Hi George,

Dave Norris asks how the "digital divide" problem can be solved. Well, here's something that I've noticed: almost all the info I've received about Democratic party or other local political events recently have been via email or via political websites. For instance, I picked up a copy of 'The Hook" today, and I see nothing in it about the Democratic Breakfast on Saturday.

Similarly, I was doing a show this am on WTJU, and wanted to be sure toannounce the VDOT planning meeting that was being held this evening regarding the bypass. I was certain I would find an announcement in the PSA box. I didn't, and had to call the SELC to get the info so I could announce it on the air. In this instance, there was a big ad in the Hook from the SELC today, but the airwaves are another important way of getting the word out about local events -- the radio and local weekly newspapers are free and completely accessible to all who can either read or hear. (There wasn't anything in the WTJU studio about the breakfast either -- is it really open to the public? I wouldn't have known anything about it before today if I hadn't received an email about it from someone else [thanks, Jenny!]. So you see.)

I know that those of us who have computers tend to forget there are other avenues of communication, because it's so easy to quickly transmit one message to many without much effort. How many of us write letters or make phone calls anymore? But I think we do have to remember that the democratic process will suffer if we get caught up in our "monitor vision" and forget to send out PSAs to newspapers and radio, or -- god forbid -- buy an ad!

I would hope that the Democratic party would push public events so assiduously that people would get sick of hearing about them. It's really not that hard -- you can easily fax press releases to all local media, using fax software, from your computer (heh heh).

There are also local folks who will, for a small fee, illegally post flyers on local telephone poles. This may be below the Democratic party,
but hey -- people can read them, and you can reach them where they are. (How about local community center bulletin boards, for those too
squeamish to be scofflaws.)

Anyway, just a few small, easily attainable ways in which we can build a bridge to the 21st century (oh wait, we're already there!) across the digital divide.

Valerie L'Herrou (electronic mail, March 14, 2002)

Editor's Note: The HooK was contacted about the Democratic breakfast but does not appear to have a section devoted to general community announcements. This has an impact not only on the Democratic breakfast but on other political events as well.

WINA and The Daily Progress were contacted about the Democratic breakfast, but perhaps a much larger group of media outlets should be informed of the Democratic activities if it can be done efficiently and inexpensively.

My own responsibilities with the local party begin and end with the Democratic breakfast. Monthly calls are made to people who regularly attend the breakfast.

However, if there is anyone who would like to volunteer to assist with publicity for the breakfast or to support it in some other fashion, please send me an e-mail at george@loper.org