Florida Young Democrat Chapter of the Year Award Goes to:

This past weekend the Florida Young Democrats had several very successful meetings at the Florida Democratic Party conference. Today Matt Cole, Immediate Past FYD Chair, had these words to say:


Fellow Democrats,

I am honored to report that Omar Khan (LCYD member) has been elected to succeed me as Chair of the Florida Young Democrats. Omar's work as FYD Executive Director is greatly appreciated and I look forward to his continued contributions to the development of future Democratic leaders.

Over the past two years, right up through this past weekend, this administration:

Developed an executive structure based upon the Democratic Party and its nomenclature.
Instituted a chartering process that eliminated dues, encourages closer ties with county DECs, and prevents the possibility of competing claims of authority.
Established a Mission and Vision statement to more clearly define our goals.
Enacted the positions of Regional Directors to more plainly establish geographic regions and Outreach Directors to more formally target Young Democrat sub-groups.
Founded the Florida College Democrats as an associate group of the newly created Florida Young & College Democrats.

Our caucus was joined by FDP Chair Thurman, Congressman Barney Frank, and Governor Mark Warner. We were also joined by several local, regional, and statewide candidates including Jim Davis, Rod Smith, and Alex Sink.

The FYD Annual Awards winners were presented. They include:

County Chapter of the Year: Leon County Young Democrats
College Chapter of the Year: Florida State University College Democrats
High School Chapter of the Year: East Side High School Young Democrats, Alachua County
FYD Event of Distinction: Leon County Young Democrats, for the Democratic Legislative Staff Reception
Jeffrey Mattison Wershow Award: Stephen Gorham, US Navy Veteran
Young Democrat of the Year: Kristian Cosme
Democrat of the Year: Honorable Karen Thurman
Lifetime Achievement Award: Senator Bob Graham

The role of FYD Chair requires a great deal of time, energy, and diplomacy. There are scores of Young Democrats who have assisted me and contributed greatly to this organization over the past few years. It would be impossible to name every member individually, but in addition to Omar, I would like recognize: John Reid, Chris Gallaway, Michelle M'Sadoques, Gershom Faulkner, Alan Brock, Kristian Cosme, David Geller, Bret Berlin, Kristin Carter, Alex Patton, Dave Cutler, Erica Graves, Rick Minor, and Reggie Cardozo. State Representative Ed Jennings, Jr. and State Senator Dave Aronberg should also be acknowledged as both supporters of and role models for the FYDs. For her love and patience, I am also grateful to Carolyn Develle.

Although I have passed along these guiding principles to many of you already, they are worth revisiting: Be Local: Invite locally elected Democrats for discussions on current issues; Be Connected: Help members develop connections with local Democratic leaders, either elected or in your DEC;Be Social: Keep meetings lively and informal so that your members will enjoy this time with their political peers;Be Rewarding: Allow members to sharpen their political skills by presenting or debating a topic.In conclusion, it has been a privilege to serve you as FYD Chair. In my new Executive Board role as Immediate Past Chair, I look forward providing institutional memory and assisting Omar to the best of my abilities.

Democratically Yours,

MattMatthew Cole,
Immediate Past Chair
Florida Young Democrats

Union Organizer Training

Do you want to learn about Union organizing?Are you interested in becoming an organizer? Do you know someone who does?

The Application:http://www.unitehere.org/jobs/internshipapp2.asp

UNITE HERE is running a two-week paid organizing internship from January 20 through February 3, 2006.

This exciting internship puts participants (both activists from outside UNITE HERE and UNITE HERE members) being trained and working on a live airport food service campaign in Florida. Training will occur in the classroom and in the field. Work will include housevisiting non union workers, building lists, identifying workplace leaders. Some participants may be invited to continue working on these campaigns. Participants will be paid $550/week and housing, if necessary.

Transportation to the internship will also be provided.

