Kevin Bondelli

If you ever wanted to know what we all looked like here we are.

Michael Connery, Sarah Burris, and Kevin Bondelli

Can I just say that in the last week the YDA blog has become indispensable reading for anyone working in a communications capacity at a youth org or project?

Today's entry is on Developing a Traditional Media Strategy. Go read it.

Kevin Bondelli is on fire this week, first with his post about why and how chapter-based youth orgs should blog, and now with a new post outlining why young people should become involved in state and local parties, and a few ideas for how to go about doing it.

Here's an excerpt, go read the whole thing:

I know that’s what your thinking, and trust me, as a former state party employee I feel you, but the rewards of involvement will vastly outweigh the costs if you and your organization commit. Here is why:

• The local and state parties determine the allocation of a lot of resources, and if nobody is there to advocate for youth programs, they are going to be overlooked.
• Elected Precinct Committeepersons and state committee members (at least in Arizona) vote on who becomes delegates to Democratic National Conventions, so while advocating for youth representation goals in delegate selection plans is important, having a number of young democrats involved will make the biggest difference.
• Some of those older activists are actually quite interesting, and talking to them and learning from their experiences can be an invaluable education for you and your members.
• Fundraising lead generation. The members of your state and local parties are the high-efficacy donors, even if they are small-contribution donors, and knowing them personally will give you a much better opportunity of raising money.
• You can sell your organization and young voters in general to party regulars, and getting your message out to them will increase your legitimacy and exposure.
• You are officially changing your role from “future of the party” to the “present of the party.” As long as young democrats are absent from the regular party apparatus it will appear that Young Democrats is AAA and the local/state party is the major leagues, and when you get older you graduate and get called up.
• The more your state party knows you the more you will be able to partner up with their big events. In Arizona the state party works with YDAZ to have after-party fundraisers following their big dinners.