alamObama! Ask ObamaMama! Advice for San Antonio Grassroots Obama Volunteers!

Dear ObamaMama,
When we get our walk-list, is it better to go door-to-door or to phone?
- Timid on Tobin Hill, October 12

Dear Timid,
No need to be fearful. The best way to provide the voters in your neighborhood with information is WHATEVER WORKS for YOU. Since you will be delivering valuable information about Early Voting and Senator Obama's position on critical issues, the vast majority of your neighbors will thank-you whether you knock on their doors or call them on the phone. As for me, when my knees give out, I let my fingers do the walking...

Dear ObamaMama,
I'm pulling my hair out over stolen yard signs. What IS this world coming to??
- Nearly Hairless in Harlandale, October 11

Dear Nearly Hairless,
Rule #1: Signs don't vote.
Rule #2: Refer to Rule #1
It's just a sign, and not worth losing sleep over. If you are determined to be defiant toward the hooligans, try nailing your new sign to a sturdy tree in your front yard or placing it in a front window. And remember, you are helping the economy when you buy a new sign! Obama signs are all made by good union workers, so buy two and nail one to each side of your sturdy tree!

Dear ObamaMama,
Not to brag, but we thought you might like to know what we are doing for Senator Obama in our precinct. I've teamed up with my hubby (the Precinct Chair) to register, inform, and engage our neighbors. I do the leg work (leaving homemade flyers on their doors with voting and campaign info) and he does the phoning (bummed knee...) to update the list we are using to keep up with our neighbors' needs for registration, rides to the polls, and willingness to HELP. We're planning a Precinct Breakfast soon...We'll keep you posted.
- Couples Who Campaign Together Stay Together :-), September 12

Dear Campaign Couple,
Sounds like you have many years of campaign cuddling ahead!

Dear ObamaMama,
Oh My! The election is only 2 months away and I couldn't stand myself if Obama wasn't our next president. But, I work full time and have a family. How can I possibly help? - Time Challenged in Universal City, September 5

Dear Time Challenged,
Your letter brings a story to mind: Just yesterday a volunteer was jumping up and down with excitement because she registered 11 voters at the laundromat while her clothes were drying. Moral: Every effort counts! You can wear an Obama button while running errands and let people know that the deadline for registration is Oct 6. You can give people directions to Early Voting Sites listed on the Bexar County Elections website. You can drive your neighbor to the polls when you go. Yes You Can!

Dear ObamaMama,
I have talked to a number of former Hillary Clinton supporters who say they are now going to vote for McCain because they want to see a woman vice-president. Don't they realize that Palin is against everything that Hillary is for, and for everything that Hillary is against? -Baffled in Balcones Heights, August 30

Dear Baffled,
In her convention speech, Hillary Clinton made it very clear to her supporters that the only way to bring about positive change in our country is to support Barack Obama! Supporting a candidate who would work against everything that Hillary will be fighting for in the Senate would be a denial of her great political legacy to the American people! Tell your friends to go down to Hidalgo County on September 21. They'll find Hillary campaigning for Barack Obama! And they should read this myBO post of a letter from Ann Richards' daughter Cecile.

Dear ObamaMama,
I'm trying to recruit a team to work my precinct. Do you think it's a good idea to just cruise around to see who already has an Obama sign in their front yard and just knock on their door to see if they are interested? -Eager in Monte Vista, August 17

Dear Eager,
Good thinking! Until we can get get you a list of people who have signed up to help, you can take the initiative to find fellow Obama supporters in your neighborhood. Remember to check for Obama bumper stickers, too.

Dear ObamaMama,
What's the deal? My voicemail and email are full of requests to help with precinct coverage and I was a "Precinct Captain" during the primary. Don't people keep track of this info? And, by the way, my friend is a "Precinct Chair." Is this the same, different, better, or what?
- Confused in Helotes, August 16

Dear Confused,
Not a surprise that all these "C" words would Confuse a hard working volunteer.
Let me try to Clarify:

Precinct Captain is a role designated by a particular candidate's campaign with specific duties related to precinct organization.
Precinct Chair is an elected position in a Political Party with specific duties related to precinct organization.
Precinct Coordinator is a role that has been defined by our local Democratic party in precincts where a Precinct Chair does not exist with specific duties related to precinct organization.

The goal of the Obama campaign is to unite all these "C's" like one big family to work together, organize and get out LOTS of voters on Nov 4.

Dear ObamaMama,
I was block-walking the other day and one of my neighbors told me she was voting for McCain. I tried to convince her to vote for Obama and she got mad and slammed the door in my face. - Shattered in Shavano Park, August 15

Dear Shattered,
No need for tears while blockwalking for Senator Obama. While delivering this message of Hope and Change, no doubt you will find some folks who disagree. Just keep on smiling and knocking.
p.s. It never hurts to leave some literature in case a slammer has a change of heart.