grassroots organizing

There is still no obituary online for Executive Director of NC Fair Share, Lynice Williams. There was a death notice at the Raleigh N&O yesterday.

To say that Lynice's leadership will be missed is an understatement.

The Democratic Party in Buncombe County has changed plenty since 2004, and one of our biggest change agents is Drew Reisinger, the sitting Register of Deeds. Reisinger is running for election after winning appointment last February to serve out the remaining term of longtime register, Otto DeBruhl, who retired last year.

Reisinger’s winning that seat was a pivotal moment in local Democratic politics. Party insiders long sought to protect the line of succession to DeBruhl’s coveted job. But it was no accident that Drew Reisinger won the party election to finish out the term.

Three years ago Sam Spencer founded the Grassroots Farm Team to recruit and help elect the next generation of Democratic candidates. A lot of folks were skeptical of a twenty-something running a Political Action Committee, let alone having any success. I think it’s fair to say that in the last three years Sam and the Farm Team have been a resounding success, being a resource, both financially and otherwise to young candidates. As many of you know, Sam is currently the President of YDNC, where he continues the work of engaging young people in the political process. In order to focus on YDNC and give GFTPAC a chance to grow, Sam has decided to step back from the Farm Team.

In the run-up to the SEC meeting/election, one particular issue seemed to be on the minds of many: The distribution of check-off funding headed down to the county and precinct levels. There was also some concern over whether or not a sitting Legislator could also legally engage in fundraising for the Party while the General Assembly was in session, which I believe was answered here.

With those two things in mind, I've got a proposition, which should help to empower both the base and the elected officials who owe them so much:

Late late notice, but for all NC health care reform advocates, this alert was posted in a comment on Daily Kos regarding a Anti-Health Care rally today (August 3) in Winston-Salem. Below is information about a counter-rally organized by supporters of health care reform.

Details and link:

"Anti-health care Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is scheduled to appear at an anti-health care reform rally TODAY at the Golden Corral at Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem. This event has been announced by the local Republican Party and Patients First.

Supporters of health care reform are invited to meet at 11 a.m. TODAY in the parking area across from Olive Garden at Hanes Mall (near the Golden Corral). From there, it will be a five-minute walk to three good legal picket location options.

Participants are encouraged to bring signs with slogans like the following:
Health Care Reform Now!
We Support President Obama!
Foxx Does NOT Speak for Me!

You don't have to take it folks. You don't have to stand by and watch bad things done in your communities. I just left a group of people who are a living testament to that fact.