| Author | Message | ||
     Dan Kaslow Citizen Username: Dank3265 Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2004 |
Dear Friends, We would like you to join our recently formed local grassroots organization (as yet un-named). It is designed to provide opportunities for those in the Maplewood/South Orange area interested in undertaking community actions, through independent political activism, that will have a constructive, positive impact on our towns. Our focus is to: (1)Gain a comprehensive knowledge of key local and national issues and an understanding of their impact and implications for our communities (2)Communicate and share vital information on these issues with our neighbors through education, programs, forums and other events (3)Become active advocates, with an articulate viewpoint and knowledgeable position, for reform or changes that benefit our communities (4) Exert influence on elected officials and candidates to support the development and passage of legislation that is consistent with our positions. Membership is open to any registered voter who is willing to contribute to the operations of the organization and who has an interest in being politically active, informed and knowledgeable. As a member of our organization, you are welcome to set up or join any of our many issues groups that address matter of importance, concern and interest to you. So far, we have operating groups dealing with Anti-inauguration activities, Local campaigns, Voting standards, Anti - War, Seniors and Education -- and more are in development. We look forward to having you join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 7.30pm at the Baird Community Center, South Orange (off Mead St., between Ridgewood Rd. and Vose Ave.). Please RSVP by email. Sincerely, Dan Kaslow dakaslow@comcast.net | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3373 Registered: 9-2001 |
Dear Friends, I would like you to think long and hard about joining any organization at any level that is unwilling or unable to name itself. Anyone interested in joining a group designed to provide opportunities for those in the Maplewood/South Orange area to undertake community actions, should first consider joining one of our local organizations that has a proven record of community service. FWIW, I can’t help but be suspicious of how any form of (yet un-named) independent political activism can have a constructive and positive impact in our town. I think focusing on exerting influence on our local elected officials and candidates to support the development and passage of legislation that is consistent with our positions deals with Anti-inauguration activities, Local campaigns, Voting standards, Anti - War, Seniors and Education, IMHO, is more about working outside and against the system than with it. In this town our local elected officials, if they want to stay in office, better keep their focus on local issues, NOT Anti-War and inauguration activities! If anything, I would look forward to seeing more people attend the next Tuesday evening meeting of the Maplewood Township Committee. Our community is always looking for more volunteers. If anyone is really interested in being active in town please call me or drop by any morning for pancakes. Trust me, I can find enough things to keep you busy for the next sixty years... Sincerely, Art Christensen 973-762-8518 or, LesSaisons@comcast.net | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12877 Registered: 10-2001  |
How the heck do anti-inauguration activities translate to "a constructive, positive impact on our towns"???? | ||
| Taylor M Citizen Username: Anotherusername Post Number: 235 Registered: 8-2004 |
Plus they are asking for money... I'll join -if you take Monopoly money! | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 4992 Registered: 1-2003  |
I don't get it. How can lack of a name make a group so suspicious? | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4888 Registered: 4-1998  |
A name would be nice. I'd like to know a name before giving $1 to anything. You could join, give money and then they name it Communist Brigade or Hitler Youth Group and publish a list of members in the local paper. Not saying it's the case here, but I'd definitely wait for a name before giving to a political group. And then I'd want to see their non-profit 501(c)(3) papers as a legit non-profit. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12892 Registered: 10-2001 |
How about "The Kerry Lost and We Need Something To Do Club"? | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4891 Registered: 4-1998 |
"Forget New England Liberals. We're Mid-Atlantic Liberals!" | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3374 Registered: 9-2001 |
"I don't get it. How can lack of a name make a group so suspicious?" Tom, do you get it yet? Really, I think this guy is scary. I may attend the meeting just to see who he is and what kinds of people would be interested in his stated agenda. Hey, I wonder if the CIA and FBI will be there as well?  | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 409 Registered: 6-2001 |
"Anti-inauguration activities, Local campaigns, Voting standards, Anti - War, Seniors and Education -- and more are in development" The last group founded by a Maplewood resident with similiar interests called themselves the Weathermen. Although I haven't worked with them since I was in middle school, I do have some experience with incendiary devices. Does this fall under "in development" ? --John | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 2262 Registered: 5-2001  |
