Mid-Michigan DFA Interview with Jim Dean

Written by: Tom Rico on Jul 15, 2008 1:32 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Michigan Democracy for America, MidMichigan Democracy for America

After working out some technical kinks, I am now in the process of rolling out and publishing on the web various recordings that I have shot over that last six weeks or so. I am presenting here my one-on-on one interview with Jim Dean, the DFA National Chair who was in Lansing for the DFA Campaign Academy in early June 2008.  The interview was posted originally last week at Mid-Michigan DFA's blog, www.mmdfa.blogspot.com and my personal blog, www.ricothomasrico.blogspot.com.

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Carmella Sabaugh Gets Overwhelming Support from MMDFA

Written by: Tom Rico on Oct 7, 2006 1:16 AM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

Thank you to everyone who participated in the vote on the Carmella Sabaugh endorsement proposal. The tally of the email votes was 15 Yea and 1 Nay. Combined with the vote on Tuesday, Mid-Michigan DFA supports Sabaugh's endorsement by a 21 - 1 margin. Impressive!

A press release annoucing MMDFA's the endorsement of Carmella Sabaugh will be going out to major news outlets very soon!

Thank you again.

Tom Rico
Secretary/Treasurer

Your Input Requested: Secretary of State Endorsement

Written by: Tom Rico on Oct 3, 2006 11:15 PM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

The Mid-Michigan DFA held its monthly meeting this evening after the MCRI phone banking session.

The six DFA members in attendance unanimously supported the endorsement of Carmella Sabaugh for Secretary of State. Carmella is the Macomb County Clerk and is running on the Democratic ticket.

We were one person shy of a quorum so our endorsement is not yet official. We would like to ask you to vote yea or nay on this endorsement so that we can make an official MMDFA endorsement. Please send me an email message -- state your "Yea" or "Nay" on the Carmella Sabaugh endorsement -- by the end of the day on Thursday, October 5th. Please send your response to midmichigandfa@yahoo.com (or feel free to use my personal email address listed below). Thanks!

Tom Rico
Secretary/Treasurer
email:tjrico@comcast.net

Mid-Michigan DFA Establishes Its Fall Campaign Plan

Written by: Tom Rico on Sep 9, 2006 12:55 AM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

Hello Everyone,

On Wednesday, Mid-Michigan DFA established its schedule for the fall 2006 campaign season. From now until Election Day we will be working together to elect progressive candidates locally and statewide.

We decided to campaign together as a Mid-Michigan DFA Team on Wednesday nights (6pm - 9pm) and Sundays (1 pm-5pm). The time schedule is a general target; anytime you can spare throughout the day is more than welcome!

We will rotate our time between the following:
(1) the Barb Byrum campaign for State Representative.

(2) the Coordinated Campaign for Governor Granholm and Senator Stabenow.

(3) Jim Marcinkowski's 8th Congressional District Campaign.

Of course, you will find some overlap in these campaigns as you get out into the field. You will probably find additional campaigning to defeat Proposal B, the so-called MCRI ballot proposal.

Please note that there are a couple of special events on the schedule. We will meet-and-greet Attorney General Candidate Amos Williams on Sept. 23 at the Coordindated Campaign. Also, we will do some phone banking on Oct 3 and 5 to defeat Proposal B. More details will follow on both special events.

I will be posting a convenient clip-and-save version of this campaign schedule on the DFA-Link site -- or send me an e-mail request at tjrico@comcast.net and I will email you the PDF document directly.

Also, we now have Mid-Michigan DFA hats and t-shirts for sale. If you are interested, please let me know. I will also post a separate message regarding the prices and sizes currently available.

Thank you and hope to see you on the campaign trail!

