Democracy for Virginia

Charlottesville DFV Update

The following post is from Donna Goings, longtime DFA Meetup leader in Charlottesville.

As we put 2004 behind us we can look forward with hope and excitement.  There are local, state, and national happenings that tell me we are not retreating in our efforts to change public policy.

1. Democracy for America/Democracy for Virginia Meetup
Wednesday, January 5th.  7:00PM
404 8th St. NE - 2nd floor the Prudential Building.  Plenty of parking around the building.
Please register at http://dfa.meetup.com/3/

Agenda:

• View Lakoff DVD.
  
• Discuss DVD by reviewing current campaign literature and web sites of candidates for Gov., Lt. Gov. and Att. General of Virginia
  
• Brainstorm Session:  A number of people have expressed a need for a DFA-Charlottesville Logo.  We would make lapel pins and car stickers using this logo. Ideas floating--liberty bell, photo of Jefferson & Madison, etc. 

Read more about Charlottesville DFA activities by clicking below!

After Turn Virginia Blue BBQ: Two Great Parties

Is four and a half hours of fun with your fellow progressive Democrats at the Turn Virginia Blue Barbecue this Sunday not enough political partying for you?

If so, there are three great after-parties that might interest you, two in Northern Virginia and one in Richmond!

The first is our companion Majority Parties house party, sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and hosted by Lynn and Rich in Alexandria. Lynn and Rich's Party to Turn America Blue will be held in Alexandria right after the Turn VA Blue BBQ. Lynn and Rich are planning a relaxing evening, and the house party will feature a conference call with Nancy Pelosi and Al Franken! If you've already contributed to the DCCC through the Turn Virginia Blue Barbecue, you do not need to contribute again to attend Lynn and Rich's party. All are welcome, and don't feel pressure to bring food to both events!

If you're in the Richmond area, Robin is throwing her own Turn Virginia - And Congress! - Blue party on Sunday night. Some people will be driving up for the Turn VA Blue Barbecue and then down home to Richmond for Robin's party. It's going to be a great day!

The other great house party fundraiser on Sunday night will be a wine-tasting house party for Al Weed in Arlington from 5:00 - 7:00 on Sunday. It will feature wine's from Al Weed's own Mountain Cove Vineyards, including his unique fruit wines, including peach, blackberry, and winesap apple wines. I wish I could find a way to be in three places at once!

RSVP Today for Turn Virginia Blue Barbecue!

Just over a week remains until our Turn Virginia Blue Barbecue on Sunday, August 29 at Bluemont Park in Arlington.

To help us plan for enough hot dogs, hamburgers, and veggie burgers for everyone, we ask that you RSVP today!

Click image above to RSVP!

Special guests who will be attending this event include four great Democratic candidates for Congress from Virginia:Congressman Jim Moran (VA-8), Ken Longmyer (VA-11), James Socas (VA-10), and Virginia's only Dean Dozen candidate, Al Weed from VA-5!

At the barbecue, our Democracy for Virginia Frisbee Golf Tournament will raise money for all Democratic candidates for Congress to help their efforts to Turn Virginia Blue! Even if you cannot attend the barbecue, please give generously if you can! Our Democracy for Virginia/Turn Virginia Blue fundraising page allows you to donate to your choice of worthy candidates around the state with just one secure online transaction. Donating through this page gives "credit" to Democracy for Virginia for helping to support Democratic candidates from Virginia - please consider using it when you support our candidates in Virginia!

We look forward to a big crowd - please help us to plan by RSVPing online today. We WILL Turn Virginia Blue this year!

Fundraiser for Al Weed - Special Democracy for America Rate!

Our Dean Dozen candidate from Virginia, Al Weed has offered a special rate for Democracy for America members to attend an Al Weed fundraising banquet in Lynchburg this Saturday, August 21.

Tickets for the event are normally $125, and the special Democracy for America/Democracy for Virginia rate is $75. (Of course, if you can afford to give more, please do!) Young Democrats can attend for $50.

