For the next five weeks, we are the epicenter of U.S. politics! The whole world is watching. So it’s time for us to ACT, not to watch. Look for an email soon with ways to be active in this election cycle with Traction.

But on April 11th and 12th, it’s time to join your fellow Tractivists and WATCH…

ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION II
a theatrical sideshow to benefit Traction!

Some of the area’s best actors and directors* + live music + good people + good cause + democracy + food/drinks + you!

ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION II (Wrath of the SuperDelegates)
7pm on April 11th and 12th

at the Trotter Building
410 W. Geer St., across from Manbites Dog Theater
$10 suggested min. donation — tickets conveniently sold online

*featuring Tractivists from Z to A, like Zephyr Teachout, Nicole Quenelle, Jim Haverkamp, Jay O’Berski, Dana Marks and Adam Sampieri.It’s an amazing show and you know it’ll be a great party, so get your tix NOW!

More soon, fellow patriots, Lanya

P.S. To volunteer for this show (or anything else Traction), contact Cara by emailing use.me@getTraction.org.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). It has passed in the NC Senate, and is currently in the NC House.

In less than two years, the National Popular Vote bill has been enacted into law in Maryland and New Jersey and is on the Governor’s desk in Illinois. The bill has passed 14 legislative houses (one house in Arkansas, Colorado, North Carolina, and Washington state, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland).

The shortcomings of the current system of electing the President stem from the winner-take-all rule that awards all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in each state.

Under the winner-take-all rule, candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, campaign, or worry about the concerns of voters of states that they cannot possibly win or lose. This means that voters in two thirds of the states are effectively disenfranchised in presidential elections because candidates concentrate their attention on a small handful of “battleground” states.

Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide. A shift of 60,000 votes would have elected Kerry in 2004, even though President Bush was ahead by 3,500,000 votes nationwide.

The National Popular Vote bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill is enacted in a group of states possessing 270 or more electoral votes, all of the electoral votes from those states would be awarded, as a bloc, to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

The bill has been endorsed by the New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, and Sacramento Bee, Common Cause and Fair Vote.  70% of the public has long supported nationwide election of the president.

Additional information is available in the book Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan for Electing the President by National Popular Vote and at www.NationalPopularVote.com.

Well, then, behold SUPER FAT TUESDAY: mardi gras bacchanalia and up-to-the-minute primary coverage all rolled into one! Yes, Traction’s at it again, stirring up a blend of the two best things to happen in February.*

How, you ask, is this possible? The plan goes like this:
Gather at the Fishmonger oyster bar, because nothing says N’awlins like oysters, cher. If oysters don’t do it for you, we’ll have other bayou faves like gumbo, plus beer, king cake, gen-u-ine Mardi Gras beads, a kickass Cajun soundtrack and a big screen TV for your red vs. blue exit-poll-viewing pleasure.

RSVPs appreciated: superfat@getTraction.org

Traction is teaming up with our friends at FairVote NC and Democracy NC, who go to the mat all year to make real the promise of democracy and make sure that We, the People, own the elections.

Here are the details:
SUPER FAT TUESDAY
Fishmongers Oyster Bar (upstairs)
806 W. Main St. in Durham
Tues, Feb 5, 2008
7 pm ’til the results are in or they kick us out
Costumes and festive gear encouraged.

The first round of drinks and eats is on us, so come early! And if you’re a rockstar monthly donor, we’ll treat you right even after that first round… so what better time to become a monthly donor than now?
And, what better way to celebrate the aligning of the stars that brought us these two events on one fabulous night than with a political drinking game? Sneak peek: any time you hear or see Chuck Norris, take a drink and do a karate chop. Bonus points for the best Chuck Norris fact.

It’s going to be awesome. Be there.

Heidi Hubbard
scientist, avocado lover, Tractivist

*You may argue that Valentine’s Day is the best thing to happen in February – or the worst. Either way, you’re on your own there, unless sparks fly at SUPER FAT TUESDAY and you find yourself with a new Valentine’s honey. I’m not saying it *will* happen. I’m just not saying it won’t.

I’m itching to give a warm cozy hug to everyone who has volunteered with Traction. We wouldn’t be here without you! I’m naming names of you fantastic people at the end of this email.

We’ve lost count, but in 2007 and 2008 alone, over 130 (seriously) of you:
- came up with creative event ideas
- hosted or helped put together great events*
- wrote emails and blog posts
- put on two successful fundraisers (Salsa Doble and Festivus) and houseparties
- served on Traction’s Advisory Board
- helped raise funds from foundations and major donors, and
- worked behind the scenes in myriad other ways.

