Todd Farally

Name: Todd Farally Location: Philadelphia, PA Unionist, activist, blogger, Deputy Chief of Staff of The Beer Party, forward thinker and most importantly, Husband and Dad.

A little about me

I was brought up to believe in us, in America. I was raised to respect work and workers, because none of what we have today would exist without the hard work and sacrifice of those that came before us. I have respect for those that serve in our military and feel they deserve far more than a magnetic ribbon on the back of someone's SUV as far as support goes.

As a third generation Union Sheet Metal Worker I've always felt that it was my responsibility to be involved in the political process, on and offline. I started seriously blogging last April as The Unionist Review, I also became very involved with activism on Facebook managing a page of the same name. In June of 2010 a good friend and Union brother referred me to a page known as The Beer Party. I was very happy to see other Progressives with the same no-nonsense attitude towards the tea party and regressives. And they always seemed to add some comedy along the way.

There seemed to be a natural, almost organic alliance between The Beer Party and The Unionist Review. After some time passed I was asked by Chris Winland (co-founder of TBP) and Ed Lynn (TBP Chief of Staff) if I would help them build the network of Chapters they wanted to establish, starting with my home State of Pennsylvania. After Pa and several other Chapters were created, I was yet again called upon by Chris and Ed to join the ranks of TBP leadership as the Deputy Chief of Staff, where I would have admin status and help to move the group that now tops 37,000 members forward and inform, enlighten and humor millions of people a month.

I don't blog as much as I used to or as much as I'd like since I have taken up not just duties with The Beer Party, but other Progressive and Union pages as well. My pieces have been featured not only on The Unionist Review (unionistreview@blogspot.com), but also The Beer Party's website (officialbeerparty.com), The Pragmatic Progressive (thepragmaticprogressive.com) and in the coming weeks I will submit some new work to Progress 'Zine (progresszine.com). I am one of those people that never stop and never give in, its in my DNA I suppose.

I would describe myself as a

blogger

Why I deserve a Netroots Nation Scholarship

I've been involved in the political process one way or another since I was 5 years old. Be it through leafleting, door knocks, picket lines and boycotts. Just in the last year I've become heavily involved with e-activism and this has connected with my offline activities.

I deserve the scholarship because I know I can bring fresh ideas to the table that perhaps no one has ever thought of before. But most importantly, since I help manage a group of over 37,000 people with post views reaching 10 million per month. The more I learn from this experience, the better I will become at my activism which will impact quite a lot of people along the way and with that we will all win!

I manage these blogs

The Unionist Review

The blogs I use most are

Daily Kos
AFL-CIO Now Blog

What first inspired me to get involved

For myself, its not what, but who inspired me. The answer to that is simple, my Father. He was a Business Agent for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 in Philadelphia, later he accepted a position at the Union's International office (SMWIA) in Washington D.C. To him it wasn't a job or career, it was a calling and he instilled that in me and my siblings. I remember walking picket lines and attending protests at a young age. My Dad taught me to never forget where I came from, to always look to the past for answers to the future, but always harness the newest technology and techniques.

Sadly he passed from this world nine years ago, he would have marveled at how we use the internet for everything and would have seen social networking as a tool for good before most of us would have. I know this is my calling also, I know that I can help to make the world a better place with everyone that wants to move forward. Together we can create the world my Father dreamed.

How I've gotten others involved

Through various blogs I have written and from posting on The Beer Party and other pages help admin. My compatriots and I have inspired and reached out to countless people through out the nation to take action on so many Progressive fronts.

The blog post I am most proud of

http://officialbeerparty.com/wp/2011/03/04/810/

Why I think participation in the blogosphere is important

It brings so many different perspectives to the table so we can all learn from each other.

My suggested bumper sticker slogan

Trickle-down Economics Create Jobs...In CHINA!