I learned years ago, as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side, that progress and change in our country rarely comes from the top down.

It’s people working at the grassroots, involving their coworkers, neighbors and friends, who have the power to prod the policy-makers to change course. Whether it’s ending this war or getting people health care or lifting people out of poverty, the movement for change begins with you.

It’s one thing to understand that in theory. It’s another to sit in a room full of motivated people, make a plan, and then witness the effects of hard work. To win, this campaign will need to build a movement, and that doesn’t happen spontaneously. It happens because you roll up your sleeves and get to work.

So we’re getting organized — locally and nationally.

On March 31st, I’d like you to host a Community Kickoff event. Whether your local group has already been meeting or this will be the first time supporters will meet in person, this kickoff event is the next step in expanding your reach.

I’ll be in a town in Iowa the same day working to build our support there. We’ll have a live video stream and a conference call from this Iowa event starting at 3 PM Central time so that you can see first hand how we’re building our community of support in this crucial first contest.

We’ve put together the materials and online tools you’ll need to make it happen. Will you start planning a Community Kickoff event right now?

http://action.barackobama.com/hopeactionchange

March 31st is just the beginning.

The main component of the agenda for every local group will be kicking off a week of action to spread the word and build the movement in that community.

The March 31st national organizing meetings will be the launching pad for local action the following week. Some groups will plan one action, while others will plan dozens of events like canvassing or community service.

The theme for these events is “Hope, Action, Change.” That sequence can transform a nation. The link between hope and change is action. So bring together your friends, family, and neighbors on Saturday, March 31, in a national day of community gatherings to kick off a week of localized action:

http://action.barackobama.com/hopeactionchange

To build on the hope for a better future that we all share, we have to take responsibility for our own communities. I want to see you and people across America come together in living rooms to plan what you can do to grow this campaign.

If you’re not ready to host an event but want to attend one in your area, search for events near you here:

http://action.barackobama.com/hopeactionchange

This campaign has already sparked an unprecedented wave of organizing across the country. But this election is a long way off.

It’s up to you to harness that energy in your community and build it into an organization that will last.

Together we have an incredible opportunity to bring politics back to our neighborhoods and communities, where people genuinely care about our common future and believe that we have the power to shape the kind of society in which we live.

Let’s get started.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

P.S. — In the last few days over 9,000 people like you participated in our new donor drive, in which any supporter could offer to match someone’s first donation to the campaign. Each one had the opportunity to share a personal note with the person who matched their contribution, and across the country stories were shared and new connections were made. You can still participate in the program here: http://action.barackobama.com/match

For immediate Release:
March 2, 2007
From: Dr. BLT Music
To: Merle Haggard and his peeps

A song by Dr Bruce L. Thiessen, aka, Dr. BLT of Bakersfield, California, paying tribute to Merle Haggard’s fighting side is climbing this chart, jumping over 1200 notches in one week to land at number 243 this week:

http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/lwwsongspage.html

The Dr. BLT song that proceeded it, Neil Young (Have you Forgotten), hit #1 on this chart back in July of 2006 and now rests at #155. It was also named the # 8 Best Record of 2006 by Blogcritics magazine writer, Al Barger here:

http://www.morethings.com/music/best_songs_2006.htm

The Merle Haggard tribute song can be heard and downloaded for free at the site of the chart or here.

Merle Hasn’t Lost His Fightin’ Side
Dr BLT
words and music by Dr Bruce L. Thiessen, aka Dr. BLT (c) 2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/MerleVeryLast.mp3