How can progressives in East TN connect?

[chelaque liberal]

Expecting to have to use "100 miles" as the search area to find a vigil to support Cindy Sheehan, I was amazed to find one very near me in Morristown. Granted, only 6 people showed up, but each of those people knew at least a few other people who share their views.

It got me thinking that maybe there are others tucked away in this rural area who would like to associate with people whose world view doesn't come exclusively from Fox News.

I would appreciate suggestions.

[fiveleafclover]

1. Yes, there are plenty more

Lately I've been thinking, "Why hasn't anyone organized anything around here?"

Then I realized a lot of folks around here probably have the same thought.

That means somebody has to step up and get it started. I have no idea how to organize. AT ALL. Come look at my apartment for proof. I'm willing to do whatever I can though.

In my area, if the word gets out people will show up. Getting the word out might be the problem.

[chelaque liberal]

2. Where do you live?

[fiveleafclover]

3. Johnson City

Are you nearby?

[chelaque liberal]

4. There is a Democracy for America Chapter in Johnson City

You might want to check out.

http://campaignwindow.com/democracyfortennessee/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=DEMOCRACY_FOR_T§ion=more_4108

I live between Morristown and Rogersville. Johnson City isn't too far.

[fiveleafclover]

5. Thanks for the link

They don't seem to be too active here in Johnson City though. Maybe when we get closer to the elections next year they'll get started back.

[Soup Bean]

6. Johnson City here, too.

Glad to know you.

[chelaque liberal]

7. Hi Soup Bean

Are you involved in the Tn for Democracy group in JC?

[fiveleafclover]

8. Hi Soup Bean

I'll stick my head out the window and yell. Let me know if you can hear me...

[cynatnite]

13. Thanks! Kingsport, here. n/t

[nashville_brook]

12. hey johnson city -- an ex-pat here

i can't speak to what "organizations" exist in JC right now. when i was there, orgs would come and go pretty fast b/c they were often the work of students at ETSU. but i can tell you a couple of places where you will find like-minded folks.

check out The Down Home especially on wednesday nights -- Open Hoot. yes, it's a music gathering place, but it's a very "organic" environment to meet like-minded people. also check out the bulletin board at the Natural Foods place on State Of Franklin. AND the JC public library is a great place to find out about happenings in the area. Tune your radio to WETS-FM and if you can get it, check out the Spindale station.

if you're not a student, know that the university is a great place for this kinda stuff. check the bulliten boards at student union -- the Culp Center? gosh, it's been so long i can't remember it's name.

also, i have a blog for JC expats and residents who remember a more vibrant time there. people post stuff there from time to time.

and don't forget, just over the mountain is asheville, where you will always find like-minded people.

JC can be a wonderful place if you get out find your group and get involved. it's a small pond, so it's really easy to get something going on your own.

good luck!

[fiveleafclover]

9. We need a good meeting spot everyone

can easily get to. What kind of place did you go to in Morristown? Was it a public place, or did you meet up at someone's house first?

[peacebuzzard]

10. I would like an East Tn meetup

I work in NYC and have met some DUers there, and in Brazil I met Commie Pinko Dirtbag.
My residence is Knoxville, but I have semi-reliable transportation. (and AAA in case of emergency)

[red_rasta]

11. Howdy from Ashe County

Just over the line in NC, near Trade and Mountain City.

There are definitely more than a few of us hidden in these hollers.

By our bumperstickers you shall know us!

[ElementalEnergy]

14. East Tennessee Progressive Network (ETNPRONET)

Hi Everyone,

I was sent a link to your great question and I wanted to share that an East Tennessee Progressive Network (ETNPRONET) has been "organically' growing for the past 2 years and officially launched in on January 7, 2005. We definitily agree that there are many progressives throughout all of East Tennessee - and we need to link up! :)

Linking progressives in East Tennessee is one of the primary missions of the all-volunteer led East Tennessee Progressive Network (ETNPRONET). The East Tennessee Progressive Network is, at the moment, a loose collective of individuals who are interested in building relationships among progressives in the region - which we feel will also strengthen the foundation for progressive action on into the future. We have hosted 2 regional, progressive community potulucks, and volunteers have hosted house parties to help facilitate connections among progressives across a broad and diverse spectrum. Information sharing resources are also available on the Network's website, www,etnpronet.org.