*like Super Fat Tuesday coming up on 2/5! RSVP: superfat@getTraction.org. (Bonus drinks and eats for rockstar monthly donors, so become a rockstar now.)

Thinking about getting more involved with Traction? I highly recommend it.

When I first volunteered, I wanted to learn how to help people take concrete action on climate change and to connect with other excited, engaged, and nifty lefties. Two and a half years later, I’ve put together a series of events helping reduce our climate impact; I’ve met close friends and a sweetheart through Traction; and I’m convinced that Traction’s upbeat, inclusive, and connecting approach helps us all bring our values into the real world. I want you, too, to strengthen and be strengthened by this amazing progressive community.

Here’s how:

(1) Party with the Events Team: Volunteer to be a mastermind behind one Traction event or to be a valued helper for an event. Or, dive headlong in: I’m recruiting Events Team members who dig Traction’s social marketing, who have a long-term eye to progressive change, and who want to get their hands in a couple of events in 2008. Email me at eileen@getTraction.org. We can chat more about what the Events Team does and about what we ask of team members.

(2) Getting cash in hand: Ooh, sexy! Derwin Dubose chairs the Development Team, and he tells me that he is all about people who know or want to know how to research and write grants, host house parties, coordinate business sponsorships, develop marketing materials, or run fundraising events (benefit concert, anyone?).

(3) The right person at the right time: Notice how I am asking for many volunteers? Notice how I am not the volunteer coordinator? Are you a schmoozer and a recruiter, someone who tracks people’s interests and skills and can match them to where they’re needed? Oh, do we need you!

Write to me at eileen@getTraction.org to step up in any of these ways. Or tell me about your special skills, like volunteer management, event planning, fundraising, grant writing, artistry, or plain old getting things done when they need it. Perhaps you want to learn some of those skills. Perhaps you have expertise we could learn from in a Traction event. Or perhaps you simply have a passion for Traction and want to get more involved. We want you too.

Take care,
Eileen
Optimist, newspaper reader, dancing fool, Events Team chair

Traction’s 2007 and 2008 Volunteer Hall of Fame includes…

Abbe Harris
Ajay Bhatt
Alison Carpenter
Andrew Pearson
Angelique Xanthopoulos
Ann Alexander
Avani Parekh-Bhatt
Aviva Starr
Bart Matthews
Becky Cary
Bernard Obi
Beth Jacobs
Bonnie McGill
Brett Altman
Brian Buzby
Bruce Bridges
Cara Wittekind
Celeste Richie
Chantelle Fisher-Borne
Cindy Whitt
Claire Jentsch
Colin Booy
Colin Cannell
Cori Princell
Cris Rivera
Damon Circosta
Danielle Doughman
Dave Zielinski
Dave Klionsky
Dave Seidman
David Love
Denise VanDeCruze
Derek Anderson
Derwin Dubose
Edd Gulati-Partee
Eileen Thorsos
Elsa Ohman
Emet Blose
Estefania San Juan
Evangeline Weiss
Floyd McKissick Jr.
Franklin Santana
Fred Foster
Gabriel Onofrio
Gary Gartner
Gene Smith
Gerick Brenner
Gita Gulati-Partee
Graig Meyer
Gretchen Cooley
Hannah Popish
Hemraj Juwarker
Howard Clement
Irv Joyner
Jack Mitchell
Jackie Richie
Jamara Knight
Jane Brown
Jane Stein
Jason Fagg
Jason Klarl
Jen Colletti
Jenn Frye
Jennifer Lewis
Jennifer Epperson
Jenny Cook
Jeremy Falcone
Jessica O’Connell
Jessica Bates
Jessica Burroughs
Jillian Johnson
Joe Costa
Julie Randolph
Julio Olmos
Justin Miller
Justin Pinder
Kate McFarland
Kavanah Ramsier
Kay Hutchinson
Kevin Tull
Kieran Ionescu
Laina Copley
Laura Hirst
Laura Gayle Donnelly
Leonor Clavijo
Leslie Peteya
Lisa Richardson
Lora Brooker
Lucy Harris
Marc Maximov
Marcia Perritt
Maria Sadowski
Mary Lindsley
Menkah Mathews
Mia Jordan
Michael Silberman
Nadya Robles
Naomi Reagan
Natasha Nazareth-Phelps
Otis Jennings
Padma Om
Patrick Lyons
Phil Marsosudiro
PJ Puryear
R. Kelly Bryant Jr.
Rachel Galanter
Rachel Fischoff
Rachel Mills
Rae Benington
Rebekah Resnick
Richard Nordan
Rob Jentsch
Robert Jentsch, Sr.
Sabrina Simon
Sarah Lebeck
Sasha Akhavi
Seth Baird
Shawn Casey
Steve Saltzman
Sujuan Upshaw
Sven Rinke
Thaddeus Bennett
Theo Luebke
Tia Black
Tim Jones
Timothy McMackin
Tobin Freid
Tyler Story
Valerie Parham-Thompson
Will Corbett
Yesenia Polanco
Zephyr Teachout

(Tell me if I missed you! We’ll mention you in an upcoming email!)

