But Idaho has been different. After three trainings in four years in the state, we've now trained over 250 Idahoans. After our inaugural 2006 training just outside Boise, five participants in the candidate track were elected to office (Sue Chew, Branden Durst, Bill Killen, and Phylis King to the Idaho House of Representatives, and Paul Woods to Ada County Commissioner). Four of the five continue to hold office today. The training set a spark for the future of Idaho progressive politics and Wellstone Action has been proud to be a part of building the base. It wasn't just a coincidence that we've landed in Idaho so many times, though. The other reason we go to Idaho is because of our dedicated alumni and gracious hosts, Bruce and Sheryl Dowlin who pleaded to get Camp Wellstone to come in 2006 and have persuaded us every other year since.
Bruce and Sheryl recently shared with me why they wanted this training in their state:
"We attended Camp Wellstone in Minnesota in 2005 before retiring to Idaho that summer. We had made numerous trips to Idaho over the previous two decades because Sheri's entire family (parents, children, and grandchildren) all lived in Boise. Being very aware of the extremely conservative political and cultural climate in Idaho, we knew we would want to work to make a difference. To do that, we were eager to attend a Camp Wellstone in Minnesota. We met Paul twice at house parties in Mankato and were inspired by his vision and integrity."
Immediately after attending camp in Minnesota, Bruce and Sheryl set out contacting staff at Wellstone Action in pursuit of bringing the training to Idaho. They were met with reluctance at first, but as the two proved to be good organizers, eventually their hard work (and "bugging" the staff, as Sheryl admits!) started to become a reality.
After Bruce and Sheryl settled down in their new home in Idaho, they began working to bring Camp Wellstone to their state. They discovered an active umbrella progressive group called United Vision for Idaho, made up of 23 nonprofit organizations. Drawing from the base of UVI, they had a good starting point from which to draw in participants.
"Idaho Camp Wellstone 2006 was successful beyond our and the Camp Wellstone trainer's expectations," Sheryl said. "One hundred and thirty five people attended this camp, obviously hungry for inspiration and hands-on training. As a benefit of their Idaho training, participants were energized to keep fighting the good fight in their often-isolated locations in the West."
As Bruce and Sheryl can attest, one of the reasons the trainings in Idaho are so impactful is because "a few well-trained and inspired people have had a multiplying effect on Idaho politics," the Dowlins told me. "The Wellstone Action experience for many progressives has ignited the flame in all parts of the state."
One such group hoping to fan the flames of progressive activism are members of the National Association of Social Workers, who attended the training, led by their Executive Director and Lobbyist, Delmar Stone. The twenty participating members plan to use what they learned at Camp to more effectively promote human well-being using methods of social action.
As Bruce and Sheryl said, "We miss Paul and Sheila very much, and we believe that the remarkable communications systems we have today coupled with the outstanding training teams sent to us from around the country by Wellstone Action would make them proud of what is being accomplished...even here in Idaho!"
This past training was not just "another Idaho", and we are excited to already be planning a return in 2012 (if not sooner!) because we really do believe that progressive change can be won in places like Idaho.
COMMENTS
Right On!
As an alumni of both the 2006 and 2008 trainings, I must thank you for coming to Idaho. In Idaho, we don't have a lot of opportunities for internships and progressive political action like places with higher population numbers.
But because of Camp Wellstone, it opened my eyes to what I can do and how to do it successfully. Thanks to you guys I helped elect (as campaign manager) 2 women to the House and one of the few ethnic minorities to the legislature.
It is because of Camp Wellstone we (some Wellstone alumni and I) successfully organized a student protest of the tuition hikes with over 500 people at our public universities in Idaho and started the Idaho Student Association, a lobbying group to help students know what is going on with higher education in Idaho. They never had an state wide organized resource like this before.
It is because of Camp Wellstone, I have the opportunity today to work and get paid for what I love, connecting people together and making sure they have a more responsive and popular government.
But it is now, being away from Idaho, where I realize how much opportunity is lacking in Idaho for progressives and especially college and high school students. People in other places talk about how they got this position from an internship. I never had that opportunity even presented to me in high school, or in college. But I did have Camp Wellstone.
Thank you for coming to Idaho. Thank you thank you thank you. Even while we don't have a lot of working opportunities, especially on the Eastern side of the state, Camp Wellstone has taught people how to create their own opportunities and is building an Idaho I am excited to come back to in the future.
Still to this day, the friends I made at Camp Wellstone are my best friends and we come from all over the state. We never would have met if not for Camp Wellstone. It is like a weekend mecca for progressives in the Gem State.
I just wanted to say thank you. Keep up the good work! Idaho needs you!
Peace,
Diana
Why did Obama, Pelosi & Reid regulate deep sea oil drilling?
They new Bush did not provide adequate regulations; however taking power in 2006, Democrats did nothing. They did nothing when they took absolute power with Obama's win. Now we have a disaster in the gulf and Democrats did nothing to stop this even though we the people gave them the power.
IDWC funding for future Wellstone Training
I am sorry I missed the May training in Boise! I just found out that the IDWC (Idaho Democratic Women's Caucus) had funding available for this training. I believe they will offer it again in the future. i am from Sandpoint, and the cost of traveling 450 miles to, and staying in, Boise can be expensive.
Thank you Bruce and Sheryl for helping us in Idaho!
LOVE-PEACE-RESPECT
Laura
PROGRESSIVES
Yes bring your progressive socialist commie ideas to IDAHO.
We would love to meet you all!
Where will you be meeting?
We need to know so we can "welcome" you to IDAHO.
Idaho
Please explain to me why you folks would want to come and try to shove your new age progreesive(socialist) ideas down my throat, when where I live (Central Idaho) we are already helping those in need and always have been, It's called being a neighbor. If you really want to try something progressive, come and load up the wolves into your car and take them back to where they (and you) belong. I will almost bet money, the car ride will get progressively worse. Feel free to take as many as you want. We didn't want them then and sure don't want them now.
Idaho is my home
I am constantly amazed at people that move to Idaho with the intent of changing it to meet their idea of what life is all about. So why did you move here? History continues to repeat itself again. A few hundred years ago the Europeans take the land from the indiginous people saying their way of life is better. They are more elightened, more cultured, more educated. They just knew things and the natives did not. This happened all over the world in India, Africa, and the United States. The poor stupid natives. And now today those that still have a superiority complex still are trying to enslave and indoctrinate people to their belief systems. So the native Idahoan had better look out because the New European is on the move, because they honestly believe they know better.
Move - to Iran or somewhere else neat.
Why don't you move to some "progressive" country and leave us alone?????? We never sent you an invitation to come to Idaho.
Besides taking the wolves, take the grizzlies, too - maybe back to New York would be good.
We are quite happy being free and taking care of our own. I know that's a hard concept for you to understand, but try it - you might like it!!!
Socialists
Keep out of Idaho. Go to some other place to practice socialism. You are in the wrong country.
Notice that our state still
Notice that our state still is republican after this years election you can take your little camp and your big ideas back to minnesota (land of square heads) . I would like to know how long your alledged 250 canidates have lived here. Probably transplants like yourselves. You will not change us, bend us , or shape us into anything we do not agree with. I have news for you we like us just the way we are and will fight tooth, claw, and nail to stay that way and to keep our state that way so don't let the door hit you in the back door on your way out. Bye
Go for the Bold
In your article about Idaho you you were proud to say, "to boldly go where other progressive training organizations don't go." Idaho is a piece of cake compared to Louisiana.
The number of committed Progressives is not huge, but in order to grow we need a plan -- and that - is what you have and we want.
What can I do to get you here?
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