PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE JOINING ANY GROUP:

The first thing you need to understand about the USDemocrat Network is how its put together so you understand how to use it properly.  The most frustrating thing about the internet is a lot of times its not user friendly.  We think we've found a way to create order from the chaos.

Most of the USDemocrat Network groups are carried on the Yahoo! groups system.  This means you should have a Yahoo log in and password to join, although it is not required (we'll discuss that later on this page).  If you’d like to get a Yahoo ID and password  just go to http://www.yahoo.com/ and look for "sign up".

The USDemocrat Network is divided like your newspaper.  Look to the left and you will see there's a section for national, state, U.S. territories, metro cities, special interests and counties.  Each is specific in focus and keeping that focus is the job of our volunteer moderators.

Here’s where we run into our biggest problem between those looking for specific information and the internet political junkies and political spammers.  The temptation is to join a bunch of groups and when something comes along, you send the same thing out to 2-30 different groups.  HOLD ON THERE BUSTER!  That won’t work here and if that’s what you’re about you’re going to be disappointed.

Like I said, the USDemocrat Network is divided like your newspaper.  You won’t see sports news in the classified ads or classified ads in the obituaries (although that would be cute).  Each level of the USDemocrat Network’s groups is for a specific focus.  National stuff does not belong on the state group.  State stuff has no place on the city group.  Anything being posted to 2 groups is WRONG at one of them and our volunteer moderators are going to stop it.

The reason the USDN is set up the way it is is to allow someone to join at the level and focus they are interested - local, city, state or national - without all the duplications and without the interruptions of postings not of our interest.  With that in mind, let’s begin…

The national group is for national news.  But be warned - the national group is for hard core internet political junkies who like a lot of news and discussion.  Topics range from the White House and Congress in general to the War in Iraq to DNC activities and plans.  This is also the place to spit fire about what the republicans are doing.  This however is not the place to talk about local issues or candidates unless there is national issues involved.

Below that there are 50 groups for the 50 states.  You are ONLY allowed to join your home state group.  In each state group the volume is much lower and the focus is on the state party, state issues, the state-wide elections and campaigns.  If there are smaller more focused groups below that, the state group is held to a tight focus.  If however there are no smaller groups below it, the state group serves the communication needs of democrats from across the state with information on state and local races and issues.

For those of you democrats living in U.S. territories, there are a series of groups just for you.  This includes those living is DC.  Like the state groups, the focus is on the local political issues and campaigns.

City groups are for larger metropolitan areas that encompass several counties and includes an area of about 100 miles around the larger city.  These are great for keeping up on larger regional campaigns and functions.  The volume here is much lower than the state groups and very specific to functions, campaigns and candidates close by or within driving range.

County groups are very specific and very tightly controlled.  Many of the local county groups are moderated by or on the behalf of the local Democratic Party Committee and serves as the County Committee's email distribution list.  This is the true grassroots of the party and our operations.  Here’s where you plan your local county and city elections, hear about upcoming meet-ups and talk with your fellow democratic neighbors.

So - where to get started? 

Step 1 - If you have a Yahoo ID and password, move to Step 2.  If you do not and want or need one, now is the time to get one, then come back to this point.  You do not need one but there are a lot of web based features and resources on each website  you will miss out on.

Step 2 - Join the Newsletter group.  This is important if you join no other group.  The alerts from the newsletter are important.  If you have a Yahoo ID and password follow the link in the National Groups section above to the left. 

If you do not have a Yahoo ID you can still join by sending a blank email to USDemocrat-Newsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  Please note the layout of the email address if you decide to join other groups by email.  All begin with “USDemocrat-” then what it is (in this case the Newsletter) then “-subscribe” followed by  the @yahoogroups.com  You can use the same layout for joining just about every USDemocrat Network group.  Each group’s location URL (that website address)  begins with http:// yada yada and ends with USDemocrat-something.  Replace Newsletter in the above email address with whatever the something is of the group you want to join.  For those of you who are totally and completely internet ignorant and have no idea what I’m talking about - send an email to USDemocrat-MembershipCommittee@yahoogroups.com and put HELP in the subject line and someone will work with you personally and sign you up to where you need to be.

Step 3 - Now that you’re a member of the Newsletter group, you can sign up for the National group if you so choose.

Step 4 - Follow the side link to the state or territorial groups  and join your home state or territory. 

Step 5 - If you’re a democrat living abroad, you’ll find your group in Special Interests.  Also in Special Interests you’ll find groups for GLBT, African Americans, Native Americans, Christians, Labor, etc.  Join the ones you really have an interest in.

Step 6 - Look through the Metro City groups and see if there is a group for a major city close to you.  If not, check back in a few weeks or months to see if one is created.  As each state group grows we develop Metro groups to take the load off the state group.

Step 7 - Look through the County or Parish groups and see if there’s a local county group in your area.  If not, check back soon.

If you’re a democratic candidate, a committee member, campaign organizer or staffer and you need cross-over memberships in several areas, please contact us direct so we can verify your identity and set up your cross-over membership to where you need to be.  Cross-overs are granted on a case-by-case basis.