Christopher Wink » Volunteer

Volunteering with Back on My Feet presentation at Refresh Philly

Christopher Wink — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:30:03 +0000

View from the 45th floor of the Comcast Center, before the start of Refresh Philly

I rounded up the rear with a presentation on volunteering with Back on My Feet as part of a four-part event on ‘Fitness for Geeks’ on Monday.

It was another installment of Refresh Philly, the monthly speaker series for the region’s technologists and creative community members. I graced the podium after Randy Schmidt, co-creator of Lose It or Lose It, Robert Jolly, a triathlete and creative director at web development firm Happy Cog and Kristen Faughnan, Philly’s Dailymile ambassador.

More than a year ago, I was on hand for Philadelphia CTO Allan Frank’s unveiling of a ‘Digital Philadelphia’ plan at Refresh and last November, I led a panel there on the future of local politics and the web.

My third visit to Refresh was as much a treat as the rest.

On Monday, I was there on behalf of the homeless advocacy nonprofit for which I handle media and our web presence, pitching the idea that our creative approach to homelessness and community of running is perfect for a group of creative web people looking for a physical outlet.

Nearly 50 people were on hand at the 45th floor of the Comcast Center, with its beautiful northerly views. I think my presentation went well, especially the telling of some member stories. See my presentation and notes below.

Notes:

Who am I?
Why am I here?
What is Back on My Feet?
Why is this relevant?
What are some member stories?
How can you get involved?

Number of Views:136

Committee of Seventy: Highlights of November 2009 Philadelphia election

Christopher Wink — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:30:57 +0000

Every Election Day since November 2004, with an occasional exception, I’ve worked with the Committee of Seventy, a more than century-old political oversight nonprofit in Philadelphia.

I always come away with stories.

As I did in last April’s primary, below, I’ll share some of the best from last Tuesday’s election, a relatively low-profile affair, including just a couple citywide offices and a dozen state and municipal judicial positions.

Most disruptive

Sometimes one polling location stands out from the rest.

This year, at least three complaints came in for the municipal services building at Bustleton Ave. and Bowler St., which houses the 7th district police department and Councilman Brian O’Neill’s office.

That housed Ward 58, Division 1.

“There is not enough lights in the polling place, so older voters and even younger ones cant see the voting machines,” said a committee man. The caller added that he hadn’t gotten “a lot of help” from Seventy.

Perhaps most concerning, more than one call came in to complain that election officials were asked to wait before setting up in the morning because police staff were hosting a meeting. Many of the callers also suggested that police officers requested that polling officials leave for another meeting.

Then, not long before I left for the afternoon to go vote for myself, one more came through, a voter complaining that the hustle and bustle of the police department was “very distracting.”

“I may have cast an incorrect vote on accident,” he said.

For the first few elections I worked, I was assigned a portion of the city and trekked to all the polling places there, watching for myriad of common violations, excessive electioneering, improprieties and the rest. The past few general, primary and municipal elections though have seen me, with others experienced in the organization (I spent a year as a policy research and graphic design intern), holed in a Center City office building answering questions and directing the field teams, I started on.

In this capacity I get the chance to watch all the complaints that pour in — from field teams, to polling officials, legislators, their staffs and, yes, citizens, too.

I only worked from 6:30 a.m. until just after 1 p.m., so my experience only accounts for half the day.

Some of the quirkier complaints, as written both in the voice of Seventy phone operators and the voter callers themselves, that came in through the hot line system (215 557-3600):

From 19th and Ellsworth in South Philly: “[The second machine] is giving off red dye on people’s fingertips, which may be an indication that fingerprints are being taking. These machines are computerized, so I don’t understand why this is happening unless it is set up to do this.”
From 57th and Haverford in West Philly: The caller is complaining of a power outage at a polling place located at 57th and Haverford.
From 2521 N. 23rd St in North Phily: “Workers there were talking entirely too loud, and I couldn’t concentrate on my voting. This is a continuous problem I have had with this group.”
From E. Cheltenham Ave & Charles St at the Wissinoming Recreation Center in Northeast Philly: …The voter expressed skepticism regarding the location. I tried two different databases and got the same info. I also gave her the telephone number for the Bd. of Elections.” [No followup on what "skepticism" means]
From 370 Devereaux Ave. in Northeast Philly: “The voter works for the Philadelphia Fire Dept. and complained that due to the length of his applicable shift — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. – it is virtually impossible for fire department employees to vote. I told him I would forward his complaint, noting that the Committee of Seventy has been advocating liberalized absentee voting requirements.”

If you’re interested in volunteering with the group go here, or read more about them here. See a video on Seventy below.

Number of Views:152

The April 22 Pennsylvania primary in Philadelphia

Christopher Wink — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:04 +0000

Oh, today is the much hyped Pennsylvania primary.

If you’re registered in Philadelphia and need to know where you’re voting, using the Committee of Seventy’s Citizen Access Center. Oh, and if you’re an Independent or Republican and feeling bummed out ’cause everyone is talking Obama/Hillary, fear not, in Philadelphia, there are also two ballot questions that mean a whole lot to some people. Want a real explanation of what to do?

See that from the Committee of Seventy and their endorsements.

Today, I’m helping oversee Philadelphia’s polling locations with a team of more than 800 volunteers collected by the Committee of Seventy. I am looking at an entire database of complaints around the region and will share the best of them from the day.

Here are a couple. In at 7:35 a.m. from a Chester County man.

I am a Republican. Should I bother to vote?

In this region, that is a real question, particularly when even the suburbs are going blue. But, in Philadelphia, for one, there are ballot questions that everyone can vote on. So get out there.

A second: What’s the least comforting reason for your polling place to be moved? Because it’s a crime scene.

But, that’s what’s allegedly happening in North Philadelphia, for the 25th Ward, 14th division. A troubling reminder of life for some on the 1800-block of West Somerset, near Lehigh and Glenwood Avenues.

But, I’m leading volunteers through the (mostly) peaceful confines of the central Northeast, so I’m not doing much this early on. -Although I have gotten several complaints about the lack of handicapped access at the Pollock Elementary School on Welsh above Holme Circle.

Anyway, so I’m reading up on philly.com. Pretty sweet story about a 103-year-old black woman who has been voting since 1924. (do the math yourself). Check it out here. Kuods to Elmer Smith.

Number of Views:74