Practical Kindness? Join Us This Wednesday For A Special**Skill-Building**Free Teleseminar

November 11, 2008

in KINDNESS IN ACTION

What inspiring, post-election images we’re already seeing of cooperation among former adversaries! During World Kindness Week, this transformational time for our country, Vote Kindly founder, Rachel Bagby, celebrates with Sharon Salzberg. Her brand new book, The Kindness Handbook: A Practical Companion, is filled with insights about the power of kindness. The bestselling author of several key books on kindness, she’s been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974.

Celebrate with us by asking Sharon your most important question about how to put practical kindness to work for all you hold dear. Ask your question in advance right here. Then dial in or join the call via webcast and skip any long-distance fees. In addition, three lucky listeners will receive special gifts. I look forward to connecting with you on the call, this Wednesday, November 12. You register for the call by typing in your question here. You will then be taken to another page with details about how to access the free teleseminar.

Influenced by her 35 years of study with Buddhist masters from a variety of traditions, Salzberg teaches an intensive awareness practice (“insight” meditation) and the profound cultivation of lovingkindess and compassion.

Salzberg writes that:

“Kindness is the fuel that will help you ‘walk your talk’ of love—daily.” Whether you’re deciding what to do when a plane is hours late, your friend is unhappy and you just can’t seem to help, someone criticizes you, or you and your partner can’t communicate, her gentle guidebook will help you respond—to others or to yourself—in a genuinely loving way. It’s been said that kindness is “compassion in action,” but kindness is not just about “being nice.” To Sharon Salzberg, it’s a profound spiritual practice than can melt divisions of all kinds.

What better time than World Kindness Week (Nov 10-17) to amp up the power of our collective kindness for the work ahead? To celebrate, we’re holding a no-cost teleseminar, which includes an opportunity for you to ask Sharon whatever you like. Learn more about Sharon on her website.

During this teleseminar we’ll be addressing the power of practical kindness to navigate major changes in personal and civic life. Some people call this philosophy engaged Buddhism, but I was first steeped in the tradition of engaged kindness at the Jones Tabernacle AME church, the African Methodist Episcopal church of my childhood.

It’s our intention that this call will reach across the lines of many differences to strengthen our listeners’ practical kindness skills.

What lines of difference could you use some help with crossing as you work for changes you long to see and be? Leave your comments below and ask other readers for their insights!

Click on the {”comments”} link right below and add yours!

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Voters Acted With Kindness On Election Day

November 5, 2008

in KINDNESS IN ACTION

I was heartened to read today reporting by CNN that revealed some lovely stories from yesterday’s historic election. They are perfect examples of what we’ve been advocating about voting kindly. As they point out in their article, despite the negativity that infected the campaign toward the end, and even when faced with long lines to vote, many people remained in good spirits and dealt with Election Day problems with good humor and grace. Here are a few choice excerpts:

In a culture that emphasizes “me,” voting creates the sense of “we,” said Robert Cialdini, a psychology professor at Arizona State University who studies group behavior. A long line to vote creates the sense that everyone is “all one here, united under the common identity. I think it created the sense of ‘we,’ not ‘me,’ ” Cialdini said. “Inside the boundaries of ‘we,’ people treat each other well.”

CNN then gave some great examples of people behaving, well, kindly toward fellow citizens:

• People trolling for parking spaces at Atlanta, Georgia, polling stations were directed by other voters to available spots.

• At a polling place in Richmond, Virginia, voters waited in the rain, sharing umbrellas with strangers.

• In North Carolina, strangers standing next to each other played games to pass the time, quizzing each other on their knowledge of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

If you experienced or witnessed similar things in your area, please share your stories here. And remember, the spirit of kindness can be shared year ‘round, not just on the first Tuesday in November.

Read the full CNN article here.

