Swing State Project

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Friday, December 17, 2004

State Party Blog Project: In It Together

Thanks to those of you who have made their way over from DailyKos for the first time.  For the regulars, let me explain...

One way or another, the vast majority of you are aware that we are trying to bring all 50 states on-line with a blog on their webpage.  In the extended entry portion of this thread, you will find a list of states lacking a blog, a link to their webpage, and a copy of the email I initially sent to each of the state parties.

If you are interested in "adopting a state," please note which state you would like to take the lead with in the comments along with your email address.  I will update this blog daily on the topic; if you have made any progress, please indicate that and I will update the main page of the blog accordingly.

Information in the extended entry.  For future reference or questions, my email address is ttagaris@yahoo.com

Hello,

My name is Tim Tagaris.  During the past election
cycle I was the communications director for Jeff
Seemann's (Dem.) congressional campaign in the 16th
district of Ohio.  During the race we received
national acclaim for our use of the Internet as a tool
to communicate with the grassroots and fundraise.

We found that feedback, inclusion, respect and
communication were the most effective way to register
useful feedback and communicate in real time with the
people in the best position to support the goals of
the Democratic Party, the people.  The most useful and
efficient mechanism to accomplish those goals during
the campaign was a blog.  

I noticed that your state party webpage does not have
a blog.  I would love to take a few minutes (that's
all it takes!) and help you get one up on your site to
better communicate with people in your great state,
and others across the country.

Unfortunately, three-fourths of state party websites
don't have a blog either.  I am sending this message
to each one of those states.  Hopefully by the end of
January we can ensure that EVERY state party website
has the tools necessary to communicate and reach out
to their constituents.

Please let me know if you already have plans to set up
a blog on your webpage, if there is anything I can do
to help, or if you are not interested..

Posted at 10:24 PM in Activism, Netroots, Netroots | Technorati

Comments

I am interested in establishing a blog for Massachusetts. I likely will e-mail them over the weekend, but I am busy working on my Social Security Blog for now.

Posted by: Ken Michaud at December 17, 2004 10:42 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Sorry, forgot to post my email. it's dudeursistershot@gmail.com

Posted by: Ken Michaud at December 17, 2004 10:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I like this idea but....is a bad blog better than no blog?

Maybe an effort to educate them on what a GOOD blog is might be a better way to go about this. You could put together an online PDF on how to build and maintain a blog and distribute it to all the state webmasters.

I think your communication message is dead on...the state parties should wake up and smell the high tech coffiee....but it's so much easier to tell someone they should be doing something...then showing them HOW to be doing it.

Posted by: Andrew Long at December 18, 2004 01:29 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Andrew,

I agree. That is why I provided the email as a template of sorts. Not only do we want them to have a blog, but educate them as to the possibilities if used effectively.

The .pdf is a great idea. And something that I already have created for the most part (for different reasons) -- I would love suggestions about what to include as well.

Tim

Posted by: Tim T. at December 18, 2004 01:39 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'd like to adopt my home state of Idaho. It would be great if we got that blog working.

Posted by: Bernie at December 18, 2004 12:08 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I forgot to post my email address: blberry@salmoninternet.com
I'll start by contacting the state committee and encouraging them to activate the blog.

Posted by: Bernie at December 18, 2004 12:11 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'd be interested in helping with a blog for Iowa. Have my own space so if for some silly reason they don't see a need, can go forward anyway.

Posted by: Hans at December 18, 2004 12:42 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I read somewhere in this site tha VA already has a blog.
I checked ">http://www.vademocrats.org and could not find anything.
There is a DemoMemo link but it does not allow for comments or interactivity.
Did I miss something and can someone point me to the VA DNC blog?

Thanks

Posted by: Nick at December 18, 2004 01:15 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

http://www.documenting-democracy.org/

There is the Virginia blog as identified by Maura in Va.

Tim

Posted by: Tim T. at December 18, 2004 03:19 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

You should make a point of distinguishing between state parties that have a blog and state parties that have an ACTIVE blog. Just having a web page called "Blog" means nothing if they don't actually USE it.

Posted by: Chris Andersen at December 18, 2004 08:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I agree with Chris Anderson. For this to work, someone is also going to prepare a document outlining how they can/should use it. And advise that someone is going to have to take responsibility for keeping content current.

USING it is a much larger issue that setting one up.

Getting ready to travel for a couple of weeks, but will check back to see what has developed around the "using it" problems and if my state still has not been taken I contact them.

Posted by: CLS at December 18, 2004 10:00 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm a state committeewoman for my county's Dem Party...just elected at the last meeting in December during our reorganization. Anyway, as such, I'll be attending our state-level meetings, have a vote on our new state chair, and will have input into policy, etc.

I am a devoted blogger. Admittedly, I read more than I contribute, but I find them invaluable. I don't know enough about blogs to offer technical support but I can certainly offer support in keeping them going and getting the word out to others who would also want to blog.

I live in Washington State so put me down to help. Let me know how I, a non-techie, can help in this endeavor.

Judy at acarter@techlinelcom

Posted by: Judy at December 21, 2004 02:38 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment