To help or not to help.

[x-1013-x.livejournal.com]

Do you volunteer for your local party? I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma right now. I'm not a people person. Frankly, the idea of calling people unsolicited or knocking on doors scares the crap out of me. I don't like it... at all. I can't see myself ever doing something like that. Instead, I offered my expertise as a designer and artist. Let's face it, the GOP is behind in the times when it comes to design. Their campaign materials are super boring. For a while, things were going pretty well, but then a new chairperson was elected and she gave me and my expertise the heave-ho.

This chairwoman is what I can only describe as one of the "good ol' boys." She is the same old stuffy political type that made the GOP so bad in the first place. She looked me in the face and said she'd be contacting me to help give the county GOP a 'fresh new look' and you know what, she never contacted me. When I go to functions, I feel like I shouldn't be there, like my 'kind' isn't wanted. Sure, I'm a TEA partier, but if I'm at a GOP function, that means I have interest in electing GOP candidates.

My dilemma is this: do I still try and attend functions and offer my help when me and my 'help' don't seem welcome? Do I say something about this, how it makes me feel as a young, grassroots member of the party? What should I do?

Comments

[neemarita.livejournal.com]

I've HAD to call people and show up at doors as part of volunteer campaign positions (look, it didn't get me a job! jerks!) and I hated it, hated it, hated it. I know exactly how you feel: unwelcome, unwanted, invited but you stand in the corner.

I wouldn't do any volunteering, not for that lady. Can you find someone else who would welcome your help?

[blondebaroness.livejournal.com]

Stuff envelopes, stuff mailboxes...there are other things to do.

[amber-dark.livejournal.com]

The GOP desparately needs innovation and talent such as yours. The Obama campaign capitalized on computer savvy and web design, and the appearence of the fresh new look that appealed to youth and made them think that they were doing something effective by supporting Obama for the *change* promised.

I would say something. I would point out the look of democratic campaign rallies and the many interactive websites the Obama campaign had maintained. McCain made the major mistake of coasting along, not doing anything to appeal to a wider audience by using a fresh newer look.

They have no business making you feel unwelcomed.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Nope, never volunteered because I hate doing unsolicited calls or handing crap out on the street.

And the rest of your story illustrates why so much of the party leadership sucks.

[sameinanylingo.livejournal.com]

I think we already talked about this on the phone, but considering the state of the local GOP since the "take over" (that's how I see it) I personally think we're better off offering support to the individual candidates, much like we have been. It just seems to work better. And I honestly think you reach more people that way because candidates have a way of crossing party lines where the party itself doesn't always succeed in that. For me personally it's more fulfilling. Even though he probably would have pulled it off without it, do you know how awesome it makes me feel to know contributed photography to Hal's campaign materials and he won?

And for the record, I HATED working the phone banks in 2008. HATED it!

Another way to help is to volunteer to help distribute yard signs. People sign up to have those so they're expecting them and you don't do it alone.