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How You Can Vote Kindly

October 6, 2008

in ELECTION DAY


• Be Involved - the best way to find out if your polling place is prepared
• Be Informed - don’t make this critical error on Election Day
• Be Ready - what to bring to your polling place just in case lines are long
• Be Present - how to set a kind tone around you while preparing to vote
• Be Empowered - what you can do to make sure your vote is counted
• Be a good neighbor—who needs help on Election Day?

2 Ways You Can Spread the Kindness: 1) Wear your commitment to vote kindly. Buy your button today. 2) Watch/share the videos below.

Vote Kindly aims to transform the democracy-killing consciousness that creates deceptive voting practices and unverifiable digital voting systems with a consciousness that puts the power of ordinary kindness to work for fair elections that help democracy thrive.

Why Vote Kindly? Einstein once said “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”

THIS ELECTION YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! How? It’s simple—just pick one of our many Vote Kindly Action Steps at the top of this post and run with it. Energized by your first step to vote kindly? Pick another one and grab some friends to get involved, too. Whatever you do bring students with you. What better education could you offer them about living democracy?

Exercise your hard-won right—vote on November 4th! And utilize your power of kindness to ensure we all have fair election practices.

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Reach Across the Lines to Vote Kindly Video

October 5, 2008

in ACTION STEPS, VOTING VIDEOS

Click here to share this video about kindness and voting. Buy a VoteKindly.org button and wear your vote for kindness at the polls.

Comment on this video and share it with everyone to harness the power of kindness as you prepare for Election Day.

“DAYS AND COUNTING DEAL” - at least 17% off when you puy 10 or more buttons to extend the reach of kindness to your family and friends during this critical time in the election cycle.

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Open Letter to the People and Leadership of the United States of America

November 4, 2008

in ELECTION DAY, VOTER HELP

This is an open letter to the people and leadership of the United States of America–past, present, and future–a call for a safe and fair election, for all who vote to vote kindly.

The Electoral College will choose WHO will serve as our next President, but no matter what the outcome, the tone of our country going forward will be determined by HOW we vote.

We therefore urge both Presidential candidates and their running mates: Senator McCain and Governor Palin; Senators Obama and Biden, leaders of the current administration, and the media to stand together now and call for us all to vote kindly.

Call on your supporters and all Americans watching to meet these times with the strength of persistent kindness, beginning with the exercise of our fundamental democratic right to vote.

Vote and Vote Kindly.

Signed on behalf of the People of America who wish for kindness and fairness for all.

Voters are invited to upload footage of their activities to encourage kindness at the polls and in the voting process. The Uptake.org partners with VoteKindly.org to provide online footage nationwide.

PLEASE SPREAD THIS LETTER FAR AND WIDE, get it in the hands of the Presidential candidates, send it to the media and everyone you know.

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Catch Kindness Red- And Blue-Handed At The Polls

November 3, 2008

in ELECTION DAY

You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force. ~Publilius Syrus

While we can’t force a fair election or guarantee that all votes will be counted, VoteKindly.org is partnering with The UpTake to increase the odds of both by videotaping kindness-in-action at the polls.

As Lynne Twist–author and activist who this year helped Ecuador enact a constitutional amendment that grants Nature protective rights—says, “What we appreciate appreciates!”

The UpTake and VoteKindly.org challenge You: Help us test Twist’s proven appreciation principle by committing and videotaping acts of kindness that serve a safe and fair election. Details on how to upload your videos onto The Uptake’s platform where it will be fed to news outlets can be found on The UpTake’s blog. The Uptake has the ability to stream your voting reports live from your location—how cool is that! It only takes a few minutes to set-up your cell phone to make this historic contribution to a fair election. Most video-equipped cell phones have this capacity, and there’s a link to a page on The Uptake’s website that will tell you if yours is one of them. Let’s harness technology for the greater good.

Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
~Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Do It Yourself Vote Kindly Buttons

November 3, 2008

in ELECTION DAY

If you’d still like to wear and share some Vote Kindly buttons this Election Day, here’s an easy way to make your own. Just download this free VoteKindly.org button PDF file and print some up on your color printer. The file should open up in Adobe Reader when you double click on it. Then just choose File and Print. (If you don’t have a color printer, black and white will work too. See ideas below about adding your own color.)

You can trim the buttons with scissors then pin them to your clothes, or even use some double-sided tape if you have it. Perhaps you have some of those nifty scissors that make decorative cuts—if so, feel free to add some pizzazz to your creations. If you’re the crafty type and want to make more realistic buttons, go ahead and glue the printed sheets to a lightweight cardboard backing before you cut them out.

How about getting your kids to help? Maybe they’d like to add some more color or personal touches to your buttons. They might even want to create some of their own designs. Included in the PDF are 4 sheets of designs: two different logo versions in color, plus the same designs in gray tones for easy coloring in, either with crayons or felt-tipped pens. Express yourself and the passion you feel for voting with care and compassion for your fellow voters.

Make it a fun family project with a built-in civics lesson as a bonus. We’d love to see and share pictures of you wearing your button to include on this blog. Send your pictures to: votekindly at gmail.com. Do whatever you can to inspire others and spread the message of voting kindly on this historic occasion.

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Homeless People Are Voters Too…How You Can Help

November 3, 2008

in ACTION STEPS, VOTER HELP

While federal and state laws have eliminated some of the barriers to voting for homeless people, other obstacles remain. Those obstacles can be overcome if people experiencing homelessness know their rights and learn ways to overcome the barriers. If you’re inspired to help this disenfranchised population, start by learning about the voting rights of homeless people.

First and foremost you should know that a traditional home or mailing address is not required. Today, homeless individuals in all states–including those who are living on the streets–have the right to register and vote. When registering to vote, homeless persons only need to designate their place of residence, which can be a street corner, a park, a shelter or any other location where that person spends the night.

A great resource is the National Coalition for the Homeless, and on their website you can find a state by state chart of voting rights for homeless.

As you might imagine, helping the homeless make it to the correct polling place is a major issue. To help out in your area, contact any local agency that helps the homeless population. You’ll find a directory of some of those groups here.

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Time Magazine Offers Voter Help

November 2, 2008

in VOTER HELP

The Nov. 3, 2008 issue of Time Magazine, on stands now and online now, is being proactive regarding potential voting problems.

They state: “The vast majority will cast their votes without a hitch. But some voters will find themselves at the mercy of registration rolls that have been poorly maintained or, in some cases, improperly handled.”

Time goes on to name seven things that could go wrong and—here’s the good news—also tells you exactly what to do if any of these problems befall you. It’s encouraging to see the media taking a helpful role in this critical election. A kind thing to do would be to pass this information along to anyone you think might need it.


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Help Those Vote Who Need Help the Most

November 2, 2008

in ACTION STEPS, ELECTION DAY

Who could you help out on Election Day?

Who could you help out on Election Day?

Imagine that you live you life with some sort of disability. Imagine it’s November 4 and it’s snowing in your town. Now imagine you want nothing more than to exercise your right to vote, but you need special assistance to reach your polling place and deal with lines and procedures. Now what? That’s where you might come in. Many local organizations in your area are already mobilizing to serve this important constituency, and they always need more help.

If want to get a warm rosy glow in your heart this Election Day, cast your own vote early if at all possible, then free up your day to help others to vote—especially disabled voters, who suffer the most when the weather is bad or when difficulties at local precincts make it even more challenging for them to vote.

Educate yourself on your local voting rights, so you can be prepared to be an advocate for disabled voters. A wonderful resource is the National Disability Rights Network. They provide a flyer on their website that outlines exactly how to help disabled voters. If you’re a poll worker or you’re involved with poll worker training, the video linked to on this page provides excellent information on disabled voter issues:

Help get out ALL the vote this November 4!

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