A True Test of Sarah’s “Gangster”

This week started off with a bang! We were invited to the Young Democrats to give a refresher course in HB:1260 and SB:966. Mecklenburg YD’s have one of the longest meetings I have ever been too and because of certain circumstances, were unable to stick to schedule, including the last minute building switch (because of aid condition…pluhlezze! ) Anyways, I was introduced to Representative Nick Mackey who is quite the character but relayed very informative information in regards to the budget proposal. Since we waited 2 hours to speak, my anxiety continued to worsen and I felt the strong desire to vomit….and it would have been on Representative Mackey. Not intentionally, but Sarah was on my other side and since I like her my left would have been the better option of the two. Since we were moved to the Hilton Garden Inn Bar, we were unable to incorporate our jazzy PowerPoint and were forced to read from the handouts we received at training. Considering we were thrown with this change two minutes prior to show time, we were flexible and I believe we did an awesome job! 😀 (and collected 12 postcards!)
Monday we were enjoyed the luxuries of both air condition AND internet! Man, first class living. A side note: you would be surprised how lack of air condition and internet would affect a person’s PMA (positive mental attitude). It can make the most highly motivated individual extremely angry. Anyhow, we had an interview set up for Public Access TV (Charlotte Channel 21) with Mr. Roper from the Urban League. It was hilarious! The name of the show was, “The chocolate box” and he was filling in for “the chocolate drop.” Trust me when I say hearing Mr. Roper say this was a laugh you couldn’t pay for. Considering the taping was already an hour or so behind, we had a good ten minutes and decided (well I yelled out) to discuss HB:1260 and it was great. Robert did most of the overview and background, while Sarah and myself discussed the importance of youth voting and what we saw during the Presidential election.
Tuesday: I don’t know about ya’ll, but I have been LOOKING FORWARD to TODAY! IT WAS PAYDAY!:D and it definitely overshadowed the idea of phone banking 😀 So anyways, my first phone call was a very conservative man who asked me who he contacts to get Obama “the non-US citizen” out of office and the “crazy corrupt hippy liberals” then rephrased “all those hippies” Now, although I took a small amount of offense because I consider myself a liberal/hippy individual. ANYWAYS, I giggled and explained that President Obama’s citizenship was not a part of Democracy NC’s issues because of our non-partisanship we focus on policies and issues that support “one person, one vote” He said he appreciated my response, but something needed to be done to get President Obama out of office. (Whatever) He is one of those I wish was W#H or LMH.
Lobby Day: So, I am not going to lie. Although I get up pretty early during the week anyway, (working on my fitness) the thought of waking up THAT early and being on a van cramped with 14 other people didn’t excite me. Actually, my head began to throb with the thought. But we suck it up and make it happen so-after the 30 degree cramped ride and constant bathroom stops we made it to the legislative building. Speaking with the representatives was interesting, I learned a lot about VOE and HB:1260 opposition from Rep. Ruth Samuelson which was great.
Camp Wellstone: Honestly, camp Wellstone is something that should be done BEFORE we begin work. It would be much more beneficial to learn about lobbying before we do it and to develop organizing skills prior to beginning work. There should be some way that this is implemented into the first three day retreat rather than want people to willingly give up another 3 days. I think because of this the instructors got the vibe that we didn’t want to be there especially during the lobby session. I do not think we are experts by any means it just felt that we could have benefited from that beforehand. But I did enjoy the first session and found it very relevant. It was about One on Ones and developing relationships. Other than the session topics, Wellstone went well. Nice hotel room, tick-less food and NO KICKBALL! 😀
Well I’m running low on thoughts! But I hope everyone has an AMAZING week! Don’t work TOO hard!
Ya’ll are awesome!

America
-704!