Someone tell me why I shouldn't be depressed.

[saracat]

They have pulled the best campaign workers out of my state and in my District they asked me to take over for the Field Director. When I got to the reorganizing meeting I found that they had replaced me with a barely 18 year old kid who hasn't been involved with the campaign for even two weeks! I had been so happy to get this job .My hubby and I are in severe financial straights and I have been working on the campaign despite hardships. I am a District Chair and an experienced campaigner. I am now going to have to run this office along with another experienced staffer as this kid knows nothing, but I won't be paid. I will do it as nothing is more important then that we win, but I am really hurt.And there was no explanation. The volunteer staff is stunned as well because it is obvious that the kid is overwhelmed.Plus we are told this is happening because we are the best state in the union and this district in particular doesn't need anyone and can function on its own. That is a lie to add insult to injury. My Distinct is very difficult because of a huge repug factor but our state is only 4% away. So they are sending our workers to an 8% point state that has less electoral votes .Works for me. Sorry to vent, but I am hurt!

[flowomo]

1. deleted by poster

[saracat]

4. Sent you a PM

[flowomo]

5. got it; scrubbed my post

[papau]

2. DNC is screwing up - or is it Kerry campaign?

:-(

Maybe it is a congressional or senate play?

:-)

[saracat]

8. Not senate or congressional. I think both the DNC and the Campaign

are out to lunch. I am upset about both how I and the volunteers are being treated.And to think anyone would be so stupid as to believe their reasons.

[Paradise]

3. doesn't sound right to me.

they'd stand a better chance in a 4% state than an 8% state. :shrug:

[saracat]

6. Well talk is they are trading us for two states that combined are worth

More. But I just am personally hurt.

[meganmonkey]

29. another thing wrong with the electoral system

every person's vote should be as important as the next. and definitely, every campaign worker/volunteer should be as important as the next, too.
please don't be depressed, i can't really give you a good reason why. except that if you're depressed you'll have less spunk and energy to share on the campaign.
also, remember that ultimately you're working for all american people, not the dnc.
and we thank you for that.
you are a hero!

:hug:

[stellanoir]

7. saracat

I'm so sorry that your most noble efforts have been invalidated in this manner. I worry for our culture. When people value youth so much more than experience and savvy, we've clearly got our priorities completely misconstrued.

With all the stories we have heard of totally inexperienced incompetants managing the botched reconstruction of Iraq, I feel this is part of a much larger problem.

That is not to minimize your situation in any way shape or form.

I guess all I can say, rather prosaically, is that positive energy cannot be destroyed. It just sometimes returns to us through circuitous means.

Have faith and hang in there.

It feels as though you've made a really great contribution.
Though it may not seem so as yet, it'll surely come back to you in a surprisingly wondrous way.

[saracat]

14. Thank you Stellanoir. I am just sitting here thinking

of crying and your words are heartening. Maybe it is selfish of me but we really do need that little bit of money. And to be able to get it for something I believed in, well that was too wonderful for words.
To be disappointed this way seems a bit cruel, but it won't be the first or the last time I have been hurt by this party. What matters is the collective effort. But this crystallizes some rethinking I may have to do about affiliation once Kerry wins.
Aside from myself, I have long been an advocate of volunteer support. These are the people who win elections. I hate to see them treated badly, and there have been quite a few instances of this and it is chronic . It is not reserved for campaign years either. I guess I just talk to air sometimes. But a Kerry win will make this past cycle worth it because the volunteers will prevail despite all.

[stellanoir]

21. pm me if you need some more support

your efforts have not been for nought. Rest assured in that. But I hear you about the party.

best

[sangh0]

9. Because depression won't make you happy

If people are being pulled from you area, it's because someone thinks it's best to do so. It may have been a good decision, or maybe not, but one things for sure - It has nothing to do with you.

IOW, your feelings are completely understandable, and you shouldn't disregard them or ignore them. However, depression isn't going to help anything or anyone.

As you said "nothing is more important then that we win". If you really do think that that is the most important thing, and I think you do, then I would suggest focusing on winning.

[kaitykaity]

10. Can you draw unemployment?

I know it's tough, but I think it's probably
bigger picture time, you know?

I don't mean to sound cold, so please forgive me,
but if this move helps us (Kerry) win . . .

Good luck to you.

Either that or the two senior people should go on
strike and get somebody's attention that this is
unacceptable. You cards to draw on probably.
Use them.

