Welcome to the premiere issue of Taking Root, named to symbolize the community that is spreading across the American landscape, bringing democracy into bloom in citizens' hearts again.

We will be publishing this newsletter on a semi-monthly basis to help connect the grassroots community and to grow the grassroots movement begun in support of Governor Howard Dean's Presidential campaign, a movement we've all helped to build.

Inside the newsletter you will find opportunities to sign up for projects and join initiatives as well as reporting from the grassroots around the nation. If you would like to receive this semi-monthly newsletter direct from Grassroots For America, send us this e-mail to subscribe (and please delete any signature block you usually include in your e-mails and leave the subject line unchanged).

On a personal note, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Howard Dean. Without his decision to run for president, and his courage and distinction, none of us would be here... And I, for one, am so happy to be working among our creative and inspiring grassroots.

--Geri Weis-Corbley, Editor

Glimpse What’s Inside!

• News From The Roots
• New Groups Take Root
• The Power of Meetup
• Get Involved
• Inspiration Point
• Site Seeing
• The Tool Shed

NEWS FROM THE ROOTS

California Summits Reap Action Items for Local Dems, DFACorps, and Kerry

California Dean leaders gathered in two summits, one in the north and one in the south. They were unanimous in their determination to stick together and work under the Dean banner. In Marin, they formed committees, hatched a fundraising plan, “Take Back the White House Parties" for the Kerry campaign, and tee-shirt idea -- "On Loan From Dean." Los Angeles organizer Randy Foote set the tone for his 80 participants by reminding them, "We did not lose this campaign. We won. We set the debate and changed politics." 12 of the group are running for office and received tutoring from a mayor and candidate for congress.

Clean-Up-the-Bay and other DFACorps concepts were introduced to a Kerry grassroots leader in attendance who understood its potential to highlight Kerry's impressive environmental record. Foote is optimistic that grassroots reservations about Kerry will subside as more people meet face-to-face, "We'll meet a lot of people like us in the Kerry campaign. Activists and progressives. They are where we were a year ago, with MeetUps, etc. There's a lot we can teach them."

The two groups will meet in San Luis Obispo on either Sat. April 17 or Sun. April 18. For information, to ask for or offer a ride, or if you need overnight accommodations, please contact Vicki Cosgrove.

Comment on our Blog.

Introducing Root Camp

Root Camp is an endeavor inspired by the Dean Campaign that is just getting started. The first step is to recruiting organizers from across America who will then form teams of Root Instructors. Root Instructors will bring their experience in politics and collaborate to develop a platform/process for organizing and running Root Camp. Root Camp will be developed in an organized and structured manner and will be facilitated as such. Root Camp will be national in scope, working within all 50 states.

Root Camp organizers should have experience in one or more of the following areas: Precinct Training, Local Government Training, Canvassing, Voter Registration, Caucus Training and other forms of political knowledge that foster success in integrating the Roots into the Political arena. Root Instructors must be able to work in a remote/virtual team environment where consensus is built through trust in the opinions and abilities of the team members. We will begin the official organizing of teams of Root Instructors in two to three week's time. This should allow sufficient time to build the base of organizers and develop a pool of potential Root Instructors, and we can take it from there! If you'd like to participate in the creation of Root Camp, please subscribe to our mailing list.

Comment on our Blog.

TruthandHope Raises $120,000 in Four Weeks

The lack of TV ads before the Michigan and Washington primaries drove the frustrated Dean bloggers to distraction. . . until Eugene Hedlund created TruthandHope.org, a PAC built to fund advertising for Dean. Thanks in part to T&H ads, created and funded by the grassroots to the tune of $120,000 in four weeks, the Gov. won the state of Vermont and grabbed delegates in several states.

What's next for this Progressive PAC? New ads to counter Bush campaign distortions, and media to support other progressive candidates nationwide. http://truthandhope.org/

The Tale of Those Wisconsin Tapes!

52 Americans contributed $4,000 overnight to a marketing milestone in American politics. In an effort to bypass the news media and the limitations inherent in any sixty-second political spot, the grassroots produced a 15-minute video specifically targeted to undecided voters in WI. Within 24 hours, Keith Schmitz arranged for duplication of 3,500 copies of "The Real Howard Dean" and stowed them in his Milwaukee garage. In the days before the primary, tapes were taken by the carload for canvassers to distribute in heavily Democratic neighborhoods and by bus for distribution by fellow volunteers in Madison. The tapes were featured on the local evening news. After the primary, Keith shipped the remaining cases of tapes for use in upcoming primaries around the country. Some traveled to a college in Minnesota, more to South Florida. A Chicagoan, Janis Emory, drove north to fetch cases for every MeetUp in the Chicago area.

