The first gathering of MoveOn Whidbey rocked, organizers reported.

The initial meeting was held July 7 as part of MoveOn’s Party for the Planet and Al Gore’s Live Earth Concert.

The party, at the home of Geoff and Kathy Hornsby of Freeland, was attended by 24 people.

Many came to meet other progressives on the island. But while those attending were able to hear responses from the Democratic candidates to questions about the global climate crisis, most of the evening was simply a getting-to-know-you time for the new group.

MoveOn Whidbey currently has 27 members. Carolyn Tamler, the new council coordinator for the group, invites anyone who would like to learn about MoveOn on Whidbey to go to the Operation Democracy Website, and sign up at: http://www.moveon.org/team/search/signup.html?team_id=3932.

With more than 30,000 participants at nearly 1,300 events, the Party for the Planet was replicated all over the country. And Whidbey Island was pretty representative of what was going on elsewhere.

Party for the Planet involved at least 31,000 people, 1,069 unique events were reported and events averaged 29 people. Many parties were filled to capacity or beyond.

“We didn’t think there were any other like-minded people in our area,” Tamler said. “We thought we wouldn’t make our 20 people max.’ We not only made it, but everyone brought along friends. We ended up with about 28.”