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<\/a>Jennifer Tammi, the trip\u2019s organizer and Fieldston History teacher, began emailing the Fieldston community in June, gauging interest. She invited anyone \u2013 students and faculty alike \u2013 to join the September trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She emphasized the specific importance of the 2024 election, saying, \u201cI believe this may be one of the most important elections ever \u2013 certainly the most important one in our lifetime. Don\u2019t just sit by the sidelines. Make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her initial email, Tammi also explained for those who have never canvassed, \u201cIt involves going in groups door to door to people\u2019s homes and reminding them of the election; telling them when and where they can vote; and encouraging them to do so. Sometimes, it involves talking a bit more about why you think it is important to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tammi and the other organizers chose to canvas Pennsylvania because \u201cit is a swing state, one of the states that could drastically change the outcome of the election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For reference, in 2016, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania, defeating Hillary Clinton, by 40,000 votes, roughly five votes per precinct. Fieldston\u2019s canvassing groups canvassed one-third of a precinct, talking to, on average, 8-10 voters. \u201cIt could be the difference between winning and losing,\u201d said a volunteer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fieldston\u2019s canvassers met at Ethical Culture in Manhattan at 8 AM, 44 days before the election. An ambitious few did homework on the bus, some slept and others anxiously anticipated the day ahead. \u201cI\u2019m scared of getting a door slammed in my face,\u201d said Macy Griffith (Form VI). \u201cI\u2019m scared people won\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vera Koontz (Form VI) and her partner Lemariam Wondimu (Form VI) weren\u2019t scared, but they were planning to scare, or \u201cfear monger.\u201d Koontz said, \u201cWe\u2019ll inform people what will happen to them if they don\u2019t vote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many students noted that because they were too young to vote in the election, they decided to join the trip. \u201cI\u2019m not 18 yet,\u201d said Uma Couchman (Form VI). \u201cThis is the closest I can get and the most I can help out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the group approached Norristown, the canvassing destination, Harrison Howard, Tammi\u2019s co-organizer and a retired Fieldston History teacher, roused the sleepy bus: \u201cWake up! Just like George Washington, you just crossed the Delaware!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe trip has rekindled a tradition established by Howard, who taught at Fieldston for over thirty years, known for his registration drives, canvassing initiatives, morale-boosting rafting trips and apple orchard expeditions for needy kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Howard reminded the group: \u201cWe\u2019re pushing three themes: preserving freedom, strengthening the economy and widening opportunities. We want to emphasize the positive, not the negative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tammi and Howard paired each student with another student, an adult supervisor (either a parent or faculty member) and a driver. As the bus pulled in, the groups entered the local Democratic Committee\u2019s headquarters, ready for training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/a>The Montgomery County Democratic Committee overflowed with blue. The ceilings, the walls and even the t-shirts of the volunteers were all varying shades of the distinctive cerulean. Every inch was covered in posters for Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Next to the door were giant stacks of yard signs, window signs, and pamphlets supporting the Democratic candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/a>Everyone inside the Committee was warm and inviting. They wore t-shirts bearing inspiring and often humorous slogans such as: \u201cKamala: removes stubborn orange stains.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter a brief introduction, Tammi and Howard instructed everyone to download the app MiniVAN, which the groups followed throughout the trip. The Committee workers handed the canvassers two clipboards, with the maps of their designated houses, and codes to enter into the app. Also, groups received a collection of literature to hand out at every house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although they faced a group of sleepy high school students with limited canvassing experience, the organizers happily answered any questions. Their most important advice: \u201cDon\u2019t mess with the mail.\u201d They strongly emphasized that anyone who placed a pamphlet in a mailbox would be committing a federal crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Committee workers explained the simple training and script. First, introduce yourself, \u201cHi my name is \u2026 and I\u2019m here asking about the 2024 election.\u201d Next, ask what issue matters most to the voter (ex. inflation, abortion, gun rights etc). Third, share the issue that matters most to you, and make sure it\u2019s one you feel confident speaking about. Finally, ask who the voters plan on supporting, and if they know where to go vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/a>Possible federal crimes notwithstanding, the training went smoothly. Each group set off with their driver, a Norristown local, and the canvassing began!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One group\u2019s driver, Marty Miller, imparted some wisdom along the drive: \u201cDon\u2019t follow the script, make it conversational.\u201d Trying to appeal to the students\u2019 generation, he added, \u201cMake it fit the vibes.\u201d As a Commissioner of the West Norristown Township, Miller was familiar with the area. \u201cThey\u2019re good people,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just need to get them to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The drivers dropped off each group in a particular part of the town, where they knocked on almost 80 doors. However, most groups only reached a small fraction of the homeowners. \u201cWe only spoke to 8 people,\u201d said Parker Nam (Form III).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the people who responded to the questions, beliefs and political opinions varied greatly. Most of the residents primarily shared concerns with the economy and inflation. \u201cIt\u2019s been really hard since Covid, the prices went up,\u201d said one woman. Others named immigration and gun policies as issues at the forefront of their minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After hours of canvassing, the groups returned to the Democratic Committee for a debrief and refreshments (15 pizzas!). Students, parents and faculty basked in the cool A.C. and shared their most memorable moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Adia Stokes (Form VI) recalled, \u201cThe guy who was most excited to see us, he opens the door and he\u2019s just in his boxers.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stokes also noted the divide and sometimes animosity between neighbors. On one floor, said Stokes, a woman said, \u201cWatch out for our neighbors, don\u2019t bother talking to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a culture shock for me,\u201d said Alexa Citron (Form VI), who noted that Norristown differed vastly from New York City. \u201cThis isn\u2019t anything I was expecting: demographics, views, etc. I\u2019m appreciative of seeing a new perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was struck by how different the beliefs were door-to-door,\u201d said Saskia Sommer (Form V). \u201cElections impact everyone differently, and we\u2019re living a million different lives side by side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rachel Shames (Form VI) said that she and her partner, Griffith, felt they were actively contributing to people\u2019s decisions. \u201cOne woman was so happy to see us,\u201d said Shames. \u201cShe kept saying, \u2018You\u2019re the future.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Griffith added, \u201cWe made a difference!\u201d and the canvassing duo high-fived.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>(Source: Rose Posternak)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEveryone cleared their pizza plates, pushed their chairs in, finished signing last-minute posters and shook last-minute hands. Nadine Lee-Carter, the mother of Ava Carter (Form III), shared the final, and organizer Tammi\u2019s favorite, story of the day. Lee-Carter\u2019s canvassing group knocked on a door, and an ex-felon answered, sadly telling the group he could not vote. Lee-Carter informed the man that the laws had changed<\/a>, and he could vote in the 2024 Election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carter beamed as she said, \u201cYou could tell he really wanted to vote, he started smiling and laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Getting high school students to wake up at 7 AM on any Saturday is never realistic, but nearly impossible on the first Saturday of the year. Nonetheless, nearly 40 students, parents, faculty and retirees sacrificed one of their precious weekend days to participate in a canvassing trip in Norristown, PA on September 21. Jennifer Tammi, the trip\u2019s organizer and Fieldston History teacher, began emailing the Fieldston community in June, gauging interest. She invited anyone \u2013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":301,"featured_media":10342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[347,318,320,441],"tags":[],"coauthors":[429,597],"class_list":["post-10326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-news","category-politics","category-world"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/0A4E89C1-8C4B-40F7-AAC5-6DD4C98E7D99_1_105_c-e1728062572458.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10326"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10359,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10326\/revisions\/10359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10326"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fieldstonnews.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}