The Committee "I didn't know I was going to get so involved, but it feels good!" - Cheryl McKenney

The Wonders of a Campaign Committee Waving goodbye from the door as my campaign volunteers were leaving, I paused for a moment and thought, "What a wonderful group of people." Some I've known for several years and others I met for the first time at a Candidate's Breakfast. All give up their personal time to work for change in Congressional District 15 and to build the Reform Party in the Silicon Valley. They accomplish so many things from telephoning and stuffing envelopes to tracking down the permits for our upcoming big Labor Day event. I am fortunate to have them on my team and proud to know them.

Bill Howard recounts what caused him to take action:

"I worked as an electrician for 35 years. When I retired I had more time to read the newspaper and watch the news and it was alarming to see what was going on out there.

"I began to go to City Council meetings. The more I saw the more I became alarmed. It's a rude awakening when you find out how ruthless the parties are.

"I was looking for other people who shared my concerns and who wanted to get involved and do something about it. I thought I was all alone, then I joined United We Stand America. I volunteered as their Communications Coordinator and handled their City Council Watch.

"I helped get the Reform Party on the ballot and initially it was difficult, since it was hard to get people to change their party affiliation. The more I worked the more exciting it became. People from all walks of life, people who had never registered before (and these weren't kids either) were eagerly coming up to register Reform. The last week it was all we could do to keep fresh registration cards on our clipboards there were so many people.

"As soon as our party was official in the state, my first question was, Are we going to run candidates? We all knew Valli would be a very hard worker for us in Washington. We, also, knew she had read the entire NAFTA agreement and had campaigned all over the state, so we asked her to run. We may have few dollars signs to spend, but we do have a lot of energy to use.

"Looking back I wish at a younger age I had become more aware of what was happening and had gotten more involved."

"Prior to March of this year I couldn't have been less interested, much less involved in the American political scene. Four years ago I had voted for Ross Perot but I was largely still just meandering along...I hadn't even registered Reform Party ...I was still Independent because I simply didn't know what else to be.

"In March of this year all of that changed. I went along with a friend to a breakfast to meet Valli Sharpe-Geisler, Reform Party Congressional Candidate for District 15. As Valli and others spoke, expressing their views and opinions I became very interested and for the first time ever in my life I realized that, perhaps I should get involved.

"My next question to myself was what can I do to become involved? I wrote to Valli volunteering my time to help her in any way I could with her campaign. I saw a young woman with a vision, a hope that she and the Reform Party can make a difference, and I wanted to help, to be a part of that in some small way. Once I started to help Valli it felt so good."

"I believe the time is right now, not only for me, but for the Reform Party. This country is ready for a much needed change. This country is way overdue for a party that is concerned with the people not the dollar sign. The Reform Party approach of getting to the grass roots of society, going to the people to seek solutions is very appealing to me.

"I think this November, no matter what the outcome, with Valli's refreshing approach and honesty she will have made a huge contribution to America, to the Reform Party, and not least importantly to me. She and her work will have broken my chain of apathy, will have motivated me to realize that I do count. I hope that she and the work of the Reform Party will reach many more Cheryls out there because you are all important too."