YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

David Ramadan down in Loudon County, Virginia, getting out the Arab American Republican Vote!

Yalla Vote is spreading the word about the Virtual Phone Bank to student groups on college campuses across Michigan. Last week, we had a voter information table at the picnic of the Muslim Student Association of Wayne State University . This picnic allowed us to speak more about our Virtual Phone Bank and to recruit volunteers. Everyone seemed to be very enthusiastic about our convenient call tool and more people signed up to make phone calls. I also emphasized about how easy it is to do this. I mean this is the EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We have to make a lot of phone calls and we can’t do it alone. Arab Americans need to be heard, sign up now for our VIRTUAL PHONE BANK.

YALLA CALL!!!

-Jana

Who’s talking to you? Who wants your vote?

Well, no matter what side you’re on, AAI wants your vote.

PLEASE. VOLUNTEER NOW TO CALL REGISTERED ARAB AMERICAN VOTERS IN BATTLEGROUND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Go to http://www.aaiusa.org/volunteer and sign up today.

Right now, we’re a few hundred folks calling tens of thousands of Arab Americans across the country. Won’t you help? The Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank makes it easy for you to get out the vote from the comfort of your own home.

VOLUNTEER NOW.

thank you. thank you. thank you.

Because some things you just can’t live without.

As we all gear up for our last push before the election, we’re asking you to help us find volunteers to make calls this month, using an exciting, new on-line tool that makes it easy for us to get out the Arab American vote.

Yes, we’re all really busy, but the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank makes it simple to reach out to registered Arab American voters across America.

Here’s how the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank works:

1. Fill out the fast, simple form at www.aaiusa.org/volunteer.
2. You will receive an e-mail with details of how to log onto the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank and get started.
3. Set aside an hour or two between 10AM and 9:00PM on days of your choosing to call registered Arab American voters and remind them to vote on November 4th.

We’re asking for just an hour or two of your time to give this easy, convenient system a try. Call registered Arab American voters and remind them to vote on November 4th. If you like the system, you can make as many calls as you like.

It can’t be simpler-and it couldn’t be more important. The stakes have never been higher. It’s our voice. It’s our future. Click here now and make a difference.

Thank you for your help.

s as we move towards the elections, the feeling of excitement and hope flows within the Arab American community here in Orange County. People gathering for get-togethers, Friday prayer, or a casual coffee, are all talking about politics. It seems that folks are unclear on the different stands each candidate takes and what they stand for. This is why everyone needs to do their homework, get to know their candidates, and decide based on where they stand, not how they sound or what the latest political commercial tries to sell you.

Here in Orange County, we’ve been stressing the importance of making an educated vote this November, All through Ramadan. I was at the mosque getting Arab Americans registered to vote. Doing, this enabled me to hit three birds with one stone. Breaking my fast, engaging myself with the community and getting them more politically aware of the elections.

Read the rest of this entry »

National Field and Political Coordinator Maram Abdelhamid has been traveling lately. This past weekend took her to Florida, where Dierdre Connor of the Florida-Times Union caught up with her. “Arab Americans Get out the Vote” is a nice piece, with some good facts about Arab Americans in Jacksonville.

How are you planning to get out the vote in your community?

David Munir Nabti is flying back to the US for the Democratic Convention this August. He is the first ARAB AMERICAN to be chosen as a delegate to the committee for the Democrats Abroad Europe-Middle East-Africa region. The LA Times posts a fabulous blog about our overseas Get Out The Vote hero…

Despite moving to Lebanon in 2004 to bond with his roots and work in the development field, Nabti never really lost his connection with the U.S. It is in California, where he grew up and later studied political science.

So last year, with a small group of like-minded people, he decided to start the Lebanon chapter of Democrats Abroad, which is the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party with members in 164 countries.

We hope that all Americans, at home and abroad, cast a ballot this November 4th.

AAI President Dr. James Zogby spoke on July 18, 2008 at the City Club of Cleveland– “U.S. Middle East Policy & the 2008 Elections: A Critical Moment” (click here to hear Dr. Zogby’s speech). Later that day, he met with members of the local Arab American community, including members of C.A.M.E.O., AACCESS-Ohio, and AAI Ohio members. Dr. Zogby encouraged the community to become involved in this year’s election and answered questions about his talk that he did not get to answer earlier at the City Club.

St. George Festival in Toledo

St. George’s Church in Toledo, Ohio held its annual festival that same weekend. Although it rained on and off, hundreds came to experience Middle Eastern culture and socialize. And Yalla Vote was there with a table and volunteers collected signatures for the National Declaration and registered voters.

C.A.M.E.O. Annual Picnic

On July 20 in Cleveland, the Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization had its annual picnic at German Central Farm, inviting members of the Arab American community and local elected officials and candidates. I, along with a few volunteers, was also present collecting signatures and telling people about the Yalla Vote campaign.

Until next time…Yalla Vote!

-Nadia

As I had mentioned in an earlier post, I met with the Lakewood Democratic Club a few weeks ago to let them know about Yalla Vote and are initiative to get more Arab Americans involved in the political process. Today I had the opportunity to meet with the Rocky River Republican Club, another suburb of Cleveland that has a high Arab American population. I was given the opportunity to speak to the entire group about the mission of Yalla Vote, the importance of the Arab American vote, and the need for both parties to actively reach out to the Arab American community. Everyone in the group was very receptive and interested in what we’re doing not only in Ohio but throughout the country and very curious about the roles that Arab Americans have played in politics. I even met representatives for a few candidates for local office in Cuyahoga County as well as some of the candidates themselves who came to the meeting to speak to the group. Overall it was a very positive experience and I hope to encourage members of the Cleveland area Arab American community to get involved in both parties this year when it is most important.

Yalla Vote!