My "Personal" letters from former Presidents.

Just got this "personal" letter from George Bush, did you get one, too?

Reminds me of what happened back in 1973 when I lived in Wichita, Kansas and what first got me involved in politics that fall. It took more than a letter, but my becoming a Republican wouldn't have happened with it.

Back then I was suffering through one of my two or three biggest business mistakes. I owned a small wholesale distribution business that was getting smaller and smaller, until it went away in that fall and I retreated to graduate business school.

My neighbor Bill was very active in the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and in politics.

So when I got a letter from the White House, a small envelope marked "personal" and adressed to me from then President Nixon and signed by him personally (!) I figured Bill must have put him up to it.

The letter explained that I'd been identified as one of the leading new business people in the country, that President Nixon was putting together a re-election effort, and that he was writing to see if I'd be willing to help. Me! Help! The President!

Of course I'd be willing to help. So I did as instructed, filled out the invitation with the one or two items of information that the President's staff hadn't been able to find in their research of my backgroud, I figured, and took the letter to the post office to get it back to Washington ASAP. Washington!

I imagined the next step would probably be a trip back to Washington, a personal chat with the President, being introduced around, no telling what they might want me to do during the campaign. Great!

A week or so later I got a second letter from the White House, this one in a larger envelope. The letter thanked me for my prompt reply, and it told me what my assignment was, to send them the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three other business owners. And money. Send money.

It was only then that it became clear the first letter was just junk mail. This was before word processors, way before today's computers that make form letters so easy and common. So I was easily fooled. Duped!

But the letters got me thinking about politics, so when I went back to school that fall at the University of Denver and there was a DU College Republican Club recruitment table set up at registration I became involved. It wasn't hard to rise to the top quickly back in those Watergate years, just before Nixon won reelection and then was forced out of office.

I became Colorado State Chairman, and got to know Karl Rove when he gave a seminar to teach how to organize College Republican clubs at DU. Karl called me the next week and asked me to help him give the weekend workshop at Pepperdine College in Southern California, something we did several times in the weeks that followed in campuses across the west. In 1974 we had the College Republican National Convention here in Denver, where Karl Rove met Dick Wadhams.

It was all a great learning experience, and it probably wouldn't have happened it I'd not received that letter in Wichita from the President. It really did look like he'd sat at his desk and signed it himself. :)

Since then I've worked in campaigns and been a candidate for local office as a Republican and as a Democrat. Currently I'm registered Unaffiliated with the hope that will help me get more people involved in their local neighborhood and in the 2014 Colorado Caucus. 

This is the first day of the 2014 Colorado Caucus.

If you want to make a difference, start connecting with your neighbors now. Our system of government the powers of the President are very limited. It really doesn't make much difference who is elected President.

What will kill us is if our neighborhoods and the powerful grassroots system for helping the common person get elected to public office dies. Colorado is one of the few states where it still survives.

The system could become one of our top exports if we are good stewards of it here. In the next couple of days, we'll post here a plan for revitalizing your neighborhood, and it will be discussed on a local radio show next week. Stay tuned.

One person can make a big, big difference. In your neighborhood, let it be you!

In some ways it doesn't matter nearly as much who ends up as President in this election as it is that we don't let the grassroots die. If you want to strengthen the grassroots in your neighborhood, get involved now. Then you'll be ready to to your neighborhood caucus in 2014, and in 2016 you can make a real difference. Here's a short video about our Colorado Caucus, why it's important in strengthening the grassroots, and what you can do. It's only too late if we don't start now!

It should be up to the parties to decide whether they would prefer a relatively high-turnout delegate selection scheme that would put more influence with mass electorates or a system that empowers smaller, more dedicated groups of party activists. The parties are also best positioned to figure out which influences they prefer (including second-order influences; mass electorates give more power to the media, which parties might not like). More to the point, it’s the parties who have everything at stake here, so they should be the ones to choose.
 Jonathan Bernstein, Yes, Caucuses Are Unfair. No, We Shouldn’t Mind. The New Republic 

I'll be Tweeting my estimate of each candidates PERMA score after each debate round.

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/newsletter.aspx?id=1554

Well, the Denver Post didn't publish my letter (see below.)

