The following email -- complete with Orwellian/Panglossian talk about "success stories" and "lessons learned" coming out of 2009 (a complete debacle in every way, as laid out in this "After Action Review") - was sent out by DPVA Political Director Don Marks. It epitomizes everything wrong with the DPVA - clueless (they didn't learn any "lessons" and there were no "success stories" to speak of), closed (these meetings are not open to the public), authoritarian, hostile to grassroots activists and anyone who doesn't toe the "party line" (it was confirmed to me by multiple sources "in the know" that these meetings "are another mechanism to stop the talking"), unwilling to look honestly at what went wrong and to make the necessary changes to move forward successfully, more concerned about protecting their little fiefdoms than about actually winning elections, etc. I encourage everyone to attend the meeting nearest you, demand that your questions be answered, and stop this DPVA whitewash before it goes any further.Central Committee Members and Local Committee Chairs,
Thanks for all your hard work in 2009. As we transition into 2010, the DPVA leadership would like to hear from you about success stories and challenges on the local level. We know that the local committees are where the action happens -- and we want to get your advice before moving into a crucial 2010 cycle.
That's why DPVA staff will be coming to you for "roundtable" discussions with all the central committee members and local committee chairs. We believe it's important to take the lessons learned from this past year and refocus the DPVA towards the 2010 elections and support President Obama's agenda in Washington. So, please join us.
Please respond to this email to RSVP.
Thanks for all you do and I'll see you out on the road,
Don
Richmond- Saturday, 11/21- 3:30PM
DPVA Headquarters
1710 E. Franklin St
Richmond, VA 23223
Roanoke- Sunday, 11/22- 3:00PM
Lancerlot (3rd Floor)
1110 Vinyard Rd
Vinton, VA 24179
Charlottesville- Tuesday, 11/24- 7:00PM
Albemarle Co. Offices (Rm. 235)
401 McIntire Rd
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Fairfax- Monday, 11/30- 7:00PM
Hyatt Fair Lakes
12777 Fair Lakes Circle
Fairfax, VA 22033
Arlington- Tuesday, 12/1- 7:00PM
Arlington Westin Gateway (Ballroom C)
801 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
Newport News- Wednesday, 12/2- 7:00PM
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 540 Union Hall
7812 Warwick Blvd
Newport News, VA 23607
Norfolk- Thursday, 12/3- 7:00PM
Hilton Norfolk Airport, Norfolk
1500 North Military Highway
Norfolk, VA 23502
UPDATE: A member of the DPVA Central Committee told me they were very disappointed to learn that DPVA staff were organizing a series of meetings around the state, but insisting that these regional meetings only be attended by members of the Central Committee itself. This Central Committee member wondered aloud why DPVA staff would pass up opportunities to meet with other Democratic activists who don't normally go, or cannot afford to go, to the DPVA quarterly meetings?
