East Bay Kerry

Ohio Phone-banking: Weekend Update

This past Saturday, on a warm, sunny afternoon – when most East Bayers were probably out hiking, shopping, or watching a ballgame – over 40 eager volunteers chose to spend a few hours of their weekend calling and writing to complete strangers on the other side of the country.

In one of our most prolific phone-banking efforts of the campaign, we placed over 1500 phone calls to unsuspecting Cincinnatians on Saturday, delivering our brief survey to over 250 people. Out of that group – and in right-leaning Cincinnati, mind you – we found over 140 people who were decidedly pro-Kerry or leaning towards Kerry, about 30 undecideds, and only about 50 who were in Bush’s corner. That’s 140-some potential new Kerry volunteers in Ohio! (In fact, 11 of the people we spoke to indicated that they wanted to volunteer right on the spot!)

So many people showed up to this phone-bank in Berkeley that we were spilling out onto the sidewalks in front of the house and there weren’t enough phone lists to go around. (Those without phone lists hand-wrote dozens of letters to unsuspecting Cleveland-area seniors concerning the Kerry-Edwards health care plan instead.)

Our friends over on the Peninsula weren’t about to let us get all the glory, so about 20 of them got together in Palo Alto to do some phone-banking of their own. Giving it all they had, this hearty group of speed-dialers came up slightly shy of the East Bay’s prodigious call figures, placing just over 1300 phone calls and reaching about 240 people with their survey questions.

All told, it was a terrific weekend for the Kerry-Edwards campaign both in California and in Ohio. Those who turned out this weekend were really energized by the experience and are looking forward to the next phone-bank opportunity, which happens to be tomorrow night –

When: Wednesday, August 11th from 4-6pm

Where: Belle’s house (75 El Camino Real, Berkeley)

RSVP: by email to bellehuang@sbcglobal.net or on the JohnKerry.com site.

Keep up the good work, everyone!

Go Kerry-Edwards!!

Report from the Kerryvan to Reno - 7/31

58 volunteers, from Santa Cruz to San Jose to San Francisco to Sacramento, crossed the mountains to join the Nevada Democratic Party's efforts to deliver Nevada for Kerry-Edwards and to re-elect Sen. Harry Reid. Our results were nothing short of amazing.

On Saturday, we knocked on over 2300 doors and surveyed over 350 people. Despite temperatures reaching the 90s, some of our volunteers were unsatisfied with only a half day in the field. They returned to the office at 2, grabbed something to eat, and went back out, determined to finish their entire precincts. One devoted pair of volunteers worked all the way until 7 pm to finally meet us at the social event in Reno, campaign materials still in hand. I don't have numbers back from Carson City yet, but anecdotally I know that we found quite a few people who wanted to register, who perhaps never would have if we hadn't been there.

Just a sampling of the stories our volunteers had to share:

"My best experience was meeting a 40-ish woman who asked us inside because she was too ill to come to the door. She was being denied the medical care she needed. She was registered but undecided. We listened to her story and told her about Kerry's commitment to healthcare for all while her teenage daughter listened on. They were clearly moved ... and perhaps hopeful for the future. I think she made up her mind to vote for Kerry during our visit, and I believe her life will be changed for the better when President Kerry takes office."

"We went to the door of a man . . . with a severe eye problem, when we began asking about voting he started jumping up and down in support of Kerry; All of a sudden this sick and down person became alive and excited! He then brought us in to meet his finacee (who was on our list) she was equally thrilled to meet us. .... Great experience. Everyone in our country should do it once!!!"

"Young lady in Carson City who got so excited that we had come to offer registration that she advised the caller on her cell phone that she would have to call him/her back as she has more important things to deal with"

"One of the first houses I called on, the woman asked if she could canvass with me."

"the soon-to-be 18 yr old blond curly headed young woman who, when she came to the door of her trailer and spotted my Kerry button said "yes, I want to vote for him" "Mama come here - you'll vote too". Mama says "I never voted before" "That's ok, can I have a brochure?""

"The WW2 vet who told me 'you just can't imagine how I feel right now, what Bush is doing in Iraq. I'm definitely voting for Kerry, thank you for doing this."