This week, the several hundred were sent to PA House Rep. Mark Cohen, a determined Dean campaigner and delegate in Philadelphia's 13th who will distribute them to middle and low income voters before their April 27 primary in a determined bid to earn more delegates. Cohen, 54, loves the Dean campaign because, AT LAST, there are people younger than he is involved in politics -- and lots of them! Cohen's campaign to win delegates is called Keep Dean's Message Alive. To throw your support behind his campaign, write to: Rep. Mark Cohen

Kansas Sends Delegates to Boston

(More delegates to come with your help…)

Following doctor’s orders, the grassroots have been on a delegate hunt -- a strategic GOTV initiative to win delegates and influence the Democratic party platform. Lanya Shapiro, Paul Hagstrom, and over 30 volunteers are working the phones to make sure Dean supporters know they can still vote for Dean, and WHY it's important that they do so. Check out this tremendous research effort by Hagstrom: http://mysite.verizon.net/delegatesfordean. Join us!

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NEW GROUPS TAKE ROOT

Mobs of Moms Threaten Bush

Megan Matson believes the key to swing states has already been revealed. New research indicates that if unmarried woman had voted at the same rate as their married counterparts, there would have been six million more voters in the 2000 election.

As a group, unmarried women are predominantly progressive and seeking change. Matson’s Dean-inspired Mainstreet Moms Oppose Bush (MMOB) is launching ADOPT-A-SWING-STATE, a campaign to register and mobilize unmarried women in key battleground states.

Comment on our Blog.

New Groups Grow Out of Georgia For Dean

Georgia For Dean was one of the strongest all-volunteer Dean campaigns in the country. Two equally strong new resources have developed out of that movement:

GEORGIA GRASSROOTS ACTION NETWORK is the connecting point for Georgians working to elect progressive Democrats and provides a web portal to help grassroots organizers in Georgia find volunteers and tools to help them mobilize for candidates and causes in their communities. It's also a great spot to find grassroots news. http://gagrassroots.org

GEORGIA FOR DEMOCRACY, INC. seeks to educate and empower Georgia's citizens to become involved in the democratic process and to give voice to disenfranchised and discouraged voters. This non-profit's web site: http://www.georgiafordemocracy.org

Introducing… Latinos For America

LATINOS FOR AMERICA was co-founded by Ralph Miller, CA State Coordinator of Latinos for Dean and is working to defeat George Bush in key battleground states like Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Florida. LFA is preparing a media plan for Spanish language Radio, TV and Print advertising to turn out the Latino vote in all 50 states. A legal structure is being developed and is expected to be formalized in the next month. http://www.latinosfordean.com

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THE POWER OF MEETUPS

Featured Meetup of the Month

Milwaukee For Dean Wows Local Candidates

By Keith Schmitz

Milwaukee for Dean confirmed its presence as a political force when local candidate for mayor, Tom Barrett, stepped through the door of our March 3 "Mega Meetup." The former congressman's eyes widened at the sight of the assembled group. After the presentations by local candidates, we re-framed our mission for the future: recruiting new members, supporting progressive candidates, changing the political dialogue in Milwaukee, reshaping the Democratic party, and taking our state back.

Comment on our Blog.

April Dean Meetup: Call For Agenda Items

In his speech last week, Governor Dean outlined four points to describe his mission for DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA: 1) get the American people involved in the political process, 2) bring honesty to the political dialogue, 3) fight against the far right wing political extremists, and 4) advocate for strong progressive policies.

Our next Dean Meetup is WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7. How do you think you can act on the Governor’s mission in your community? How do you want a Democracy for America chapter to take root in your city? What other items of importance do you think should be discussed at this Meetup? E-mail your thoughts and ideas to us or post them on our Blog.

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GET INVOLVED

Summer Dean Convention: DemocracyFest 2004

Would you like to take an active roll in planning DemocracyFest? This gathering, which promises "Education by day, celebration by night," will take place July 24-25, two days before the Boston Democratic National convention. 72 people have already joined committees to organize the event and Governor Dean has enthusiastically endorsed it. Help bring to life the vision of 100,000 progressives coming together near Boston for workshops, speakers, and entertainment. Thank you to Al Boynton for providing web facilities and Jessica Falker for heading up DemocracyFest 2004.

Sign up at http://www.myvoteismyvoice.com/html/deanfest_2004.html

Comment on our Blog.

Rapid Response, Still Growing: Help Take Back the Media!

Do you want fair and accurate press coverage? Do you like writing letters to the editor that counter the right-wing spin machine? Join Rapid Response, already 1,500 strong nationwide. Together we can insist on a debate of substance rather than a horse race. Five minutes of your time multiplied by a nationwide network = the power to take back our country (and our media). Sign up at http://www.deanrr.com

We Are The Candidates: Learn how to run for public office

Has Howard Dean inspired you to run for local office? Join the Democratic Wings Yahoo Group now with 170 members: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DemocraticWings/

Candidates We're Rooting For

Eager to flex our fundraising muscle and take our country back, blogs and discussion groups across the grassroots point to progressive candidates for Congressional seats and local races who warrant support. Connecticut Dean supporter Aldon Hynes has launched Local Politicians for Dean, http://localpols.fordean.net/, where anyone is invited to talk about their campaigns.