Training Oppurtunity

New Organizing Institute

The mission of the New Organizaing Institute is:

To train and support a new generation of technology-enabled campaigners. To consolidate and disseminate knowledge gained in the field of political technology and online organizing. To conduct new research and post-campaign investigations that employ results-focused, systems thinking to make progressive campaigns and organizations more efficient.

The first Institute training with about 40 participants is mainly geared toward training online organizers for '06 political campaigns. This training is co-sponsored by MoveOn.org.

This intensive week-long training is modeled on EMILYs List's Campaign Corps' "Campaign Schools" a mixture of lectures, discussions, exercises plus a campaign simulation that takes place long into each night of the program. Graduates will be placed on 2006 progressive campaigns in key roles. After Election Day, they will help find participants another job, in the worlds of electoral politics, advocacy or charitable organizations.

Trainers will evaluate trainees' skills and progress throughout the week, deciding at the end who is ready to serve on a 2006 campaign. Positions will be arranged in advance with '06 campaigns, as well as some other progressive organizations and labor unions. The Institute will select exceptionally talented trainees, provide them with intensive training, and follow up with continued support throughout their early careers.

Their goal is to create a network of experienced online organizers and technologists committed to progressive values. In its first two years, the NOI hopes to inject hundreds of new, talented and trained online organizers and technologists into the job market - organizers who understand politics and people as well as the Internet and technology.

This program does not require you to have prior electoral campaign experience. However, they are looking for people who have demonstrated a commitment to progressive values in some form or fashion.

They are asking applicants to talk about leadership experience with campus or community organizations, prior internship or work experience, personal and/or political beliefs, and/or previous campaign or political experience.

NOI picks up the tab for training, pays for your travel to Washington DC before and after the training, free job placement assistance and continuing mentorship and support into your career. They are looking for recent college graduates - or people who are ready for a change in career and can uproot themselves onto a campaign for several months - who are passionate about progressive politics.

Campus or community leadership, or any kind of grassroots organizing experience, is a plus. Excellent writing skills and aptitude with Internet media or a technical background are required. Since campaigns are 24-7, you'd better have a strong work ethic. See the Trainee FAQ

NOI is also seeking trainers. They are accepting applications now for the February 24 - March 4, 2006 training.

The deadline for applications, resumes and letters of recommendation is December 31, 2005.

To complete the application process, you must ensure that two letters of recommendation are mailed or faxed to the New Organizing Institute. E-mail your resume within a week of applying to info@neworganizing.com. NOI also has plans for an advanced technology workshop in the Summer, 2006. http://neworganizing.com/index.html

Reflections on the 2004 Election by YD Staffer

Our links contain several worthwhile links, and I hope that at some point that you, our faithful reader, have gotten the opportunity to check them out. One of the links is to Wiretap, Alternets writings focused on the views of young, ranging from teenagers to the early 30's. Often the essays are insightful and from a world view that is easy to identify with.

I wanted to highlight an essay by Adam Frankel and his reflection on being a 24 year old speech writer for Senator Kerry during last years election cycle. If you click on the title bar you will be taken to his essay The Top 10 Lessons I Learned on the Kerry Campaign. I know that some of you will find it insightful and perhaps it will carry advice that you might find useful as you consider working on campaigns.

Rick Minor for Chair Rally Tonight and DEC Meeting!

Hello.

Just a quick message to point out that Rick Minor will be having a rally at 6:30pm INSIDE City Hall for his race to become the next Chairman of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee. Since the LCYDs have endorse Rick to be the next chairman, it is important that we show up and give him the support he needs.

The Details:

RICK MINOR FOR DEC CHAIR RALLY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 6:30 PM
TALLAHASSEE CITY HALL, 300 S. ADAMS STREET, INSIDE

Also, after the rally, the DEC will be holding their monthly meeting. Anything can happen at these meetings so as always, please make plans to show up for the meeting as well. You should be out of the meeting by 7:45pm to 8pm if everything goes well.

Hope you can make it. See you tonight!