And the candidates didn't address my primary concern, will they both pledge the other after the election? And do they recognize that under our system of government the CEO has very limited power compared to the thousands of local representatives who are elected each year?

Maybe they will speak to these issues tonight. I'll be Tweeting my reactions during the debate @JohnSWren, hope you'll say hi with a direct message if you are Tweeting. It will be interesting to compare how many hits this site gets tonight compared to last week when I was blogging for the Denver Post.

John Wren

I just sent this letter to the Denver Post:

cc:  Rick Palacio, Ryan Call (state chairs of Colorado Dems & GOP)

 Dear Editors,

 When I watch The Debate (and Tweeting @JohnSWren #POTUS2012DU with my comments),(and the leaders of our major Colorado political parties) I'll be especially looking for two things:

 1) Recognition that whoever is elected President is worthy of and needs our support.

 These are two good men, no matter what their over zealous followers say about the other. Our rights, over time, are protected by our Constitution, what this country needs now more than ever is a President and political leaders who can inspire unity.

 2) Recognition that it doesn't so much matter who is elected President as who is elected to local offices.

 Thousands of local representatives are elected across the country in every election cycle, and the grassroots is either strengthend with new and newly active citizens being drawn into our system of government, first working for candidates, political parties, and all sorts of political clubs, and then perhaps running for office themselves, or it is weakened with candidates who just pay people to pass petitions, run ads and send direct mail, candidates who almost never inspire new people to get involved.

 A home run for me? The candidate (or political leader) who salutes our Colorado Caucus, the best chance for the common person to serve in elected public office, and who encourages those who want to get involved in our 2014 Caucus to DO IT Now! The debate is a fantastic opportunity to encourage new people involved NOW in a campaign or with their favorite party or political club.

 John Wren

960 Grant St. #727
Denver, CO 80203
(303)861-1447

 Wren is one of 12 DU Debate bloggers for the Denver Post,

he writes about the Colorado Caucus on www.COCaucus.org.

 

This is one of the first posts I made here on this site.
It's very relevant to the comment I just posted on the
article about the Presidential Debates in the University
of Denver Alumni Magazine.  John Wren

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Lyle Lindesmith taught me to love the Colorado Caucus.

In 1976, as a recently elected precinct committee person going door to door looking for a block captain on one of the few blocks in my precinct that didn't have one already, I met Lyle Lindesmith.

I was talking with everyone who was on my list of party members. I'd knock on the door, introduce myself, and ask for help.

Until the moment I met Lyle, my political mentor had been Karl Rove. Karl was National Chairman of College Republicans, I'd been elected Colorado Chairman. Karl taught me how to organize a college campus, my neighbor and new friend Lyle taught me how to apply what I'd learned to the neighborhood.

For years Lyle had led a 4-session class call "Action Class in Practical Politics." Each week he'd invite speakers from both major political parties, and students were give homework assignments of checking out their local neighborhood and county, reporting back to the class what had been discovered.

He'd been Executive Director of the GOP, and with Jeane Toole they developed John Love from an obscure El Paso County Republican into Governor. Lyle went with Love to Washington when he was appointed Energy Czar.

Lyle asked me to help with what I think was the last session of the Action Class he ever led, it was at the old Petroleum Club and community activist Jeanne Faatz http://www.jeannefaatz.org/ was in the class, just starting to think about running for elective office. She was soon elected to the state legislature, and now serves on the Denver City Council.

From time to time I stopped by and visited with Lyle at his business, Englewood Press on South Broadway, and he steeped me in his long-time political wisdom, advice that would have served me well if I'd paid more attention to it. Here's what I remember now:

*Make a decision whether you want to be a candidate for elected office, or if you'd rather be of service through party work. Lyle had learned from personal experience the two don't mix, that's been my experience, too.

*Party leaders, from precinct committee person to state chair do their job best when they stay neutral in candidate races. Let all the candidates bring new people into the party rather than compete for the party faithful.

*There are several ways to get involved: 1) Through the party structure; 2) Through auxiliary organizations; 3) Through candidate organizations. Lyle had Action Class members contact their local leaders in all three areas, look for opportunities to fill voids in their neighborhood.