Please show our support for Al Weed and our thanks for the special rate for DFA by attending this special event. If you cannot attend, you can still contribute to Al Weed through our Democracy for Virginia/Turn Virginia Blue fundraising page. If not attending the fundraiser, please use this page to support our Democratic candidates from Virginia so Democracy for Virginia will get "credit" for our support!

Al Weed featured on Blog for America

Based on our suggestion to DFA to harness the anti-Rodney Alexander energy to gain momentum for Al Weed's fight against another turncoat former Democrat, Virgil Goode, DFA Intern Jessica Singleton last night posted a piece entitled Weed vs. Goode: Man of Integrity or Duplicitous Deserter on Blog for America.

We hope this will increase Al Weed's visibility and result in some grassroots donations for him.

A few great comments on the piece were written by Virginians. The first, from CVL:

Meanwhile, Al Weed is doing great work in re-building the Democratic party in Virginia's 5th district. (I have been a volunteer with the campaign since April- Al is great.) It is definitely an uphill battle- I wish that the state dems had the organization to provide better support for such a great candidate. Here we are in the swing district of a semi swing state, but only the official swing states are getting the support!

From JeannieB in Crozet VA:

Al Weed is the real thing -- a true progressive who "gets" democracy and whose vision of what America can and should be is creative, inspiring and innovative, while being utterly pragmatic. Sound familiar?

Like Howard Dean, Al is not one who will say just anything just to get elected. He takes tough, sometimes unpopular positions because they are the right thing to do. He is marvelous at connecting with crowds by cutting through the political claptrap and getting down to basics. He operates on facts and reality, not ideology or political point-making.

Publicity for Al Weed's Dean Dozen Designation

A recent article in The Daily Progress highlights Democracy for Virginia's support for Al Weed through the Dean Dozen endorsement, quoting our own Donna Goins of Charlottesville as a host of one of many convention-watching parties for Al last week.

For the party Wednesday night in Charlottesville at the home of supporter Donna Goings, “I got her a mixed case” of wine, he said.

Goings said she and about 400 area supporters of former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, Weed’s initial favorite for president, have brought the organization started around the former Vermont governor behind Weed. “We feel he’s a progressive candidate,” she said.

“We worked very hard to get him designated a member of the Dean dozen,” a list of congressional candidates now benefiting from some of the national Dean organization, Goings said.

Weed said the Dean magic is working and is beginning to show up in campaign donations.

Although Weed lagged far behind Goode in money raised for their campaigns, the Democrat said last week that his campaign kitty reached the $205,000 mark in total cash raised.

Please support Al!

Al Weed Chosen for Dean Dozen!!!

Democracy for Virginia is delighted to announce that Al Weed has been chosen for the Democracy for America Dean Dozen this week.

Al Weed is the first candidate from Virginia to be honored with selection to the Dean Dozen.

Grassroots supporters and DFA Meetups throughout Virginia had advocated for the selection of Al Weed to the Dean Dozen, and we are now eager to brainstorm ways in which supporters around the entire state can be of assistance to Al Weed's campaign. Although we will be working for Democratic candidates in our own CD's around the state, this is our first opportunity since the Dean campaign to unify behind one candidate.

We'd like to come up with solid ideas about how we can support Al Weed before the next DFA Meetup on August 4. Please share your ideas in the comments section!

Al Weed to attend DFA Meetup this Wednesday

This year, we are lucky to have a very strong Democratic candidate for House of Representatives in the 5th District, Al Weed. Many former Dean supporters throughout Virginia are supporting Al Weed in his candidacy against his Republican opponent, Virgil Goode.

Al Weed will be hosting and attending the Charlottesville Meetup of Democracy for America this Wednesday, April 7, at 7:00 PM at the Charlottesville office of Al Weed for Congress:

Al Weed for Congress
300 West Main Street
Charlottsville, VA

In addition, there will be a Reproductive Rights Issues Meeting on April 5, 2004 at 6:00PM at the campaign office in Charlottesville. Al Weed will also be attending the Take Back the Night event at the Downtown Ampitheatre in Charlottsville on April 8 at 6:00PM.

For more information on opportunities to get involved in Al Weed's campaign, see Al Weed for Congress 2004.