Operation: Turn DuPage Blue
Something New, Something Blue
The latest happenings from OTDB
Volume 3 | August 22, 2007
In This Issue
COME PRACTICE YOUR PHONE SKILLS IN A FUN AND COMFY ENVIRONMENT
INCHING TOWARD 200. NAPERVILLE PARADE SEPT 3rd 10 A.M.
OTDB WISH LIST: Tasks big and small that YOU can do.
DOOR-TO-DOOR HOLDS THE KEY. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PRECINCT BLUE
WHAT'S UP WITH SB662
NEW SPANISH SITE, REACHING YOUTH VOTERS
EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTY
Quick Links
Join OTDB TODAY!Join Our Mailing List
PC Phone Banking:
So fun and easy
anyone can do it!
(Including you this Saturday!)
Monday night's phone banking at Connie's was a blast, with even our fearless leader getting into the swing of things. No, not him, Chairman Peickert. His report and invitation are below: 
 

WOW! 6 new precinct committeemen is just an hour and a half of calling. Dave Bland, Justin M, Kathy S., Amy, Connie and myself got together at Connie's and had our first phone bank session. It couldn't have been better. Connie had call lists targeting the precincts with large numbers of Democratic voters. I think everyone there got a new PC. Many others said they would help and others will be attending the Thursday OTDB meeting.

 

We will continue this on Saturday at my (Bob's) house, 448 N. Larch Ave., Elmhurst from 2:00-5:00 (food will be served at 1:00. You can get there early and get your call sheets, review the script and get set up).
 
So far, we have Dave Bland, Justin M, Kathy, Connie and me. Anyone else available? I will also call some Addison Township people. I'm confident we'll do as well or better this time. We'll have more time and more callers. AND, we had a lot of fun doing this. When someone got a recruit, it made the others try harder. Thanks to Connie for the food and refreshments. I am not one for "call colds" but this one got me hooked.
 
Lets' do it. E-mail me if you're coming on Sat.

 
March With OTDB
On Labor Day
Parade
Labor Day is coming up and in the midst of making big plans, we hope you'll keep in mind that OTDB will be marching in the Naperville parade on Monday, Sept. 3. Step-off is at 10 a.m and OTDB t-shirts will be available for $15 at the parade. Let's show a sea of BLUE to the politically-hungry on the sidelines!
 
Please contact Michelle at
michellebarton@comcast.net to say you will join us!
 
OTDB Wish List: Where We Need Your...
Things we need volunteers to do:
1) Run our monthly Fuddrucker Sundays...THANKS TO GINNY BRICKLEY for agreeing to take this one for now!
2) Make Excel files (from hard copies)  of potential allies and phone number them. This task can be broken up into smaller chunks. Template is available
3) Join our weekend phone banking teams using your cell phone during free hours. LAST MONDAY, we got 6 new people to agree to be PCs in 1 1/2 HOURS!! IT was actually REALLY fun.
4) Help Michelle organize our contingent in the Labor Day Parade
5) Help gather signatures for a Troop withdrawal and homeland follow-up support (mental and physical care completely covered) to be sent to our Senators and Representatives. This will take place at Festivals and Farmers Markets starting today and running through October 19.
6) Search for like minded local groups on the internet and make weekly posts or send out our info (i.e. to groups like Illinois DemNet). The first step is developing the list and the second is committing to post regularly and being a liaison for those groups to OTDB.
7) Become a Notary Public to be available for petition drives. More info here
 THIS MEETING IS A MUST-ATTEND, PLEASE!
 Tomorrow Night: August 23rd - 7-9pm
OTDB Meeting and "Mini-Camp Wellstone"
Map to Elmhurst Public Library

