Bill Hunn, when he's not calling FDL members

Since March when the FDL membership program first began, I’ve been calling people who joined to thank them for their support, find out more about them, and see how we can get them more engaged and shape the program to better serve their needs.

But we want to make sure that every member is called, and knows that there is someone they can connect with if they ever need help. So we formed the Membership Engagement Team — member volunteers who are making calls along with me, and if you’re a member, one of us will be calling you soon (if we haven’t already).

So please say hi to Susan Marie, Warren Getchell, Bill Hunn and Sandy Thompson of the FDL Membership Engagement Team:

Warren Getchell (hate2haggle) from Pennsylvania:- Someone once told me my telephone manners were exceptional so that’s what I’m doing for FDL — talking to people that believe in Firedoglake. It’s satisfying work, too. You discover that you’re not alone and isolated in your thoughts because so many others share them. FDL members are bonded by fair play, desire for the rule of law and genuine angst towards those who would deny them. These ideals are abundant among our membership and though at times the climb to reach a larger audience seems impossible, I’m here to tell you it’s not. We have folks working for single payer health care programs in their state and others working for the public option. We have members who have memorized the telephone numbers to the Capitol Hill switchboard as well as their representatives local offices and call frequently. One member wishes he lived adjacent to an interstate highway so that he could take the discarded automobile tires on his neighbors’ property and use them to spell F I R E D O G L A K E . C O M for the thousands of travelers that would pass by each day and see it. What a committed group and I’m happy to be a part of this community.

Bill Hunn (seeker 561) from Texas: In speaking directly to my co-members I have found a wealth of knowledge and interest in a wide range of issues. A real estate professional spoke of the destruction caused by sub-prime mortgages and the inevitable foreclosures. A retired military officer discussed the growing scourge of posttraumatic stress among our returning veterans. Several members, like me, were drawn to FDL by health care and health insurance issues. Most recently, I spoke with a gentleman distraught over the Citizen’s United decision and its aftermath. FDL takes us beyond a simple bulletin board where we can air our gripes. Here we are called to action. We are offered a chance to participate in actions that may bring about the progressive change we seek. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with many more of you and remember that the unfamiliar number on your caller ID just might be FDL calling.

Susan Marie (Susan Marie) from Southern California: The new member phone calls have been amazing; your energy and enthusiasm is simply uplifting. I’ve seen several themes emerge in the three weeks that I’ve been calling you. There seems to be universal recognition that FDL is genuinely special. YES – the FDL Team, the high quality reporting, the tenacity in dogging an emerging story, the incredible follow-up, the timeliness with which we report, and the relevance of the stories and issues – are your hot buttons. They keep you coming back for more. But that’s just the warm-up! You guys are on FIRE because FDL accurately reflects what matters most to you. And that inspires you to do something in return – like become a Member, post a comment, write a diary. A beautiful exchange – indeed.

Sandy Thompson (sandyt) from Washington State: I joined FDL some weeks ago. I signed up to do volunteer work at some level or other. To my pleasant surprise, FDL got back in touch, and before I knew what was going on, I had signed up to do member outreach. So I wound up in something called the M. E. T. – whatever that means. I got a bunch of phone numbers to call. So I called them. Wow! Hey, let me tell you, I took a virtual trip across America this weekend. I journeyed from Manhattan to the hollows of Appalachia, from suburban Connecticut to the public schools of Seattle. I talked to some of the most engaging people I have ever met, and that’s saying something, because I’ve done phone work for many decades now.

The Membership Engagement Team can help FDL members with anything from getting registered to comment, posting a diary, learning about upcoming webinars and events, or helping to find ways that you can apply your skills and volunteer, too. If they can’t reach you by phone we’ll send you an email and try to schedule a time to talk. They really just want to know more about who you are, what you think and how they can be of help.

If you haven’t yet joined the FDL membership program, you can do it now for as little as $45 per year.

Please join me in the comments and say hi to Susan, Sandy, Bill and Warren!