Southeast CT for Obama at Sailfest 2007

Saturday and Sunday, July 14th & 15th A Total Success!

NEW LONDON CT: We passed out hundreds of supporter cards and fliers at Sailfest 2007 in New London. Over 350,000 people attended during the three-day event. We were at an excellent location on the corner of Bank and State Streets, looking down at the pier. Our booth was set up in a prime location; we were at the height of traffic and were able to connect with thousands of people. At times, there were five of us in front of our booth, drawing people in. Some volunteers carried a sign and walked amongst the crowds sending people to our booth. Realizing early on that we were in an area that has a significant number of Republicans, we changed our approach from signing up as many new supporters to engaging in dialogs with as many people as possible, discussing where Senator Obama stands on issues important to them. From these discussions, we learned that there are many Republicans and Independents who are hungry for a change and are willing to learn more about Senator Obama.

From this event, Southeast CT for Obama signed up 61 new volunteers, eager to get involved in our grass roots efforts, including canvassing, meet and greet events, fundraisers, travel to New Hampshire, house parties and rallies (80% of them in New London and 20% in other towns in the area), and many others signed up to stay informed. Before this event, Tom Hawley in New London and Jim Loughlin in Groton/Mystic were having a difficult time finding others to join them. They would host an event and only one or two folks would show up. That's all changed from our tabling event at Sailfest. Now Tom and Jim are planning to host canvasses in New London, Groton and other shoreline towns.

We were able to achieve this success by working together. Tom Hawley reached out to our grass roots steering committee and we responded. Volunteers came from Stamford (a two hour drive each way), New Haven, Bethany, West Hartford, Hartford, Glastonbury, East Hartford and other towns and cities. Suzanne and Ken Coia from Providence RI joined us on Sunday! The average drive for everyone was at least an hour each way. There were phenomenal homemade buttons and signs. Each volunteer came with fliers so no one had to print in bulk. One volunteer had a tent canopy and another a table and chairs. The local shop owners and town folk were fabulous -- some of them let us use their rest room facilities or just take a moment to cool off in their air-conditioned shop (thanks to Tom!). The atmosphere was one of family and friends. All the pieces fit together for two glorious days -- even the weather was perfect!

Got an event in your city or town coming up? Please contact me and our grass roots steering committee will join with you in getting folks in your neighborhood involved in this great wave of change.

This campaign is so much more than an election. It is about change. As Senator Obama has stated in many ways -- it's the people that make change happen.