OTDB meetings run wall to wall starting promptly at 7 and ending, no matter what, at 9. We are careful not to waste any of your time or ours! This month, along with our Wellstone Review (go to www.wellstone.org for more info on them), we will unlock the mystery of Precinct Committee Petitions and make sure everyone has the materials and knowledge they need. See you all at 7 tomorrow night, August 23rd.
Filling our Precincts for Victory
PLEASE NOTE: CHANGE OF TIME ON TRAINING AS VOTER REGISTRAR TRAINING WILL NOW OCCUR FROM 7-7:30
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW!!
  • Pick up petitions for your candidacy as Precinct Committeeman from us as soon as possible. If you have previously been a PC or have been appointed, the county has been so kind as to send them to you in the mail. Make multiple copies of the candidacy sheets they sent. If you do not have these, call Amy at 469-4931 and she will meet with you to get them. Then, make sure you have the latest walk sheets for your precinct. Please contact Connie at bakerce@aol.com as she has recently designed walk sheets for ease of use.This saves you a trip to the Election Commission and is the perfect time to ask any and all questions you may.
  • You will need 10 valid Dem signatures but get all 30 to have a cushion against any Republican shenanigans! More signatures means more people on your side and those people will help build the base that will truly TURN DUPAGE BLUE over the next few election cycles. Get signatures from Dems only, please.
  • Pick a date in the next month to have a potluck or coffee to which you can invite the Dems in your precinct while you are gathering their signatures. We can send you a template created especially by our marketing director, Seth, via email if you wish.
  • Then take an hour or two a week for the next couple of weeks to carry around your petition, ask for signatures and let people see what the only other Democrat on their block looks like! The people who RSVP/show up to your event are your core team and will become your friends and the people you reach for to help cover their part of the precinct. Remember, these people will be happy to see you! Ask us if you still need your precinct walk list with all these awaiting Dems on it. If you need a mentor to walk with you, we have folks waiting in the wings...you just need to ask.
  • Please check out our Precinct Committeeman FAQ here
  • Precinct Committeeman Class of Sept 07 convenes Sept 5th at the Glen Ellyn Public Library 7:00-9 (not sponsored by the GEPL). Contact OTDB to RSVP. FOR either PC training or Voter Registrar training or BOTH!
SB662: OTDB GETS ON THE FRONT LINE

Senate Bill 662, which amended the election code, has passed both houses and is its way to be signed by the governor into law.  There are several provisions in the law that could be particularly damaging to the conduct of elections--an unconstitutional amendment that would increase to 1.5% from 0.5% the signatures needed for a countywide race in DuPage among them.

Please contact the Governor and Lt. Governor and ask them to REDRESS the language of SB 662.  

Ask them to AMENDITORILY VETO the bill.  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
CLICK HERE TO REACH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
CLICK HERE TO REACH THE LT GOVERNOR

THANKS TO THE IBIP FOR STAYING ON TOP OF OUR VOTING RIGHTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
Empowering Youth, Minority Voters
To turn DuPage blue, it will be essential to engage the county's youth population as well as the growing Latino and Asian populations (See Naperville Sun article). OTDB is proud to have launched a Spanish section on TurnDuPageBlue.com -- reached directly through www.democratasendupage.com -- and to continue to reach out to young/college/first-time voters via our Youth Action Director Justin Heath.
 
In the weeks ahead, we are looking to participate in an Activities Fair at COD, conduct a "civics class" geared toward the Latino population and develop ways to connect with county residents of Asian descent. If you would like to assist in the planning and/or presentation of these events and related aims, please contact:
 
Youth - Justin Heath
York Township Social Event
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The York Township Democratic Organization invites you to join them at 7pm on Thursday, August 30 at Anyway's at Roosevelt and Ardmore in Oakbrook Terrace. Free, but donations will be accepted.

OTDB/Addison/Bloomingdale/York Joint Labor Day Picnic
Join us in Wood Dale Grove park on Wood Dale Rd. between Lake St. and Irving Park Rd. Free.Saturday, September 1 11:30 a.m.
Sincerely,
Operation Turn DuPage Blue
First EVER
Fuddrucker's Family Sunday!
Earn 10-20% for OTDB just having fun!
 Ever think it might just be time to tuck in with a good hamburger and bring your family over to meet our growing OTDB family? Well, with the help of our local Fuddruckers, we can do that and put a little money into the kitty at the same time! SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23rd. 4-6 p.m. You must bring the pre-printed coupons which will be available at our next meeting and will be downloadable for your own printing next email blast. MARK THE DATE! Invite your blue neighbors too!
Sunday September 23rd! Fuddrucker's at 1500 Branding Lane in Downers Grove (just south of Butterfield)