You who are reading this now could become State Chair of one of the major political parties or Governor of Colorado if you'd take Lyle's sage advice to heart right now. What's the best next step for newcomers? I'll talk about that more tomorrow.

I didn't know Lyle very long, but he had a big effect on my thinking and he helped to launch many active citizens in both major parties. He passed away December 26, 1978 and I attended his funeral. There was never any recognition of his passing by the county or state party. Do you think it's too late now?

Presidential debate coming to our University of Denver, read all about it in the alumni magazine, where you can also see John Wren's comment about the effect of political parties, the best chance the common person has for serving in elected public office, that's why the elite hate them so much:
http://blogs.du.edu/today/magazine/the-great-debate#comment-51842

Now is the time to start thinking about participating in your 2014 neighborhood caucus. Get involved with a campaign, a political club, a neighborhood association, or start your own group and reach out to your neighbors. 

My friend Sue O'Brien wrote in this editorial in 2002 when our wonderful Colorado Caucus, our neighborhood system for nominating candidates to the primary ballot, was in danger of being killed by Amendment 29. Partly because of Sue's and The Denver Post's strong support of the Colorado Caucus, the misguided Amendment 29 was defeated.

Sue's wonderful column is still very much worth reading as a reminder of why the caucus-assembly system is worth preserving, warts and all. I hope someone forwards a copy of this to the Republican National Committee, which is considering whether or not to ban the caucus as a way to pick the delegates who nominate the RNC's Presidential candidate.  Here's what Sue wrote in the Denver Post:

Caucuses aren't for ciphers
October 6, 2002
by Sue O'Brien

cipher - a person or thing of no importance or value; nonentity

- New World College Dictionary

So, what will we choose to be: ciphers or individuals?

Ciphers are faceless. They have value only as something to count - a signature on a petition or a vote to tally by machine. It's easy for ciphers to hide out. Hey, they're just part of the mob.

Individuals, by contrast, stand out. They take responsibility. And they rarely hide.

We have a sovereign opportunity to become ciphers this November. One of the few mechanisms left in modern politics that rewards individual initiative - the precinct caucus - is on the brink of being eliminated in favor of a political nominating system that would let wannabe candidates get on the ballot only by collecting - and counting - petition signatures.

It's a lousy proposal put forth by an otherwise admirable organization: the Bighorn Center for Public Policy.

Now, I have nothing against getting on the ballot by petition. But why eliminate the choice - caucus or petition - that our present system provides?

It's not as though there's something inherently wrong with the caucus. And, even though these grassroots conclaves have seen declining attendance in recent years, there's a lot inherently good about them.

Look around modern society. We have a woeful lack of what Harvard scholar Robert Putnam calls "social capital" - the dynamism that comes from doing things together and making community decisions together. Yet the spate of election "reforms" we're seeing these days almost seems designed to stomp out the last vestiges of community collaboration.

"Voting and following politics are relatively undemanding forms of participation," writes Putnam in his influential "Bowling Alone." "In fact, they are not, strictly speaking, forms of social capital at all, because they can be done utterly alone."

We can be utterly alone, too, when we perform the two other actions modern politics seems to want to limit us to: writing checks and watching attack ads on TV. We're systematically replacing "social capital" with plain old monetary capital.

Colorado's traditional caucus-convention system, in contrast, rewards the shoe-leather and diligence. It provides a low-cost way for aspirants to work the neighborhoods, investing energy instead of dollars. Recent proof of this pudding came in the race for the GOP nomination in the 7th Congressional District, where Rick O'Donnell captured first line on the primary ballot with a low-budget campaign that focused on traditional caucus and door-to-door campaigning. O'Donnell eventually lost the primary to the better-funded Bob Beauprez, but his achievement in getting on the ballot was impressive.

But even more important than the caucus' benefits for candidates is its benefit for ordinary citizens. It's a vibrant neighborhood forum for hashing out ideas - the last remaining arena in which you can get on the first rung of the ladder toward political effectiveness by just showing up.

