Democrats time to go door to door. If you are not already, start now

[Melodybe]

we still have time, spend one Saturday a week going door to door to talk about John Kerry.

Be armed with facts and sources, recommend F9/11, Outfoxed, Unprecedented, and the Daily Show.

I am going to start this weekend, are you?

[Indiana_Dem]

1. I went out this weekend Sat & Sun

and I'm going tomorrow and Friday. Have fun!

[zaj]

2. I've joined the local Kerry campaign was on the phone calling tonight...

Calling people in my precinct making sure they got the Vote-By-Mail application... will be delivering a few in the next few days... making more phone calls, etc.

Will be volunteering down at DNC HQ here in Tucson in a few days.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. A word of warning, especially in AZ

Before you head out to drive through any neighborhood you aren't already INTIMATELY familiar with, make sure you have complete and accurate maps for EVERY *address* you are hitting.

There is nothing more discouraging than to go out armed with a list of registered Dem voters. . . . and a map that doesn't even have the correct streets on it.

Don't count on your crew captain to be checking this. MAKE SURE. MAKE DOUBLE SURE.

If the list contains this kind of information ----

Woonsocket, J. X. 1441 W. Billyclub Dr.
Woonsocket, L. Q. 1441 W. Billyclub Dr.
Plinkahunny, M. S. 1445 W. Billyclub Dr.
Dwu, I. F. 1447 W. Brassknuckle Ct.
Dwu, Z. B. 1447 W. Brassknuckle Ct.

double check the map, even if it's Mapquest, to make sure both streets are on the map.

In any area where there is new construction, Mapquest maps do NOT include all new roads or indicate old roads that have disappeared. Tucson may not be experiencing the kind of growth the Phoenix area is, but I assure you, it's a big mistake to take ANYTHING for granted.

A mapquest map for one address may not include nearby streets in the same neighborhood, not even the very next street. You simply gotta verify every address on every map.

Not that I would EVER criticize the hard-working volunteers on the Kerry campaign, but sometimes they just don't get the important details -- like the maps -- quite right. There's nothing more demoralizing than having a couple dozen volunteers come up empty handed after several hours of TRYING to knock on doors that they couldn't find because the maps were incomplete.

CHECK THE MAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tansy Gold, been there, done that

[Frances]

4. I will get a packet by Friday

and I plan to go out on Sunday

I think it will be much healthier to be doing something rather than biting my nails.

[Doohickie]

5. I would love to, but....

...the Habitat for Humanity build I am involved with starts this week and runs weedends until just before the election.

I hope to get out at some point, but this is already my busiest time of the year.

Argh.

[Melodybe]

6. George Bush wins at we can all kiss humanity good-bye

Good for you, though, I have donated to habitat for humanity, myself.

It is a tough call, maybe you could alternate weekends.

[Doohickie]

8. Problem is

I'm a volunteer coordinator for several churches in our area. My duty is more than just showing up and swinging a hammer; it's making sure everybody else shows up and swings a hammer.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Go To Your Local Democratic Precinct Office

From one whose been out knocking on doors and making calls for months, it's easy to say "what's taken ya so long"...but better now than never. Good luck.

I'd strongly suggest coordinating with your local campaigns...get their literature and be familiar with what turf they cover...both geographically and ideologically (it looks real stupid when you canvass a house where a precinct worker or other volunteer has just visited...you'd be suspicious, too).

The big thing now is final voter registrations...making sure those who want to register are, and their registrations are accepted (some are having problems with this)...and, where applicable...to get absentee balots and make sure those who won't be around on Nov. 2 are covered, and hopefully counted.

Good luck. It's our turn now to shine truth and openess across this country.

[SoCalDemocrat]

9. maybe not

If you are not in a contested state, don't waste our time.

Instead, join a phone bank operation and call swing state voters and get them to register and vote.

If you're close enough, take road trips to go register voters.

If you are in NY, CA, etc. you will do more good if you can help us win the battleground states.

[LittleClarkie]

10. I'd rather do the phone and data entry thang

Other things that can be done:

If you find a good article on Kerry that you think the HQ could use for either talking points or letter-writing, print it out and give it to them the next time you go down there. I'd been collecting articles for a while now, and only just recently realized they could be of use to the campaign.

Otherwise, I've gone down to Target and Walmart, bought whatever supplies I thought the campaign could use, and took it down to them. They love water, soda, coffee, goodies, copy paper, markers and poster board for rally signs, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, hand soap, just about anything you can think of.

Just walk in the door, spread your arms and say "Take me" and let them have their way whit youse.

It really helps the ol' morale to know you're doing all you can, whatever that is.