How long have you been involved in politics/activism?
My political activism dates from the mid-1970s, when
I decided to run for the local school board in Centralia, IL.  I was teaching sociology and political science courses at Kaskaskia College and was approached to run for the Centralia School Board. My campaign was chaired by a former student and emphasized the need to integrate public education, which was segregated by where residents lived. That campaign and my service on the school board provided an incentive for greater political involvement.

I’ll admit that in the days, months and years since the 2016 election I’ve often wondered if I was doing myself, and particularly my young family, a disservice by living in a red state.

Despite all the things we love about Austin, the insidious conservative backlash of 2016 (with legislative attacks on LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, First amendment rights and human rights) had me re-evaluating my sense of place attachment and connection to my community.  Like most people, I indulged in some magical thinking that everything would be better if I lived somewhere else…some place more beautiful, more progressive, more tolerant, more blue.  But as every good Texan knows by this point in the long, hot summer: the grass isn’t any greener on the other side of the fence; it’s only greener where you water it. 

So I sought advice where I always do: in books!  Melody Warnick’s really smart, well researched and persuasive book, This is where you belong, showed me there is a lot I can do right here!  I can both change my perceptions about my community and actively effect the changes I want to see take place. 

Her advice, it turns out, is something that I was doing instinctively by joining groups like Blue Action Democrats:
   1. Lace up your sneakers. (Take a walk around your neighborhood to knock on doors.)
   2. Say Hi to your neighbors. (I’ve had many terrific conversations with my neighbors and even folks in neighboring communities about our shared political predicament and how we need to engage in positive change.) 
   3. Do something fun!  (I’ve attended picnics, parties and community building gatherings all over Austin to raise money and support for Democratic candidates.) 
   4. Volunteer!  (Volunteer Deputy Registrar…it's in the name!  Volunteer at the Democratic HQ on Old Fredericksburg Road.  Volunteer to write postcards, throw a fundraising party, etc.) 
   5. Get More Political. (See above!) 
   6. Eat Local.  (Torchy’s breakfast tacos before block walking!!) 

This book, and reflecting about how we water the grass under our own feet to make it greener (and hopefully blue-er) is what’s saving my life this month…what’s saving your life?

Editor's note: Southwest Austin wasn't always blue. Barb Colvin was one of the first Democratic precinct chairs in SW Austin to organize her precinct with Block Captains. As Democratic chair of Precinct 354 (Travis Country) for about a decade, her grass roots organizational efforts were absolutely instrumental to turning her precinct into a Democratic stronghold, as well as setting an example for others neighborhood-level organizing.

What was Travis Country, Precinct 354, like politically when you first became the precinct chair?
Bob and I moved to Texas to be near our daughters and granddaughters in 1997 after I retired from practicing law in Illinois.  In 1999 we moved to Travis Country in Precinct 354.  Although I had always been a faithful voter, I had never been involved in politics; but when George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 2003, I knew I had to do something.  So I asked some Dems I knew from Austin Newcomers to join me in volunteering at the TCDP office.  From that grew the women’s organization Women for Good Government (WGG) and my efforts in Precinct 354.  

I did some research and learned that Precinct 354 is large— it has about 4800 registered voters.  A map showed the borders of my Precinct, and from Glen Maxey I got a list of voters (in 2004 the Voters Activation Network did not exist).  Info from the Travis County Election site showed that in 2000, Precinct 354 Republicans voted 18% straight ticket versus Democrats voted 11% straight ticket; Bush got 56%  v. Gore 34%; Rs won all down ballot races except for Lloyd Doggett (US Congressman) and Gonzalo Barrientos (then State Senator) and a few judgeships.  It was thought by TCDP to be a reliably Republican stronghold.

How quickly were you able to organize your precinct - what was that like?
The Precinct 354 organization model was made up as we went along, although I attended several workshops along the way and found some good stuff from Colorado.  The first thing I learned about Precinct organizing is that you can’t do it alone.  I found about 20 enthusiastic yellow dogs (a term I’d never heard, but soon learned was pronounced “YELLA — yella dogs”), and we set to work.  We divided the precinct into 43 Blocks and looked for Block Captains for each Block.  The BC job was: 1. Find Democrats, and 2. Get them to the polls.  We came up with a detailed BC handbook and Andy Brown (TCDP Chair) asked us to write the handbook for Precinct Chairs.

