archived: 13 - 19 Nov, 2005         Back                 Next

UPDATED:  November 17, 2005           

            How I Spent My Veteran’s Day Weekend
            [Authored by Ms. Cathy Lynn Moore, wife of Junkie] 

This weekend, Steve, James and I attended Camp Wellstone training.  As Steve has previously described, there were three tracks.  James and I attended the community organizing track. 

The training was very well conceived.  They packed lots of information into each session.  The trainers rotated continually for variety.   

After each segment of instruction, we were given an exercise to do to practice what we had learned. For example, we prepared for a mock press conference and we lobbied mock senators.  

The last serious political training I had was in 1982, when I attended a week-long Midwest Academy training.  Camp Wellstone was a good refresher course for me and an excellent way to meet new like-minded people, and recharge my battery for 2006.  If you can attend a session, I highly recommend it. 

Here are some of the most stand-out points: 

1.       All organizing is built upon relationships.  You must find common ground and build from there. Assess each person in regards to his or her issues (head), values (heart) and interests (gut) and then determine his or her capacity (hand) and commitment (feet/base).  The point is to be able to connect on at least an issue, a value, or an interest.  Then find out what that person can do about and what the person is willing to do about it. 

2.       Distinguish between your constituents, supporters, allies, and opponents. 

3.       Have a clear, concise message and stay on it. You may have one message internally and another for the public. 

4.       Include personal stories for more impact. 

5.       Have an organized plan and follow it, but allow for flexibility as things change.

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                        CAMP WELLSTONE 

TPJ is a bit shorter than normal today as Junkie and family are attending a three day Camp Wellstone in Raleigh, North Carolina. TPJ will be writing about Camp Wellstone over the coming weeks. 

Camp Wellstone is a weekend-long training program that provides hands-on, practical training in grassroots politics to citizen activists, campaign workers, and people interested in running for office.  The first day consists of some common training of all participants, but participants then select one of three tracks for the remaining two days: (a) citizen activism, (b) running campaigns and (c) training for potential candidates.  Citizen activism is design for individuals who want to organize and mobilize the public to effect policy at any level of government.  Campaign management provides training in the nuts and bolts of every phase of a campaign.  Candidate training focuses on teaching potential candidates the skills necessary to be a viable candidate. 

While Camp Wellstone is open to participants of any political persuasion, the philosophy is particularly applicable to Democrats everywhere.  The fundamental concept is that progressive political change does not occur in a vacuum; it requires good policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics. 

From the perspective of the Democratic Party, it is apparent that the Republicans have surpassed Democrats in nurturing and building their base while Democrats have largely ignored their core constituent groups while focusing on a few swing states.  Camp Wellstone suggests an alternative in which the Democratic Party focuses on nurturing and expanding its base while seeking to persuade new groups to enter the Democratic Party.  The training establishes that Democrats will only become nationally successful when those at the grassroots and their candidates and elected officials continually interact to gain election and to govern.  

The quality of training has been both intense and excellent for some 150 people, including some as far away as California.  Camp Wellston has imported its own instructors and relied on some North Carolina talent.  For examples, Kevin LeCount, political director for the State Employees Association, provided an excellent program on developing a campaign plan and budget for any campaign and how to allocate scarce resources.  Meghan Folke of NC ACCORN actually made organization and operation of phone banks understandable and exciting.  

All of this leads to a very central point.  With obvious talent in North Carolina, the Democratic Party should be offering a version of this training throughout North Carolina.  Progressive Democrats across the State want to effect change.  The Party should be providing the skill sets to Democrats at the grass roots level.  

Camp Wellstone graduates are fairing well at the ballot box.  In 2005, four Camp Wellstone graduates won election to the Minneapolis City Council.  Outside of Minnesota, two Camp Wellstone graduates noted their successful experiences: 

I attended Rochester Camp Wellstone in June 2005, little more than a month after I filed as an independent candidate for City Council in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

 

On Tuesday I won my city council race, 228 to 211 (it is a ward seat).  Inasmuch as I had gone door-to-door to about 800 houses, at first I felt bad that it was such a close contest.  (That's why I'm not a good candidate.  I was really tired though, too.)  It was then pointed out that I had defeated a previously-uncontested, four-term office holder who is the secretary of the county's Republican Central Committee.  A lot of people who had never not voted R in their lives did so on Tuesday. In doing so, they elected--unwittingly, I'm sure--one of Wapakoneta's best progressives to a position of authority. Thanks, Camp Wellstone!

 

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I attended Camp Wellstone in June, 2004.  I just ran for a seat on the Hopkins School District #270 School Board and won.  I belive that all the three new board members were Wellstone graduates!  We are making progress and will continue to do so!  It is important that we stay active, stay involved, and keep up the momentum.   

It is, in the final analysis, about laying the infrastructure and building talent at the local level with the long term commitment necessary to effect progressive change in North Carolina.  

A Party worth its salt must provide that training.

TAR HEEL DEM CELLAR