I've covered precinct or town caucuses in Iowa, Maine, Minnesota and Mississippi as well as Colorado. My favorite memory is of escorting a big-deal network analyst to his very first caucus in an American Legion hall in Iowa. This was a political expert well into his 50s, yet he'd never seen a caucus; primaries had always been his beat. He was blown away. For the first time in years of covering politics, he told me, he'd seen the true face of America.

He was right. Caucuses offer a peculiarly intimate view of a community and its people. They'll amaze you with the quality of caring and thought participants bring to the discussion. And sometimes, if you're very lucky, you'll see new, young leaders find their first toehold in the process.

Why is the Colorado caucus withering? First, because the legislature, in an ineffectual grab for national headlines, created a meaningless presidential primary that eliminated the headline race that once inspired much caucus activism.

Second, because we're all getting good at sitting on the sidelines. The Kettering Foundation's David Mathews once reminded readers that the word idiot comes from the Greeks. Privacy, they thought, was akin to stupidity. "Idiots" were incapable of finding their place in the social order.

Why bow to the trend of letting the next guy do it? Why sell out to letting money replace shoe-leather at every level of American politics?

Why not keep the caucus as an open door to involvement, while continuing to provide the petition alternative? Bighorn's goal may be to increase the number of people peripherally involved in the process - but the initiative will never replace the quality of participation the caucus can provide.

Good political talk … is where we recognize the connectedness of things - and our own connectedness. … Good political talk is also where we discover what is common amidst our differences. -David Mathews, "Civic Intelligence"

Sue O'Brien was editor of the Denver Post editorial page.

Just back from attending Denver District 2 meeting in the cafeteria at Morey Jr. High, then first of breakout for Precinct 206 where I live (10th & Grant on Capitol Hill.) I Tweeted @JohnSWren. I'm registered Unaffiliated, so I only attended tonight to observe and to try and get support for my idea of a monthly neighborhood meeting.

District Captain Micheal told me it was his first time in the role, I thought he did a great job. But it was a tough crowd. Most energetic person was a woman rounding up volunteers for Obama for America phone bank.

Micheal led the Pledge of Allegiance, read the rules, and went through the agenda and the paperwork that needed to be complete.Rick Palacio. Rep Mark Ferrandino and a couple of others gave short talks, and the next District 2 meeting at the end of March was announced. Then everyone was sent to meet with their neighbors.

Only 3 men were in the classroom breakout for our Precinct 206, and they were very open to my idea of holding a monthly neighborhood meeting at Charlie Brown's, social, not political. GOP precinct caucus and new committee person Chris were also open to it, so it should happen. It will be interesting to see what impact it has on attendance for GOP and Dem 206 attendance in two years.

Micheal thought our idea for a monthly non-political, non-partisan  was a good idea, and that he might  encourage other districts to do the same thing, which would be great.

Even though the attendance was shockingly low, it seemed to me it was a positive experience for everyone who attended. I can hardly wait to see what it's like in 2014.

Love your neighbor!

Fr. Drew Kirschman, Assistant to the President of Arrupe Jesuit High School gave a talk at Denver's St. Ignatius of Loyola Church today about trust as part of the metro-Denver Jesuit's Lenten Lecture Series which has been reconstituted after a 5 year hiatus.

Trust is a process, it about relationships, and it has to do with expectations. It was a great talk, and lessons that need to be carried into the state-wide Colorado Caucus next Tuesday (March 6). These are free, open meetings, if you are registered as a Democrat and have lived where you are now you can vote, but anyone can attend. I'm suggesting that people "Occupy the Caucus." If you don't know where to go, use the search tool on http://www.coloradodems.org/

Grassroots Rules (click here) documents the effect of the caucus system for nominating to the primary ballot. Big money and big power hate the system, this book makes clear why.

 A Powerful Tool for Advancing Your Political Agenda

There are many reasons to participate in your neighborhood caucus aside from participating in the selection of your party's candidate for President.

Most important is the selection of delegates who will select local candidates.

Another reason to attend your caucus, one that is almost never discussed in the media, is to put forward resolutions that can be adopted at county, state, and even the national convention for one of the major political parties.