Tom Rico
tjrico@comcast.net




MID-MICHIGAN DFA
2006 Fall Campaign Schedule


Times: Weds 6pm-9pm * Sundays 1pm-5pm


SEPTEMBER 2006

Sunday - Sept. 10 Barb Byrum Campaign

Wed. - Sept. 13 Coordinated Campaign

Sunday - Sept. 17 Marcinkowski Campaign

Wed. - Sept. 20 Barb Byrum Campaign

Sat. - Sept 23 Amos Williams Event
Time TBA @ Coordinated Campaign

Sunday - Sept. 24 Coordinated Campaign

Wed. - Sept. 27 Marcinkowski Campaign


OCTOBER 2006

Sunday - Oct. 1 Barb Byrum Campaign

TUE/THR Oct 3/5 MCRI Phone Bank TBA

Sunday - Oct 8 Coordinated Campaign

Wed. - Oct 11 Marcinkowski Campaign

Sunday - Oct 15 Barb Byrum Campaign

Wed. - Oct 18 Coordinated Campaign

Sunday - Oct 22 Marcinkowski Campaign

Wed. - Oct 25 Barb Byrum Campaign


NOVEMBER 2006

Wed. - Nov 4 MMDFA Monthly Meeting
7 p.m. Start SEIU Bldg on MI Ave, Lansing

Sunday - Nov 5 Coordinated Campaign

Tuesday - Nov 2 Election Day

LOCATIONS

Byrum Campaign
2101 Aurelius Road, Holt
Or call for Daily Campaign Staging Location
517-999-2272

Coordinated Campaign
1703 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing
517-482-7250

Marcinkowski Campaign
2801 E. Grand River, Lansing
517-579-7228

MMDFA Garage Sale A Success

Written by: Tom Rico on Sep 4, 2006 2:58 PM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

This is a thank you to everyone who helped with the Mid-Michigan DFA garage sale. We raised a total of $242 over two days, which will give our administrative fund a good boost. I hope we can do it again next summer.

As an additional reminder, our monthly meeting will be this coming Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be at the SEIU building on E. Michgian Avenue. We will be gearing up for a big election season, so I hope you can join us. We will have food/dinner treats as usual.

Thanks again.

Tom Rico


P.S. Agenda items for Wednesday's meeting should be directed to Penelope, who will be this month's facilitator. Her email address is ptsernog@umich.edu.

Mid-Michigan DFA: Garage Sale This Weekend

Written by: Tom Rico on Aug 22, 2006 9:53 PM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

The MMDFA Garage Sale will be this Friday and Saturday, August 25 - 26, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day. We have had some great items donated from an Elvis Bust (donor wishes to remain anonymous) to children toys to a ping pong table, plus much more.

The garage sale will be at my house at 1466 Wilshire Road in Haslett. The house is on the corner of Wilshire Rd and Babbitt Street in the subdivision behind the Haslett Middle School off of Marsh Rd.

TO DONATE: I can pick up items on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evenings this week. Please call me at 282-2565 or send a text message with your phone number and info. OR you can plan to drop stuff off at my house on Friday or Saturday -- or contact me to make arrangements to drop off items before then.

TO SHOP: Please come out during the sale on Friday or Saturday -- we are running an ad in the Lansing State Journal so you will have to hustle to buy that Elvis Bust and other items!!!

Thanks for supporting the garage sale. Hopefully we can rake in some cash for our administrative fund by selling all of these treasures.

Tom Rico
e-mail: tjrico@comcast.net
cell: 282-2565


P.S. The August meeting notes have been posted on the DFA-Link web site (see the "Files" section) for your reading pleasure.

Attend Mid-Michigan Democracy for America on August 2!

Written by: Tom Rico on Jul 27, 2006 9:48 PM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

Dear Member,

Please attend Mid-Michigan Democracy for America on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 7:00 PM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=100...

What: Mid-Michigan Democracy for America
When: Wednesday, August 2, 2006, 7:00 PM
Where: SEIU Building
1026 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing MI 48933

We will have food treats to kick off the meeting.

If you have agenda items for discussion, please email them to Nancy English, our facilitator this month, at englishn2003@yahoo.com

Please note that the Mid-Michigan DFA Garage Sale has been rescheduled to Friday-Saturday, August 25 -26, 2006. The hours for the sale will be 9 a.m to 4 p.m. on both days. It will be held at my house at 1466 Wilshire Road in Haslett.

