Our Second Campaign Staff Visit

MEETING AT BARACK OBAMA NH CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS

On Wednesday, July 11, we visited the Manchester campaign headquarters of Barack Obama. The GSOP delegation consisted of Ruth Heden, Brother Paul Crawford, Fred Robinson, Cathy Burke, Marcia Nelson, and Susan Stott from the Merrimack Valley Project in Andover, MA. We met with Heather Quinn, who is the Director of Scheduling for the campaign.

We each introduced ourselves to Heather, with a little information about ourselves.
Fred explained that GSOP is a grassroots organization and told her a little of what we do.
Susan explained how InterValley Project began and the broader goals that developed as it grew.
Brother Paul explained the format for the candidates’ forum and stated that we expect to have 1,200 attendees.
Cathy talked about how we determine what issues are important to our organization that we want the candidates to answer. She gave Heather a copy of the questions that each candidate will be asked.
Brother Paul told Heather about some of the issues that we have worked on with success.
Ruth talked more about how GSOP started 8 years ago. She stressed to Heather that we really want Barack Obama to attend our event

Heather explained that scheduling is done no more than 6 weeks in advance so his September schedule is not set as yet.

In evaluation we all felt that she was receptive to our request to have Senator Obama attend. Ruth will follow up with her.

The room we entered had great photos and news clippings on the walls, done quite artfully.
Marcia Nelson

First Campaign Office Visit

I’m happy to report that today July 10, 2007, we had our first Campaign visit with the staff of Senator Chris Dodd, we meet with Steve Gerenscer (State Director) and Sean Downey (political Director).
Meeting Format

• Introductions of those in attendance from GSOP and the Institutions that they represent
• History and membership of GSOP and Key Issues
• Format of the Forum explained
• Give the question document and stress that these will be the only questions asked of the candidate
• Ask about how a decision will be made and when to expect one
• Lobby to have the staff recommend attending
• Get a contact to follow up with and who will be follow up from GSOP

Steve did not recall the GSOP 2003 Forum, (at the time he was working for Dean’s campaign) but after a few highlights and the media attention about the incident with Gov. Dean being carried away on the Molloy Truck (which everyone (media) wanted to have a video of this incident), he remembered that he was there and in fact, it was a great event., and agree to lobby for the attendance of Senator Chris Dodd.

After our post meeting evaluation we all felt welcomed and enjoyed the experience and felt as if we have the support of Senator Dodd’s State staff for the event and the Senator’s attendance.

Leticia Ortiz, Paul Levey, Erica Mackillop, Fred Robinson, Bro. Paul Crawford

After July 4th- starting to visit the campaigns

Well, July 4th is now history and we are in the midst of scheduling and visiting the campaign staffs of 18 canidates.
We have meetings set this week with the Dodd an Obama Campaigns. Hope to get up on this Blog highlights of those meetings!!!!