A Regional Directory of Progressive Organizations and a Regional Progressive Community calendar can be found at www.etnpronet.org. Both of these resources were created to be led and maintained by the community for the community. They are not "staffed" in any way, and rely on the good will of like minded community members such as yourselves for their comprehensiveness. The calendar and organizational directory are simple, easy, and very user friendly. I very much hope you'll add the progressive event(s) you're planning to the calendar (www.etnpronet.org) and all such progressive events you come across in the future...for the community! :)

In the interest of space here, I'll simply say that more information on the Network's strategy and resources is available on www.etnpronet.org.

We would love to connect with you and have y'all involved in helping shape and grow the Network. Please hold the morning of October 15th for the Network's regional, participatory, collaboration-building gathering. On the 15th (from 9AM- 1PM), individuals present will determine the course of the Network in terms of both its primary purpose of relationship building to strengthen the depth, breadth, and connections among and for our progressive community.

I'll look for the bumper stickers... :)

Peace,
Kim


Save the Date!
The East Tennessee Progressive Network's Fall Gathering
Saturday, October 15, 2005
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM with lunch afterwards
UNITE Building, 1124 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN

Stay tuned for more details about this regional, participatory, collaboration-building gathering in the months ahead.

At this strategizing and organizing session, we’ll collectively determine the course of the Network in terms of

~Its primary purpose of relationship building to strengthen the depth, breadth, and connections among and for our progressive community, and
~Other issues we may, as individual members of a Network, collectively choose to undertake.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet other progressives and help shape the East Tennessee Progressive Network (ETNPRONET)!

For More Info Please Visit: www.etnpronet.org
:)

[chelaque liberal]

15. Thanks for your response. I have forwarded this info to everyone

I think might be interested.

Have you thought about making a flier for the gathering? It might be interesting to post them in our work places and other public areas and see who else is "in the closet."

Ginny

[ElementalEnergy]

16. You are so very welcome. And Thank you.

Hi Ginny and All,

I'm so sorry for the delay in my response. I thought I had adjusted my DU settings to alert me if there were new messages and I hadn't gotten any prompts. I'm so glad I thought to check back today. We do have flyers (small 4-page handbills that we printed front and back). I'll see about posting them here and if not I will post them tomorrow on www.entpronet.org. Thank you for asking!

In the meantime, here is an e-mail version.

I hope to meet you on Oct. 15th!
Peace,
Kim

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The East Tennessee Progressive Network
Charting the Course: Strategy Meeting
Saturday, October 15, 2005
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Meeting, lunch afterwards
UNITE Building, 1124 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917
www.etnpronet.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, October 15, 2005 at 9:00 AM (Coffee, Tea & Doughnuts at 8:30 AM)
~Are you interested in…
~Establishing a broad-based, multi-issue Network of Progressives in East TN?
~Relationship building among progressives to build our collective strength?
~Working for social, economic, and racial justice?
~Caring for our environment?
~Protecting civil liberties?
~Approaching life holistically?

Then join with other East Tennessee progressives for this regional, participatory, collaboration-building gathering on October 15th!

At this strategizing and organizing session, we'll collectively determine the course of the Network in terms of

Its primary purpose of relationship building to strengthen the depth, breadth, and connections among and for our progressive community, and
Other issues we may, as individual members of a Network, collectively choose to undertake.
Bring your ideas about the need for an East Tennessee Progressive Network and what the Network should become.

Doughnuts (donated by Dunkin’ Doughnuts), coffee, tea and good conversation will be available before the gathering, beginning at 8:30PM at the UNITE building. The gathering itself will run from 9AM - 1PM, and a light homemade lunch prepared by the Vegetarian Society of East Tennessee will be provided immediately afterwards. A donation of about $2 per person or $3 for couples/families is requested to help defray the meeting and food expenses. Scholarships are available for low income peoples. No one will be turned away. A community table will be provided for anyone wishing to share flyers, information, and/or resources.

