Operation: Turn DuPage Blue
Something New, Something Blue
The latest happenings from OTDB
Volume 6 | September 13, 2007
Bands Not Bombs Concert Saturday September 15 1:00
Old Town Park, SW corner of Bloomingdale and Lake St in Bloomingdale
WEAR YOUR OPERATION TURN DUPAGE BLUE SHIRT!
for more info go to http://www.d-a-w-n.org/eventdiscontent.html
In This Week's Issue
FUDDRUCKERS FAMILY NIGHT COMING SOON! SEPTEMBER 23 Details below
NOT A PRECINCT COMMITTEE(WO)MAN? THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF FUN THINGS TO HELP US WITH!
MAKING YOUR PRECINCT BLUE!
UPCOMING EVENTS. KEEP Sept 23 and 27 open for Fuddruckers Family Night and Monthly OTDB meeting
Quick Links
Please Donate
OTDB Archives
Visit WCPT 850 AM for the real talk on issues that effect Democrats wcpt850
Join OTDB TODAY!Join Our Mailing List
OTDB Wish List: Where We STILL Need Your...
Things we need volunteers to do:
1) PHONE BANKING!!!

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) Give us Money (click on the Donate link above)

4) 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.

5) 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.


6) Become a Notary Public to be available for petition drives. More
info here
First EVER
Fuddrucker's Family Sunday!
Earn 10-20% for OTDB just having fun!

Coupons can be mailed to you if you contact Ginny by Monday the 17th of September
  
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 may soon be downloadable for your own printing next email blast.(still working on this) MARK THE DATE! Invite your blue neighbors too!
Contact Ginny at virginiabrickley@sbcglobal.net for the details and to RSVP

Sunday September 23rd! Fuddrucker's at 1500 Branding Lane in Downers Grove (just south of Butterfield)
THE REAL DEAL...Time is moving on and we need to keep pace!

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW (Please)!!
  • Please make sure that you have received all the info and materials you need to get the signatures in your precinct. Connie has sent email precinct kits to all of those who have email access and we think that's you.
  • 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 registered Dems only, please, just to be safe.
  • 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. Connie has sent the templates for these to everyone. Contact us if you haven't gotten these.INVITE CANDIDATES TO ATTEND!
  • 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!
  • 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. If you are coming for  Voter Registrar Training WE MUST HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFO by the evening of Monday 9/3. Please write to OTDB@ameritech.net right away.
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.
 
JUSTIN, with the help of brother Graham and of Monica Guzman, took OTDB to the COD Activities Fair on the 29th. Garnering much interest, several new voters and several dozen students willing to help start up OTDB:COD, we would have to call this another successful attempt to reach out to a population ready to move and needing to be heard. GREAT JOB YAC!!
Justin also made an important connection with a group of young folks at the Theosophical Society this week. Read his blog
 
Youth - Justin Heath
Asian (we welcome representatives from the various Asian communities, Chinese, Southeast Asain and Muslim Americans among others to help us elect Democrats in DuPage) -please contact us  otdb@ameritech.net
Sincerely,
Operation Turn DuPage Blue
Milton Fundraiser 
A Harvest of  Flavors will be enjoyed this Saturday night (15th) at the Milton Wine-tasting in Glen Ellyn. For 40$ you will enjoy food and wine pairings featuring fall delicacies like Pumpkin Butter and Goat Cheese Crepes and Phyllo brimming with Fontiago Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato  matched with the perfect White and Red wines. After Autumnfest in Wheaton and/or the Band Not Bombs Concert in Bloomingdale, come join us. RSVP by Saturday at 630-469-4931.
 