Sbenois, I'm surprised at you. You're smarter than this. (Art, I'm not all that surprised at you...) The posts by (Democrat) Dan Kaslow started shortly after the election, and clearly amount to an effort to stimulate continued left-of-center-style political activity here. While you may think that local politics should remain "non-partisan", you need to wake up: Every aspect of our local political lives are being affected by the national parties. Whether you simply don't get that, or, as in the case of some local politicos, you're simply trying to camouflage your evident political preferences with a "non-partisan" claim, the reality is that our local "retail" issues are being shaped by others (anybody really believe the Thomas More Ctr. is non-partisan?) far away. Grassroots political organizing belong here because it's our best way to assure our voice will be heard beyond SOMA. It's both an offensive AND a defensive strategy, and I applaud anyone (Blue or Red) who openly acknowledges it. Here's the original post, where Dan clearly identifies what he's about. Personally, I wish he'd claimed Democratic Party affiliation as one of the goals, but no matter... If you're still scared, Art, why not go to the next meeting and try to understand what you're afraid of before badmouthing it? -s. "Posted on Tuesday, November 23,2004 - 9:29 am: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the former Maplewood-South Orange Kerry Coordinator, I received numerous emails, after the election, from people expressing a desire to stay politically active and involved. From these messages and other conversations I've had, my sense is that many people feel they really have no way to channel their political interests. They have no desire to join their local democratic clubs and find the large progressive organizations, while valuable in mobilizing large groups for major efforts, don't provide a local connection to the political process. I share these sentiments and wholeheartedly agree that there is a need to address these concerns and fill this void. As a result, I, along with colleagues involved as campaign coordinators in other towns, have spent the last two weeks grappling with this issue. I'd like to share my preliminary thoughts, which I present merely as a starting point for discussion. If the idea of some type of organization appeals to you -- even if your idea is very different than mine -- I hope you'll get back to me with your input and suggestions. 1. The group we create would be a unique, independent, local organization, with a formal mission (so we're not overly ambitious at the start) and specific, achievable goals (so we'll be able to have some sense of accomplishment). 2. A primary focus would be to exert, through grassroots efforts, a positive, constructive influence on local, state and national political issues, candidates and campaigns. 3. This would be accomplished through members' direct involvement in a wide range of activities. Since this would be an organization created for its members, I would hope that, ideally, there would enough different options so that every member could participate in a way that met their interests, but not so many ideas that we spread ourselves too thin. A starting list might be: „h Political campaign education and training (grassroots skills, election law, etc) „h Analysis of political issues and candidates (fact sheets, legislation, etc). „h Participation in elections principally within New Jersey „h Interaction with selected other organizations (e.g. MoveOn, Democrats for America) and elected officials and candidates at all levels. 4. Membership would be open to any registered voter who is willing to contribute to the operations of the organization and who has an interest in being politically active, informed and knowledgeable. 5. The group would be comprised of members from the Maplewood/South Orange area (including neighboring communities, Millburn, Springfield, Livingston, West Orange). 6. Meetings would be monthly, with a fixed time schedule and agenda 7. Organization structure would be minimal 8. A very modest membership contribution would be asked for I would like to tentatively set Tuesday, December 15, 7.30pm as the date for the first meeting, which we could hold at my home in Maplewood (or if the response warrants, we could find a larger space). IF YOU ARE INTERESTED or WOULD LIKE TO BE KEPT INFORMED: Please send me an email with your thoughts on this group and whether you can make the start-up meeting, together with your name, address and phone number. Feel free to forward this note to anyone you who you think might be interested. I look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible. Dan Kaslow dakaslow@comcast.net" BTW: I'll be there. | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 1605 Registered: 6-2003 |
Agree with Soda. Just because the politics are left of where you are, no reason to slam them. I am much more outraged by the law suit filed against our towns using a religous right law firm with an agenda. At least Dans agenda is partially laid out for all to see. As far as I know the group who have hired the right wing law firm, don't have a name either, I however like to call them the, "We won the election nationally so were going to push our Agenda down our neighbors throat, despite the fact that those commies overwhelmingly voted Democratic, Group". Cmon fellas, fairs fair. | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 2264 Registered: 5-2001 |