We couldn’t do it without you. Seriously.

And there’s still time to join this list! If you’ve been meaning to make your 2007 gift, click here to make a tax-deductible contribution today.

Ann & Lex Alexander
Barbara Anderson
Anonymous x4
William Austin
Katherine Ballew
Molly Beacham
Kristin & Steve Bradley-Bull
Miriam Brodersen
Jane Brown & James Protzman
Eric & Mary Anne Burghardt
Brian Buzby
Joy Cagle & David Harper
Joan & Ward Cates
Josephine Cialone
Jenny Cook
Gretchen Cooley
Manoj Daya
Vito DiBona
John Dornan
David Doty
Danielle Doughman
George Entenman & Iris Tillman Hill
David Gall
Gary Gartner & Susan Saenger
Duffy Gilligan
Daniel & Joan Gorfain
Gita & Edd Gulati-Partee
Emily Herbert
Laura Hirst
Clay Hodges
Heidi Hubbard
Otis Jennings
Hemraj Juwarker
Margaret Keller
Sylvia Kerkhoff
Roxanne Kolar & Jerimee Richir
Ruth Kravitz
Ken Krebs
Sarah Lebeck
Marcia Levine
Peter & Jonathan Lewis
Patrick Lyons
Christina Makarushka
Diana McDuffee
Kate McFarland
Henry McKoy
Graig & Jen Meyer
Norm & Andrea Miller
Don Moffitt
Shannon O’Connor
John Olson
Padma Om & PJ Puryear
Gabriel & Alba Onofrio
Open Society Institute
John Owens-Ream
Jaime Palter & Scott Kushner
John Parton
People’s Alliance Fund
Frank & Kaola Phoenix
Barry Ragin & Claire Doyle
Charles Recktenwald
Anna Reynolds
Jennie Rhine & Tom Meyer
Celeste Richie
Jacqueline Richie
Hildegard Ryals
Margaret Scarborough
Brian Schneiderman
Annie Scorza
David Seidman
Lanya Shapiro
Martin & Marian Shapiro
Richard Sloane
Adam Snyder
Cornelia St. John
Frank Stasio
Tyler & Lisa Story
Blaise & Katalin Strenn
SURGE
Julie Sweedler
Zephyr Teachout
Eileen Thorsos
Triangle J Council of Governments
Don & Darlene Wells
Jewel Wheeler
Gail Wood
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

To all of you: thank you SO much.

Note: If you’re not here and you should be (and really, you ALL should be), just click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Seriously though, if you made an out-and-out contribution to Traction this year and we left you off this list, let us know and we’ll fix it.

Once again, gracias!

Get your tix here!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. And hey, for some good progressive Thanksgiving mojo, listen to Howard Zinn talking to Tavis Smiley about Thanksgiving (also a rerun): www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1524095
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is it just me, or are there a lot of things to be thankful for these days?

Along with public education (such as it is), voting rights (such as they are), the endangered species act, the earned income tax credit, community health centers, NC’s excellent voter-verified paper ballot legislation, Plan B emergency contraception and Jon Stewart, you can add FESTIVUS to the list of things you’re thankful for. Oh, and the promise of a new direction for the country!

Yes, that’s right: it’s time for Traction’s [3rd] Annual Festivus for the Left of Us! holiday-ish fundraiser with silent auction. Food, drink, and feats of strength! Shopping, cool people and a great cause! Plus fabulous games, dancing, airings of grievances, feats of strength [now including mental strength — a new Festivus game show] [and the return of the Festivus Foto booth!]

[When: Sat, Dec 8th, starting at 7pm
Where: 108 Morris St. (a hot Greenfire Development property) in downtown Durham]
Write to festivus07@getTraction.org to volunteer, donate items, or RSVP.

But back to you…

What are YOU thankful for this year? Post it in the comments!

Our Third Annual Festivus for the Left of Us will have all the traditions you love: Feats of Strength, Airing of Grievances and the Pole, plus our silent auction, the Festivus Foto booth and of course food, drink, music and a boatload of Tractivists – all for a mere $10 (suggested donation).