Governor Dean asked his supporters to remember his loyal ally Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his re-election bid: http://www.jessejacksonjr.org

The Daily Kos posted a useful rundown on the top 30 House Races in the Country (http://www.dailykos.com/section/House2004/3), as well as a detailed look at House (http://www.dailykos.com/section/House2004 ) and Senate ( http://www.dailykos.com/section/Senate2004 ) races across the country.

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INSPIRATION POINT

Coretta Scott King Explores Creative Loss

If we are to reach "the mountaintop", our ideals require "audacious faith," like the faith of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his wife. On the PBS documentary AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Coretta Scott King told the story of Easter, 1963, when Martin was arrested and locked in the Birmingham jail. She had just returned from the hospital with their fourth child. She was weary and worried and confined to bed. She spoke slowly, concisely, majestically, pronouncing each sound: "There's suffering. But, it's creative suffering. I realized in loss, there is always hope for redemption. . . It was the best Easter I ever had."

Comment on our Blog.

Grassroots Generosity

Connecticut for Dean leaders rescued thousands of Dean DVD's from the Manchester, NH office when it closed. With the Wisconsin primary 10 days away, their call went out to Yahoo groups: "We have these great DVDs but no money for shipping," and the Wisconsin primary was 10 days away. Ted Nixon, from Rochester, NY read that e-mail and immediately put a check in the mail for $640.00 to a woman he did not know. "I do things because it's the right thing to do, not because I get credit for it." He was happy his story would be told because it would "encourage others to do the right thing, as well." Ted is putting to use the skills he practices every day in his second career -- teaching.

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SITE SEEING

Blogs and other grassroots sites of interest

Former Dean for America Bloggers Joe Drymala, Adam Mordecai, and Mathew Gross are leading (mostly) troll-free discussions on the Change for America Blog of former campaign manager Joe Trippi. (http://www.changeforamerica.com/blog) Topics range from gay marriage to national security to a new Bush Believability Index. Sign up to join CFA and receive announcements on upcoming CFA grassroots summits designed as strategy sessions for campaign 2004 and beyond. (http://changeforamerica.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2)

The Dean Issues Forum, the Dean campaign’s popular, volunteer-powered on-line forum for policy discussions and debates, has undergone a change. It’s now called the Democracy Forum (http://democracyforum.US), and has an expanded charter: to cover -- from a progressive standpoint – policies being proposed by candidates in the presidential, state and local elections. The DF’s 40 expert moderators manage conversations in 25 topic areas. Signups are free.

21st Century Democrats knows how to win elections. They are the masters of GOTV. 21s Century Democrats is building the farm team for national leadership by supporting the election of progressive candidates at all levels of government. They provide candidate training, campaign organizing, and volunteer GOTV mobilization. http://www.21stcenturydems.org

Weapons of Mass Democracy is a clearinghouse for ideas and groups created by a Dean supporter. Browse grassroots groups (16) and software projects (5). Add groups and projects that you are aware of: http://massdemocracy.org/

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THE TOOL SHED

Free DVD’s for Campaign Efforts

Melissa in CT has 7 sleeves of 150 each of the L.A. DVD, "Fulfilling The Promise" repackaged with DFA logos, for anyone who needs campaign materials. These can be used in many ways to turn on new voters. Note: These are not for resale, on E-Bay or in any other way. These are for spreading the word in a non-profit way. Contact her at rothum-at-aol.com.

PAC Forms to buy Dean Dem Store Stuff

Melissa in CT has also set up a PAC for purchasing Dean for America campaign materials from the Dem Store at a tremendously reduced rate. (None of the Dean merchandise is marked '2004'.) If you'd like to stock up for possible canvassing in 2007, contact her at the above address.

Grassroots Calendar

March 31	21st Century Democrats Annual Dinner
April 7	Meetup for Dean/Democracy (for America)
April 18	California Dean Leaders Summit
May 1	May Day Houseparties (tent.)
May 5	Meetup for Dean/Democracy (for America)
June 2	Meetup for Dean/Democracy (for America)
July 7	Meetup for Dean/Democracy (for America)
July 24/25	DemocracyFest

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ABOUT OUR NEWSLETTER

Send Letters to the Editor to: editor-at-grassrootsforamerica.us
Send content submissions to: news-at-grassrootsforamerica.us
Edited by Geri Weis-Corbley
Page Design by Kimberly Krautter

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Grassroots for America is a resource for progressive grassroots organizations across the nation, connecting groups and providing services, infrastructure and consulting to:

• Energize their ideas and bring them to life
• Connect with like-minded teams across the country
• Mobilize bodies of voters for active citizen engagement
• Publicize their projects utilizing a professional PR and Media team
• Multiply the impact of every grassroots initiative.

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