Hello From DPVA meetings in Staunton

By: Shawn
Published On: 12/2/2006 6:58:56 AM

Last night I attended the DPVA Steering Committee Meeting at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center in Staunton and the 2006 Victory Celebration and Reception hosted by DPVA Chairman, C. Richard Cranwell. 

The events drew Democrats from all accross Virginia, and ... yes ... the blogs and the impact of the netroots and grassroots were not only mentioned but were topics of a number of my conversations from the time I arrived until I finally called it a night about 1am. 

One major "promise" DPVA staff made, that I thought you all might be interested in was the launching, in January, of a new DPVA website!

Today I'll be attending various meetings including the DPVA  State Central Committee Meeting and I anticipate we'll hear more about the 2006 campaign and Jim Webb's victory! 


Comments



thanks (Rob - 12/2/2006 9:30:23 AM)
if you or anyone else has any other updates, please pass them along.


Very Informative (Gordie - 12/2/2006 9:57:43 AM)
It was impressive the growth of funds coming into the state party for the last 2 years and their expectations for this year. Quite a bite was from big donors. They promised to do a better grass roots fund raising.
Dick had his joke about the White House reception and his advice to Jim, which brought laughs.
The web site going on line in January or maybe sooner was good news.
I was most impressed that they were making promises to get involved in the Supervisor and Mayor races. Since VA has an election every year that will really take a lot of work and constant planning. There was mention of getting more candidates to run, but not enough was said about that.
Of course they went into executive session and I cannot report on that. It was time to get some Hor-D'oeurves.
Nelson County had 7 representatives, with some spending the night, for todays meetings. Buckingham County had at least 1 rep. At the end I bounced my ideal of having a 59th Democratic Committee dinner in Nelson (or any other place) so we in the 59th could GOTV for our candidate/s when they announce who they are.

Guess I belive in that old saying "The early bird gets the worm"



Gordie (Kathy Gerber - 12/2/2006 10:38:01 AM)
I stopped by for a few minutes and didn't go past the lobby and room with the food. I guess you all were somewhere else, but I didn't stay long at all. Sorry I missed you!  It sounds very positive.


Meetings (Gordie - 12/2/2006 12:23:22 PM)
The meeting was in what is called the Shenandoah? room and the food was in the Coronado room. I went for the social. Was not sure were it was and was directed to the meeting room. Sorry I missed you. I was hoping to see you there. I got there about 7:35 and left at 10:05.


Me, too. (Kathy Gerber - 12/2/2006 1:13:25 PM)
I'll take the blame here for not being decisive and registering properly. I honestly had a hard time deciding where to go last night and was on the road before choosing to go over to Staunton. Lesson learned - I really wanted to go down to Lynchburg and should have.

I thought the Coronado room was the whole deal and just figured that lots of people had taken off to bars and what not.  The people there were nice enough and I didn't stay very long.



live update (Shawn - 12/2/2006 12:15:03 PM)
Larry Roberts gave an update on Tim Kaine's work in the Governor's office and how he helped in the 2006 races.

Great reports from Brian Moran, Creigh Deeds focused on the future and 2007 races and issues

Some stats shared by the DPVA on 2006:
848 paid canvassers
55,000 absentee voter
1,600,000 GOTV mail pcs
$102,000 spent on radio spots
$75,000 on TV ads
355,000 door hangers
2,106,000 phone calls
44,275 working volunteers
955,000 additional people identified on Prevail

Dates for DPVA mtgs in 2007:
Feb 9th & 10
May 18th & 19th
Sept 7th & 8th
Nov 7th and 8th



Question here (Dianne - 12/2/2006 12:28:51 PM)
Were the expenditures ($$$) paid out of DPVA funds or do these figures include candidate funds too?


DPVA funds (Nell - 12/2/2006 11:24:06 PM)
At least that was what I understood from the central committee meeting today.

I, too, went in an improvised, last-minute way.  I wish the organizers would have urged/insisted on/made available name tags.  I might have spotted Kathy G. and said hi and thank you!  I went for the social, and stayed overnight intending to go to the chairs mtg, but got the time wrong and ended up just going to the CC mtg this morning.  There must have been many more chairs than expected, because when I looked in they were jammed into a little room with two rows of people standing.

I'll look at my notes and add some other bits tomorrow.



Thanks so much for blogging (Dianne - 12/2/2006 12:33:03 PM)
You mentioned in another diary that there would be training in Richmond in January.  What's it for and who's it open to?


January 13 trainings (Nell - 12/2/2006 11:34:11 PM)
Two tracks:  For people interested in becoming candidates for local offices (supervisors, constitutional offices). For local party leaders (how to recruit/help those candidates).

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, Richmond, Holiday Inn on the blvd.  Levar Stoney did the announcement, so I'm assuming he's the staffer you'd get in touch with for further info/reservations.



The amendment and its community (Kathy Gerber - 12/2/2006 12:54:37 PM)
Was there any discussion on the impact of the Vote No efforts?  The grassroots work against the amendment was huge, and I was surprised at the number of folks in several areas who worked on this for months, sometimes exclusively.  As far as unsolicited face time goes, I was approached by vote no volunteers on three different occasions in C'ville and I don't get out much.

I'm prompted to ask because of your Prevail figure since it approaches EV's goal of a million voters.  Are there efforts underway to push down or strengthen the relationship with these allies to the CD and local levels?  And what about other allies?

 



11/7-8 IS a Wednesday/Thursday? (MV Democrat - 12/2/2006 2:15:34 PM)
State Central is usually Friday-Saturday


That should be Sept 7-8. (Nell - 12/2/2006 11:37:09 PM)
And it will probably be in northern Virginia since the Fairfax group seemed to have an event that's traditionally that Saturday.  Dick Cranwell: "Well, let's have it over your way, then.  We'll wrap up in plenty of time to help you put up tents and we'll all come!"


oops, the mtg in question is Nov 30-Dec 1 (Nell - 12/2/2006 11:42:57 PM)
I just went back and looked at Shawn's quarterly meeting dates. The last meeting of the year is to be Nov 30-Dec 1.


3rd District Rep.. (lgb30856 - 12/2/2006 9:07:49 PM)
voted in today. also vice chair of n.news city committee.
I enjoyed the meeting.
It seems like various committees and establishments all over the state are saying "we made Jim Webb Senator"
I would rather say "we did it"
We are all seperate entities, doing what we can.
Let's just all get along and get this bunch of racist legislators out of there


Shawn .. (lgb30856 - 12/2/2006 9:08:55 PM)
should be commended for running in the 1st. He took the challenge.
He did quite well.
If we don't support, we don't win.
Love ya shawn.


Shawn spoke feelingly (Nell - 12/2/2006 11:39:27 PM)
to those considering becoming candidates.  It was touching and inspiring.  Thanks, Shawn!


Nell thank you for all the information you and others provided (Dianne - 12/3/2006 9:10:39 AM)
I hope this thread continues.