[Dialogue] Adventures with the Obama campaign

[Carlos R. Zervigon]

Janice that was a heart warmer. While we did not take Louisiana, I have worn
an Obama button for the last six months. I have received some scary
responses and many delightful ones. In the New Orleans airport on the way to
Little Rock through Dallas I ran into an angry Dallas resident who insisted
on the Muslim tag and said that he had better pick a good VP because someone
was going to kill him. I told him that he was over the top, outside of
reality and un-American. I do not believe that he was prepared for a feisty
gray haired guy who looked white. There were many African Americans in line
with us and you could detect anger and intimidation. That ugly experience,
was trumped many times over by the kind of bond that this campaign created
with knowing looks, exited conversations, canvassing my very mixed
neighborhood, etc. Our son Mario , after Katrina was the events coordinator
and finance director for the Florida Democratic Party. Obama was the keynote
speaker for the 2006 state convention. Mario met him on the loading dock as
he arrived and started to explain the logistics to him. Obama said " Wait a
minute, who are you, tell me about yourself. Mario said that among all of
the candidates he was the only one that did not look through the staff. From
that day on his mind was made up. Having been in the civil rights movement
with the Sit-Ins etc., the EI; ICA experience and engaged with public
processes in New Orleans, this is such an exciting moment. Viva Obama!

 

Carlos R. Zervigon, PMP

Zervigon International, Ltd.

817 Antonine St.

New Orleans, LA  70115  USA

504 894-9868 Mobile: 504 908-0762

carlos at zervigon.com

http://www.zervigon.com

 

From: dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net
[mailto:dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Janice Ulangca
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 9:50 AM
To: Colleague Dialogue
Subject: [Dialogue] Adventures with the Obama campaign

 

 


A Day That Changed History


 

Anticipation.  Nail-biting suspense.  Hope and worry.  Will it happen, or
won't it?  Sometimes it's a decisive military battle - or the World Series.
Or sometimes an election that might have gone either way.  Would doubts and
old fears and guilt prevail in the privacy of the voting booth?  Oh,
Americans, you are capable of so much in either arrogant cruelty or
life-changing generosity!  Which will it be this time?

 

Now we know.  There can be a new start, for this nation and for its role in
the world.  Two days ago we did not know - we only hoped.  So I had to
travel about two hours down into Pennsylvania to do what I could on Monday
and election day.  It was part just wanting to be part of history.  But also
- I would always regret it if I hadn't given what I could, to help in this
state that both Obama and  McCain had declared critical to winning.  

 

The Obama campaign organization was really fine.  There were many ways to
get involved, and effective tools - both on-line and out of campaign
offices.  Encouraging e-mails let you know that your efforts were part of a
bigger strategy that could make a great difference.  And always, always
there was sincere gratitude for everything you did.

 

What did I do in Pennsylvania?  I said when I was available, then was
nationally assigned to the Wilkes Barre area by the "Border States Team" and
out of the Wilkes Barre office to Kingston, PA, just across the Susquehanna
River.  The two biggest tasks were walking through neighborhoods, delivering
last minute literature to homes with Obama supporters, and phoning Obama
supporters to give a quick message about the importance of their votes.
Excellent neighborhood maps were given to each team of 2 walkers, with
names, ages, and voting location for each previously-identified supporter. 

 

People came in by car, bus and plane to regional offices all over
Pennsylvania to help.  In the Kingston office, it was mostly young people
and seniors - though a few people had taken the days off work to help.  New
York City area folks were well represented.  They both inspired, and were
inspired by, the local folks, who as progressive Democrats had usually felt
overwhelmed in this mostly Republican area.  

 

Snapshots of people:

 

-- C.J. Kersey, a young social studies teacher in a Kingston high school who
took time off to coordinate that Obama office.  C.J. was aware of everyone
who came in, warmly greeting them, and asking if they were up to door to
door walking or would rather phone.  He held brief training sessions for the
groups of 20 or so walkers for each 4-hour shift.  Through these two days he
was constantly strategizing with the regional office - best practices were
immediately implemented.  A great guy.

 

-- Helen, my first walking partner Monday afternoon.  A home-health nurse,
she came at 3:30 Monday and Tuesday after work.  From a nearby town, she
knew the area and navigated while I drove.  A delightful redhead.

 

-- Chris, a local high school senior who had worked with C.J. since the
primaries, going door to door with him.  He was my Tuesday morning walking
partner, and what a fine young man.  He talked about how tough it was during
the primary, when the Democrats in town were so strong for Hillary, and
sometimes hostile to Obama people.  Chris  walked two 4-hour shifts on
Tuesday, while I could only last for one, so I made phone calls the second
shift.  The son of a factory worker, Chris has his heart set on medical
school - and with two fine local colleges, he just might make it.  But he
says he'll always be active in politics.

 

-- Te (with an accent over the e) - pronounced "Tay" - to rhyme with day.
Animated, competent, probably in her 60s, with her own international
consulting business, from the NY City area.  Between phone calling and
sandwiches Tuesday noon, she mentioned that she was on the NY State Board of
a group called Citizen Action.  She was overjoyed to know that I am a
member.  We talked about the need to bring faith and organizing for justice
together after mentioning my work with the Council of Churches and hers with
her synagogue.

 

Other sights I remember:  A lady in her 50s wearing an Obama button beside
another button that said "Hillary Sent Me."  Everybody under 50 happily
sitting on the floor as there weren't that many chairs in the 2 good-sized
rooms of the rented campaign office.  A sign over a crockpot on the food
table that said "Minestrone Soup by Bev Williams".   The deeply concerned
look on the tired face of Teresa, the waitress who served me a late dinner
in a Pennsylvania diner as I travelled home. She noticed the Obama button on
my jacket.   "What time do you think we'll know how the election will come
out?  Do you think we might know by 11 tonight?  I hope I can know before I
just have to go to bed."  Well, Teresa, you knew by 11.

 

 

 

**************************
Janice Ulangca
3413 Stratford Drive
Vestal, NY  13850
607-797-4595
aulangca at stny.rr.com
***************************

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