For our September and October Meetups, I want everyone to do one thing on the day(s) and time(s) of your choice -- show up at one of Creigh Deeds' campaign offices and volunteer to help out.

They'll put you to work somehow -- during the day or early evening you might be doing phone calls; if you show up later at night it could be data entry; or this weekend it might be canvassing.

There are different locations listed on the link below, but of course the main office on the Virginia Beach side of the water is the location on the corner of Witchduck and Cleveland (the 5101 Cleveland, suite 302 address):

http://deedsforvirgin...

For the office in the bank building on Witchduck and Cleveland (just take the Witchduck exit from I-264 and head in the direction of Virginia Beach Boulevard), their office hours are usually 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and then 12-9 p.m. on Sunday. You can call them at their main number (757) 320-4200 for more info.

For those on the Newport News/Hampton side of the water, the Newport News office is the larger office. Or you can use the closest office to your home, whichever is most convenient.

At the Cleveland and Witchduck location, it's a consolidated office, and so you can work on one of the other campaigns if you'd rather put your time toward that. It doesn't have to be for Deeds -- but Deeds is just barely behind right now, and could use the help!

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Regularly scheduled Democratic (and progressive) events in the area:

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Don't forget that we have an election this November for STATE elections! Turnout is expected to be low, so your vote makes a BIG difference! I'll be sending out more information on this as we get closer to November.
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For those interested in local "official" Democratic Party events, the blogger Vivian Paige keeps a good list:
http://blog.vivianpai...
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Many members have expressed an interest in more "progressive" or "activist" events in the area, rather than Democratic events. As they say, Democratic events work on getting PEOPLE elected, who may or may not support ISSUES that matter to us once elected. And so some people -- many who have worked hard on elections on the past -- would now rather work directly for issues instead.

For those more issue-driven Dems, there is a local Coffeehouse that is NOT related to the Democratic Party, but rather holds events on issues like peace, health care, etc. The GI coffeehouse "Off Base" sponsors many speakers and events related to progressive issues and activism. (You don't need to be a Vet to go there.)

For more information on events visit the Off Base coffeehouse web site at:
myspace.com/gicoffeehouse
You can RSVP to Tom at [masked]
Off Base is located at 2501 Fawn in Norfolk, behind the Norfolk Farmer's Market (near 26th and Church). Free street parking is available in front of and near the coffeehouse-- just check the parking signs.

Tom Palumbo -- a local peace activist and Iraq War veteran -- started the coffeehouse in the tradition of GI Coffeehouses established during the Vietnam War (see http://en.wikipedia.o... and scroll to the section on coffee houses for a mention of Vietnam-era activist coffee houses). In addition to helping wth Veterans' advocacy, Tom likes to host speakers and hold political salons to honor the tradition of Thomas Jefferson's salons.
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More to come as the election season heats up -- stay tuned!