Brought to you by Bob Soule, E-newsletter Editor

As we watch the leaves falling and the campaigns reaching a fever pitch, we all realize that this 2008 election will be over before we know it.  And - as we overheard a 22 year old voter saying recently -

"It's the most important election of my whole life!"

We have no doubt that there are many of you who are even older than 22 who feel the same way...      Let's all be sure that we do whatever we can in this last two weeks to bring the changes we hope to see in our country and our state.  Please read this newsletter and find at least one or two things you can do, so that when Election Day is over, we can all know that we did everything we could!

 Get Out The Vote (GOTV, for short) - Sat., Nov. 1 through Tues., Nov. 4 (Election Day)    

            This is the big push that we've been preparing for all fall.  We will be organizing phone banks at our Democratic HQ on Center St., and at Carris Reels in Center Rutland.  We need many volunteers to call lists of Rutland County Democrats (our supporters - friendly!) reminding them to vote, offering rides to the polls, etc.  The calling is very organized, and the process is simple to learn, so you don't need any previous experience. 

            Ideally, we hope you can volunteer for a four hour shift, but if your schedule doesn't permit that, we can arrange for it to be split up - even a couple of hours at a time is a big help.  The hours that we need to cover are as follows:  

Sat., Nov. 1 -  10 am - 8 pm

Sun., Nov. 2 - 12 noon - 8 pm

Mon., Nov. 3 - 10 am - 8 pm

Election Day, Tues., Nov. 4 -  9 am - 7 pm

            For those who would rather do something other than phones, there are many ways you can help: Mon., Nov. 3 - 6 pm - 8pm  We will be doing a "lit drop", distributing candidates' fliers around Rutland City, and we'll need walkers and drivers to help.  Volunteers will be working in pairs. Read more on the website

Election Day, Tues., Nov. 4 - 6:30 -7:00 am -  An "early bird special"!   We need volunteers to set up signs for Democratic candidates at the polling places in Rutland City, and all of our towns as well.

Throughout the 4-day GOTV push (Nov. 1 - Nov. 4) -  For those who prefer to help "behind the scenes", we will need donations of food to sustain our volunteers.  If you can bring sandwiches, pizza, pasta, soup, bread, cider, or other food and drink during one or more of these days, this will be a tremendous help.  If you have the time and inclination to make something yourself, that would be super!  However if you prefer to bring "take out" from some local establishment, that would be great too....

Sign up for any of these GOTV activities by calling Kate at HQ (775-5812) or at 716-725-1995, or by emailing her at klesniak@vtdemocrats.org.                                                                                                  

NOTE - These GOTV activities on Nov. 1 - 4 are taking the place of the previously scheduled Rutland County meeting (which was to have been on Tues., Oct. 28)

Other Democratic Doings - Come Join Us!

1)  "Lit Drop" for Rutland City Representatives - Sat., Oct. 25, 9:30 am                                                        
           Please help us distribute door hangers and brochures around Rutland City for Representatives Andrews, Courcelle, and McCormack.  You may have seen or heard some of the distorted attacks the Republicans are mounting against these three excellent legislators.  They need our help to fight back!  We will provide simple instructions, materials, and refreshments.  Sign up for this by calling Kate at HQ (775-5812), or just show up there this Sat. at 9:30.

2)  Reception for our "hometown" Lt. Governor candidate, Tom Costello - Mon., Oct. 27,  4:30 - 6:30 pm, at The Palms Restaurant in Rutland                                                                                                                 

           Come join loyal Rutland Democrats and hosts Vice Admiral Barry Costello, Robert McClallen, and Michael   McCormack, to honor Tom Costello in his run for the statehouse.   There will be appetizers provided, and a cash bar.  Suggested donation is $25 to support Tom's campaign.

3)  Get your family members living away to vote early, and then vote early yourself
            You can request an absentee ballot from your town clerk now for a child, a parent, or a sibling. Remind family members to fill out the forms completely, put two stamps on the envelope, and return the ballot right away, since it must arrive by Mon., Nov. 3.                                                                       

Early voting is now going in Vermont - you can just walk into your town office during regular hours and vote.  That way you don't need to worry about long lines or weather on Election Day, and you are free to help our candidates win their races!

4)  Get out signs for candidates                                                                                                            

If you see good places for signs that don't have them (especially on busy roads), please check with the owners, and come in to HQ at 11 Center St. to pick up signs.  We still have signs for most local and state candidates, and they are free.                                                                                                                                                                                                  Our Obama signs (which we sell at cost) have been going like hotcakes, and are currently sold out.  However, we have a new shipment coming which should be in at HQ by the end of this week!  We will be selling them on a "first-come, first-served" basis.... 

6)  Last, but not least - Victory Party - Election Night, Tues., Nov. 4., starting at 7:30 pm, Table 24 Restaurant, 24 West St., Rutland                                                                                                                                             

           At this point, it will "all be over except the shouting", so we invite all Democrats, friends, and family to join us.  Let's relax, watch the returns together, and celebrate the end of this election, which has begun to seem like "The Hundred Years War"!   We will provide appetizers, and there will be a cash bar.