Camp Wellstone comes back to Seattle

April 14, 1:56 PMSnohomish County Progressive ExaminerChad Shue

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Beginning on April 24th North Seattle Community College will play host for three days of intensive training designed to turn out another crop of effective and motivated Progressive candidates and activists; all graduates of Camp Wellstone. The "camp" is a project of Wellstone Action, named after the late Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone. Attendees come from all over the state as well as around the country.

The late Paul and Sheila Wellstone

Wellstone, along with his wife Sheila and their daughter Marcia, were killed just eleven days away from election day in 2002* when the small plane they were in crashed enroute to a funeral of a family friend. Also killed in the crash were the two pilots, his driver, and 2 campaign staffers. Wellstone was an extremely popular liberal lawmaker who was well respected in progressive circles for his outspoken views against the invasion of Iraq and his support of universal healthcare. It was his populist bent and aggressive door to door; person to person campaign style that became the basis for the Camp Wellstone training. Created as a living legacy to their father, David and Mark Wellstone along with a group of the late senator's closest campaign staffers and friends created Wellstone Action. In a letter to supporters they say in part:

"Not long after our parents' tragic death in the final days of their last campaign, my brother David and I sat down here in the Twin Cities with a number of our folks' closest friends and most steadfast supporters over the years.

We all agreed that we bore a shared responsibility to carry on their work to advance social progress and economic justice. Thus Wellstone Action was born.

Paul and Sheila Wellstone can never be replaced. But others can be taught to walk in their footsteps. That's the first order of business for Wellstone Action..."

Since its inception, over 16,000 people have graduated from Camp Wellstone training offered in 39 different states. This year will be the third year since 2005 that Camp Wellstone will be offering its training in Seattle. The training breaks in to three categories or tracks - the Candidate track, the Campaign track, and the Activist track. Each track has its own curriculum and is taught by some of the nation's leading experts in grassroots politics and organizing (including some former Wellstone staffers).

While I understand that this year's camp is already at capacity for attendees there is still a waiting list for last minute openings. You can get more information on the Seattle training or check out the calendar of other trainings in the area or around the country by clicking here or by going to the following url: http://wellstone.org/training-calendar/camp-wellstone-seattle.

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NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 9600 College Way N.

Peace,
Chad Shue

*After Wellstone's death his name was removed (by Minnesota law) from the ballot and the state Democrats named former VP Walter Mondale to take his place on the ballot. Mondale was defeated by Norm Coleman who has just lost his bid fro re-election (according to a Minnesota 3-judge district court) to former Air America Radio host, Al Franken.