"The many people who were super gung-ho on Kerry and so happy to tell you about it! Also, just meeting the other volunteers- really fun."

"we were looking for a woman in a large house subdivided into apartments. Her landlady . . . told us the woman had moved out some time ago. Then, as we were leaving, she saw our shirts and buttons and asked us if we were from the Kerry campaign. She said she really wanted to get rid of Bush but didn't know
much about Kerry, and invited us in. After a few minutes of talking, she gave us her card and said if the local Democrats gave her some lawn signs, she would put them up on her properties, of which there were at least 10 in the area. Then her daughter, who was also in the apartment, said she also wanted to get
rid of Bush but was not registered to vote, so we gave her a form and she registered as a Democrat. (She wasn't sure what party to register for, but her mother said, "Bush is a Republican, dear" and she said, "then I'm a Democrat!")"

Want to go now? Join the Nevada Outreach team's mailing list to learn more.

08/08 - Phonebank to rural Nevada in Oakland (V)

What: Phonebank to rural Nevada voters!

When: Sunday, Aug 8, 5-7 pm

Where: 360 62nd St (near Claremont & College intersection), Oakland

Details: Bring your cell phones (charged!) with free minutes

RSVP to Susan (smontauk@juno.com)

Report from Boston - 7/26

Heather Pegas keeps us abreast of what's going on during her 2nd day in Boston:

Hello again:

Well the bad news is that our friend Michelle with the laptop has left Boston. The good news is that she left becuz she's been offered a job with the campaign and is headed to PA to do advance team work. She hopes to get on Elizabeth Edwards' team. So, now I'm writing from the copy place across from the Westin Copley!

The convention is crazy exciting and it hasn't even started yet. Last night, we attended the CA delegation party at the Boson Zoo. Emily, Karen Park (from SF) and I decided to dress up. We really stood out against the casual Californians in their crazy hats and capri pants. So much so that the fashion photographer from the Boston Globe took Karen's picture, and she is captured - in all her leggy glory - in today's fashion page!

Emily also got a blurb/delegate profile in today's Boston Herald (which I think is owned by Fox News?). Anyway. lots of dignitaries at the party last night - Gray and Sharon Davis, Art Torres, Cruz Bustamonte, and big crowd favorite, Michael Dukakis. I pled the Greek card to get a photo with him and he asked where my people were from. Nice guy. Short.

EB4K also has its own dignitary in the making. Ilana Wexler, 12, of Kids for Kerry is addressing the convention during prime time tomorrow at 10:15 PM. Her poise staggers me - I've got 25 years on her and I CAN speak in public, but C'MON! THe whole nation! She must have been interviewed half a dozen times already, and Emily took her to the Fleet Center today to practice her speech. I also grilled her on her outfit, which she thinks will be a lavendar twinset with khaki slacks - apparently, she has been instructed not to wear black, red, or white on camera. She is gonna be amazing. She IS amazing.

Dulcy Anderson of the SF office is also in town coordianting travel for the campaign finance team.

Just got back from the Disney luncheon honoring Sen. Feinstein - she's going to be giving the nominating speech Thursday! She stressed the need to carry the state for Kerry, given the likely lack of campaign presence here. So we just keep doing what we've been doing! There has also been a lot of public encouragement of swing state work, but of course, we're miles ahead of the curve on that thanks to Tina, Matt and Sandy.

Also in attendance at the luncheon: Jane Harmon, Gavin Newsom, VP Mondale, Joe Lieberman, Bill Lockyer (who we had an elevator ride with yesterday), and our own Mayor JB! I met him for like the 4th time, but he doesn't remember me. I must be doing something most seriously wrong!

Let's see, what else? Mark and Nancy from Sacramento are going to bowl with Ben Affleck tomorrow night, I believe it is. Karen got into the Jesse Jackson/Bill Cosby/Gladys Knight party last night, and we found out the delegate Tony West is Kamala Harris's brother in law. Got a glimpse of Ron Reagan Jr being interviewed
by Chris Matthews in front of Faneuil (SP?) hall during dinner last night.

