Postcards from the Imagination

Earlier this summer I stumbled across an organization called LitPAC, which is responsible for Progressive Reading Series events in places like New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Basically, they've been raising money in liberal strongholds to help defeat Congressional Republicans in other areas of the country this November. I thought it was a wonderful idea, and wanted to put together something similar in my district, where one of New Hampshire's two Republican-held U.S. House seats is currently up for grabs. Unfortunately, life threw an awful lot at me and I wasn't able to give much time or attention to the idea. 

Tonight, however, I met Paul Hodes, the Democratic challenger in my district. He's currently in a statistical dead heat with the Republican incumbent, and folks, I want to raise some money for this man! His positions on most of the issues are spot-on, he serves on the New Hampshire State Council for the Arts, and as I learned this evening, he's currently working on a libretto for an opera about Oscar Wilde! Oh, and did I mention he has a real chance of winning this race?

The country really needs a change in Congress, and we really need to do our part. So, here's what I'm thinking. I'd like to put together a fundraiser/reading sometime in late September. There's a restuarant and bar here in Nashua (we're right on the Mass border) that would be perfect for such an event. They hosted nearly all the Democratic candidates for President in 2004. But I'm going to need some help.

1. We may need a little money to cover the venue rental. I believe this will be a relatively minor expense. If anyone can and would like to make contribution, please let me know.
   
   
2. We need readers, both poets and fiction writers, who can draw a substantial crowd. If you're willing to come in from out of town and read (and provided I feel comfortable with you), I will personally pick you up from the airport and give you a place to sleep. If you know someone in the Greater Boston area who might be interested in reading and you can put me in touch with them, please do! Mention it to everyone you know, and give them my email address.
   
   
3. We need a virtual horde of supporters willing to pay $10-20 per ticket for the event. As soon as we have a date and location we'll need some people to help get the word out on listserves, mailing lists, message boards...anywhere literary and/or political types are in touch with each other. This isn't difficult but it's extremely time-consuming, so the more people we have working on it the better.
   

Of course, I'll also be doing a lot of non-virtual legwork to make this thing happen. I've already been in touch with the people at LitPAC, and they're willing to handle all the money on our behalf. I also mentioned it to Hodes this evening, and he is definitely interested. Jordan Davis was sounding off earlier about the need to get righteous and beautiful over something more important than the latest installment of BAP, and to a great extent I think he's right. I know everyone is busy this time of year, but if you can chip in, you'd be helping to support what might very well be the Democratic Revolution of '06.

I've set up a barebones website at http://progressive.tnhr.org, which I'll update it regularly as things develop. For now, let me know what you can do!