South Bank Rally Success

A GREAT BIG THANK-YOU to everyone who came out for our East to West Rally on the sunny South Bank, this past Saturday 13 September. I'm told that we attracted about 70 Obama Supporters in London.

A very special thanks that almost all of you were able to stay and canvass the South Bank looking for our fellow Americans and providing information on voter registration. We reached hundreds of Americans Abroad that day, who were looking for information on how to register and request an absentee ballot. Of course you ALL know that your source for voter registration information is: http://www.votefromabroad.org/4

I have posted about a dozen photos in the Event photoalbum on our Meetup page here: http://barackobama.meetup.com/349/photos/438999/#5534075

In the meantime, here a few pictures to get you started:

London Convention Watch

Here are a few pictures from our London Convention Watch party on Friday 29 August. Thanks to all of you who were able to attend!

You can find additional pictures from this event at:

http://barackobama.meetup.com/349/

Rally and Canvass and Phone Bank - Oh My!

In just 81 days Americans all around the country (and the world) will be electing our next President. Let's get ready!

RALLY AND MEETING THIS SATURDAY

Please join us on Saturday for our Obama East to West Rally and Meeting in celebration of our wonderful candidate and in planning for the vital campaign ahead. Join us outside the Barrow Boy and Banker pub at 1:30 PM for a quick rally on London Bridge followed by a meeting in the pub and some canvassing on the South Bank.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44grz

Check the above link for full details, and please do RSVP – either on the website or to me directly at robinsonkj@dnc.org

CANVASSERS NEEDED THIS WEEKEND

Last week we had the most amazing success, with canvass groups out and about across London and the UK in 10 locations. We estimate that we spoke with over 200 Americans on the day, and reached hundreds more through foreigners friends. It was an amazing success!

Now let's do it again - I'm looking for as many people as possible to canvass in their local areas on either Saturday morning before the rally, or on Sunday. Or both! Can you spare a few hours to talk to people on the streets of Wimbledon, Hampstead, St John’s Wood, Bloomsbury, Kensington – or even up at the Edinburgh festival? Please drop me a line so I can put you in touch with the other volunteers in your area and get you all the materials you will need.

robinsonkj@dnc.org

Do you live outside London, but would like to start canvassing near you? Great! Let me know and I’ll help you get organised.

PHONE BANKERS NEEDED

Democrats Abroad UK has an aggressive plan in place to contact each and every one of our members in September to confirm that they are registered to vote. We urgently need volunteers who can commit to giving one or more weekend days or weekday evenings during this time period to call our members. Volunteers will be asked to use their own mobile phones (which we will consider a very generous and much appreciated donation!) and will gather in a central London location for the calls where they will get full training and support throughout the session.

Please let me know ASAP which of the following sessions you can commit to:

Saturday Aug 30 (11-2 or 2-5), Sunday Aug 31 (11-2 or 2-5), Monday Sept 1 (6-9), Tuesday Sept 2 (6-9), Wednesday Sept 3 (6-9), Thursday Sept 4 (6-9), Friday Sept 5 (6-9), Saturday Sept 6 (11-2 or 2-5), Sunday Sept 7 (11-2 or 2-5), Monday Sept 8 (6-9), Tuesday Sept 9 (6-9), Wednesday Sept 10 (6-9) (there will be no session on the 11th due to the Council Meeting), Friday Sept 12 (6-9), Saturday Sept 13 (11-2 or 2-5), Sunday Sept 14 (11-2 or 2-5).

CAN YOU HELP US REGISTER VOTERS?

Stephanie Stewart has been running an outstanding voter registration program for us here in London - and she is always in need of new volunteers. Can you help out at any of the below events? If so, write to her on vicechair@democratsabroad.org.uk.

