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Centers for Change Update
 March 13, 2009
Dear Fellow Monterey County Democrats,

Vinz Koller It has been a little more than two months that the Center for Change of the Monterey Peninsula has been in operation.  During that time it has hosted a number of "House Meetings," trained volunteers, and even hosted visiting foreign students who learned American style campaigning and politics.
  • Check out our photo album for a visual record of our work so far.
  • Find a video about our most recent Organizing for America meeting on Economic Recovery at CitizenNewscaster.
Together with the Center for Change of the Salinas Valley, we now have two homes to advance Democratic values in the county. 

We all know that change does not come from the top. It needs to include all of us.  That is why the Centers' core mission is to continue to build a "Community of Change" in Monterey County to build on the Obama campaign and to serve as a link between the community and our electeds. 

Here are a few ways in which you can be part of this community:
  1. Attend Center for Change events. We have a terrific digital communications series starting next week (see below).
  2. Offer your time and expertise to the Centers by volunteering.
  3. Help us find items from our Wish List (see below).
  4. Contribute to the Center for Change with a monthly or annual contribution.
And by the way, we just started the search for a Director/ Program Coordinator of our Centers. For more detail, keep reading.

Let's continue to build this community - together,

Vinz

Vinz Koller
Chair, Monterey County Democratic Party

Paid for by the Monterey County Democratic Central Committee and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.  FEC# C00419986 - FPPC ID# 782515 - P.O.Box 3024 Monterey CA 93942 - 60 Bonifacio Place, Monterey, CA 93940.
 
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Employment Opportunity: Executive Director for Centers for Change
The Monterey County Democrats seek experienced and dynamic candidates for the part-time (32 hours per week) position of Executive Director of the Monterey County Centers for Change. The position will be responsible for implementing a sustainable business plan in support of the Centers.
The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader with strong team-building and communication skills. The ability to empower volunteers and build ownership of the Center among volunteers, Democratic clubs, and voters throughout Monterey County will be critical for success. He/She should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, able to multitask, and able to oversee a multitude of volunteer-led projects.

Please submit a resume and cover letter explaining how and why your qualifications are appropriate for this position. Priority screening deadline has been extended to March 21.

trainingTraining for Change at the C4C:
Learn Media and New Media Skills From an Expert - For Free!

Our First Training For Change: Publishing Email Newsletters with Constant Contact
Wednesday, March 18, 6-8 pm.
Monterey Peninsula Center for Change, 60 Bonifacio Place, Monterey.

We are happy to be able to make this special offer to Monterey County Democrats and friends:

Award-winning writer and producer Spencer Critchley served on press and new media teams for Obama for America in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado and has been a communications consultant for many other political campaigns. He has reported stories for National Public Radio, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and others; produced TV, radio and print advertising;  produced web content for David Bowie, Moby, Yahoo!, Congressman Sam Farr and others; given presentations at Stanford University, New York University, MacWorld and elsewhere, written music and produced the soundtrack for the Emmy-winning documentary film Blink; and writes on creativity and digital media for O'Reilly Digital Media.

Spencer is also the volunteer Communications Director for the Monterey County Democrats, and he will be the inaugural instructor in a series of free classes we are offering at the Centers For Change.

It's a rare opportunity for you to learn valuable skills for your business and personal life!

And the Monterey County Democrats will benefit as well - we want to grow the ranks of Democratic digital activists, whether they work with us, with allied organizations, or on their own.

Training sessions like these would normally cost $200 to $300 per seat. But we are offering them free to Democrats and members of allied organizations.

Topics of our Trainings For Change will include:
  • Publishing Email Newsletters with Constant Contact
  • Public Relations Strategy and Techniques
  • Media Relations
  • Public Speaking
  • News & Feature Writing
  • Photography & Images for the Web
  • Video for YouTube and the Web
  • Introduction to Web Development and HTML
  • Introduction to Web Development using the Drupal content managment system
  • Building an Online Social Network using websites, Facebook, Twitter, Ning, RSS and other tools
  • Writing for Speeches, Radio and TV
  • Radio & TV Advertising Production
  • Producing Podcasts and RSS feeds
Volunteer Opportunities
The Centers for Change are always looking for volunteer helpers.

Our next volunteer orientation: 
March 21, 10 am
Center for Change, Monterey Peninsula at 60 Bonifacio Plaza.

Click to sign up for the volunteer orientation.

Here are some volunteer positions we are actively recruiting for right now:
  • Webmaster and web content editor
  • HQ Computer Supporter
  • HQ Telecommunications Supporter
  • HQ AV Technician
  • E-Newsletter Editor, Reporter and Photographer, Graphic Artist
  • Film Night Coordinator
  • HQ Custodian
  • HQ Handyperson (filled, thank you Jim!)
  • HQ Recycling/ Waste Manager
Complete a volunteer application or send us an e-mail at volunteers@montereycountydemocrats.org if you would like more information.
wishlistCenters for Change Wish List
Here are some of the high-priority items on our Centers' Wishlist:
  • Hardware for slotted wall displays
  • Clothes rack on wheels for retail store display
  • Flat panel computer screens
  • 2-Line phone system with cordless handsets.
  • Color laser printer
  • Kitchen cart
  • Sidewalk Signs (See sample)
Send an e-mail to Vinz.Koller@montereycountydemocrats.org with contact information and specifications if you are able to donate any of these to the Center for Change.