It’s been an amazingly uplifting and invigorating weekend in Portland, Oregon. This past weekend the Oregon Voting Rights Coalition provided citizens of the country a venue to share their experiences about their voting advocacy and a chance to teach and learn from others.

Activists came from all over the country to attend this amazing gathering. Bernie Ellis from Tennessee, Karen Renick and Pokey Anderson from Texas, MaryBeth Kuznick from Pennsylvania, and many from California, Missouri, and elsewhere; all joined our Oregon hosts.

Photographers saved panel and concurrent sessions digitally for the future and our words were streamed all over the internet. Pokey Anderson of KPFTX.Org/Pacifica Radio was present and streaming as was Amy Pincus Merwin, and Brad ‘BradBlog’ Friedman. Speakers were Green Party presidential candidate, David Cobb; Ellen Theisen of VotersUnite.Org; MaryBeth Kuznick; Paul Lehto; Bernie Ellis; whistle-blower, Clint Curtis; reporter and columnist Bob Koehler; and many, many more.

There were times when it was amazing to watch as things played-out. Ellen Theisen had her proto-type “Voting on Paper Assistive Device” (V-PAD) with her. I walked out and found her sitting on a stair surrounded by programmers Clint Curtis and John Washburn as they discussed how a camera pen could be developed and programmed to allow blind voters to verify their paper ballot. And then the joy as Ellen and Judy Barnes, a sight-impaired woman, played with the V-PAD and shared ideas on how it could be improved.

The amazing Bernie Ellis did a talk entitled, “Think Patriotically, Act Locally – and NOW”. Bernie discussed the work that he and his team have done in Tennessee in just the last 9 or 10 months. They have come together as a strong team and have made a big difference in their state. They may actually have a block of counties that will eschew the HAVA Title I funds and stay with their punch-card voting system.

David Cobb was a key note speaker and he gave a rousing speech that got everyone enthused and ready to go out to save our democracy. I know more than one progressive who went Green as a result of the speech.

Brad Friedman did an excellent job every time he could get the microphone. He is quick on his feet and very entertaining when he is on.

There is no way to list all of the great things that happened or all of the great people who I met over this weekend. I do want to say that the folks from Oregon Voting Reform Coalition did a really, really great job putting this event together. It is truly an amazing and diverse group of people who came together with one thought and they made that thought into a reality.

Great job folks. Thank You very, very much.