Don't miss this opportunity to meet other progressives, build our collective strength, and help shape the future of the East Tennessee Progressive Network (ETNPRONET)! We look forward to seeing you on Oct. 15th at 8:30 AM.

Peace,
The ETNPRONET Strategy Meeting Planning Team
Mike Carvella, Tori Griffin, Chris Hargrove, Hal Lee, Michael Kaplan, Beth Maples-Bays, Kim Naujock, Bob Stephenson, Toni Stephenson, and George White

www.etnpronet.org

PS. The Network encourages all who are so inclined to attend and participate in Knoxville’s first National Coming Out Day March which will begin on Market Square in downtown Knoxville at 2 PM on Oct. 15th. The ETNPRONET Fall Gathering Planning Committee and the Coming Out Day March organizers have worked together to coordinate these events so that each compliments the other.



Directions:

UNITE HERE Building, 1124 N. Broadway St., Knoxville, TN 37917
**More detailed directions from the Kingsport, Chattanooga and greater Knoxville areas are below. In short, here are some landmarks near the UNITE Building (1124 N. Broadway) when coming from Downtown Knoxville towards Fountain City, you will pass KCDC Public Housing Authority (901 N. Broadway) and then the Three Rivers Market ~ formerly Knoxville Food Co-Op ~ (937 N. Broadway) on the left. If coming from North Knoxville towards Downtown you will pass the WATE Channel studios (1306 N. Broadway) and then Davis Carpets (1134 N Broadway - right next door to UNITE) both on your left.

From Kingsport Area:

- Take I-81 South toward Knoxville

- Take exit #1 B onto I-40 WEST go 31.2 miles

- Take exit #390/CHERRY STREET – turn LEFT

- Be looking for MAGNOLIA AVE. on the right

- Turn RIGHT on MAGNOLIA

- Go straight until you reach N. BROADWAY

- Turn right on N. BROADWAY

- Turn RIGHT @ 1124 N. BROADWAY ST, at the UNITE Building (The UNITE HERE building is next to Davis Carpets.)


From Chattanooga Area:

- Take LEFT fork onto I-40 EAST toward KNOXVILLE

- Take exit #388/US-441 SOUTH toward HENLEY ST – go 0.4 miles

- Turn LEFT on WESTERN AVE – go about 0.2 mile to the traffic light

- Turn LEFT on BROADWAY ST. (this is where Henley Street becomes Broadway) go 1.1 miles

- Turn RIGHT on 1124 N. BROADWAY ST. KNOXVILLE at the UNITE Building (The UNITE HERE Building is next to Davis Carpets.)


From Knoxville Area:

- From Downtown turn LEFT on HENLY ST – go 0.3 miles

- Turn RIGHT on N. BROADWAY ST. – go 1.3 miles

- Turn RIGHT at 1124 N BROADWAY ST., KNOXVILLE at the UNITE Building (next to Davis Carpets)




~~~
The Circle has healing power. In the Circle, we are all equal. When in the Circle, no one is in front of you. No one is behind you. No one is above you. No one is below you. The Sacred Circle is designed to create unity. The Hoop of Life is also a circle. On this hoop there is a place for every species, every race, every tree and every plant. It is this completeness of Life that must be respected in order to bring about health on this planet.
~Dave Chief, Oglala Lakota~

[chelaque liberal]

18. Two of the four progressives of Mooresburg will be there.

(The other two had previous plans.) I'm really looking forward to it!

[ElementalEnergy]

21. Well, that's 50% :)

We're looking forward to meeting you too. Hopefully the process will uncover some more of Mooresburg's progressives. :)

[Tyler_Durden]

19. ETPN and DFA should join forces

Seems like there should be a way for some of the groups to consolidate or at least open up a dialogue.

Democracy for America has groups in the Tri-Cities, Oak Ridge, and Knoxville. Why isn't the ETPN trying to meet with them or merge? DFA has access to some national and statewide name recognition and resources that could be an asset to ETPN.

Democracy for Knoxville
Democracy for East Tennessee/Oak Ridge
Democracy for Tri-Cities

Maybe its just me - but this seems like a no-brainer, Kim.

[ElementalEnergy]

22. ETNPRONET's Strategy

Hi Tyler & Other DU Folks,

I want to thank you all who have expressed an interest in the East Tennessee Progressive Network, attending the strategy meeting on the 15th, and generally taking the time to post your thoughts and reflections about it. All of the interest is very much appreciated by all the planners and organizers for the Network!

Tyler, I'll do my best to address your question. To begin, various members of DFA chapters in East Tennessee did receive the meeting announcement and invitation. You are more than welcome to pass it on too. You may be a member of DFA and could certainly speak to its goals better than I can. To my understanding, DFA, an outgrowth of Dean's presidential campaign, is primarily a political group (some even a PAC) with an immediate interest and focus in supporting local and state level progressives in running - and hopefully getting elected to - public office. This is most certainly an important undertaking, and one I definitely support. However, the East Tennessee Progressive Network is about more than just progressive electoral politics. In fact, we're not about "consolidating groups" either.

The Network truly aspires first and foremost to be a vehicle for relationship building amongst progressives in East Tennessee and particularly with who have progressive leanings but not have gotten active before -for any host of a number of reasons. From the beginning, the Network's strategy has been to organize around relationships first and issues second. As part of that process, we're committed to providing resources to link the progressive community in East Tennessee such as through our online community calendar, online regional directory, comprehensive house party kits, and regional potlucks. So, while we recognize and value the importance of groups such as DFA, the mission and strategy of the Network does not lend itself to "collapsing" into DFA (or any other current group for that matter) or vice versa.

I hope this has answered your question, Tyler, and clarified how your suggestion is, in fact, not at all a "no brainier". Our strategy and other questions are outlined in the FAQs on www.etnpronet.org. I would encourage you to join others from DU and beyond and attend the gathering on the 15th, where such specifics and an outline of what has happened to date will be covered. All of the volunteers for the Network (it is run entirely by volunteers) are very excited about the gathering on the 15th and its potential to "chart the course" for the Network and progressive relationship building in the foreseeable future to help strengthen the depth, breadth, and connections among progressives in our region.

Thank you, again, everyone for your interest. I look forward to meeting you too!

All the best,
Kim


~~~
The Circle has healing power. In the Circle, we are all equal. When in the Circle, no one is in front of you. No one is behind you. No one is above you. No one is below you. The Sacred Circle is designed to create unity. The Hoop of Life is also a circle. On this hoop there is a place for every species, every race, every tree and every plant. It is this completeness of Life that must be respected in order to bring about health on this planet.
~Dave Chief, Oglala Lakota~

[guruoo]

23. I think you have a sound strategy....

'the Network's strategy has been to organize
around relationships first and issues second'

Perhaps DFT could learn a thing or two from etpronet.
So far, IMHO, DFT has been spending too much time
pushing issues (most of which are dictated from the
Vermont home office) and too little time on building
a local political power base, and putting together the tools,
resources, and planning that will be necessary to produce
tangible results.

Let me note that this isn't something I'm saying behind
anyone's back, as our state chair is well aware of how
I feel about this. And he's listening.

(We have a good organization, it just needs a bit of tweaking)

I believe the key to success here is to start looking at all this as a marathon, rather than a series of short sprints.

-Gary, Democracy For Clarksville

[peacebuzzard]

17. welcome to DU

filled out the form. maybe I will meet you at the meeting. thanks for the link.

[ElementalEnergy]

20. welcome to DU

Thanks all around. I hope to meet you too.

And (combining responses here) I haven't forgotten about posting the flyers. I tried all the "tricks" I've used before and couldn't get the PDF document to upload. This may be a task for our (volunteer also) webmaster. :)

Peace,
Kim