Introductions

Please post a few words about yourself as a comment. Tell us who you are, what county you're in (state if you live outside of Colorado), what your political experience has been and your current affiliation. Finally tell us why you are participating, what you hope to learn and any other reason you're willing to be part of this. (This is optional, of course, you can be anonymous if you want. But it's been my experience that we'll all learn more from this if we get to know a little about each other.)

Events

What's going on that other people who want to be more politically active might like to know about? Please post each event as a SHORT comment to this post, include a link to a website where more information is available if possible.

Publish Post

We are now #1 listing on Google

Thanks to your active interest in what we are doing here, a search now on Google for "Colorado Caucuses" results in this site #1, top listing.

Good response to new, free online caucus workshop.

Over 100 people have RSVPd yes or maybe for the online workshop Action Class in Practical Politics that starts Monday.

A starter post will be put up here on this site each Monday morning with a link on Twitter, and it will be reposted on the Facebook group "I'm a Fan of the Colorado Caucuses" and those participating will be asked to repost it on any Internet site who they think might be interested. Highlights will be collected into an article each week that will appear in a print publication which will be announced next week.

Favorable publicity is expected over the next few days, and I'm very hopeful that together we can have a dramatic increase in the informed participation in the March 16th caucuses across the state. Evidence that we've succeeded will a renewal of leadership with fresh faces at all levels, from block workers and precinct committee people to district and county chairpeople.

Hope you'll join us! No RSVP is required, just come back here Monday morning. If you want to RSVP and share the fact that you'll be with us with your Facebook friends to encourage them to become more involved citizens, click on the above headline.

I look forward to seeing you back here Monday morning at 7 a.m. or anytime during the week. Post your comments here on this site (to make sure it gets included in our weekly aggregate print column) any of the other numerous Internet sites that will be carrying our "starter" post each week. If you have any questions or suggestions you'd care to share now, post them here as a comment or contact me (John Wren) directly at John@JohnWren.com or (303)861-1447.

Together we can increase the informed participation in the March 16th Colorado Caucuses!

The new online Action Class in Practical Politics has nearly 100 people in it already, it's part of the Facebook group I've started "I'm a fan of the Colorado Caucuses." The class will be very interactive and we'll get the benefit of the experience of lots of people. It should be good, but will be better if you are with us! Link to the upper left on this page. (Pleave me a comment here or email me at John@JohnWren.comif you think it's a mistake to offer this on Facebook only.)

 I recently got an email from someone who shared why he doesn't share my enthusiasm for the Colorado Caucuses:

The Caucus process works for people who can attend at 7pm on March 16th. However, it excludes people: those who will be out of town for work; truck drivers who make up time at night; people who work the night shifts at: hospitals, police stations, fire departments, call centers, grocery stores, convenience stores, 24-hour businesses, 24-hour public services, janitorial services; parents with young children who need to get them ready for bed at 7pm; the elderly and disabled who have to rely on others to get to their caucus locations; etc. -- they are EXCLUDED from being able to participate in choosing their candidate. For the past few years, when I make calls to remind active voters about their precinct caucus, I've heard the reasons listed above at least once for why a voter cannot participate - and they are not flippant about it, but actually wish they could participate in some way.

As a political activist, I love the concept of getting together with my neighbors to discuss our candidates and platform. However, you have to admit that the caucuses, unfortunately, have become an exclusive gathering, so I can't really say I'm a fan of the Colorado Caucuses.

The fact that not everyone can attend is a shortcoming of the neighborhood caucus system for nominating to the primary ballot. So is this a sufficient reason to change they system or to not support it by helping to reach out to newcomers?

No, not in my opinion. To me it's like jury duty. It's a civic responsibility some of us need to take on some of the time. Those who can't attend the caucus can still participate in the primary election. And candidates who want can still skip the caucus and petition onto the ballot.

What do you think? Please take just a minute and post a comment here, OK?

Check out the Colorado Secretary of State website. They have finally put a link on the elections home page to the new Colorado caucuses page as we have been requesting that they do. http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/

It's the #1 Google listing for "Colorado Caucuses" search as it should be.

This site is #2. :)