PDA Celebrates Our 5th Birthday
June 26, 2009
Sign up to throw a birthday party here | Get your party-pak here
When Progressive Democrats of America launched in Roxbury on July 29, 2004, who knew that PDA would grow to become the “
most valuable progressive organization” in the country?
Those of us present at the founding knew what PDA could become, but we were also aware of the pitfalls in trying to organize progressives across the country. Many had gone before us and had failed. The founders understood the need to empower individuals, to give them the tools they needed to become effective organizers in their own communities, and to create an environment in which each person had equal voice. Our goal was to address those needs within a framework—a truly bottom-up grassroots organization.
Like all youngsters, we stumbled a few times and made some mistakes, yet on the whole PDA has been successful and continues to grow because we remain true to our mission. What other national organization has developed a network of grassroots volunteers who are as smart, dedicated, and committed to progressive ideals as PDA? What other national organization has been at the forefront of ending the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and working for a just peace in the Middle East, enacting single-payer healthcare and election reforms, stopping global warming, and working for economic justice? What other organization has done so much with so little funding?
Now five years old, PDA has carved out a niche with our inside/outside strategy, working alone or building alliances with like-minded groups to work on issues and elect progressive candidates outside the beltway, and putting pressure on Congress inside the beltway. We have earned our reputation as an organization that gets things done.
And we’ve done all this on a shoestring budget—PDA is supported by only 1% of our members. With more funding, imagine what we could accomplish. From buying materials and distributing them, providing tools for organizing, improving our website, to hiring more staff, more funding will support more effective organizing.
Beginning Wednesday, July 29, through Sunday August 2, we’re having birthday parties--coast to coast! Let’s celebrate our accomplishments by partying everywhere, and let’s secure PDA’s future by reaching the goal of 500 new Change makes Change partners! (Look for a thermometer measuring our success on our [home page pdamerica.org] beginning mid-July.
Sign up to throw a birthday party here
Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch.
Get your party-pak here
The pak includes stickers to give away, bumper stickers to sell, DVDs and t-shirts to auction off, and even a candle for your birthday cake! Order a pak for 10, 20, or 40 people and the cost will be refunded if you successfully sign up 10, 20, or 40 new Change makes Change partners. (This includes current sustainers who raise their monthly contribution.)
Click here for a detailed description of the party-pak.
What’s a party without some friendly competition? The Congressional District with the most new sustainers will win a PDA event in their district. Tim, Laura, and Conor will work with the winning chapter to create an event tailored to your needs, and we’ll bring a special guest with us to your event!
As several of our issues hang in the balance, it is important to remember our past accomplishments and recognize that PDA is making an important difference. Our fifth birthday is a good time to pat yourself on the back because PDA’s success is your success—you are PDA!
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