*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** If you are in DC this Friday (see below), I encourage you to try and meet Kim Alexander, a non-profit voter education visionary and leader. For the last five years Kim and I have launch into ... let's just say very active conversations about the potential of the Internet in democracy. Minnesota E-Democracy and the California Voter Foundation went on the web within weeks of each other in 1994 we expected the rise of the "bubble-up" non-profit state-by-state e-democracy revolution around us in 1996. Didn't happen ... people began to see existing political groups and the media online. Citizens couldn't see what they were missing by not having "of" the Internet non-partisan groups add extra value, so citizen did not create the new organizations required. Calvoter produced the state-by-state directory for Web White & Blue and actually found 19 states in 2000 with special nonprofit/cooperative state specific voter education sites. Combine Calvoters low cost voter content development model, with E-Democracy's interactive model, add enhanced use of the Internet by government in democracy and I think the "bubble-up" recipe might just be there for the incremental e-democracy revolution we experienced in 1994. So if you in DC, make sure to join the good folks at CDT on Friday as they host Kim Alexander. Steven Clift Democracies Online From: Ari Schwartz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Voting, Technology and Democracy: A Brown Bag Discussion Voting, Technology and Democracy ------------------------------------------------------------------- Informal Roundtable Discussion 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2001 Brown Bag Lunch - Bring your own lunch Conference Room, Center for Democracy and Technology 1634 I St., NW, Washington DC 20006 (On the Corner of 17th and I Sts.) The Center for Democracy and Technology is proud to host Kim Alexander, President & Founder of the California Voter Foundation - http://www.calvoter.org/ Please RSVP by Thursday, January 18 to Danielle Kolb at CDT via e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or call 202-637-9800. The 2000 elections raised many issues paramount to the future of electoral democracy. Kim Alexander has long been a leading voice in many of these issues including: * Online Voter Education * Voting Technology * Internet Disclosure of Money and Politics The Foundation has also begun to explore the important voter privacy issues as well. These and other issues will be up for discussion. So pack a lunch and join in. If you have questions about the content of the session please feel free to contact Kim Alexander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or 916-325-2120 or contact Ari Schwartz at CDT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- About Kim Alexander Kim Alexander has been working in politics and political reform since 1986. In 1994, she re-founded the California Voter Foundation (CVF) and dedicated the organization to exploring how new technologies can improve democracy. She served for four years as executive director before being elected president by the board of directors in January 1998. As CVF's president, Alexander develops and manages the organization's pioneering programs in the field of online voter education and Internet disclosure of campaign finance records. She is the designer of the California Voter Foundation's web site (at http://www.calvoter.org), and editor of CVF-NEWS, the organization's free, electronic newsletter. Alexander also directs CVF's staff, fundraising efforts, and public relations. Under Alexander's leadership, CVF has published the California Online Voter Guide for every statewide election since 1994, and has been at the forefront of successful efforts to mandate electronic filing and Internet disclosure of California campaign finance data. Alexander's work with CVF has been recognized with several awards and honors. CVF's web site won a coveted Webby Award in 1999, and was also inducted into the Smithsonian Institution's permanent research collection that same year. In 1996 and 1997, Alexander and CVF received the James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California chapter, for efforts promoting online disclosure of campaign contributions. In 1997, she was awarded a Gerbode Fellowship to support her further development as a non-profit director. Alexander has written for several publications, including Wired and Slate magazines, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and public events. In 1998, she began teaching a political science course in California politics at the University of California, Davis. In 1999, she served on the California Secretary of State's Internet Voting Task Force. Her work has been widely covered in print, broadcast and online media, and was featured in the book, A New Kind of Party Animal, published by Simon & Schuster in 1998. Prior to re-founding CVF, Alexander's political experience included three years with California Common Cause, where she researched the role of money in California politics, and one year working in the California State Capitol in the Senate Fellowship program. Alexander's knowledge of the electoral process is enhanced through her past experiences with political campaigns. She served as campaign staff for Gary K. Hart's 1988 congressional campaign in Santa Barbara and Jackie Speier's 1993 Secretary of State Exploratory Committee. She also coordinated campaign efforts for several statewide ballot measures while on staff with Common Cause. Alexander is a 1988 graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, with degrees in political science and philosophy. She is a fifth- generation Californian, raised in Culver City, located in West Los Angeles. -- ------------------------------------ Ari Schwartz Policy Analyst Center for Democracy and Technology 1634 I Street NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006 202 637 9800 fax 202 637 0968 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cdt.org ------------------------------------ ------- End of forwarded message ------- ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183 *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
