[Iowa-dx] A vision for IAGP's future...

[hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu]

Quoting Richard Johnson <seiowagreen@fastmail.fm>:

>
> On Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:25:53 -0600, hhart@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu said:
>
>> I don't think anyone from Dubuque is on this list right now, since
>> Sarah Davidson went off-line.  However, one of the names on the
>> newsletter list ("walmetto" - someone you may have met when you were
>> there, Rick) was going to get in touch with Sarah and get the old list
>> of Dubuque Greens, plus any new contacts.  I know I saved this
>> person's ph #, so if you aren't already in touch with her, let me know.
>
> It does not ring a bell, so please forward the number and I will make
> the call.

I will - imo, I think it's a nice idea if some of us can help =20
facilitate an organizing meeting for new (or re-newing chapters.  I =20
think Rick is right to focus on local organizing, because this is =20
where the real sustainable growth is.  I also like the suggestions of =20
area meetings, or perhaps having Greens from a couple towns/counties =20
get together and discuss joint issues (something disucssed here when =20
The Riverside Casino, in Washington COunty, was still up for debate).


>
>> OK, here's a couple thought for 2007:
>>    - Campaign school, or setting up one or more trainings with Karen
>> Kubby or other local experts???
>
> Unfortunately I could not make Karen's meeting this past year, but I
> heard it was excellent.  A lot of energy came out of that session, so I
> would definitely work to clear my schedule to attend a future training.
> Unfortunately, the folks I know who might be willing to do this are from
> my days with the GOP, so they probably would not want to assist us in
> our efforts.  Are there other folks in Iowa who could help us with this?

Maybe, although it might be hard to find someone "non partisan."

Another thought, although this will take some funds, would be to bring =20
in Brent McMillan (GPUS political director), Scott McLarty (media =20
coordinator) and someone nearby with campaign experience to do a one =20
or two day campaign school.  To be frank, I think Karen Kubby's =20
trainings are as good as or better, although  the GPUS training has =20
improved a great deal from when they started.


>
>
>>    - We now (as of last night) have *two* declared presidential
>> candidates willing to travel (Nan Garret, GA; Kat Swift, TX - who will
>> just be old enough to actually be president in 2008, if she should
>> happen to win).  Ideally, we could aim to bring one or both here for a
>> few days and have them visit several places throughout the state.
>> Something to discuss further...
>>
>
> Would they be open to a conference call in the near future?  I would
> really like to hear from/speak with them earlier in the cycle.  I
> suspect that our budget might make helping with their travel costs
> difficult for the next few months, and I would really like to see us get
> things rolling before then.
>
>

Good idea, imo!  I'd like to explore the idea, because I think at =20
least Nan Garrett will be soon be ready to discuss travel.  An early =20
campaign trip would give these campaigns a boost, in fact.

We can discuss here how to raise funds, and hopefully this will help =20
us look into a sustainable means of raising funds, beyond the campaign =20
season and beyond nat'l campaigns.  Logistics would be another factor =20
- if a candidate were to  fly into and out of Moline or Omaha, they =20
could cover the state in a big loop.