Blogging the PlaNetwork conference in San Francisco.

Wes is the co-founder of MoveOn.org. He is saying that everyone (all five people) at MoveOn are all geek organizers. People who technical stuff hands-on and also do organizing. They are looking for more people like this.

Q & A

Question: Do MoveOn members want to connect with each other? If so, what tools are needed to enable this?

Answer: MoveOn has not focused on this (they have focused on the campaigns), and it is one of their limits thus far. They have created email groups, which have unleased tremendous power. The issue is: how to make it organizing and support lateral communications.

Their action forum has features that try to dampen the outrageous stuff and keep things focused. They would love to work with people who have more ideas for these types of things.

Question: what are you doing for 2004?

Answer (from Joan): they are in a strategy phase right now. Try to get people to connect to each other right now. (From Wes) Trying to not always be playing on defense. Creating leadership to move forward.

Bush is talking about $200 million in campaign funding (for himself), so MoveOn is looking to raise a comparable amount, on the order of $100 million. They are working on get out the vote, including volunteers on the ground for organizing.