The caucus resolution is sort of a suggestion box on steroids. What the caucus passes is reviewed by the county resolutions committee. Resolutions that have broad support as demonstrated by being adopted by many of the caucuses, or for any other reason that the committee sees as sufficient, are put before the delegates at the county assembly. Those adopted by the counties are then considered by the state resolutions committee, and may be put before the voters at the state assembly. The process is then repeated at the national level. At each level there can be discussion, debate, and promotion of the idea in various ways such at advertising, distribution of fliers to delegates, workshops, etc.

I've never seen this resolution process discussed in-depth in the popular media, just one of the reasons caucus attendance is so low.

Here's an explanation by one special interest group you may find useful:  http://archive.fairvote.org/index.php?page=2191

What resolutions do you think will come up in the March 6 Colorado Caucus? (Yes, it will be mostly Democrats that gather since they are the only ones that vote, but by Colorado Law these are open public meetings, and anyone could put forward a resolution.)

Have you ever put forward a resolution? Do you think it made a difference? Your comment here would be very much appreciated. And please forward this along to any of your friends who you know have had experience using this tool to achieve their political purpose.

Yesterday I was asked what I was advocating beyond caucus attendance, when I ask for response to the Washington Post article about the Republican National Committee considering elimination of the neighborhood caucus in the selection of Presidential delegates in the few states that still use the system. (See my previous post, hope you'll comment as requested in yellow highlight.)


Here is the answer I just sent her:

I just woke with your question on my mind, Andrea,

Seems to me our representative system of self government works best when there is friendly competition between neighbors, both major political parties trying to outdo the other in community building, and from that there is the best chance that everything else will get worked out to the benefit of all.

I just read this, and it sums up what I'm advocating for from my friends in both major parties, as together we all build our community: "There are obstacles in the path of community life, and they have to be fought against. For example, that sort of "gossip" that creates bewilderment and prejudices, that extinguishes trust, that does not "speak well" (bene dicere) about others. Before speaking or criticizing, we must ask ourselves about the basis, the usefulness and worth of our words. All murmuring, all harmful speech must be avoided. We have to insist on what unites us, on the work of our group, on our aims, on mutual trust. ...It is in community that we live united, of one heart and mind." Prior General, Fra Ángel M. Ruiz Garnica

Washington Post reports that the caucus-assembly system for nominating to the primary ballot is under attack by the Republican National Committee.

Not surprising.

The rich and powerful hate the system. They are who was behind the 2002 Amendment 29 here in Colorado that would have killed it for us.

But this attack can be stopped.

Back in 2002 a few of us banded together and formed Save the Caucus. Despite being outspend 1400 to 1, it was defeated 60% to 40%

You can help NOW. Post a comment here supporting our Colorado Caucus and/or the caucus system in general. Then share this page with your friends and encourage them to come here and do the same thing.

If enough show there support here, maybe we can stop this misguided effort in it's tracks.

Thanks for your help!

John Wren
Publisher, COCaucus.org and Facebook.com/Colorado.Caucus.News
Questions? Call me at (303)861-1447

Colorado State Bill today mentions me as caucus cheerleader, see link I've just posted on Colorado Caucus News Facebook Page. It right under post of Tina Griego's very interesting recount of her rural caucus experience Tuesday night.

I keep thinking there is no further need of a independent group to support our wonderful Colorado Caucus, the best chance for the common person to serve in elected public office, and then the system is slammed by Colorado State Bill and others. Maybe our work here is not finished.

You may have noticed there are no advertisements here on this site. It's not because I didn't try. Google AdSense just never worked, we missed out on some fairly serious money, I'd guess, we've been getting a couple of thousand hits a day here on COCaucus.com for the last few days.

I'm probably going to fold this site and other activities to promote the Colorado Caucus into the Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc that I'm in the process of organizing. Right now the virtual group is offering to help local chambers of commerce organize startup workshops and low cost/ no cost peer advisory groups for startups and small businesses. We don't plan on taking positions on political issues, we'll leave that up to the local chambers. But the one exception might be the Colorado Caucus, maybe one or two others that will be determined by the board of directors that will be formed in the next few weeks.

Our next big project will be to organize the 2nd Colorado Conference at the Capitol. The first was held 10 years ago, right after the defeat of Amendment 29.  It will be sponsored by PioneerHQ.com, the new Colorado Almanac and Small Business Directory.

