Here goes my credibility

OK, I'm dumb enough to try to answer these (0.00 / 0)

1. Those people are often from Massachusetts. We have a surplus of Democratic activists here (some of us even went to school in New Hampshire).

2. Standards change. I can show you a picture of my wife's grandmother with a bathing suit above her knees. It's pretty hot stuff. However, campaign attire -- whatever that means -- should probably err on the dressier side. (Though it's been pretty hot this summer.)

3. Sounds pretty normal to me.

4. Yes. You should be eating bon bons while those young volunteers struggle for your vote. BUT, it's great that you still volunteer at 64, so keep it up.

5. Hard to answer this one without knowing who your candidate is; that has a huge effect on response.

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by: JimC @ Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 08:46:21 AM CDT

So straightforward with your concerns, you strike me as, well, credible. (0.00 / 0)

1. It's always interesting to meet politically engaged and active young people from away, but people from New Hampshire definitely have a better understanding of how we do things here. Presents the question to me, what can be done to bring more young people from NH into our political process?

At my high school in Nashua, there was a Republicans club which aroused some level of interest in students, and I saw some people I knew associated with them at an NFIB debate ahead of the '06 election. No corresponding Democrats club when I was there, though a couple of us unsuccessfully approached some teachers to be sponsors at different points in time after the Republicans got set up.  I don't know how many 'boots on the ground' came out of the Republican effort, but it was probably a half decent way to engage students politically (although, I was always uncomfortable with declared partisans in high school).

Other than that, we have NH students in the state university system. Some are fairly active through College Democrats, others are, well, studying in the fall... Keene, Hanover, Plymouth, and Durham probably have more young people participating than, say, Nashua or Berlin or wherever. After university, well, there's work -- and often not in NH.

2. La mode, je suppose...well, you know how we feel about "top-down campaigns"? A strict dress code would probably not go over well, might turn off would-be volunteers, but a recommendation of appropriate attire might be valuable for campaigns to circulate among volunteers if people have a problem with this sort of stuff.

3. You're a volunteer, you're giving them your free time so that you can constructively and materially support your candidate. Being too bossy...well, I imagine volunteers don't come back to help out more often if they feel subordinate to, rather than a part of, the campaign. Poor volunteer management--I don't really know what more to say about it.

4. I assure you, you're not getting too old for this. Civic engagement spans all generations, and if you're that involved in your community, I imagine you've got a valuable perspective on community concerns that can only help you present your candidate in a more favorable light.

5. I don't know you well enough to say anything in response to #5, but the air can swell with stress and frustration in campaign season. And it's certainly natural to want your candidate to win.

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by: Alex Gallichon @ Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 16:55:08 PM CDT

I haven't had (0.00 / 0)

the same experiences you have. I see appropriately dressed young men and women, and I have only had positive experiences with the campaigns I encountered thus far.

I think it's good for kids "from away" to come here and work on campaigns. There's nothing like NH during primary season. And I'm sure there are plenty of young people from NH populating other parts of the nation as well. (and they will increasingly do so as the prejudice against young families with childen increases in our towns)

Maybe you just feel burned out now and could use a break. Or  perhaps you could communicate to a regional organizer. If certain things are bugging you, such as inappropriate dress, they may also be bugging other volunteers and potential volunteers (and voters) and the campaigns should know about it.

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 17:18:26 PM CDT

By the way (0.00 / 0)

I agree with gallichon. There's no credibility lost in honest venting.

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by: JimC @ Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 17:25:48 PM CDT

I really appreciate the feedback! (0.00 / 0)

I know I am tired, and there is just too much going on.  I never really got a break after last Nov., since we had a very contentious municipal election in March, and then the campaigns started calling, since I am a town chair.  I just might be a little burned out. 
I promised a house party for Jay Buckey later in Sept. but that will be fun, since we will have a real live candidate and I have worked with some of the staff in other political forums.  But a couple days notice, drop everything and get people to the event stuff leaves me cold.  I do have to work for a living!  And for my health insurance, which I blessedly still have. 

Thanks again.


We believe in prosperity & opportunity, strong communities, healthy families, great schools, investing in our future and leading the world by example. We are Democrats; we are the change you're looking for.

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by: bloomingpol @ Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 18:43:50 PM CDT

I hear you (4.00 / 1)

and have some of the same issues.  This whole process (which excites me) is exhausting and has started way too early and has the intensity level of November in August.  I love the campaign "kids" from all over and expect to see the NH "kids" on and off.  Perhaps the novelty of campaigning is not as great for the kids who grew up with this in their back yard.  I have been very impressed with the level of commitment, energy, enthusiasm and intelligence displayed by the campaign workers I have met. That said, since this is their life and many of them  are just fledged so are used to parent figures (that would be us)filling in the gaps they all seem to expect quite a lot from the volunteers.  This may be the opportunity to learn to say no that I haven't mastered yet.  Probably not though.  I think the young women I've seen in my neck of the woods dress very well.  I really like the straight skirts which seem to be in style. (when I loose this extra 40 lbs. I may even try one myself). You are defiantly not too old, look at Granny D we're still in our teen years by her standard.  I love my candidate (John Edwards) and want him to win so badly I'm letting a lot of this pass.  Also, I'm taking a little break after this last bus tour.  Go ahead, say no to something then take a nice long soak in a bubble bath with a good book.(I recommend Saving Graces)You'll be back making your contribution before you know it.  Remember we want to be able to tell our grand children that we did everything we could to turn this county around.

standing on the sidelines looking for a reason to enter the fray.

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by: smucci @ Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 20:06:05 PM CDT

I hear ya (0.00 / 0)

I blogged on this topic too, or at least question #1.  It used to bug me how many out-of-staters came to NH to work.

But I learned why this summer.  In-staters have a life, friends & family, things to do, people to see, relationships.  these out-of-staters really work 24/7 on their campaigns.  They build brand new networks of friends in their assigned territories.  They learn their new turf and who the movers & shakers are there.  They are sociologists, anthropologist, trying to understand their new culture.  They work their butts off, with no time to go out to eat until it's with a constituent or state rep.  No time to play.  They are here on a mission.  "Must make one more call..."

Good staffers will take the time to learn the local culture, and understand that NH Dems AND Repubs aren't like the national avg ones.  If they are showing you a top down campaign, then the full-time staffers haven't done a good job doing their job. 

Paula
www.frontrowseat.blogspot.com

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Thu Aug 30, 2007 at 14:32:39 PM CDT