What YOU can do

[trinityofone]

For the last few weeks, I've been doing data management for the Obama campaign. This means I've been spending about twelve hours a week going to phone banks and organizing and entering all the gathered information in the big online database the campaign uses to track potential voters and volunteers. I've really been enjoying it—not only is it the kind of detail-oriented OCD-type work I can really get into, it's genuinely helpful and important. At the same time, it's not hugely difficult and it doesn't take up massive amounts of time, which means that anybody can help like this. That's possibly the greatest thing I'm learning helping out in this campaign: how easy it is to help, to give yourself a personal stake in this election. I've seen people who come back every week, and I've seen people who stop in briefly and make calls for an hour. Whatever you can give is immensely appreciated and can make a huge difference.

It's really easy to get involved. I urge all of you to go on my.barackobama.com and do a search for phone banks and other events near you. If you're in a swing state, obviously you can be a huge help. But even if you're someplace that's solidly blue—like my own California—or even solidly red, your work is equally vital. In California, for example, we've teamed up with Nevada, a state that Kerry lost by only about 20,000 votes in 2004. Already through work making calls and registering voters and going door-to-door, Obama is pulling ahead in Nevada. It's a great feeling to see your work really making a difference.

Please feel free to ask me any questions about this. It's been a great experience for me so far, and one of the best ways to help stay sane during this election season.

---

Separate but related: the polls have turned, and right now it's looking like California's Proposition 8, which would take away the right to marry that California same-sex couples won earlier this year, may pass after all. There are good articles explaining what's happening here and here. The idea of this passing infuriates me, and it should infuriate you, too. I just donated money to Equality For All, and I think anyone who cares about this issue and has a little to spare right now should donate as well. Even if you're not a Californian, you'd be standing up for basic rights on an issue that certainly has nationwide—and even worldwide—ramifications. You can give as little as $5. That's less than the cost of a sandwich! (Well, in L.A. it is, anyway. :\ ) But just think about what a difference it would make if everyone in fandom gave just one day's lunch money.

Comments

[cincodemaygirl.livejournal.com]

Hiya--I've been wondering about this, actually. I did offer to volunteer at the website, but they've never called me. As a federal employee I am not allowed to staff a phone bank (make calls; I think I could do clerical things). I've donated money, but are there introverted, non-phone bank things I could be doing?

I'm so glad you're enjoying working for the campaign! <3

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Really, federal employees aren't allowed to staff phone banks? That's crazy! Well, I suggest you look up phone banks/events in your area, and then contact one of the organizers directly. I'm sure you could do data like I am, or do some other volunteer coordination kind of thing—organizers in your area would probably know better the specifics of what's being done where you are.

If you still can't get in touch with an actual person, let me know, and I'll tell one of my higher-ups, who I'm sure can get in touch with someone locally for you. :)

[amberlc.livejournal.com]

Sorry to butt in here - I'm a (relatively new) federal employee too and I didn't know that we weren't allowed to staff a phone bank - is there anything else I should know about? We get bi-monthly emails about the Hatch Act, but I was under the impression that as long as you aren't using government equipment/time to support your candidate, you could volunteer in whatever way you see fit.

[cincodemaygirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was surprised to find it in the Hatch Act, too. I got this from a website for postal workers, but I found it in the email I received at work, too.

DON'Ts - Active Letter Carriers May Not:

* Raise money for a partisan political campaign
* Run for political office (even if you report "No Party Affiliation")
* Allow your name to be used in any fundraising appeal on behalf of a partisan political campaign
* Participate in a phone bank that is engaged in fundraising for a partisan campaign
* Bottom Line: Be off the clock, out of the uniform (and government vehicles), and away from the work place

It's apparently considered to be partisan fundraising, so it's not okay even when you're not in uniform and not at work.

I think? I don't know why they always have to say everything in the least clear way possible. Sigh!

[amberlc.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. And if there is one thing I have learned so far, it is that it wouldn't be the government if they said something in a clean and concise manner! :)

Oh, I found this: http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm#may - that tells a little more about what you can and can't do. So there are lots of things we can do - just nothing with fundraising, I guess.

[firesprite1105.livejournal.com]

Ok, I have one question. I'm deaf, so what can I do that doesn't involve using a phone or talking to people face-to-face? So far I've been limited to giving money and e-mailing my undecided family and friends. I'd like to do more, but the hearing issue is really a pain in the ass.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

I bet you could do data! At the most basic level, it involves processing call sheets—it's all written stuff. I'd do a search for events near you and then email an organizer, explaining that you are computer savvy and would love to help. It may also turn out that there are specific things you could do to help mobilize other deaf voters and volunteers—I know there are people who are working to provide extra help to voters for whom English isn't their first language, for example, or giving rides to elderly or disabled voters. You would probably be a really great asset!