If you'd be willing to help this effort in any way, or if you'd like more information about what's coming next, please contact me anytime at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447

John Wren
Publisher, COCaucus.org

"OK, compiling Tweets just didn't work last night, my computer was way, way too slow. But I'm still going to try and bring together another Colorado Caucus Conference at the Capitol after the elections in November. Would you be willing to share your experience from last night? I'll be asking the same question of the Democrats after their Colorado Caucus in March. If you'd be willing to share send me an email at John@JohnWren.com"


This is the post I just made on our Colorado Caucus News Facebook Page, where I also just posted two VERY interesting articles, one on the effect of social media on last night's outcome, and another from NPR that looks at why putting on a caucus is worth it for the political parties involved.

We almost lost our wonderful neighbor to neighbor Colorado system for nominating to the primary ballot in 2002 when misguided Amendment 29 got on the ballot by paying petition passers to gather signatures.

The Colorado Caucus is taking place across the state for the 50th time since it was started 100 years ago as part of the Teddy Roosevelt progressive reforms. I believe it is the full flowering of the representative system the  founders of our country had in mind.

Tonight Republicans gathered in 3000+ meetings across the state, in March Democrats.

Some complain that only 10 or 20 neighbors represent the 300+ registered voters of their party in their neighborhood. As long as the meetings are fair and open and well publicized, I just don't see this as a problem. Would a jury of 12 be any more fair?

What I know for sure is that the system is a breeding ground for bright new leaders, as is easily seen by any who pays attention. It is the best chance the common person has for serving in elected public office.

And for now our way is safe from those powerful forces that would kill it if they could.

John Wren

I'm just back from South High School Denver District 2 meeting, I sat with Precinct 206, which is where I live, had a voice, no vote. I Twitted @JohnSWren as events unfolded.

My major impressions: It was very, very orderly. Almost no electioneering. Speakers for candidates seemed to be volunteers putting themselves forward at the last moment, for the most part. No signs or buttons.

I brought up idea of getting together an open neighborhood meeting, the young man elected precinct committee person liked the idea and said he'd call me about it.

Twitter on my computer running very slow, posting highlights not working. I suggest you follow them live at hashtag  #COCaucus on http://Twitter.com

I'll post my overall impressions later tonight.

John Wren

Want more Colorado customers? Free listing for your business at http://PioneerHQ.com 

My favorite #COCaucus Tweets:

 lynnbartels Here we go caucus! Here we go! Clap clap!

 SenatorBrophy The real selection in CO will be April 14th. It might get really interesting at State Assembly

 @davidtreece Romney wins at South High School!

Colorado Republicans just now announced a website dedicated to watch statewide results for the 2012 caucuses. The website www.results.cologop.org is equipped with an interactive map which allows viewers to see caucus results by county and statewide totals. There is also an integrated twitter feed on the site for voters to get real time information about the caucus and the results from the Colorado Republican Party.

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Ryan Call just made the announcement and he said, "Colorado Republicans are aiming to deliver transparent results in real time and our new webpage will help us do just that. Today’s caucus is Colorado’s first step toward victory in November and tools like this webpage will help us build our online presence as we move forward.”

Do you use Twitter on your smart phone? 

Tonight Tweet reports from your caucus using #COCaucus hashtag, highlights will be compiled here. Top posters will be invited to be on a panel to discuss the caucus-assembly process at the post-election Colorado Caucus Conference at the Capitol next November.

Want more customers for your business in Colorado? Get a free listing in the new Colorado Almanac & Small Business Directory PioneerHQ.com (click here.) 

Starting a new business? Want a job in the direction of your dream? Attend a free Small Business Chamber startup workshop, see www.SmallBizChamber.org (click here.) 

 

My friend Dan just asked me for my advice for participating in his GOP neighborhood caucus, his first time to attend. So for Dan and anyone else who is attending for their first caucus, here's my advice.

First, you might read this column I wrote for the Colorado Statesman newspaper (click here.)

Then come back here and read it again after next Tuesday.

Here's the key to success: Show up, listen, and ask questions.