The most common question you'll hear around town is "Can you take a picture with me?" And the convention hasn't even officially started yet!

Our great Oakland Trib reporters are here and have taken some cool photos. I just wish I could find somewhere to download my software and photos! I'll keep working on that.

I hope all is well in EB and hope to write more tomorrow after Day 1. Take care, everyone!

Heather

Happy Birthday, East Bay Kerry!

A year ago we went to our first Kerry meetup and formed East Bay Kerry. What was your first EBK experience? Come to our meetup on the 22nd and our birthday party on the 29th.

08/04 - Media Relations Committee in Berkeley (V)

What: East Bay Kerry Media Relations Committee

When: Wednesday, 7 pm

Where: Au Couqulet in Berkeley.

RSVP: Kathy Vermazen, kathy_vermazen@yahoo.com or 415-305-1345

Topics:

- If any of you know of events coming up that we should alert the media to, please let me know by Tuesday so I can make sure we cover it.

- If you are interested in attending and letting us know what we can do to better support any of the other groups (especially the swing state efforts), please let me know.

- We'll also brainstorm ideas for Carla Maranucci at the Chronicle...

Thanks!

07/29 - Convention Watch Party in Alameda (Fun)

WHEN: Thurs, Aug 29, 5:00 pm
WHAT: Convention Watch Party

WHERE: Auctions By The Bay Theater, Former Alameda Naval Air Station, 2700 Saratoga Street, Alameda, CA 94501. Directions

HOST: Herb Toor

INFO: Come watch John Kerry's acceptance speech on a full size movie theater screen in a newly renovated Art-Deco movie palace! Bring food and drinks to share as we join with other progressive organizations to strategize for victory in November!

This will be perhaps the largest gathering of Kerry supporters in the Bay Area. This event is free and open to all. Visit the Theater's website for directions: www.auctionsbythebay.com

RSVP: htoor@cruzio.com

08/11 - Phone-Bank for Ohio (V)

PLEASE BRING YOUR CHARGED CELLPHONE!

When: Wed., Aug. 11, 4-6pm
Where: Home of Belle Huang, 75 El Camino Real, Berkeley.

RSVP: Belle (bellehuang@sbcglobal.net) or online at http://volunteer.johnkerry.com/event/view/?id=11909.

Details: Also, join our listserv at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cakerry4ohio to stay up-to-date on all that we have going on.

08/12 - Meet Jerry McNerney, Candidate for Congress (V)

In Congressional District 11 we have an opportunity to unseat a 6-term Republican, Richard Pombo. As the Chair of the Natural Resource Committee, Richard Pombo has been on a mission to undo the Endangered Species Act, promote logging in National Forests, and relax pollution standards. See http://www.votepomboout.com/.

Our Democratic candidate is Jerry McNerney, http://jerrymcnerney.com/.

Meet the Candidate, Jerry McNerney for Congress, District 11
Thursday, August 12th
7:00pm
Round Table Pizza
3203 Crow Canyon Pl
San Ramon

Jerry McNerney, a 53-year-old Ph.D., is a well-recognized expert in wind energy engineering and other forms of alternative energy production and has worked on national security programs.

We need your support to pull this off. Help us prove the power of grassroots political activism! Help us
win the battle against big money corporate control over our government!

To find out more email fturner_98@yahoo.com.

08/12 - Pennsylvania planning meeting in San Francisco (V)

What: The Pennsylvania team will hold an organizational meeting.

Where: At my house in San Francisco (Cole Valley)

When: Thursday 8/12 at 7 p.m.

RSVP: Please e-mail me, jhoffman@sfwriter.org

Please help spreadthe word among Pennsylvania expatriates in the Bay Area, people who have PA alma maters and anyone interested in helping to turn the state Blue in 2004.

I am looking for 1-2 co-captains and a team of 20-30 volunteers who will help with research, outreach, phone banking, letter writing and travel coordination.

We now have a Californians for Kerry Pennsylvania swing state Yahoo
group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAKerry4PA

Thanks,
Jeff Hoffman