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Jan

13

RootsCamp Ohio 2008


Last night, I typed out The Manual for the day, did a zillion loads of laundry, made sure everyone’s parties had gifts and karate kids had gees and on and on, then LEFT at about 6:45am this morning.

About 40 miles outside Columbus, where the event was held, Jeff Coryell cell-phoned me, from about four miles back and we had a good chat about what we would do in the Wide Open session (Jeff participated in other sessions as a host/leader I think, and I led/hosted a session on women in politics). I talked about how, if I didn’t know better – that is, that I do know that the PD people, in general, are way beyond competent and caring – I’d swear they were trying to sink that paper the way the Indians owner in the movie Major League wanted to sink the team.

I arrived on time, parked in what I thought was a great spot only to find out that the elevators in the parking garage don’t go to the floor we needed on Sundays. After standing in the elevator for maybe five minutes trying different buttons with two other elevator-mates, feeling very Twilight Zonish, I finally peeked my head out, saw an attendant and learned that fact about the blue law on the elevator. She directed us to go out a different level and to the street (which is what we thought we were avoiding by parking inside the lot), and then back into the building to sign in.

I was listed under “M” for Miller Zimon, the line got long behind me and I went up to the top floor.

Well – let me tell you – especially if you went to RootsCamp last year? This was a whole ‘nother ballgame. Very organized, very clear, no loosy-goosy coordination, we’ll see how it shakes out kind of thing. I believe there were over 200 participants but there were many, many folks directing the participants. And they knew where to go and when. Some of them were downright tough! I got the slit your throat message at exactly five minutes before I had to vacate the session room at…exactly five minutes before I had to end.

Very impressive, I thought.

Highlights in photos can be seen here including a few of Frances Strickland. I’ll take to lunch whomever finds Plain Dealer political reporter Mark Naymik first. There also is this picture of me looking very industrious. Only Dave Harding knows what I was actually saying and I am paying him big money not to tell anyone.

There were scores of folks I’ve heard of but had never met, had met but hadn’t seen in a long time, knew me but I didn’t know them, and so on. Overall – very fun meeting and greeting. There were several candidates for office, union folks, an excellent range of age, gender, race and issue organization representatives.

But…there were barely any bloggers! Jerid Kurtz of Buckeye State Blog, myself, Jeff Coryell of ODB, Phil Hayes of the new Columbus Education Association blog. Many folks who blog at Progress Ohio, one of the main sponsors (including of WiFi which worked very well). If you are a blogger and were there, please comment – and forgive me for missing you. John Spinelli – I don’t know if you really do officially call yourself a blogger?? But he was there. As was Anastasia Pantsios – another often-seen name on the blogs.

Frances Strickland spoke from 9:45-10am and was just wonderful. I like her so much. I’ve got notes from her presentation and will post tomorrow.

ODP Exec Dir. Doug Kelly was impressive with passion to get his job done and I chatted with him before he left.

Bagels were bountiful, there was a tofu scrambled egg thing, I learned that Josh Mandel was in fact (supposedly – because I have NOT corroborated this with anyone else who knows him) in possession of knowledge that he was about to be drafted back to Iraq and that’s why he chose to “volunteer” to return when he did (I still don’t quite get that choice – I see pros and cons either way you go – but that’s another post), and that the ODP’s women organizing event had 218 women attend with something like 45 county Democratic parties represented. I learned many, many other things, but I’m too brain dead right now to remember what they were.

I met women who will NEVER vote for Hillary, women who will ONLY vote for Hillary and people who are adamant that Obama cannot win Ohio. I learned that a family member who was an ardent supporter of Edwards has decided that he can’t win and will be voting for Hillary because this family member saw her on Meet the Press today and felt that she was tough and held her own and made sense.

All of these things, while not totally surprising, definitely provided for genuine, original, unique interaction that you can only have face to face, but which wouldn’t have been possible without the power of the Internet.

I can’t imagine what they’ll do for next year, but imagine I’ll go just to see.

Here are some posts on the event from Progress Ohio.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:29 pm January 13th, 2008 in Blogging, Campaigning, Elections, Government, Media, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse, WH2008, Wide Open, Women, Writing 

Comments

2 Responses to “RootsCamp Ohio 2008”

  1. 1 nation of gandhis on January 14th, 2008 12:23 am

    I was wondering what you were typing in the hall!?!?
    I think you were being sarcastic talking about Spinelli here? He is trying to legitimize the blog effort in the state house.
    I should have introduced myself as I have commented before on your Blog severla times.
    I am doing what john has recommened against using an avatar, thus my “hidden” identity.

    I appreciate your persistence and introspection. Thanks!

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on January 14th, 2008 9:15 am

    Thanks for reading and leaving a comment – no problem with no avatar – I saw the pic on the Blogger profile. :) I wish you had introduced yourself – I was probably looking right at you, wasn’t I!? Sorry about that if I did.

    I wasn’t typing this post while sitting there – I was typing the one before this one, about journalists using blogs for info etc.

    Oh – I think John is really unique and so passionate about what he is doing, working very, very hard in something that is so untried. I really respect his efforts. What I meant was that I think he prefers being called a citizen journalist or – I’m not quite sure, but it’s a fluid thing. I just didn’t want to use the word label – I know he is, rightfully so, particular his words.

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