ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Divided We Fail is proud to announce our Facebook and MySpace winners of the Champ Summer Concert Ticket Contest.

(Drumroll please...)

Congratulations to Laura Rothenberg on Facebook and LexiLETDOWN on MySpace! Laura is from Richmond, VA and attends the University of Virginia. Lexi is from Indiana and will be starting her senior year in high school this Fall. Both winners are the proud recipients of up to $1000 in concert tickets for themselves and 3 friends each, to the concert of their choice. The contest required that each contestant recruit as many friends as possible to the DWF Facebook Fan Page or MySpace page, in order to see what network could grow the fastest.

Many thanks go out to both Laura and Lexi for recruiting their friends to join Divided We Fail! As for the winning network, it looks like Facebook has the edge over MySpace.

Just because the contest is over, don't let that stop you. Follow in Laura and Lexi's footsteps and tell your personal networks what DWF is all about.

TAGS: Divided We Fail, DWF, ShAARP Session, Laura Rothenberg, LexiLETDOWN, University of Virginia, concert, Facebook, MySpace, Champ

Steven P. Smith is our DWF Champ of the Week

Divided We Fail is proud to recognize Steven P. Smith, from Boston, as this week's DWF "Champ of the Week". Steven posted an encouraging message on our Divided We Fail Facebook Fan Page, where he calls on America to "work to assure health and financial security for all."

Thanks Steven for your commitment to DWF and for being an engaging member on our social network pages!

You too could be named Champ of the Week by joining the active discussions on our Facebook and MySpace fan pages! The lifeline of this initiative depends on raising millions of voices and making sure our political leaders hear what America has to say... so get talking!

TAGS: Divided We Fail, DWF, Facebook, MySpace, Steven P. Smith, Boston, health care, financial security, social network, Champ of the week, Champ, politics

The Divided We Fail initiative couldn't be possible without the hard work of our state coordinators, who spend tireless hours each week to get the word out about this cause. We'd like to extend our sincerest thanks to all of them, for helping to make the goals of affordable health care and long-term financial security attainable. This week, we'd like to recognize Steve Griffin, the Divided We Fail New Hampshire State Coordinator, in particular, for his stellar work supporting DWF.

Steve recently coordinated a group of 15 volunteers at a Rochester, New Hampshire Town Hall meeting, where Arizona Senator and presidential candidate, John McCain, recognized AARP's healthcare effort, saying that DWF was doing "a tremendous job." Senator McCain reached out to Steve specifically, and asked him to give a 60 second spiel about Divided We Fail.

After letting the crowd know about all the supporters in the audience, who proudly donned their DWF red hats and shirts, Steve turned the speech back over to McCain. The Senator referenced when he and Huckabee had gone on stage together in Iowa at a Divided We Fail event, and he stated that he thought this was one of the most productive conversations he'd had, as it allowed the voters to compare the candidates and issues.

Read the full transcript of McCain's speech on washingtonpost.com or watch the video footage of Steve here.

Thanks again Steve! Keep up the good work for Divided We Fail.

You. Three close friends. The concert of your dreams. It's all possible, thanks to Divided We Fail's new social network competition!

Put those hours you might spend browsing social networks to good use. Recruit the most people to the Divided We Fail groups on MySpace and Facebook, and you will win 4 tickets to the concert of your choice!

It's simple and easy! Once you're a Divided We Fail friend or fan on MySpace or Facebook, just get your friends to join the group and have them post a simple message:

"[insert your name] wants Champ Concert Tickets."

The person who recruits the most friends for Divided We Fail wins!

Start inviting your friends now!

Get stared now by joining our MySpace group or become a fan of the Divided We Fail page on Facebook.

Now, invite all your friends! Not on Facebook or MySpace? Don't let others miss this great opportunity. Forward this message to your friends and family!

Each grand prize is worth up to $1,000.00 in concert tickets for each winner! Get started now and Start friending!!

TAGS: Divided We Fail, Champ, Concert Tickets, Contest, MySpace, Facebook, music, DWF, Social Network Competition

Champ was in the Roanoke, Virginia area in early June for a number of Divided We Fail activities. Here he is with the mascots of the Salem Avalanche, just before throwing out the first pitch. Of course, since he is missing opposable thumbs, Champ needed help throwing the ball from AARP Board Member Jacob Lozada (left) and AARP Virginia President Warren Stewart (right).

For more from Roanoke, check out the album from the DWF Team in Virginia.

We're starting a new feature here on ShAARP Session: it's Friday Champ blogging!

If you don't know him, Champ is the official spokesperson for those tired of partisan gridlock in Washington. And he's going around the country to talk about the importance of health care and financial security to all Americans.

Last week, Champ was in Unity, NH to help spread the Divided We Fail message amidst the media frenzy.

You can see more pics from Unity from our DWF team in New Hampshire. And check out the Divided We Fail Events Calendar to see where Champ will be next!

Tired of hearing empty promises from politicians?  Feel like our leaders are just paying lip services to the issues that matter most?  We feel the same way, and that's why we're rolling out a new ad telling the Presidential candidates to stop talking and start doing.  Check it out: