I began volunteering in March of this year, and I’m in my observation stage at this point. We get a lot of questions from people in Pima County. If I were to pinpoint the task I enjoy best, it would be dealing with the public and coming to the plate for them along with making and implementing changes in the office for a smooth running crew. There’s lot’s to learn and I am really fortunate to be working with great team-orientated volunteers, and of course my main girl Miranda Lopez.
I was inspired to start volunteering when the shots rang out at Safeway on Oracle and Ina. I was loading my car up and planning to stop by the Gabby meet and greet on my way to see a new client. They were just across the street from my house, and my friend Gabe Zimmerman was going to be there. We had worked on a few things together as I have a soft spot for the elderly and he was great at pushing my causes forward. Gabe died that day, and in many ways so did the community around us. My family had a front row seat to the protests and the media as they parked along my drive. The ask was simple and the reaction was hard to process. This is when I decided to move from voting to action. It took me some time to find my way to the Pima County Democratic Party headquarters. Civics was not my strong suit. When I got the call, I found a place I could sink my talent into. I guess I have Gabe to thank for that.
Thank you so much for all your hard work, Mary Ellen! We’re glad to have you.
I have been volunteering in the office since April of 2019. By the time the office closed for COVID, I was working all day on Fridays as the Friday volunteer coordinator.
When we closed, I continued to volunteer from home by checking voicemail messages and responding to callers. Those days, in the summer before the 2020 election, we had many callers with a variety of urgent needs, and that was a very rewarding time for me, as I would do my best to find solutions to problems such as registering newcomers who could not get an AZ license (which meant they could not register to vote) to just being an empathetic person on the other end of the line. I still enjoy trying to solve problems of voters who either call or come to the office.
I am a lifelong Democrat, and I joined the second Obama campaign in 2012 because a friend of mine recruited me to work in Headquarters as a shift manager. In those days we didn’t have MiniVan so one of my jobs was entering call sheet data. I also greeted and trained new volunteers, some who were too young to even vote. I enjoy being part of an energized team.
Thank you so much for all your hard work, Margaret!
– What are some of your favorite tasks here in the office?
There are times when I really like making phone calls, if it’s something I’m passionate about. I like finding out about what’s going on with the party, and getting to know people who are involved has been really rewarding for me. That’s true whenever I volunteer, because the staffs are always so welcoming, and that gives me hope for politics and our society.
– How long have you been volunteering here?
About nine months, but with various other groups before this.
– What inspired you to start volunteering for the Democratic Party?
What’s happened to this country these past few years. I’ve always believed in Democratic values, and I’ve realized now that I’m retired that I want to be involved with people with the same values who will get things done. I like being present and engaged, and volunteering here helps me do that.
– What are some of your favorite parts of volunteering here in the office?
My favorite would have to be the yard sign room during the 2020 election. An absolute madhouse at times, and so much fun. My second favorite lately would have to be lending an ear to the frustration of Democrats in regards to voting rights and labor legislation on the hill, and having information about how to act on that.
– How long have you been volunteering here?
I have been volunteering in the office only since 2019. Between 2015-2019 I came in for phone banking and canvassing during elections.
– What inspired you to start volunteering for the Democratic Party?
I have been a Democrat all my life. My parents were both good Democrats. I went to high school here in Tucson and Mo Udall used to drop by the school’s cafeteria for little chat sessions, as both of his daughters went to CDO .The first election I worked on was George McGovern’s Presidential campaign when I was 17 and in college in Lawrence, Kansas. After that I continued as a precinct captain, campaign manager for a state election, and basically anywhere I was asked. I lived in Spain between 1988-2014 (ask me about the wonders of National Health!) As soon as we came back to the US, here in Tucson, I contacted the PCDP and here I still am.
– What are some of your favorite parts of volunteering here in the office?
I love interacting with future leaders and getting to talk to the people who come in and call. Every phone call I’ve had has felt important and useful.
– How long have you been volunteering here?
Two months.
– What inspired you to start volunteering for the Democratic Party?
The Republican Party. Plus, a genuine fear that even after Biden was elected, things are not fine. I felt an urgency. And I think there are a lot of people my age out there who feel an urgency. I think there’s a lot we can do to help.
Thank you so much for all your hard work, Kathleen!
Patti is a born and raised Tucsonan who, after attending the University of Arizona, became a pharmacist. She always kept up with politics, but the “chaos and insanity of 2016” brought Patti to the PCDP Headquarters, and she’s been volunteering ever since, making calls and answering the office phone. Although she’s learned a lot from working here over the last five years, Patti says that her favorite part about volunteering is really the people she has met while working in the office. Even though it is quiet for the time being, there is still plenty to do. We are so grateful for all the (socially distanced) work Patti has continued to do in preparation for PCDP to re-open!
