Saturday, October 20, 2012
MICHELLE!
So, the first lady came to Chapel Hill, not sure if anyone noticed....
HUGE event. We had some practice back in April when the President came, so this time around we (the students/volunteers) knew exactly what we needed to do. I was one of the first students to actually know about the First Lady coming to visit, which was exciting. I found out that Thursday evening, and Friday afternoon I (along with my co-VP and Pres. of Young Dems) were in a meeting with the advance team, Carmichael arena staff, university representatives, and the US Secret Service. Pretty cool. That's where we learned everything we needed to know: all the details of when things were going to happen, where everyone needed to be, etc.
So we were prepared when she came. Volunteers had to show up at 9, and we were there mainly for crowd control. We had to help certain individuals to their seats, fill in sections, and generally answer any questions the public had.
The actual event started when our Young Dems president, Austin Gilmore, took the stage to give an introductory speech to the students, getting them ready for Michelle. It was great getting to see a really good friend of mine up there in front of the entire auditorium, having his voice heard by everyone in attendance. I would've given anything to get up on that stage...
After Austin, former Governor Jim Hunt said a few words, along with a representative from Organizing for America. Finally, it came time for the First Lady to be introduced. Again, one of my really close friends was given the opportunity to get up on stage and bring in Michelle Obama. Lindsey Rietkerk, head of the Tar Heels for Obama organization, gave an incredible introductory speech and actually got to hug Michelle as the swapped on stage. Afterwards, both Austin and Lindsey were able to meet and speak with Michelle backstage. That's another perk I would have given anything to have; initially I was given the impression from OFA that myself and my co-VP were going to have the chance to meet her, but this also was taken. You know, as a student who has been instrumental in the running of this campaign on campus, from the Young Dems perspective, it hurt not to be rewarded when you see others getting the opportunity of a lifetime. I have a lot of issues with the way some aspects of this campaign have been run by the OFA team. The majority of the time it seems like they care about nothing more than numbers: they forget that voters (and volunteers most importantly!!!) have feelings and needs and would like to see their effort and sacrifice rewarded. Just saying, after putting in over a hundred hours this semester (and many times that throughout my first three years), it would have been nice to even shake the hand of the First Lady and say thank you.
Her speech itself was great. It had a lot of crossover between her previous speech at the DNC in Charlotte several weeks ago and the visit her husband had paid Chapel Hill back in the spring. She touched on a lot of issues concerning how her and the President were raised, the struggles they went through, the pressures on their family. She did an incredible job showing that her and her husband could relate to the hard time students are going through. She went on to mention the President's past accomplishments in making college more affordable and what he planned to do in a second term.
Overall, it was a great event. Yes, I have some (read: many) regrets and sorrows from being forced to watch over a rope separating the floor from the bleachers ("you shall not pass!"- me for three hours). But the student body loved the speech, it was extremely popular, and I think it really motivated my peers to become more involved in this election cycle. We had many people sign up for volunteer shifts to help get out the vote. So it's been a great week.
I'm on fall break right now. It's been slow the past week (except for that whole First Lady thing) but we're ramping back up on Monday when students get back. Early voting at Ram's Head started two days ago and I'm lucky enough to say I've already voted. Felt great getting to vote for a President for the first time ever!!! Now I just have to get out there and help every student on this campus feel that same passion, that same fulfillment, that same accomplishment that can only come with doing your civic duty as an American citizen.
Til next time....
HUGE event. We had some practice back in April when the President came, so this time around we (the students/volunteers) knew exactly what we needed to do. I was one of the first students to actually know about the First Lady coming to visit, which was exciting. I found out that Thursday evening, and Friday afternoon I (along with my co-VP and Pres. of Young Dems) were in a meeting with the advance team, Carmichael arena staff, university representatives, and the US Secret Service. Pretty cool. That's where we learned everything we needed to know: all the details of when things were going to happen, where everyone needed to be, etc.
So we were prepared when she came. Volunteers had to show up at 9, and we were there mainly for crowd control. We had to help certain individuals to their seats, fill in sections, and generally answer any questions the public had.
The actual event started when our Young Dems president, Austin Gilmore, took the stage to give an introductory speech to the students, getting them ready for Michelle. It was great getting to see a really good friend of mine up there in front of the entire auditorium, having his voice heard by everyone in attendance. I would've given anything to get up on that stage...
After Austin, former Governor Jim Hunt said a few words, along with a representative from Organizing for America. Finally, it came time for the First Lady to be introduced. Again, one of my really close friends was given the opportunity to get up on stage and bring in Michelle Obama. Lindsey Rietkerk, head of the Tar Heels for Obama organization, gave an incredible introductory speech and actually got to hug Michelle as the swapped on stage. Afterwards, both Austin and Lindsey were able to meet and speak with Michelle backstage. That's another perk I would have given anything to have; initially I was given the impression from OFA that myself and my co-VP were going to have the chance to meet her, but this also was taken. You know, as a student who has been instrumental in the running of this campaign on campus, from the Young Dems perspective, it hurt not to be rewarded when you see others getting the opportunity of a lifetime. I have a lot of issues with the way some aspects of this campaign have been run by the OFA team. The majority of the time it seems like they care about nothing more than numbers: they forget that voters (and volunteers most importantly!!!) have feelings and needs and would like to see their effort and sacrifice rewarded. Just saying, after putting in over a hundred hours this semester (and many times that throughout my first three years), it would have been nice to even shake the hand of the First Lady and say thank you.