Art: Would you have been less negative if Dan had offered karaoke and jumbo hot dogs after the mtg? -s.  | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3375 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Sbenois, I'm surprised at you. You're smarter than this. (Art, I'm not all that surprised at you...) " Dearest Soda, So you think you understand me, well that's a step in the right direction. Listen pal, you and your kind can dress this fledgling organization up any way you want. A rose by any other name is still a rose… and in this case, a group of left wing radicals unwilling to work within the Democratic Party, is still a group of radicals. Hitler and his little group of extremists managed to take over an entire country based on a simple plan to get things their exactly their way. My concerns were raised when Dan crossed the line and wants to involve our local politicians in his home grown war against our national political system. Stating that the groups “Primary Focus” would be to exert efforts to influence local, state, and national political issues in of itself is fine, however, this interest was clearly brought about by the stunning defeat of his national party candidate, John Kerry. If Mr. Dan Kaslow is so interested in shaping “National Politics”, he should run for President of the United States of America, but just keep our township committee out of it. Sorry, his ideas to change the system belong in some cave in Afghanistan. Here in Maplewood we have enough to keep us all busy paying our property tax, building cell towers and dog runs, eating hotdogs, and yes, singing karaoke. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 4998 Registered: 1-2003 |
No, I still don't get it, ajc. I don't see why a grass roots group is useless and why running for president is the only way to effect change. Hey, either Dan's group is useful or not, effective or not. I fail to see why its existence would offend anyone. Wish for their failure from their group's merits (or lack thereof) not because you don't think they should form. What am I missing? | ||
| Soda Citizen Username: Soda Post Number: 2275 Registered: 5-2001 |
Quite a thoughtful, progressive, and realistic world-view, you've got there, Art. Your Pal, -s. BTW: When I said "I'll be there", it was to imply that I'll be checking it out for myself. I guess that's not your style, but it's what "my kind" does instead of making such incredibly trenchant comments as yours. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 3378 Registered: 9-2001 |
Tom, I’m sorry this has come down to you and me and that tall glass of flavored water. I really don’t want to spend a lot of time on this kind of a KISS issue. Let us try to create love and harmony in town, not war. As I said before, my concerns were raised when, IMHO, Dan crossed the line by stating he wanted to involve our township committee in his home grown war against our national political system. I can’t believe anyone thinks Dan is really interested forming a group to train other residents to “Learn” more about our political system. We learned this stuff in grade school. I think he’s just looking to make trouble. This has all the markings of another music issue, where a few get in the face of the majority because their feelings are hurt. Pleeese get it this time Tom!!! Listen, I don’t really care what he does with his free time, however, I do have a problem if his group decides to practice their little national political war games with our township committee. The last time this type of crap occurred it wasted a lot of valuable TC time for more important local matters. It was also part and parcel of what eventually cost our last two Mayors their re-election bid. Back to you Soda. I am quite thoughtful, progressive, and I do have a fairly realistic view of the world, pal…. Maybe you didn’t notice, but I also said "I'll be there next Tuesday checking it out for myself.” I guess we’re not that different after all except for our style. I see your style as more along the lines of, “If you can’t beat them with brains, you baffle them with bull-sh-t.” As for me, I’m willing to accept your assessment that I’m simply an incredibly forceful comment maker….. I hope to see you there next Tuesday pal, and BTW, don’t wimp out on me again like you did at Ricalton Square... | ||
| Robert Livingston Citizen Username: Rob_livingston Post Number: 652 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yeah, ajc, fcuk those lousy minorities. Always ruining it for the ruling class. Nothing should ever change and people should never complain...unless of course it requires a big "discussion" surrounded by overpriced hot dogs and pancakes. | ||
| mem Citizen Username: Mem Post Number: 4456 Registered: 5-2001  |
"The last time this type of crap occurred it wasted a lot of valuable TC time for more important local matters. It was also part and parcel of what eventually cost our last two Mayors their re-election bid. " Art - please give us details... | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4898 Registered: 4-1998 |
PLEASE NOTE Just because this topic was posted under "Related to Local Govt." doesn't mean it is related to local government. Maybe it should be moved to the soapbox? |
