Tom Hughes: Thank YOU!!

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

This is my last day as DFA’s executive director and I want to say a great big THANK YOU!!!  I’m off to a new challenge in the private sector, but I’m leaving the executive directorship in the good hands of Arshad Hasan.

I have spent the last twelve years working primarily for three great leaders (and some other really, really good ones): Jim Dean, Howard Dean and Al Gore.  One is activating, organizing and training a new generation of grassroots leaders.  One is reforming the Democratic Party from the bottom up.  And the third won the Nobel Peace Prize this morning.  That’s not a bad set of mentors.

But none of those three leaders would be where they are today without someone else very special: YOU.

The Democracy for America community is amazing.  It’s smart, passionate, compassionate, innovative and exciting.  Together we’ve done great things.  And more great things are in store. 

Since I’m a “field guy,” I like metrics and results.  Here are some of the things we’ve accomplished:

• We’ve built a community of over 600,000 progressives.
• We’ve organized over 23,000 grassroots events in the last three years.
• We’ve trained more than 13,000 campaign workers how to win elections.
• We’ve supported 1,000+ candidates, over 560 of whom serve in office today.

Our community has helped elect Howard Dean chair of the Democratic National Committee.  We’ve shown Tom DeLay and Alberto Gonzales the door.  We powered with volunteer hours and financial donations the Democratic sweep of 2006.  And we’ve helped change the direction of the country.

Our fight is not over – and it may never be over.  But I, for one, am proud to have had the opportunity to stand arm-in-arm with so many members of the DFA community over the last few years in the struggle for peace, justice and a better life for all Americans.

Keep up the great work.  I hope to see you again soon.

-Tom Hughes