Training with the VAN

Ben Wirz, BJ Chiszar, Charlotte Kliemann, Christina Albright -- a training session, and Charlotte is making her first call.





BJ Chiszar introduced 19 activists to the VAN -- Voter Action Network -- on Saturday at the DEC office in Doral. This was a fine turnout, and perhaps as many are expected Sunday as the Miami-Dade Democratic Party starts real action toward the '08 campaign.

The VAN is a tremendous campaign tool, but it needs people to pitch in and operate it, to plumb its data, to make the calls and walk the walks that its database lays out. Those people are raising their hands now -- from the DEC, from the clubs.

BJ was very pleased with the first day of VAN training. "This is the first step towards victory," he said. And many steps more will be taken before June is out. Stay tuned to this space.

Meanwhile, the group in this photo is an example of the way forward -- a mix of veteran and new activists. Charlotte Kleimann and Christina Albright are DEC members and veteran activsts, and Ben Wirz is a brand-new activist, just joined the (also brand-new) Biscayne Corridor Democratic Club last month. Welcome, Ben.