Her speech itself was great. It had a lot of crossover between her previous speech at the DNC in Charlotte several weeks ago and the visit her husband had paid Chapel Hill back in the spring. She touched on a lot of issues concerning how her and the President were raised, the struggles they went through, the pressures on their family. She did an incredible job showing that her and her husband could relate to the hard time students are going through. She went on to mention the President's past accomplishments in making college more affordable and what he planned to do in a second term.
Overall, it was a great event. Yes, I have some (read: many) regrets and sorrows from being forced to watch over a rope separating the floor from the bleachers ("you shall not pass!"- me for three hours). But the student body loved the speech, it was extremely popular, and I think it really motivated my peers to become more involved in this election cycle. We had many people sign up for volunteer shifts to help get out the vote. So it's been a great week.
I'm on fall break right now. It's been slow the past week (except for that whole First Lady thing) but we're ramping back up on Monday when students get back. Early voting at Ram's Head started two days ago and I'm lucky enough to say I've already voted. Felt great getting to vote for a President for the first time ever!!! Now I just have to get out there and help every student on this campus feel that same passion, that same fulfillment, that same accomplishment that can only come with doing your civic duty as an American citizen.
Til next time....
Sunday, October 7, 2012
It's Been a While
Okay, so it's been a while, but not too much has changed. Since I last updated, we've had more phonebanks (yay!) and tons of voter registration every day. We've also had a few fun events though.
Last Sunday we went and canvassed for Deb McManus down in Chatham County. Her campaign manager is Nathan Westmoreland, a former Young Democrats president, recent UNC alumnus, and one of my best friends here in Chapel Hill. I had actually already canvassed with him for Deb back in July, so the area was familiar. Also, we have had 2 phonebanks for Deb McManus this past month, so a lot of our volunteers already know a good bit about her. The canvass itself was great. We stayed in downtown Pittsboro, and Nathan gave us some very walkable turfs. The closer we get to the election, the more people seem to be interested in actually talking to you. Strangely enough, we're still running across A LOT of undecided voters. I actually ran across a woman who told me she was waiting til a week before the election to even read anything about the candidates. I just kinda stared...
But yeah, we also had a HUGE presidential debate watch party down in the Upendo Lounge in SASB North on south campus. This event was co-sponsored by the UNC Young Dems, Tar Heels for Obama, and the Black Student Movement, and we had hundreds show up (though the free food might have helped). Lots of fun, and even though Obama might not have had his most shining moment, it was a great rallying call for a lot of our volunteers.
Earlier this afternoon we were supposed to help out Valerie Foushee's campaign. She is a local Democrat running for the state house in a district that encompasses all of northern Orange County and then a few strips of land down either side. Her campaign manager is Evan Degnan, another former Young Democrats alum and friend of mine. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating and we had to postpone the door-knocking. But it really is convenient having the people in charge be your friends; planning and rescheduling are so much easier. We're hoping to get that canvass back up and scheduled for a week day afternoon later in the semester.
Other than that, not too much is happening. This week is the last to register to vote, so we're hoping to push registration in the Pit the next several days. Then we have a few days off before early voting at Ram's Head starts October 18th (conveniently located at the beginning of our Fall Break). I'm looking for that change of pace, change of schedule. Once the voting actually starts, it gets wayyyy more fun.
Til then...
Last Sunday we went and canvassed for Deb McManus down in Chatham County. Her campaign manager is Nathan Westmoreland, a former Young Democrats president, recent UNC alumnus, and one of my best friends here in Chapel Hill. I had actually already canvassed with him for Deb back in July, so the area was familiar. Also, we have had 2 phonebanks for Deb McManus this past month, so a lot of our volunteers already know a good bit about her. The canvass itself was great. We stayed in downtown Pittsboro, and Nathan gave us some very walkable turfs. The closer we get to the election, the more people seem to be interested in actually talking to you. Strangely enough, we're still running across A LOT of undecided voters. I actually ran across a woman who told me she was waiting til a week before the election to even read anything about the candidates. I just kinda stared...
But yeah, we also had a HUGE presidential debate watch party down in the Upendo Lounge in SASB North on south campus. This event was co-sponsored by the UNC Young Dems, Tar Heels for Obama, and the Black Student Movement, and we had hundreds show up (though the free food might have helped). Lots of fun, and even though Obama might not have had his most shining moment, it was a great rallying call for a lot of our volunteers.
Earlier this afternoon we were supposed to help out Valerie Foushee's campaign. She is a local Democrat running for the state house in a district that encompasses all of northern Orange County and then a few strips of land down either side. Her campaign manager is Evan Degnan, another former Young Democrats alum and friend of mine. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating and we had to postpone the door-knocking. But it really is convenient having the people in charge be your friends; planning and rescheduling are so much easier. We're hoping to get that canvass back up and scheduled for a week day afternoon later in the semester.
Other than that, not too much is happening. This week is the last to register to vote, so we're hoping to push registration in the Pit the next several days. Then we have a few days off before early voting at Ram's Head starts October 18th (conveniently located at the beginning of our Fall Break). I'm looking for that change of pace, change of schedule. Once the voting actually starts, it gets wayyyy more fun.
Til then...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)