[saracat]

15. Unemployment? They had just offerd me the job,

and I showed up and they had given it to this kid with no comment! Go on strike? We aren't paid and the election is less than two weeks away! I just think it is unfair that they offered it to me and then gave it to an inexperienced kid without even telling me. And now we experienced volunteers will have to do the kids job because he can't but he will be paid. It is only two weeks salary, but I really needed it and was happy to get it. Oh, well.

[kaitykaity]

Oh, I'm sorry. My bad.

Sometimes my speed reading gets me in trouble.

Yeah, go on strike. Look, you remember the old saying
about youth and exuberance being overcome by old age
and treachery?

You have ways to make this go your way.

[sandnsea]

22. Oh, I see

I didn't understand from your first post. That does suck. Truth is, it's probably somebody's kid, right? Or maybe they think they need a kid to attract younger voters or something??? I've seen some dedicated volunteers overlooked for a few squeaky wheels too. Life's not fair, that we know. So glad there are so many of us putting it all on the line though. Two more weeks, and we get our country, and our lives, back. Hang in there!!

[saracat]

25. Thank you.

What's weird, is that he doesn't seem to be. He wants to get into the Military. and doesn't appear to be really on top of things. He appears to be nice enough but not really sharp. I could be wrong, but the reaction of one of the volunteers was "Is this a effing joke''? He is very shy and can barely speak. He isn't very computer savvy. Sigh. That was what doubly insulted me!

[spooky3]

11. very sorry to hear this, but please hang in there.

[npincus]

12. not right- the kid must have connections

can you play 'hardball' and say you will leave unless your postition is restored, and its for the good of the campaign? If that is how you are being treated, you may want to consider cutting back on your duties there to have time to earn money part time.

[TheKingfish]

13. So you moved up to Field Director and the 'kid' took your place? n/t

[saracat]

17. No they asked me to be Field Director to replace the Field Director they w

When I got to the re-organizational meeting, they had appointed a kid who hadn't even been with the campaign two weeks as Field Director and didn't even explain it to me. So now, Another experienced volunteer and myself will have to attempt to teach the kid everything and run the show but we won't be paid but the kid will. I would volunteer and have been anyway. I am just hurt at the callousness and stupidity of this.

[On the Road]

16. I Think You Should Announce That You HAVE To

Look for another job to make ends meet, right? I mean it's a campaign, but they can't expect to cut paid staff and assume they'll just go volunteer. That just isn't right.

If you need to be involved in the campaign and need money, it might be worthwhile taking an hourly paid job and giving up the district chair. At the Northern Virginia office I did some volunteer work out of, they were paying $8/hour for phone workers. Not much, but it's something.

Then the campaign has a choice of either (1) finding an experienced full-time volunteer replacement, (2) promoting the kid, or (3) offering you a salary.

Sadly enough, things like this are often necessary to get action out of many organizations. It's not just the campaign. Sounds like a typically insensitive committee decision.

[npincus]

20. I agree- you said it much better than I

[saracat]

23. District Chair is an elected party position.It is not salaried.

I was also working as a volunteer for the Kerry Campaign. I was offered Field Director to replace the one who was leaving. I arrived to find the job promised me had been given to an 18 with no experience. There are only two of us who know anything about running this office. We have to hang in and do the kids job their are only two weeks left and we are a close state. And they don't care if we walk out. However the volunteers would. We can't make their efforts for nothing.
In our state offices they don't hire anyone for anything that is over 24 years old. They wouldn't hire me for phone calls . That is only for kids.

[On the Road]

28. Well Taking Away Your Salary a Few Weeks Before Election

and without consulting you was a tasteless move. The fact that it came with a promotion really doesn't help you. In your case, it's not pocket money.

Maybe looking for an outside job is the only alternative. You should not be held hostage to your desire to see Kerry elected.

Hope things work out for you.

[Barney Rocks]

18. do you mind

me asking which state? I wish you the best no matter what--and I hope you find something good to help you make ends meet.

[saracat]

24. Thank you, Barney Rocks.

I appreciate it. I sent you a PM

[WI_DEM]

19. I don't blame you

Where are you situated? is it a swing state?

[TheDonkey]

26. hang in there

That's terrible what they did. I'd try to appeal again to the leaders of your K/E program. Does this 18 year old get paid or is he also a volunteer since you say the district is now not important.

Also try to get in with Democratic GAIN. They hire campaigners if that's your bag.

[HeldsBelds]

27. this is why you shouldn't be depressed

Kerry isn't going to pull a Gore and not fight.

Kerry has 10,000 lawyers ready to go in the battleground states.

He's going to fight and win if the republicans pull any funny business.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041020/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_day_after_strategy_6