Which election did 354 flip? 
In 2004, after working a few months, Precinct 354 Rs still won the most straight party votes and most down ballot races, but by smaller margins than in 2000 (see above).  But In 2006 (off year election), Ds turned the tables and won the straight party vote by 8% as well as a number of down ballot  races.  Dems didn’t field candidates in many judicial races.  In 2008 we hit our stride in P354 --  Ds won the straight party vote by 30%, plus almost every race in which they fielded a candidate.  Rs didn’t field candidates in most of the judicial races.  

Over 500 Dems attended the Precinct Convention and 69 of us represented P354 at the County Convention.  But I think the biggest high for me was in September, 2008 when we organized our first COMING HOME picnic and 300 P354 Democrats attended.  People looked around in disbelief, saying “I thought I was the only Democrat in the neighborhood".  Except for one year we’ve had a picnic every year since. (This year's picnic is Sunday, September 29.)

How do you feel about being held up as the "example" of how to organize a precinct?
I am so proud of the work of literally dozens of Block Captains, Steering Committee members, everybody who has pitched in with block walking, delivering flyers, suggesting great ideas, and served on committees. I want to thank our Picnic Angel, Jerry Walker, our great Precinct 354 Chair since 2014, Lynn Kurth, and most of all, the Democratic voters who have stood in lines, sometimes for hours, to turn Precinct 354 Blue since 2006 — and kept us there all these years!

What is it like to see SW Austin become a solidly Democratic area?
A dream come true!  Many thanks to Blue Action Dems!

Are you ready to become a block captain? Contact your precinct chair - it is easy and fun -- and will make a difference in the next election! Join Blue Action Dems to support our work in getting more Democrats elected. 

On August 11, 20 Blue Action Democrat volunteers joined forces with Austin Allies and Hindu Charities of America to assemble over 1300 backpacks full of school supplies for underprivileged kids in AISD, Manor ISD, and Refugee Services of Texas-Austin.
Some volunteers took their positions at four assembly lines, providing items to fill the backpacks to specification...

...while some volunteers carried and filled backpacks through the line...

...while some volunteers performed quality control to ensure that no items were missing!

Finally, the finished backpacks were loaded into vehicles to be whisked off kids headed back to school. Check out this load of backpacks headed to Refugee Services of Texas-Austin!

While it started out crazy (like most volunteers events), the leadership team put us to work and we made it happen. It was heartwarming and comforting to come together with an incredibly diverse group of people, all making a difference in our community!

By Jennifer Voss
Chair, Precinct 339
I​ met Phyllis Fitzgerald-Morris nine years ago at her home while attending my first neighborhood association meeting she hosted with her husband, Chris, who was on the board. Phyllis was the type of woman who makes an immediate impression on you. She was friendly, gracious, kind, full of energy, witty, happy, and engaged. Over the years, she and I became closer friends who could always share a laugh and like-minded thoughts. 

In 2017, when the 2018 mid-terms were upon us and Blue Action Dems were starting up, Phyllis was ready and rearing to go, attending meetings and hosting block walking parties as early as the primaries. We were in frequent communication about our drive to make a change in SW Austin and Texas.
 
In March of 2018, I learned that Phyllis had been diagnosed with late stage cancer and I was devastated. She obviously had to pull back from her volunteering to pursue treatment. But…get this…Phyllis re-emerged several months later and was dropping lit on doors and filling out postcards. She did this even while getting chemotherapy treatments and battling cancer. She kept her spunk and passion for seeing a blue wave take hold in November 2018. I was amazed by Phyllis’ tenacity and strength; she kept a positive outlook every time we communicated. As time passed, she became quite ill but she stayed tough and even lamented that she didn’t have the energy to do more volunteering. I thought to myself that if we had more people in this world like Phyllis, what a world it would be. Here she was fighting for her life, but she didn’t give up fighting for what was right. I will always be in awe of Phyllis.
 
Phyllis passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2019. I haven’t cried that hard in a long time. A friend shared a sentiment with me when I told her about Phyllis’ passing. She said, “Hopefully the changes we make outlive us all, but it is devastating to lose someone along the way.”  

​Let’s honor Phyllis’ legacy and keep pushing to make a difference even when challenged. Let’s encourage our friends and family to find time to volunteer despite obstacles. Phyllis would be so proud.

​During the morning hours of Saturday, June 1, Blue Action Democrats teamed up with Texas Conservation Corps and City of Austin Park Rangers to assist with a National Trails Day volunteer event at nearby Stephenson Nature Preserve. The 17-strong GSD! crew was by far the largest group of volunteers.

