Inside the
Spring Issue:

Reader Survey

Harry
for Senator?

Wanted: Candidates
for the Office
of "Citizen"

Students Help Hungry
at Campus Kitchens

Jen Chapin's
New CD Provides
An Irresistible
Invitation to Linger

"Stamp Out Hunger"
Food Drive

Getting Informed
And Getting Involved-
WHY Leads The Way

WHY Announces
2004 Chapin Award
Winners, Dinner Plans

New Musical Revue
Promises Surprises
for Chapin Fans

LUNCH Program
Celebrates 15th
Anniversary

Fan Fare

Joe D'Urso

Harry Nydick

Circle! Calendar

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the Winter 2004 Issue

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the Fall 2003 Issue

 

Wanted: Candidates for the Office of "Citizen"

by Mike Grayeb

Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter once said, "In a democracy, the highest office is the office of citizen." Harry Chapin agreed.

Anyone who attended one of Harry's concerts probably heard him talk about the importance of a participatory democracy. He felt that simply voting once every four years was not enough. He wanted everyone to get involved in the ongoing political process so that each of our voices could be heard and so that we could affect positive action.

Democratic Party volunteer Anthony Watkins

In fact, he believed it so much that he actually initiated his own plan to run for U.S. Senator in New York (see accompanying story).

But with the hectic lives that we all live today — family, friends, relationships, school, work, hobbies, and other commitments — is it really practical to get involved in political activism as a volunteer? And, perhaps more importantly, can one person make a difference in such a massive political system?

With the 2004 election season in full swing, some political volunteers from around the country and across the political spectrum shared their experiences and their reasons for involvement.

"When you realize that only a tiny percentage of the people volunteer, you realize that your actions do make a huge difference in the outcomes of elections," said Anthony Watkins, a 44-year-old Democratic Party volunteer coordinator in St. Lucie County, FL. "That in turn determines if we will have fully funded safe schools and police departments, whether we will have clean water and clean air to breathe, whether our seniors will die hungry or whether they will get good medical care."

New York Congressman Peter King (R-3rd Dist.) with Nassau County Young Republicans Volunteer Mike Kaplan

Michael Kaplan, an 18-year-old Chapin fan and college student from Freeport, NY, is a volunteer financial secretary for the Nassau County Young Republicans. "When we're at the GOP headquarters of Nassau County on election night and we see the returns come in, you know that some of those numbers for your candidates are ones that you helped get," he said. "You have a sense of connection with the voters. And even if the candidate loses with a count of 100 votes to one, you know that you at least connected with someone in some capacity."

The volunteers said local offices in their communities were eager to welcome their support and matched their personal skills, interests, and available time with the needs of the campaign. Some people volunteer for just a few hours a month. Others dedicate much of their free time.

"They were very flexible with what I wanted to do, and I was flexible with what they wanted me to do," said Laura Harrison, a 17-year-old volunteer with the Democratic Party in Virginia.

Among the typical tasks the volunteers took on were: calling prospective voters, handing out pamphlets at campaign events, organizing files, preparing petitions and stuffing envelopes for mailings. Some people help track budgets, and others send e-mail updates to coordinate volunteers in the field or help develop strategies to get out the vote.

Watkins offered advice to anyone interested in getting involved: "The grunt work has to be done, so do it without complaint, and if you want to 'move up in the party' you will be offered the chance," he said. "A good volunteer is always appreciated and rewarded."

Some of the rewards are immediate and others come over time. "Last year when I worked at the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, I had the privilege of sitting at a table with several of Senator John Kerry's aides," said Harrison. "I struck up a conversation with one in particular, and ever since we e-mail back and forth updating each other on the campaign from our point of view."

Volunteering for political candidates also can be valuable from a career perspective, noted Kaplan, who said he one day hopes to be a campaign manager, a political advisor, or perhaps even a candidate himself. "Being on the campaign trail is essential for anyone who is pursuing a political career," he said. "It gives you first-hand knowledge of what it takes to run a campaign or to be a candidate."

Watkins encouraged involvement no matter what the political affiliation. "You ought to be involved in making sure what you believe in is what is happening," he said. "It is not that hard to make a difference. Turn off the TV and volunteer for the Democrats, the Republicans, your church or your favorite cultural institution. Not only will you help make America a better place, you will make your life a richer experience!"

To find out how you can volunteer in your community,
visit one of the following sites or contact your local government office:

The Democratic National Committee:
www.democrats.org

The Green Party:
www.greenparty.org

The Republican National Committee:
www.rnc.org

Watch for the Next Issue of Circle! on June 7

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