There's one problem with this.

It's training the wrong kind of army.

Its mission should scare every single Republican candidate and campaign throughout the nation:

The New Organizing Institute is a unique grassroots program that trains young, technology-enabled political organizers to work for progressive campaigns and organizations. The Institute is being created by experienced online organizers in conjunction with MoveOn.org to fill an urgent need in progressive politics.

The mission of the NOI is:

-To train and support a new generation of technology-enabled campaigners.
-To consolidate and disseminate knowledge gained in the field of political technology and online organizing.
-To conduct new research and post-campaign investigations that employ results-focused, systems thinking to make progressive campaigns and organizations more efficient.

We are seeking to fill an urgent need among progressive campaigns and organizations. Right now, they're hitting a brick wall when trying to fill new online organizer or Internet director positions. A network of talented, sophisticated and experienced operatives simply does not exist in the field of online organizing the way it does in the established areas of field organizing, fundraising or campaign management.

While I was pleased to see that the NRSC had compiled a 39-page "manual" to Senate candidates, properly and effectively navigating the modern world can't be summed up in a coffee table book (sans graphics).

Don't misunderstand me. The mere fact that the NRSC is being proactive on this front encourages me.

What I fear is that the fate of the 39-page memo will be the same fate of the 350-page research binder which the oppo departments put together with care: Shelfed by the campaign manager. Passed on to the communications director (when hired). Filing cabinet until needed.

Modern media strategies aren't an exact science. You can't prescribe a cure. You have to talk with people, show them how to use the tools, help them build their contact lists and show them where to look.

In short, it's not as easy as it looks (on paper).

It's also clear to me that the NRSC's effort wasn't a coordinated effort with the RNC and the NRCC. Senate races should follow the manual and should all dedicate full resources to their online operation. However, Congressional campaigns, state representatives, county sheriffs... They also need an online strategy.

This is where we come in.

Over the next few weeks, months, and however long it takes, I'm going to personally dedicate any available time I have to helping supplement the training efforts of those who are training field operatives and candidates throughout the nation. Leadership Institute, state parties, College Republicans, Young Republicans, etc.

To be honest, I'm not sure how this will work. I'm not exactly in the business of organizing training sessions.

However, I've given a number of lessons which lightly touch on the main areas of an online campaign, but it's never enough time. After I speak, I'm always swamped with questions and people asking more afterwards. I never really get to dig as deep as I think it needs to go.

In other words, our field operatives, our Party's next Lee Atwater's and Karl Rove's are hungry to know more.

You don't have to tell a 22-year-old kid how important a facebook strategy is. They've probably already started the group/profile because facebook is their dashboard with which they organize their entire lives.

And I want you to join me in this effort.

If you're willing to volunteer and believe you have the experience necessary to help train operatives about a specific topic, email me and let's start fleshing out some ideas and building an agenda for our first class. Blogs, websites, socnets, YouTube, email, etc.

Our first class should be every single Republican press secretary/chief-of-staff/operative based in DC who will listen. We'll meet at a coffee shop if we need to.

I'm going to move quick on this, likely class date will be the second week of July, so if you're interested in helping organize and train the modern online army, contact me.

We don't have much time. We're already late to the dance.