16 or 17 August- Any time before 3:00pm - Borough Market - Need two people to pass out leaflets
16 August - 6:30pm - Rock for Barack in London - The Harbour Club Chelsea - SW6 - Need one person to register voters
20 August - 12:00 - ACS Hillingdon Welcome Picnic for new families - Stephanie S to take leaflets
20 August - 9:00 - 3:00 or any part of this time - ACS Cobham Picnic - Surrey - Lenelle D, Need one more person to register voters
24 August - 12:00 - 3:00 - The American School in Surrey (TASIS) New Family Picnic - Lesley G, Need one more person to register voters
28 August - 7:30 - DAUK Young Democrats Cocktail - Grafton Arms, W1T - Need one person to register voters
29 Aug - 7:00pm - London American Meet-up - El Vino, Fleet St. - Need one person to leaflet outside the venue
30 August - ASL Scoop back to school event - Leslie G, Whitney B
8 September - 5:30pm - The Pilgrims and English Speaking Union panel on the US election - Dartmouth House, W1J - Nancy T
9 September - 11:30 - 12:30 - JPMorgan Voter Registration - EC2 - Need two people to register voters
10 September - 11:30 - 12:30 - JPMorgan Voter Registration - EC2 - Need two people to register voters
11 September - 9:00 - 11:00am - Kennsington & Chelsea Woman's Club - Royal Geographical Society - Sharon S, Nancy T
11 September - 6:00pm - DAUK Council Meeting - Need one person to register voters
12 September - 11:30 - 2:00 - Deutsche Bank voter registration - Eileen T, Carol B, Need two more people to register voters
15 - 18 September - 11:30 - 2:00 - Canary Wharf voter registration - Need 4 people each day to leaflet and register voters, Tasia K, Cathryn C (18th), Evelyn F (all days),
17 September - 9:00 - 11:00 - Hampstead Woman's Club - Margo M, Lesley G, Need one more person to register voters
18 September - 6:30pm - ASL HS Back-to-School Night - Lauren W
18 September - 11:00 - 2:00 - FOCUS Voter Registration - Evelyn F
September - Dartmouth pub night - Sarah C
26 September- 7:30 - DAUK Young Democrats Cocktail - Location TBD - Need one person to register voters
3 October - TBD - American Intercontinental University - Marylebone - Need one person to register voters*
7 October - American Society Autumn Cocktail at Wynchwood House - Lauren W*

As you can see - there are many ways to get involved, and so much to do! I’d like to thank each of you for the millions of different ways that you have already helped us to ensure a Democratic President this year – just 3 months to go.

Obama to Accept Nomination to a Crowd of 75K

The Obama campaign and the Democratic Convention have announced that Obama will make his nomination speech not in the convention centre itself, but in the nearby football stadium - which holds up to 75,000 people.

“The Democratic Party is nominating a true change candidate this August, and it is only fitting that we make some big changes in how we put on the Convention,” said Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). “Senator Obama’s candidacy has generated an enormous amount of excitement and interest, not only in the Democratic Party but also in the 2008 Convention. By bringing the last night of the Convention out to the people, we will be able to showcase Barack Obama’s positive, people-centered vision for our country in a big way. ”

Obama East to West - Our Events from Now To Election Day

Between now and election day, we play to hold at least one Obama London rally and meeting each month - so mark your diaries now.

The plan is to hold a rally (signs! banners! chanting! photographs!) on a different Lonon bridge each month right up until the weekend before the election. Each rally will be followed by a meeting in a nearby pub to include updates from campaign staffers and volunteer opportunities to assist our overseas and US Get Out The Vote efforts.

The first one is scheduled for Sunday, July 27th at 2:00 PM and will be held on Tower Bridge - stay tuned for further details.

After that, we'll be moving from East to West across London - provisional dates are as follows:

Saturday, August 16 – London Bridge

Saturday, September 13 – Millennium Bridge

Saturday, October 11 - Waterloo Bridge

Saturday, 1 November - Westminster Bridge (ELECTION WEEKEND!!!)

Yes We Span Rally - Now With Pictures

This Sunday a fired up group of 50 or more Obama supporters met for a photo session and rally on Millennium bridge here in London. This was part of a global intiative to take pictures of Obama supporters on Bridges all around the world - full credit to Meredith Wheeler of Toulouse France who came up with the initiative and has been making it happen in dozens of cities so far all around the world. We had good luck with the weather on the day and it was a cheerful, chanting crowd. Check it out - that's Meredith in the Statue of Liberty hat.


This view shows you St Paul's Cathedral behind us.

There were dozens of tourists and interested bystanders gawping and taking pictures. Fortunately, I don't think any of us there were actually shy.

Seventy Five THOUSAND?

What can I say but WOW!

Some 75,000 people flocked to Portland’s waterfront Sunday to watch Barack
Obama speak, making it the biggest rally the campaign has held to date.
Thousands stood on the lawn, dozens watched from boats and from the bridge
stretching across the Willamette River. A few kayakers held their paddles and
tried to keep their kayaks straight as they watched the candidate, who stood on
a makeshift platform.