As seen in books, quirky films, and (now) other states near you, volunteer Bus riders have driven political change by knocking on hundreds of thousands of doors. We take a Saturday to get on the Bus with forward-thinking candidates around the state who will likely win or lose by just a few votes. Then we toss a party.

Why?

• People-to-people politics builds relationships in ways that media-driven messaging can’t.
• Using volunteer time in the most efficient way possible means working on races that are on the razor’s edge.
• We’re only going to build a progressive movement if it’s state-wide.
• Bus people are sexy. (Five engagements and counting.)

Sunday, August 24: Oregon Trail Bus Trip

Woah, Bussy!

Hold onto your bonnets and dust off your beards, the Bus is heading down the Oregon Trail.

We’re gonna load this big Oregon family into our extended-metaphorical Connestoga and take them across the arid plains of apathy to the lush forests of an engaged electorate. And they will feast on the great buffalo of responsible government! Make no mistake, it will be delicious!

Hold your oxen, we may be getting ahead of ourselves.

On Sunday August 24th, we’re hitching our wagon to Brent Barton’s talented, forward-thinking star and meeting up with volunteers in Carver.

Brent’s race for the State House is super close and, coincidentally the park we’ll be at is super close to a delightful river. We can make a huge mark on Oregon’s future, for if Brent gets elected he will rock us like a wagon wheel. After the day’s door-knocking, we’ll return to free, grilled buffalo wings and vegetarian/vegan options (unavailable on Oregon Trial 1.0).

We’ll be accompanied by trailblazing State Representatives Ben Cannon and Greg MacPherson. Not only that, City Council candidate Charles Lewis will be seeing us off in the morning (consider him the Trip’s Missouri–St. Lewis, if you will).

As an added bonus, you’ll be able to pioneer (get it?) a new viral video in the morning.

So no circling the wagons, my friends. We’re going to boldly blaze forward and help put a brave and brilliant person in office. And here’s how:

Meetup:

If you’re coming from Portland, meet up at:
The Eastbank Esplanade (SE Madison and Water, just north of the Hawthorne Bridge) at 10:30am.
We’ll be back, well-fed, in the 5 o’clock hour.

Or in Clackamas County:
Carver Park at S Springwater & Hattan in Carver at high noon.
Done in the 4 o’clock hour.

Be sure to bring:

• Walking shoes
• A water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Your pioneer spirit

If you have any questions, give Henry a ring at 503-233-3018.

Nitty Gritty

Gearing up

Wear: Comfortable shoes, sunscreen and/or gore-tex.

Bring: Water bottle, charged phone, old friends. (All optional, but all encouraged.)

Food: No worries. It’s provided. (Including breakfast!)

Dollars: It’s free, friend. However, American-made ‘Volunteer’ t-shirts (highly useful regalia) are sold at our cost ($10) on Bus Trip days.

Fine print: Any work for candidates are sponsored and funded wholly in an appropriate fashion by 501(c)(4) and PAC groups. Any in-kind contributions are duly reported to the Secretary of State. Donations to those groups are not tax deductible, but Oregon tax filers get a free $50 per calendar year to give to the political group of their choice. Hint hint.