Six of our kids pitched in, the youngest being only five years old! ​

Covered in bug spray and sunscreen, all endured the heat, humidity, and chiggers to improve the Stephenson Preserve Loop Trail. ​

​The rock squad, led by Kennon Wooten, collected and hauled ten tons of stone to fill a washed out ravine. The closers, led by 14-year-olds Ally Frisch and Kate Bryant, closed off an old trail by filling in washout ruts with branches and rock and planting the improved surfaces with native seed. Finally, the drainage team, led by Mingfei Yi and CJ Zhao, created four rolling grade dips to create erosion free drainage on the main loop trail. 

Precinct Number: 351 

When did you join Blue Action?
Joe (Gilliland) and I came to the first meeting, mainly interested in the VDR training. We attended many fun events as VDR's, like Beers for Beto, sitting outside Homeslice Pizza, that kind of thing.

What's your favorite volunteer activity?
It's definitely registering voters. I think getting people aware of the issues and registered to vote empowers them to make an impact and then they will vote. Nothing will change without that. 

I approached the Sunset Valley Farmers Market and we started registering voters there. It was pretty slow until the last few weekends before the election. Then it was crazy busy.  So I think that's been my favorite activity, Voter Registration. Joe likes to do it with me. (Side note: Katy and Joe totally spearheaded the registration efforts at Sunset Valley Farmer's Market and registered dozens of voters before the election. They're back at it this year.) 

We also block walked a lot. Some of that is enjoyable, but it's a bit exhausting sometimes. Also uncomfortable facing strangers at the door. 

The weirdest feeling in block walking was feeling like we "outed" some kids as progressives living in conservative households.  When we knocked on doors and asked to speak to specific democrats to GOTV, a couple of times a parent answered and assured us that no Dems lived in THAT household. (oops!) 

What issue spurred your involvement? 
As far as what got me involved is probably the assault on women's rights and the election of someone who seems incapable of kindness or truth. So many other issues have reared their ugly heads as this administration has continued.  

I marched against the war in VietNam. If I'd been a man, my birthday was the first picked in the draft lottery. We didn't have the vote, but could be sent to die. But then I thought everything was solved and raised my children, had a career.  It took Donald Trump to really get active again. 

Where would you like to see the club in five years?
I'd like to see people involved in the group actually running for office. Maybe getting more involved with promoting specific issues, like the environment, women's rights, etc.  I'd like to see more direct assistance to immigrants somehow. I like the volunteerism programs.  The food bank night was great!

Join Blue Action Dems today to help volunteers like Katy and Joe register voters!

Precinct Number: 339

When did you join Blue Action?
I was at the inaugural meeting but didn't join until the meeting at the new TCDP SW office. Not sure what took me so long!

What's your favorite volunteer activity?
I love hosting gatherings — postcard-writing parties or phone bank/canvassing events — whatever brings people together working for the cause. When the SW office was open, I enjoyed working shifts there, meeting people and encouraging their participation. 

What's the issue that got you involved?
Which time? Once I ended my journalism career, I was free to let my political freak flag fly. I've always been involved in education issues, sitting on a number of AISD committees over the years.

In 2007, I was so inspired by Obama that I canvassed for him for a week in New Mexico. In 2013, a friend asked me to go to a Saturday hearing about reproductive rights at the Legislature, and that snowballed into being there almost every day leading up to the Wendy Davis filibuster and cemented my desire to advocate for things important to me.

On October 1, 2017, my younger son survived the Route 91 massacre in Las Vegas, and that month I joined Moms Demand Action. Nothing like getting a phone call from your child in the midst of a mass shooting to spur you to action. Blue Action Democrats was a natural extension of the work I already was doing.

Where would you like to see the club in 5 years?
I'm a little selfish; I don't want the club to grow too much. I've seen that be the downfall of other efforts. However, I would like us to expand our reach by teaching others how to fish ... Show groups throughout the state and/or nationally how to replicate our success in their areas.
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Join Blue Action Dems today to support the work we do, from postcard parties to funding a Democratic office in Southwest Austin. 

On February 25, twenty of our fellow Blue Action Dems met at the Central Texas Food Bank to volunteer to help feed hungry Texans. With no training and minimal instruction, our team assembled 115 healthy Power Pack boxes in 20 minutes flat!

And that just whet our appetites. Next came the true test of endurance. We took our positions on both sides of a conveyor belt, and during the next 100 minutes, assembled hundreds of emergency food boxes. When needed, these boxes will be promptly shipped to communities who have experienced an emergency and are in desperate need of relief.