What I am calling the Activity Model is illustrated by the record turnout that occurred at my caucus location and other locations throughout the state and nation. Many seem to be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed. Previously many of us have felt helpless and insignificant to the processes of our federal government. For a myriad of reasons Americans from coast to coast now feel that ignorance, apathy, and a lack of involvement no longer effectively serve our purposes. This change has occurred in many differing degrees. A lot of people in my precinct were satisfied with registering, voting for their presidential candidate and leaving. Those with a higher degree of Activity Change stuck around for the caucus itself. Some of us even felt more desire to be active in the change model that we volunteered to become delegates. Another level of Activity change was also exhibited with the power of the purse. At our caucus we were asked to contribute money to the activities of the party, so each attendee was able to help fund the change with any combination of time, talents, or money.

The Reaction Change was shown by the overwhelmed volunteers who were manning the various posts and convening the caucuses for the many districts in our precinct. Multiple comments were made by seasoned caucus attendees about the small turnouts our precinct had historically experienced. The massive turnout forced the veteran caucus workers to produce more ballots and answer more questions to deal with many inexperienced participants. In my particular district this change was not weathered very well as too many of the people who had been through this process seemed ineffective at teaching us newer participants about the process. Many questions were side-stepped and left unanswered. While the first-timers were thanked profusely for participating, the amount of them that drifted out of the room during the caucus itself was testament to their dissatisfaction with the process. It seemed to me that a lot of those that had been to caucuses in the past were not anxious to have a lot of new people get too involved with a process that they have previously been able to run with their own circle of cronies. As such, our caucus was disorganized, repetitive, and not very informational. I do believe, however, that our district could experience some change in the reactional area as many of the delegates chosen were first-timers that were willing to get involved to learn more about the process. I think this new blood will go a long way toward effectively welcoming other new involvement beyond the financial contributions that seemed to be the current hierarchy's major concern.

The Results Model that I propose involves the actual change in mindset that each and every caucus participant felt when they cast their vote, proposed a resolution, wrote a check, or volunteered for a position with the organization. The present administration has been in power for seven years and such their time is coming to an end. Change will be occurring in just under a year. each caucus participant was able to help determine which direction the country will head. For those attending a republican caucus support for Romney may have voiced concern about the economy, while a vote for McCain could be perceived as a wish to stay the course in Iraq, and a vote for Huckabee may express a desire to bring Christian values to the fore in our nation. For democratic caucus attendees an Obama vote may have meant a wish to try something new, with a new young leader. A vote for Clinton may mean a wish for change that a more veteran senator can bring. Regardless of how one voted, or how involved one became on Tuesday, becoming involved to help shape the inevitable change that will result in about eleven months is a substantial action many of us took this past week.

Regarding the Implications for Leadership I see many. A strong message was sent to the current administration that Americans are poised to mobilize into a more active role to shape the direction of their country. The current environment of secrecy, obfuscation, and executive privilege has perhaps run it's course. Whether that particular message was received, or whether it will effect the workings of government over the next eleven months remains to be seen. I believe the implications for the leadership of the republican party were felt long ago. Since the beginning of their campaigns each republican candidate appears to argue that they are more Reagany than their opponents. Attempts to draw favorable comparison with a former republican president, rather than using the current president indicates to me that the national republican leadership realizes that a new direction is desired by many Americans. For the national democratic party the changes have reaffirmed their decision to present their candidates as agents for change. For the local party leaders the implications of the changes from Tuesday night are that increasing numbers of citizens now wish to be more involved and that accommodations should be made to educate, inform, include these potential voters, volunteers and donors.