team up with someone who
does.
Who here can commit to collecting some photos? Please raise
your hand!
Real Voices for Change -Photos
• I’ve got the sign-in sheet that I’ll pass around again, and check
off if you’re able to help gather photos for the Real Voices for
Change campaign. That way we can keep in touch and track how
far we’re getting as a group.
• What should I say to ask someone to take their photo?
You want to take their photo as part of a big new campaign
pressuring Congress to support Obama's progressive agenda.
Here's a sample script you can use:
"Hi! Would you send a message to Congress to support Barack
Obama? I'm a volunteer with MoveOn.org. We're gathering
photos and petitions asking Congress to stand with Obama for
real change in Washington. Will you add your name to this
petition, and then take a photo holding a sign saying why you
stand with Obama?"
• All the instructions you need are on the handout.
Real Voices for Change -Photos
• Please send digital copy of the photos to me at
redwingforobama@yahoo.com and then submit your photos at
Photo Upload page www.moveon.org/voicesforchange.
Please submit them to MoveOn so we can sort them and get
them ready to deliver to Congress! We'll also display many of
them on our website. Please also mail in your paper petitions to
MoveOn. You can and email it to
voicesforchangepetition@moveon.org, OR fax it to 360-397-
2645, OR mail it to: MoveOn.org Political Action, Attn: Petition
Sheets, P.O. Box 9218, Berkeley, CA 94709.
• We ask that you turn in your first round of photos by December
14th.
• We'll assemble the names and photos into packets by
Congressional District and state. We'll present them to individual
members of Congress in Washington, DC in January, close to
Inauguration Day. We'll also make photos available online.
Real Voices for Change -Photos
• Make sure you don’t take any photos of people without their
permission, and they must add their name to the petition. No
pictures of minors! They should be holding a sign so it’s clear that
they’re standing with Obama. I suggest using a black marker on the
sign so it shows up good on the picture. These photos will ONLY be
used for this petition, not for advertisement. They may be put on
MoveOn.org’s website and will be send directly to members of
congress.
• I have made some preprinted signs that you can use to convey the
issue of the person’s picture you take.
• You can get more supplies/materials at
www.moveon.org/voicesforchange
• If you read the handout and still have questions please talk with me
or email them to me and I would be happy to get you answers.
Brainstorming for MoveOn.org
Think National Issues at this point
• When thousands of us go meet with Congress and present hundreds of thousands of
these photos, we’ll show that real Americans are demanding big change on the
issues we care about. Just showing the faces of real people who are standing for
change will make a huge difference. But we know we’ll need to do more to back up
Barack in achieving real change this coming year.
• Our Real Voices for Change campaign is a great start to show the progressive
mandate for change, but there's a lot more that we'll need to do in the coming year to
make sure Obama is able to pass the ambitious agenda he laid out during the
campaign. This is a time to brainstorm. Here is where we will use small group
discussion or if we think we do not have enough people we can keep it to one group.
• Question at hand:
We know there are many important issues facing America – like the economy,
energy, health care, and Iraq. Given that, what are 3 more things you think
MoveOn members and other community members can do – beyond this
campaign – to help make Obama successful in achieving the change we need.
What issues are important to us and how would we create events (like this petitions,
or letters to the editors, rally's, door knocking, public event, getting media attention) to
support this?
Other?
• If there are any brainstorming ideas that
we want to act on locally we can talk about
them now.
• Is there anything else that the group would
like to discuses before we celebrate?
Celebrate and take some photos
• We’ve come so far and have much to be excited
about – and now we also have a great plan
moving forward. I will keep all of you informed.
So lets have some snacks and take some time
to celebrate.
• While we’re having fun, we should also take the
first photos of the campaign! Lets start with
those of us now in the room. If you want to team
up with other people and make plans to go out
into the community together to get additional
photos, that would be great.
Closing info
• So you know, there will be other MoveOn.org gatherings in the future so keep in
touch. They are looking at a meeting January 11th
• MoveOn Councils are teams of committed volunteers who go beyond email and
organize hard-hitting events in their community. We work together to hold our elected
officials accountable, and lay the groundwork for electoral victories. We specialize in
rapid-response events so we can act on issues while they're still hot. And our
network, with hundreds of Councils around the country, gives us the power to have
our voices heard! I have submitted a RedWingForObama council so keep your eyes
out for that to be coming soon.
• Please go online to www.moveon.org/voicesforchange and fill out an attendee
survey.
• Help shape the future of this movement. Share your thoughts and feedback with
Obama’s team directly, take a brief survey at http://my.barackobama.com/whatsnext.
Now it’s up to you to decide how we move forward. Thanks to you, this country has
an historic opportunity.
– David Plouffe, Obama for America, Campaign Manager (statement summarized by Jennifer)
Thanks for all of your time and effort!