I was one of the bloggers invited to a conference call with the Democratic Party of Virginia yesterday. As a general rule, I treat phone calls and emails as “not for publication” things. (Blame it on my IRS background where privacy protection was drilled into our heads from Day 1.) However, having been named by Rob over at RK as one of the participants, let me share my impressions about the call. (Rob’s own thoughts are here.)
The DPVA is well aware that the current website needs an overhaul. The new website will be rolled out soon, the focus of which will be to “create a Democratic community online,” with state-of-the-art improvements that 21st century web users are used to. At the same time, it won’t overwhelm the novice user.
Much of what is going to be done will be behind the scenes, transparent to the end user. Expect a lot of continuously updated content, a lot of multimedia, and information on the local committees. Significant support is planned for local committees, allowing them to easily do things that have been more difficult in the past. Most importantly (at least to me), these items will be done at no cost to the cash-strapped committees.
I think the DPVA is on the right track here and I look forward to the new site. More to come later.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
One of the ideas floating out there is this: “A function that captures and links you to all the Virginia newspapers’ letters to the editor feature. Make it easy to write letters to editors and/or call newspapers. And include tips for writing good letters. (….we don’t all read blogs). … summarize each topic/issue … so we can use them as talking points!”
Gathering the letters to the editor information is a good idea. They’re one of the most closely followed features in the paper. However, putting out talking points is a very bad idea. The letters start to sound the same. Often those talking points simply get cut and pasted. Letters to the editor editors hate “astro-turfy” letters that sound the same and they just trash them and they remember the names of people who send them and treat future submissions with more skepticism.
Don’t let them do it Viv.
I think the publication of talking points was rather primarily for the benefit of Democrats writing to their legislators. The best LTEs are ones that come from the heart. We therefore arm Dems with talking points as something to pick and choose from in helping to engage their interest, organize their thoughts and fame the flames of sparking their speaking out.
But let me add… thanks for the reminder re: “astro-turfy” letters. They are just so damn easy to do, though!
Vivian – I should have been more discrete about the participants. My apologies.
Good point on the LTEs, and one that I agree with wholeheartedly. Rob – no problem. It’s not the first time I’ve been outed 😉
Vivian,
Love the ‘outed’ comment. You crack me up. 🙂
As for the DPVA site, I hope they roll out a fantastic one! Maybe that will then wake the RPV to wake up and realize that it is 2006, not 1986.
If the DPVA step it up then the RPV will be forced to at least try and do better online.
Well one can always hope, right?
SW – 😆
Yeah, so how does one become a member of the elite few who are in the know?
Adam, I don’t know. But you have certainly come to the right place to ask that question…
Adam – I have no idea how the DPVA chose the group. The best I can say is that they invited folks by region, as they commented on that on the call.
Eileen – another strange comment from you, like the your “Hampton Roads’ only Democratic blog” comment over at BD.