Reply #1: Update on the NYC statewide DFA conference, and APA regrouping.

[madfloridian]

Notes about the NY DFA conference statewide last week-end.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/006011.html
DFNY Notes from Jim Dean
I want to express all of our thanks to Heather, Tracey, Andrea, Vicki, Andrew and so many others who organized the successful Democracy for New York summit last Saturday in Albany. To this I add our thanks to SEIU 1199 for generously providing their great facility for this terrific two-day event.

SNIP..."Tom, Chris, and I were blown away by the number of people who attended representing so many DFA groups from all over the Empire State. This was a well-organized affair that set out to exchange best practices and talk about issues and candidates. A lot got done; and we all learned a great deal about how well positioned DFNY is to make a difference in this political cycle in New York. It is clear to me that we are going to make a lot of progress in New York this year and next.

The conference leadership team will post a more detailed recap of the conference later this week. I would encourage you to take a look if you are contemplating doing a statewide or regional conference; for this experience will surely help you. New York state is geographically large and politically diverse. The strong representation and organization of this summit is a tribute to the organizers and a testament to our ability to be active in both blue and red regions of the country.

On another quick note, our friends in Texas asked me to pass on that My Vote Is My Voice, is co-sponsoring Democracy Fest on June 17th to 19th in Austin, Texas. Our thanks to MViMV and we look forward to meeting all of you in June. Happy President's Day! A great reminder to all of us that good leadership in the US isn't just a pipe dream...."

Posted by Jim Dean at 01:08 PM
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Also Asian Pacific Americans (APA) are joining and merging groups. There are so many things at very local levels that are accomplished just with groups like this. I would like our state group to get organized soon, we are just local mostly here.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/006012.html

I'm so happy to share with you our latest great news. Our group, Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Dean, has now become Asian Pacific Americans (APA) for Progress. We mobilized our own grassroots training in Boston in July with almost a hundred APA's from all over the country who came together to connect, communicate, and encourage each other through the presidential campaign. We also organized a conference call with Kerry and a Next GenerAsian event with nine APA candidates running for local offices.

We're building from the ground up, just like the good doctor told us we should do. And now we're doing it again!

On Saturday February 26, 2005 we're celebrating our 2nd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration at locations nationwide. This time our special guests on the conference call are Chairman Dean (I love saying that), new Vice Chair Rep. Mike Honda of California, and State Rep. Hubert Vo from Texas. Last year Dean was the reason for our first historic Lunar New Year conference call. We're so proud to take Dean's and DFA's message to heart, and in the past year we've been busy raising awareness, building our e-mail list, and seeking local contacts, especially in those red states....."

A note about Hubert Vo of Texas....Richard Morrison is still working behind the scenes and sent out a call for help on Vo's behalf. So glad he won his battle.

SNIP..."Hubert Vo from Texas won a major challenge: his opponents had cried "fraud" and cast doubt on his win, but it's official: through the hand recount, Vo is the first win in 32 years by a Dem for a House seat in the Texas state legislature......"

Kudos to Richard Morrison for his efforts on this.