Ring Up Some New PCs









 
Continuing to attract new PCs will be the cornerstone of Democratic success in DuPage. Please join us at one (or more) of our upcoming:
 
PHONE BANKS
Sat Sept. 15 - 3-5 - Downers Grove
Sat Sept. 22 - 3-5 - Lisle
Mon Sept 24 7-8:30 TBD
Mon Oct 1st 6:30-8:30 TBD
Sat Oct 6th 3-5 TBD
Thurs Oct 11 7-8:30 Wheaton
Mon Oct 15 7-8:30 TBD
Write to OTDB and let us know you are coming so we can have enough call packets prepared and can give you directions. THIS IS A PROVEN METHOD OF GETTING NEW PC'S AND IT IS FUN! COME TRY IT.
THINGS TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON SEPTEMBER 14th-21th




UPCOMING EVENTS (always watch for updates on our website http://www.turndupageblue.com)
EVERY DAY Precinct Committee Candidates are out gathering Signatures

September 15th
Bands Not Bombs  1-4  Bloomingdale
PHONE BANKING in Downers Grove 3:30-5
Milton Fundraiser 7-10
Sept 17th Lisle Precinct/Voter Registrar Training please contact
Doug at dahiggins@comcast.net
RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM HELEN PLUM LIBRARY IN LOMBARD contact lsullivan3@hotmail.com


BONUS:
Sept 23
Fuddruckers Family night call 833-0602 to get a coupon (they must be procured ahead of time)
Sept 27th OTDB meeting 7-9 at the Elmhurst Public Library See full entry below this calendar
September 28th
OTDB will sponsor hole for County Golf Outing at White Pines. More info
here.
We urge OTDB members to support the event as monies support local and state candidates
Beginning of Oct
ANOTHER FANTASTIC OTDB PC training. Call to sign up 834-1461





PAST EVENTS IN COOPERATION WITH DEMOCRATIC TOWNSHIPS IN DUPAGE
September 5 Voter Registrar and Precinct Committeeman Training attended by members of Lisle Township
September 3 Labor Day Parades in conjunction with Naperville and Lisle Townships.
September 1 OTDB in joint effort with York/Bloomingdale/Addison Townships has Labor Day Picnic in Wood Dale. Addison Township did a lovely job of providing lunch for all
August 30 OTDB attends York Benefit
August 3-5 Camp Wellstone attended by members of Downers Grove, York, Addison, Naperville, Milton, Lisle and Bloomingdale Townships and attracting people from contingent areas thus helping to grow the Democratic base all over Northern Ilinois
July 26 OTDB contingent of 10 young people participate in the County/YDA event promoting young people in politics
July 4th OTDB marches in 7 parades across DuPage along with Milton, York, Addison and Downers Grove townships


 THIS MEETING IS A MUST-ATTEND, PLEASE!
 WILL HAPPEN STILL: September 27nd - 7-9pm
OTDB Meeting and "Mini-Camp Wellstone"
Map to Elmhurst Public Library
Thanks to those who braved the storm and came out anyway. The library was, in fact, closed by the horrid storm and we had little choice but to cancel. We trust everyone is safe. Join us the 4th Thursday in September...especially all of the new folks we contacted through phone banking.
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 p.m. SHARP 9/27!
DFA CORROBORATES OTDB STRATEGY
DFA
This is where the 50 State Strategy meets your neighborhood. There are over 203,000 precincts in America and the vast majority of them have never been organized. Neighborhoods that have active precinct programs consistently perform better than unorganized ones. This is something that anyone, anywhere can do. Not only will you increase Democratic voter registration and turnout in every election, but you'll also help build and shape your local Democratic party. If you want to improve the performance of your local party, this Night School Semester is for you:

Precinct Organizing: Getting Started
Tuesday, September 11 -- 8:30pm Eastern
RSVP:
www.dfalink.com/precinctorganizing
This is only the beginning. Every Tuesday Night this month DFA Night School will cover a different aspect of precinct organizing during a free conference call you can join from the convenience of your own home. The call is accompanied by a slideshow that you can download or view in your web browser while on the call. Just RSVP today to get the free conference call number and be ready next Tuesday, September 11.

Join us all this month as we work on implementing a 203,000 precinct strategy.

Arshad Hasan
Training Director

P.S. Our 2007 Summer Semester on Fundraising is now available on DVD: