Some 25 activists from across the Democracy for America coalition gathered for dinner on Saturday night at the National Conference on Media Reform.

DFAers from Tennessee, Connecticut, Missouri, and Georgia met at T.J. Mulligans Pub to have dinner and drinks, to talk about the issues raised at the media conference, and to tell us what their DFA groups have done in the last year – and what they’re planning for 2007.

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Bill Monroe, who led the delegation from the Show-Me State, talked about the historic Democracy for Missouri organizing convention last year and how DFM is planning the “Blue Missouri” DFA Training Academy, which already has grassroots activists and Democratic Party officials excited.

Susan Keith and Catherine Smith, both officers with Georgia for Democracy talked about GFD’s projects, including their lead role in organizing the Georgia Progressive Summit, how they plan to expand their organization’s already impressive outreach this year with more DFA Film Club screenings, and their development of a new online legislative project, which tracks bills moving through the Georgia state legislature.

In Connecticut, DFAers like Aldon Hynes and Luther Weeks reflected on the near win in taking down Joe Lieberman (?- CT) in November. “Whether people admit it or not, Ned Lamont’s campaign has changed the game in Washington.” Aldon admitted that, while many of the DFA and other progressive groups in Connecticut have traditionally worked on their own, the Ned Lamont campaign was an historic coalition that “we hope will work together more often… maybe even on the state universal healthcare initiative that will be coming up in the Connecticut legislature this session”.

Myself and Memphis organizer Brad Watkins gave a report on the amazing things that Democracy for Tennessee did in 2006, including our hugely successful Root Camp grassroots trainings, our election wins with our Tennessee 12 slate of candidates, and our local initiatives, film screenings, and town hall meetings. In 2007, Democracy for Memphis has an ambitious plan to build a network of neighborhood Democratic clubs in Shelby County, while statewide, DFT has plans to target the Nashville Metro Council elections, to grow at least one new DFA chapter, and to advocate for at least two statewide issue campaigns that we’ll be announcing shortly.

It was a great evening for food, fun, and discussion about the great issues facing all of us across the country. If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you go watch some of the streaming video and speeches from the weekend’s events at the Media Reform Conference’s website. You’ll be inspired and amazed at all the great work being done to take our country – and our airwaves – back.