This will be our year
I landed the position of "Volunteer Coordinator" at the Nashville for Obama office by happening to show up on the day that the previous Volunteer Coordinator was moved back to the TN Democratic offices. I try to manage the steady stream of the idealistic, the unemployed, and the unemployable that come through our doors, and find a way to channel their passion into the battlegrounds of the election.
I'm basically the phonebank captain for Nashville. We're recruiting volunteers for trips to battleground states as well as calling undecided voters by the tens of thousands. Yes, it's a grind, but for every 10 angry and unresponsive voters we talk to, there's one more leaning voter we bring to our column, or one more sporadic voter we convince that this is the year to show up and vote.
It's just like this, without the TV cameras and celebrity glamour. I'm playing a similar role as that red-haired girl.
Our phone-calling target is North Carolina. We're doing the calls so the NC volunteers can hit the streets. If NC can go for Obama, then surely TN has a chance, next cycle?
Working at the Nashville office has been amazing. 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and about to get 3 times as crazy in this last week (literally... we're aiming to do 3x as many calls next weekend as we did this weekend). I'm working harder at this unpaid job than any other job I've had. I only wish I had the foresight to quit my job a year ago and move to Iowa, where it all began.
This next week will be a generational moment. What role will you play? No matter where you are in the US, there's a field office near you that can use your help anytime between now and elections. Just show up - they'll find something for you to do. For those lucky people in Colorado - and I envy you in so many ways - you have the chance to see this battle from the front lines.
No matter where you are, you can make calls to swing states: my.barackobama.com/calls. You get a script and phone numbers - all you have to provide is a few minutes, your cell phone, and some passion (not sure it works in the UK... perhaps worth a shot, hm??). I'm fully in phonebank captaincy mode here, but remember: every call is an opportunity to engage a voter and have a direct impact on this election.
See you on the other side...
I'm basically the phonebank captain for Nashville. We're recruiting volunteers for trips to battleground states as well as calling undecided voters by the tens of thousands. Yes, it's a grind, but for every 10 angry and unresponsive voters we talk to, there's one more leaning voter we bring to our column, or one more sporadic voter we convince that this is the year to show up and vote.
It's just like this, without the TV cameras and celebrity glamour. I'm playing a similar role as that red-haired girl.
Our phone-calling target is North Carolina. We're doing the calls so the NC volunteers can hit the streets. If NC can go for Obama, then surely TN has a chance, next cycle?
Working at the Nashville office has been amazing. 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and about to get 3 times as crazy in this last week (literally... we're aiming to do 3x as many calls next weekend as we did this weekend). I'm working harder at this unpaid job than any other job I've had. I only wish I had the foresight to quit my job a year ago and move to Iowa, where it all began.
This next week will be a generational moment. What role will you play? No matter where you are in the US, there's a field office near you that can use your help anytime between now and elections. Just show up - they'll find something for you to do. For those lucky people in Colorado - and I envy you in so many ways - you have the chance to see this battle from the front lines.
No matter where you are, you can make calls to swing states: my.barackobama.com/calls. You get a script and phone numbers - all you have to provide is a few minutes, your cell phone, and some passion (not sure it works in the UK... perhaps worth a shot, hm??). I'm fully in phonebank captaincy mode here, but remember: every call is an opportunity to engage a voter and have a direct impact on this election.
See you on the other side...