The Human Right's Campaign (HRC) Camp Equality, held at the Double Tree Hotel in Houston, was a two-day affair on Saturday and Sunday June 14-15. I attended on the 14th only. This was due to a commitment on the following day.
Campy Equality was a conference that had a Fundamentals Track, and, an Advanced Track. The two Tracks split up late in the afternoon. I attended the Fundamentals Track.
The Partner Organizations, with presentations made by each, included: Equality Texas, HGLBT PAC a.k.a. The Caucus, Houston Stonewall Young Democrats, The Sierra Club, Houston Area Stonewall Democrats, and Texas Young Democrats. There are links below to the respective organizations:
www.equalitytexas.org
www.thecaucus.org
www.houstonstonewallyd.org
www.sierraclub.org
www.houstonareastonewalldemocrats.com
www.texasyds.org
A variety of speakers gave practical advice on such diverse topics as blogging, gaining free media coverage, motivating reporters, helpful hints on holding a press conference, and how to be a good volunteer for a political campaign.
An openly gay candidate told anecdotes about his campaign. Also, a campaign manager presented examples of effective campaign messages, as well as a little advice on how not to craft your message.
Bill Kelly, Harris County Democratic Party
www.burntorangereport.com
JD Angle, The Tyson Organization
www.tyson.org
There are no magic beans when it comes to developing your message. But, there are helpful guidelines. People and personalizing stories are the key, things and abstractions: issues, are not.
Examples of effective mailers were shown via Power Point.
The "Message Box", a graphical technique used for developing your campaign message, was explained. It can be thought of as a two-dimensional table (two columns and two rows) to write in.
With the "Message Box" the two messages of your candidate and the two messages of the opposing candidate are written in the table and evaluated. What do you say about yourself and your opponent? What does you opponent say about himself and you?
The Earned Media talk was given by Robert Jara. To summarize, reporters are not your friends. Advice on understanding their motives was given. You may present research on the negative aspects to reporters if consistent with your campaign plan and message.
I attended the Fundamentals Track as opposed to the Advanced track. The Fundamentals Track was presented by Amy Everhart of the Sierra Club. The ratios: 40% 20 % 40% were presented with the 20% being the all-important "swing" voters. We saw a picture of sophisticated phone-banking equipment that was housed in back of a large truck. Questions regarding registering people to vote were answered. She recommended being deputized for that.
I found this to be a worthwhile conference, well attended, and interesting. My goal was to broaden my skills as a volunteer. As a precinct captain for the Obama campaign I was self-trained. I saw Camp Equality as an opportunity to more thoughtfully develop my skills. It was a success.
Jim
Sunday, June 15, 2008
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Tea Party
"Indeed, the rightward tilt of the state's GOP electorate permitted another Tea Party insurgent to mount a respectable run without serving as a spoiler to Perry's similarly themed campaign. Debra Medina, a darling of the far right, recently made headlines for questioning the government's involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but came in with about the same 16 percent showing that polls registered prior to her gaffe. -http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100304/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1213
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
Capitol Building -Austin
State Capitol Complex:
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
Texas Employment Law
"Texas employment law does NOT prohibit workplace discrimination and/or termination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status." -Equality Texas
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
Check out my website:
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
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