Grassroots politics is a long distance race, and a bit of an acquired taste. Talk by telephone with your precinct committee people in advance. Let them know it's your first time. Ask for his or her advice. How do you find them? Call you're county GOP office, you'll find a link to it on http://www.ColoGOP.org (If there is no one serving, offer to chair the meeting yourself, it's not that difficult.)

Get to your precinct meeting at least a half-hour early next Tuesday, and plan on staying late to talk with people after the meeting. Be willing to take on whatever jobs are offered. You'll learn by doing. When you call your county office, they may ask you to serve as precinct committee person because there is a vacancy. If they do, take the job.

Don't let it overwhelm you, but here is some very good information put together by the Colorado Republicans that should answer most of your questions. http://www.cologop.org/faq/

The first order of business is to elect delegates, see the above link. Hold up your hand and say you'd be willing to go. If you've decided on a candidate in any race, you'll get a chance to speak. Remember, it's ok to go as an uncommitted delegate, then you can make up your mind based on full information just before the vote is taken, I think the parties would be much stronger if more uncommitted delegates were elected.

After reading the GOP website and poking around here on this website, if you still have a question post it here and I'll give you my opinion.

Good luck, Dan, and anyone else reading this. Attending your caucus with your neighbors can be a very rewarding experience. They are all good, in my opinion, but some are much better than others. If you see ways to improve the one you attend, you'll have a chance to make a big difference in it in two years. But good or not so good, you'll always remember your first. Have fun!


Want more customers? Get a free listing for your business in the new Colorado Almanac and Small Business Directory, for more information click on "Free Listing" at http://PioneerHQ.com 

I just had a journalist from South America call me, he wanted to know my thoughts about the Tuesday GOP Caucus, and to tell me he'll be here in Colorado Tuesday to cover it for his paper. Wow.

We are now getting lots of hits on this blog, it's #1 if you Google "Colorado Caucus", and we are getting lots of visitors on the Colorado Caucus News Facebook Page (click here) where we post articles about the Colorado Caucus. If you have Colorado Caucus news that I've missed, email it to me at John@JohnWren.com

Ryan Call, the state chair for the Colorado GOP has done a great job getting word out about the neighborhood caucuses. And I think it has helped the GOP to be going early, while there is still lots of interest in the Presidential race, and to be separate from the Democrats which will be held in March.

It looks to me like Republicans will have a big, big turnout Tuesday. Weather shouldn't be a problem, even if it is I don't expect it will keep those who are interested in attending, the true believers, away.

Tuesday should be interesting!

John Wren
Publisher, COCaucus.org
John@JohnWren.com
(303)861-1447

Want more customers? Get a free listing for your Colorado Business
see PioneerHQ.com, Colorado's new Almanac & Small Business Directory 

Colorado Caucus News

See local and national stories about the Colorado Caucuses, the system for nominating delegates to the national conventions and candidates for local elections. Click here

Are you going to your neighborhood caucus this year?

Vote in the Facebook poll that just went up. Click on the link (above), then click on your answer to the poll question, make a comment if you want. Just takes a few seconds.

Occupy the Caucus!

If you are an elected official, party leader, candidate, or just a concerned citizen, you can perform a great public service in the next few days by organizing and leading an information session about our wonderful Colorado Caucus at your local library.  You can see sessions like this that have already been announced on our Facebook Page, http://Facebook.com/Colorado-Caucus-News 

Here's all you have to do:

1.  Make sure you understand the system yourself, review the information on this site.

2.  Talk with your local librarian and set a date.

3.  Invite the leadership from both major political parties to participate.

4.  Send out a media release. This should be done right away. You may want to hand deliver it. If you'd like the information of your release posted on Colorado Caucus News, email a copy to John@JohnWren.com

5.  Hold the session and make another media release.

Both political parties hold information sessions like this, but they tend to keep attracting the same people. The objective of an unaffiliated session like this is to reach out to newcomers.

Practice sessions for Colorado Caucus

We are going to start using the Franklin Circle Beginners Meetings as a forum for distributing information to anyone who would like to become a more active Colorado citizen. Watch for a media release next week, for now, RSVP for our 4 p.m. meeting next Friday.