Jim Dean: Thank you for all that you do
This wasn't supposed to be a big year for elections. There wasn't a single vote cast for President or Senate -- not even a primary. We saw just a few special congressional elections and a handful of state and municipal elections last month.
It wasn't supposed to be a big year, but we've always defied expectations here at Democracy for America and this year was no different -- 2011 was our biggest year ever and we couldn't have done it without the support of members like you.
DFA isn't like other organizations. We don't take corporate money -- we rely on small contributions from thousands of members nationwide to run our programs, make change, and take our country back.
We don't have offices or staff in every state. Instead, we have members like Rosi Efthim in New Jersey, Melissa Lindbergh in Illinois and Susan Kopicki in California who volunteer their time to lead other DFA members in their area to take action and make great progressive change.
Some people think we're crazy not to take corporate money or to invest so much in our local leaders. But that's what makes DFA different and that's what allowed us to do so much great work this year.
Please support our work for 2012 and beyond with a contribution right now.
We knocked on over 100,000 doors in Wisconsin this year as part of the recall elections.
We held 300 movie nights and organized over 2,000 volunteers at Earth Day events nationwide to educate people on the dangers of fracking.
We made tens of thousands of phone calls to voters this year and ran five powerful TV ads in Wisconsin ahead of the recall elections.
We teamed up with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to call on Congress to repeal DOMA, and with Sen. Bernie Sanders to keep Social Security safe, stable and secure for all Americans.
We were the first national organization to endorse progressive leader Ilya Sheyman for Congress. We helped Kathy Hochul win her long-shot race for Congress by raising $50,000 for her when she most needed it in the final stretch of the campaign. And we delivered over $150,000 for Elizabeth Warren's fight to defeat Scott Brown next year.
We do a lot of amazing work together. Please contribute $12 to make 2012 our biggest year yet.
Thank you, Mary, for everything you do -- and have a fabulous holiday.
-Jim
Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America