All in all, an incredible evening of fun and community, supporting an incredible organization!

Get your tickets online now! (Earlybird rates through Nov only.)

Sat, Dec 8th from 7pm
108 Morris St. in downtown Durham

(Muchas gracias to Greenfire Development for hosting Festivus 2007!)

Picture a ladder with lots of rungs. This position is on the lower end… which means a great place to start and lots of room to grow. And we’re serious about growth!

You:
:: Super organized with a spirited streak
:: One or more years experience in an office setting — ideally a progressive non-profit, a political campaign or a marketing/communications firm
:: Flexible, patient, and fun
:: Desire to work for causes and organizations that are changing the world

Us:
:: Young, leading edge non-profit that’s building a critical mass of energized and engaged young people who will ultimately power the progressive movement
:: Building the organization we always dreamed of working for
:: Committed to the people we hire
:: Creative, fun, smart, passionate and fair

Sound good? We hope so — and we want this to be the best job you’ll ever have. Seriously.

We’re seeking someone with initiative and energy to support this leading edge nonprofit organization as we move from boot-strap start-up to formidable powerhouse. Flexible hours (approx. 15/week), mostly office-based, mostly during typical office hours.

The official job announcement is below. If you like what you’re reading, then send your resume and cover email to kickassjobs@getTraction.org. No calls please. We can’t wait to meet you!

Traction, a project of the Tides Center, is headquartered in Durham, NC. Traction is a civic engagement generator, turning young voters into energized and engaged activists who will power the progressive movement.

We are seeking a part-time Administrative Assistant with initiative and energy to support this groundbreaking nonprofit organization as it moves from start-up to sustainability. Flexible hours (approx. 15/week), mostly office-based during regular office hours. The Administrative Assistant will support the Executive Director, Board and Committee Chairs, and other key players in all aspects of the organization, with a focus on improving Traction’s internal operations. This position is a great place to start, with room to grow for the right employee.

Specific Responsibilities

• Perform essential administrative and logistical functions, such as scheduling meetings, drafting correspondence, coordinating travel, ordering supplies, picking up the mail and overseeing general office organization.
• Assist with record-keeping and bookkeeping; process revenue and expenditures.
• Manage and expand the main organizational database.
• Work with E.D. to identify systemic issues and manage process of implementing solutions.
• Assist with foundation and major donor research, and with proposal preparation.
• Other duties, as assigned

Qualifications:

• Some experience in a fast-paced, detail-oriented office environment; experience supporting executives is preferred.
• Commitment to Traction’s mission and values; personal engagement in some progressive issue(s).
• Ability to identify and connect with, and affinity for, the Generation X / Y cohorts.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills; confident and professional telephone manner; ability to build and cultivate relationships with volunteers, co-workers and outside collaborative partners.
• Flexibility to work as part of a team as well as independently; self-directed enough to prioritize, organize self and manage time, but interdependent enough to develop structures that make the work easier, more effective and more efficient.
• High detail orientation. Ability to maintain high quality work on tight deadlines.
• Ability to have fun and keep cool while being part of a results-oriented team of highly-charged entrepreneurial individuals in a fast-paced, demanding, and unstructured environment (i.e. sense of humor required)
• Attention to quality and efficient use of resources.
• Proficiency with MS Office (or opensource equivalent), internet research and database management.
• Curiosity about human nature, esp. why people get involved in issues and take action.
• Motivation, enthusiasm, and an insatiable appetite for learning, growth and challenge.

Please submit resume and a cover email by 11/26/07 to kickassjobs@getTraction.org.

Traction, a project of the Tides Center, is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people of color, bilingual and bicultural individuals; women, men, and transgendered folks; and anyone lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Today on The State of Things they’re talking about Trick or Vote! Tune in to North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC 91.5 to hear Lanya along with Jenn Frye from Democracy NC LIVE at noon, or the rebroadcast at 9pm, or listen to the archive later. We’re already getting lots of new visitors.

Welcome to our humble website! May we recommend three steps?
1) Read about Traction here (there’s more here, and press clips here).
2) Make a contribution to Traction. (There’s lots of work to do and it all takes resources!)
3) Join Traction’s mailing list. To be in the loop, email tractivist@getTraction.org
– Please let us know where you live (what city), how you heard about Traction, and your Presidential Zodiac. You know, who was in the White House when you were born?

Then mark your calendar for our upcoming events, including our 3rd annual Festivus for the Left of us holiday-ish party and fundraiser, coming up on December 8th!

Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon! Hasta pronto…