Kick-off party planned for Saturday

As the battle for the White House heats up, a local chapter of MoveOn is getting into the groove.

Carolyn Tamler has been named a coordinator for MoveOn Whidbey, the local branch of Operation Democracy, the active wing of the national MoveOn organization.

MoveOn is an online-based effort that encourages Americans to get involved in the political process. So far the organization has more than 3.3 million members across America.

Tamler said there are at least 35 people on Whidbey Island who are part of the group and she hopes to connect with them.

“What I am trying to do is to get the 35 members to do something local,” she said.

Geoff and Kathy Hornsby will host the first event for the local MoveOn group at their Freeland home on Saturday, July 7.

The evening will begin with a 30-minute video of MoveOn members questioning the Democratic presidential candidates about their views. Beginning at 8 p.m., they’ll tune in the Live Earth Concert as it is broadcast simultaneously around the planet.

Similar events will be held all over the country as part of the joint venture of MoveOn and Al Gore to build awareness about global climate change.

The Live Earth Concert will raise money for the Alliance for Climate Protection, a non-profit organization led by Gore.

Concerts are scheduled for Giants Stadium in New Jersey, as well as venues in London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Hamburg. A band of scientists will also perform in Antarctica, stretching the Live Earth show across seven continents.

More than 150 artists will perform, including Madonna, the Police and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Because the event is held at the Hornsby home, people need to sign up. To register, please click on: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/hosts/index.html?event_id=38894.

People who want to learn about the activities of MoveOn Whidbey and would like to sign on can go to the Website www.moveon.org/team/search/signup.html?team_id=3932.

Tamler, who has been a MoveOn member since 2004, said it’s a new way to participate in politics.

“They really seem to be passionate about preserving democracy with a small d,” Tamler said.

She added that the organization seems to react to the interests of its members.

It’s a positive example of how the Internet has changed lives as people from all walks of life participate in the democratic process from home, Tamler said.

“The Internet is saving America,” she said.

The local group won’t clog up people’s inboxes with useless info, Tamler added, but sends one or two e-mails each month to let you know what local folks are doing.

Tamler also said MoveOn doesn’t give out members’ e-mail addresses, not even to other members, but all interaction runs through the organization’s server.