We gathered together to commemorate President Barrack Obama's 1st anniversary as President as an Organizing for America event. We heard from our GADCC District Chair Jerome Tucker about next steps and where we were to go from here. After I returned from Arkansas working on passage of the Healthcare act I realized my former team leaders were no longer engaged as a network. They were volunteering with MoveON, Code Pink, and some OFA. Their relationships had dropped off. I pitched to them that night that I don't want to grow old sitting in a rocking chair lamenting about Georgia and how bad it is for Progressives out here. I asked them to grow old with me developing Change in Georgia through Team Rural. A way to help each other win small elections, mayors races, city council races, etc. They wholeheartedly agreed and Team Rural has used the snowflake model of Leadership to drive a progressive rural voice in Georgia. Check our Activism page to see some of things we have done together. Also, whenever OFA calls us we are there to drive and support their charge. We love our President and are very proud of what we have learned together. During the mid-terms four of Team Rural's volunteers came to Florida and worked for the Democratic Party of Florida in Polk County. They did an outstanding job and Polk was the only county that President Barack Obama called out and commended on Election Day eve 2010 as to the exceptional volunteerism on the ground! We were thrilled!

                                   Read Jeana's Blog at Blogspot

 

           We are Organizing with Purpose Driven Unity

Bessie Cohen and Irene Rountree were Team Leaders for Brantley County. Bessie's husband Daniel is the Chair of the local democratic Committee. They completed all of their goals in record time and went to Coffee County on Election Day. They believed early on that we have to work as a team in SE GA. The "Brantley County Ladies" are pictured below at a Repower event in Savannah with our previous Deputy Field Director Lance Orchid from the Obama Campaign. Bessie said of Team Rural, "I recommend rural involvement - it's the new forefront to political wins." "We can make a difference together and bring the vote gap down in the rural."

Bessie and Irene with Lance Orchid Florida State Director Alliance for Climate Protection at a Savannah Repower America Luncheon 2009

 

 

 

Carlos Nelson is a Team Leader in Ware County and he is also one of their County Commissioners. Carlos was always available to register voters, canvass, and phone bank.

He has remained actively involved at the Grassroots level and truly enjoys voter contact and doing all he can to promote progressive issues.Carlos is the spokesperson for Team Rural and I appreciate all he does to help our grassroots organization, Fired up and Ready to go.

 

 

Carolyn Greer was my first contact in Coffee County and by the end of her organizing the local Democratic Committee they sat their first full committee in 5 years. They opened their own Grassroots office and did a great job in preparing for the General Election. Amazing! Because Coffee was not organized by the Campaign for Change until the last week of September!

Leroy and Tracy McCleland were also instrumental in the rapid organization. They offered their personal business as Coffee County's Democratic Party Grassroots office and Leroy accepted the Leadership role in their GOTV effort. The county volunteers have remained active with Moveon, Repower, and Organizing for America.

 

 

Team Leaders Shon Williams and his sister Michelle Burney stuck with us through thick and thin. Our Field Organizer Casey Willits recruited and developed a relationship that was passed on to me in the General Election. I must say that they have been totally committed since day one. I have been inspired many times by stories they told me about their time in the field doing voter contact. They were involved in helping organize Appling County.

Viola Lewis is a "seasoned" lady who has done so much from home. She has remained active with us and has attended "Tea Parties" doing visibility in support of President Obama. She continues to be a back bone of strength for us all. 

 

 

 

 

Charlie Hill is Glynn County's Leader of Team Rural and we are grateful. He writes articles under our columnists page and is doing a daily digest entitled "kNOw JACK" about Congressman Kingston's voting record and how it affects his constituents in District 1.

Charlie explains his reasons for joining: The reasons for my joining Team Rural are many, the belief fundamental, the cause enlightening, and the optimism of movement intoxicating. I joined because all good things start from the ground up, you can no more trickle down inspiration and hope, then economics and change; it begins with us, from within us. This is an exciting gathering of like minded individuals who have put the betterment of the whole above the want of the few, this is a group that has the growing power to shape Georgia election outcomes, and quite honestly shape history. I sincerely believe that together, we can get the word out, that positive change is one vote away. I needed to be a part of that.

 

  Team McIntosh

 

 

John Littlefield and Jimmy Allen were Obama Team Leaders in McIntosh and although I did not have the opportunity to work with them personally we have since worked together with events hosted by OFA and Repower. Jimmy is the author of Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America. His website at www.withoutsanctuary.org is a shocking visual testimony to the unspeakable acts of violence in our not so distant past.John is a member of the local Democratic committee and continues to be a conduit for change. They are currently going through the VAN insuring accuracy in their county data, to reflect 911 changes in addresses.

 

 

 

David and Sharon Kitchen are members of the McIntosh Democratic Committee. Sharon is their elected Secretary and they are dedicated to strengthening our Democratic base in rural Georgia. David said, "part of the reason I'm involved with Team Rural is because the constitution says we should have a government of the people by the people and for the people and the only way we can do that is through grassroots organization. If we don't do that someone else will take over and we have seen that in the past." Below is a picture of David and Sharon preparing for their traditional wedding ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Team Wayne

 

 

Ernie and Vicki Larson are supporters who have volunteered with me from the very beginning. Ernie is a past chair of the local AARP and is currently our Democratic County Committee Treasurer. The Larson's have supported Barack before the Primary. They have donated time and materials to successfully run our office in Jesup, Georgia. They have attended Town Hall Meetings in support of Health Insurance Reform and remain active today. 

 

 

                                                             

  Tiffany Frazier is our newly elected City Councilwoman from Screven, Georgia. She was an early and regular volunteer at our Jesup office. Congratulations Tiff! I am so glad she has been inspired to serve in public office! Tiffany truly has a heart of service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Jimmy Lewis has been an inspiration to me since my first voter registration drive. His willingness to do whatever it takes exemplifies his character. Jimmy voted Republican for many years and it was the Philadelphia speech on race relations that turned his thoughts toward a more inclusive party. Jimmy is now an active member of our local committee and helped run the Presidential campaign office on Wednesdays with his sister, Michelle Ryals.

 

 

Robert Cummings was also a Team Leader during the Presidential Campaign. Robert is a member of his county committee and is also involved with the NAACP. Robert and his team ran a grassroots office donated by Kelvin Blue. (In the center)

Kelvin is now the County Chair of the local Democratic Party in Camden! Camden has always been active in their field work. Robert attended every community team organizer training we offered and has continued to be a strong base of support for our grassroots endeavors in Camden. Robert also Chairs the re-entry program of the NAACP, promoting the truth about recidivism and why it happens.

Robert is pictured below with Gerald Roberts and myself, Jeana Brown.