Syndicate
Support our best, or go bust
Please forgive my rant here...
From LinkedIn Network Updates, 10/03/2008
Status Updates:
• Wes Beal is looking for a job...
Recommendation Updates:
• Susan Kruller recommends colleague Wes Beal Technology Director at WSDCC I have the pleasure of knowing Wes as a dedicated professional and staff member with the Washington ...
The fact that Wes is looking for a job makes me LESS likely to want to donate to the state party, because if they're not spending their revenue keeping around great people like Wes who really care, know what they are doing, and could make a difference over the long term if they were only given a chance, then what the heck are we spending money on?
I know the reason. The following was sent by Dwight to the Executive Board a few days ago:
I was informed today by the DNC that the State Partnership Program (50 State Strategy) terminates on December 1. That means that three members of our staff will no longer be paid for by the DNC. They are Wes Beal our Voter File Manager, Patrick Mead our Technology Director, and Erik Horeis our Eastern Washington Organizer.
This was not unexpected. Howard Dean launched the SPP, and his term is about to end. The DNC is under great financial pressure now. I am grateful to Dean and the DNC for the support they have given our Party.
The loss of pay for three staff is a blow to our financial picture for 2009. The year after a Presidential election is the toughest year for fundraising in any four year cycle. At the end of January we will elect our Chair for 2009 – 10. The Executive Committee will approve our budget for 2009 at that meeting.
I have informed Wes, Patrick, and Erik that the Party will continue to employ them through January 2009, but their continued employment will be decided by the Chair and Executive Board in late January.
Dwight
Activism is the art of knowing the answers to three questions. What decision is being made. Who is making that decision. How do I influence that decision.
I would ask that the DNC not terminate their partnership with the state, and continue to fund the employment of these three hard workers. I would ask the Executive Board to agree to fund their employment regardless of the status of that partnership. If they need to cut funding for other salaries, or (heaven forbid) do some serious fundraising using the bottom up techniques that we have learned and perfected over the last two years, so be it. The way I see it, the only way we're going to really build the membership and party that we want to have is if we support the people who have supported us. Wes has done more to help the party through the use of technology, the Internet and the VoterFile than almost anyone else in that office. So the first thing we do when funding is threatened is to cut the positions that have helped us the most?
Move this off to other lists if you want. Spread the word. Let's talk about it. How frustrated are you?
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Comments
my response
Friends -
I have been very grateful to receive these messages of support. I naturally hear frequently about what is wrong with our data, and other complaints from end users. In that environment it can be easy to forget that we’ve come a long way in the last couple years.
This job has been worthwhile because of what has been expressed by you in these emails: you understand how important the data program is to our success. I believe we’ve only begun to use data effectively to win elections. I know that many of you feel the same way, and that has made this job tolerable during the worst of times and an honest joy during all others.
With regard to the difficult budget decisions at hand for our party, I am expressly grateful that Dwight has raised this funding issue now. I consider it a strength of character that he did not – in hopes of having better news – wait until December or January to bring this up.
With the Governor’s race as close as it is, I feel that our party should spare nothing in its attempt to win this election. Not many of us work for the party because the money is good; it is a significant sacrifice we make in order to do work we believe in. While none of us want to lose our jobs, all of us want to win this election, and are willing to make sacrifices to do so.
Dwight and Jaxon have been aware for some time that I plan to reenter the job market sometime after this election is over.
The reason for this is simple: I hope to further my professional development, and feel that remaining in my current position won’t offer as many opportunities for career growth as it has the last couple of years. I do hope to remain in Washington, and want to continue my involvement with the data program as well. Also, so there aren’t any misunderstandings, I’d be very happy to not have a deadline of February 1st to find a new job!
There will be some very serious challenges faced after this election is over in the state party office. Due to lack of funds, I won’t be surprised if more jobs are at risk than just those that have been funded by the DNC. While the state party can anticipate raising less in the period right after a presidential election, it is during this time that staff knowledge is critical to preserving what was learned and obtained so that we do not have to start over again heading toward 2010 and 2012.
This applies as much to the data program as anything else. I believe the party should spend anything it can in order to win our elections in 2008; but please help everyone to understand: after Election Day, the party is going to need some help (and by “help,” I mean money).
Again, I have enjoyed the progress we have made together, and hopefully we can continue to work together to further the data program for some time to come. If the worst should happen, don’t dismiss how much each of you have to offer to this program, and the role you play in seeing to it that the VoteBuilder platform continues to succeed. As I’m sure you’ll all agree we can’t afford to lose any ground.
Wes Beal
Technology Director
Washington State Democrats
Wes Beal, Technology and the WSDCC
Mostly I just want to "second" Chad's call to the DNC and WSDCC to make funding for technology and database administration a priority and a long term committment that is essential in building the grassroots of the party.
If the party can raise millions up and down the political spectrum every 2 to 4 years, it (like our country,) needs to salt away a few bucks for infrastructure. For a change, not having to start "all over" would be a good thing. The long view. Partybuilding begins and ends with information and experience and retention of same shouldn't be something I or any other grassroots Democrat needs to sell.
I believe that the technology "Regional Experts" group provides us with a base of folks who would be willing to help engage in whatever fundraising is required to build up our capability and rentention in this critical area. But we need support from our leaders. Working together as we are to elect Obama, Gregoire, Burner and others - lets work together to build our party for all future elections.
Respectfully,
Bob Horn,
PCO Ops 45th LD