[amalthia]

This is so frustrating what's going on in CA. I thought once a bill was passed it was passed and now that people are married they want to take that away???? And yeah bigots are generally way more motivated to make sure people can't live happily in peace.

[ladysorka]

I put my name into the volunteer databases, but the only options they're sending me are for canvassing, and I... could really not handle actually going door to door and bothering people. I would feel extremely uncomfortable. I'd much rather stuff envelopes or do computer work for them, or something else that doesn't require me to talk to people, but those options don't seem to exist.

-a Nevada voter

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

It's true, you have to push a little harder to find the jobs for those of us who aren't exactly social butterflies. (Myself so included.) I bet there's some kind of data thing you could do. Contact a phone bank organizer or an organizer of another type; once you have an actual person to talk to/email with, stress your computer skills and ask about doing data or other work like that.

If you have a problem getting ahold of an actual person, please let me know; I know for a fact that the people I'm working with know people on the ground in Nevada who can help you.

Yay Nevada! \o/

[bmouse.livejournal.com]

Just donated. ::waves some sandwiches bye bye, gets ready to be extra-good friends with her bag of rice:: Where is this mysterious and awesome Obama volunteer center? Is it in our area? Also, what kind of information to they take on people who come? I've donated to the campaign before since I can't vote (14 years in the country with my Green Card 4.9 years ago, so can't quite apply for citizenship yet) and I'd love to help out in other ways, it's just that I come from a long line of paranoid Ex-Soviet people (Zelenka-esque, if you will) and 'fear the government' is stitched on my family crest. I'd hate to end up in a database somewhere and have that adversely affect my citizenship application. >_<

In lighter news, feel up to checking out that belt-sushi place anytime soon?

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

There's not one center, really, although there are major campaign offices at 3619 Motor Ave. in West L.A. and at 900 Wilshire in Santa Monica. If you go into either of those places, or just call (the numbers are here (http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/caoffices/)), you can get in on various activities.

As for what info they take...for volunteers, I think they mostly just want your name, phone number, and email so they can inform you about events. They're not giving this info away to anybody. The idea of someone using your helping a political campaign against you on a citizenship application is horrific to me—I would think that would be illegal. In fact, if anything I'd think that your showing interest in the political process of the country where you want to become a citizen should be considered a plus!

I'd love to try the sushi place soon! Maybe next week sometime?

[bmouse.livejournal.com]

That's ridiculously close to my work, actually. Less than five minutes away o_O. It must be fate. I do work a full-time though so I wonder what their hours are, are they open on weekends?

I'm really comforted to hear they don't give out the info. The thing is we should work for a world as it should be and we should know the world as it is. People still get profiled, legal immigration document processing got a lag of YEARS after fall 2001, green card holders have been deported for taking part in political protests...etc. Either way I feel like this is so important, the ramifications of this election, especially in these times, are so huge that I'd at least like the comfort of having fought for my chosen outcome.

Hurrah! I always love showing people that place, the chef knows my face. It's just nice to be a 'regular' somewhere. I'm pretty free next week, how about Tuesday?

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear from you -- I hope you'll post more about your experiences at Camp Obama and all that you're doing. I salute you!

But shit, I'm so bummed about Prop 8. How can this be? What is wrong with people? Jesus.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Haha, I wish I could! They'll probably pull someone from a state within driving distance, though. :\ They don't have a budget to fly people places, which is why I'm not jet-setting around the country right now, sadly.

That's a really cool thing to do, though! I hope it goes well!

[sonofzeal.livejournal.com]

Prop 8 is make or break. If the good guys win, the bigots lose the "activist judges overturning the will of the people" line. Even if the margin is narrow, it was an expression of the will of the people.

Which is all the more reason why we need to win. I'm afraid I can't vote on this one, but know that I'm rooting for the good guys up here.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

That's a good point—it's a big deal on so many levels. Man, just what I need—another thing to be super-stressed about! Thanks for the good vibes, though. :\

[joannindiw.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this post - I hadn't realized that Prop 8 funding problem - just donated.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ah ha! I wasn't as far behind on my flist as I had thought last night. This was only posted in the last 24 hours or so! :D I should have checked the date on it last night.

And thanks again for the links!