Please bring garage sale donation items to the meeting on August 2nd. Also, I have a pick-up truck and am willing to stop by your home to pick up any large items that need to be transported. Alternatively, please call 339-4787 in the evening if you want to drop off items. A wide range of items have been donated so far -- from a ping pong table to Elvis memorability -- but we could use a lot more sale items. Please consider donating your "treasures" to the MMDFA. Proceeds will support our operating fund.

Thanks! Hope to see you Wednesday.

Tom Rico

Mid-Michigan DFA Endorsement Results: Neutrality for House Races

Written by: Tom Rico on Jul 18, 2006 10:57 PM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

Dear MMDFA Members:

The endorsement process for the 68th and 69th House District seats was completed at our meeting this evening, Tuesday, July 18, 2006. The members in attendance tonight agreed that a 3/4 vote would be required for any one candidate to receive the group's endorsement.

Mark Meadows spoke to the group tonight. Mary Lindemann addressed the group at the last meeting. Both are running for the 69th House District Seat.

Melissa Sue Robinson talked about her campaign tonight. Joan Bauer and Jerry Hollister sent representatives to the meeting to discuss their candidacies. They are all candidates for the 68th House district seat.

After a passionate discussion, no candidate garnered the necessary votes to be endorsed. In fact, there was widespread support for a variety of candidates competing in these contested primaries, which is a testament to the impressive nature of each candidate and campaign. As a result, Mid-Michigan DFA will remain neutral in the primary for these House district races. Mid-Michigan DFA will continue to work with these great candidates throughout the campaign season.

Tom Rico

MMDFA July Meeting Notes Posted - Endorsements Announced

Written by: Tom Rico on Jul 9, 2006 2:09 AM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

There is a lot of news to report from the Mid-Michigan DFA meeting on July 5, 2006. The meeting notes have been posted at DFA-Link under the "Files" section. Please check them out when you get a chance.

Please make note that MMDFA endorsed the following candidates:

Ted Kilvington for County Commissioner, District #16.

Rodney Hampton for 93rd State House District

Barb Byrum for 67th State House District

Amos Williams for State Attorney General

Other endorsements are pending.

Also, please note that MMDFA will have a garage sale fundraiser on Friday and Saturday, July 28 - 29, 2006, at my house in Haslett. I will be collecting donated sale items throughout the month of July. I have a pick-up truck and can haul any large-size treasures you want to donate. If you have any items to donate, please call me in the evenings at 339-4787. Thanks.

Tom Rico

Attend Mid-Michigan Democracy for America on July 5!

Written by: Tom Rico on Jun 30, 2006 6:41 PM EDT

Linked to groups: MidMichigan Democracy for America

Dear Member,

Please attend Mid-Michigan Democracy for America on Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at 7:00 PM. You can RSVP at:

www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=905...

What: Mid-Michigan Democracy for America
When: Wednesday, July 5, 2006, 7:00 PM
Where: SEIU Building
1026 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing MI 48933

Please note some important items for the meeting:

First, we will be serving free pizza, salad, and drinks for all meeting attendees. Please come share our DFA dinner while we discuss hot local, state, and national political issues. To help get a head count for the food order, please RSVP to this meeting notice.

Second, some endorsements will be discussed and voted on at this meeting. Please make sure you attend so you may contribute to our decisions regarding Mid-Michigan DFA's endorsements.

Third, Mid-Michigan DFA will hold a fund raising garage sale in Haslett on Friday and Saturday, July 28 - 29, 2006. Please bring any sale items that you want to donate to the meeting.

More details about the garage sale will be forthcoming, as I will be collecting donated sale items throughout the month of July.

Hope to see you at the meeting on July 5th.

Please have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday with your family and friends!

Tom Rico
Secretary/Treasurer
Mid-Michigan DFA