Archive for August, 2005 Page 2 of 2
Saturday’s “heat advisory” conditions couldn’t stop Team Englin from reaching out to voters at their doorsteps throughout the 45th district, as David and volunteers — armed with plenty of water! — spent the day knocking on doors from Fairfax to Parkfairfax.
“Even after seven months of campaigning, I continue to be humbled by the devoted volunteers who are willing to come out on a day like this to do the hard grassroots work necessary to win,” said David yesterday. “It only strengthens my commitment to working as hard as I can to win this race and to help change the balance of power in Richmond so we can pass common-sense progressive policies that will make our community stronger.”
“I’ve never seen a candidate work harder than David to earn every vote,” said Dan Cronin, who has been volunteering with Team Englin since January. “If we volunteers go out for two ours, David goes out for four hours — no matter how hot or cold it is. Talk about leading by example.”
Join us this Saturday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. for our second Knock and Rock event, where we’ll spend the afternoon knocking on doors and return to Campaign Central for a cookout and musical entertainment provided by the band Carbon Copy. (If you can’t make it for the door knocking, join us at 5 p.m. for the party!) RSVP to Mel at 703-549-3203 or volunteer@davidenglin.org.
For school-aged children, a high-quality education is right guaranteed by the Virginia Constitution. To help Virginia make good on that promise, I will fight to end “No Child Left Behind” in Virginia, which forces us to waste millions on redundant bureaucracy instead of on the things we know can really improve education. I will fight for universal access to quality preschool and early childhood education, so all kids start on a level playing field. I will fight for dynamic after-school and mentoring programs to keep kids safe and out of gangs and to give extra help to kids who need it. I will fight for new ways to make it easier for parents to be involved in their children’s education. I will fight for better pay and benefits for teachers, so we can attract and retain teachers and reduce class sizes.
These have been key elements of my education agenda all along, but President Bush’s recent statement in favor of teaching so-called “Intelligent Design” in science classrooms reminds us that together we also must be prepared to resist those who would undermine the quality and credibility of a Virginia public education by turning science classrooms into forums for religious debate. The National Academy of Sciences, which was created in 1863 to provide information on the sciences to Congress and other branches of the federal government, has staunchly opposed teaching religious concepts like “Intelligent Design” as if they were sciences. For sure, a well-rounded education should teach students about various religious ideas, but there is no place for teaching anything but valid science in science classrooms. As the parent of a child in a Virginia public school and as your Delegate, I will fight to protect the quality and credibility of a Virginia public education by making sure our students learn science — and not religion — in science classrooms.
While Team Englin volunteers packed Campaign Central for another successful Volunter Night, David joined Democratic activists from Alexandria’s Fire Department Headquarters Precinct working the phones this evening. 
With the fight for progress operating on two fronts, volunteers made hundreds of phone calls talking with voters about David and other Democratic candidates.
“Here at ‘Camp David’ we spent the evening 
making calls to 45th district voters for our David and also to 41st district voters for Dave Marsden,” said Team Englin campaign manager Melissa Mattingly. 
“We also had volunteers working on a variety of other projects, so we can use your help even if you don’t like to be on the phone.”
Meanwhile, David led by example and spent the evening at the Alexandria Democratic Committee’s headquarters alongside volunteers making phone calls into the 45th district for David and the statewide Democratic ticket.
“This evening was a terrific example of the kind of grassroots energy we can achieve here in the 45th district to make sure our voters turn out in November,” said David. “When the party and individual campaign organizations work together, we create the kind of energy that can’t be beat.”
Become part of this grassroots movement for a progressive future! 
Join us Saturday to knock on doors throughout the 45th district, and join us for next week’s Volunteer Night. Let Mel know you’re coming: 703-549-3203 or volunteer@davidenglin.org.
Many thanks to Team Englin’s grassroots volunteers, who spent a sweaty day knocking on hundreds of doors in Old Town, Alexandria, today sharing David’s strong progressive message with voters in the 45th district.
“There’s nothing more gratifying on a hot summer day than spending time talking with voters and finding out what issues are on their minds,” said David. “The more time I spend listening to voters, the more committed I am to fighting for new, progressive ideas that can make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Join David’s Vote Strong team on Tuesday evening for Volunteer Night or next Saturday to knock on doors. Also, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the next Team Englin “Knock and Rock” blowout on Aug. 20. Contact Mel at 703-549-3203 or volunteer@davidenglin.org to let us know when you plan to join us.
Even during these dog days of summer, Team Englin’s momentum continues to build as more than a dozen volunteers spent yesterday evening calling voters, writing letters, and knocking on doors in the 45th district sharing David’s strong progressive message. Meanwhile, David spent the evening traveling the 45th district connecting with voters at National Night 
Out celebrations throughout Alexandria.
“It was wonderful after being out talking with voters in their neighborhoods all evening to come home to a house full of volunteers working so hard to fight for our community,” said David. “This is the kind of grassroots energy that will assure our victory in November so that together we can fight for progress. 
I can’t thank our volunteers enough for their hard work.”
“It’s so great to see new volunteers every week,” said Melissa, 
David’s campaign manager. “I’m so proud of how people have come together since the primary and are getting even more involved as the election approaches.”
Become part of David’s ever-growing grassroots army! Join us Saturday to knock on doors throughout the 45th district, and join us for next week’s Volunteer Night. Let Mel know you’re coming: 703-549-3203 or volunteer@davidenglin.org.
