PO Highlight: Karin Schumacher

This is the beginning of a new series where we highlight Precinct Organizers other Democrats have nominated as inspirational. You can recommend a PO to be interviewed for a highlight by emailing .

This Highlight is about Karin Schumaker (she/her), Co-PO for precinct 823

1. What inspired you to become a PO?

What inspired me?  I wasn't so much inspired to become a PO as I was asked in 2017 by the HD8B Captain, Dave Wolf, and I felt there was no reason why I couldn't and shouldn't take it on.  I was already unhappy with Trump's first term... and thought I could learn a lot and possibly contribute to making Democrats stronger and win the next election. I had campaigned for Democrats over the years, but had never worked for the Party itself, and I saw it as a good opportunity to learn, engage and contribute positively to the country's future.

2. What were some early successes that made you commit?

Early Successes? Things that helped were excellent orientation and teaching by Dave Wolf, the HD8 Captain who had recruited me. When I first started recruiting for Block Captains in my Precinct, I found it wasn't that hard, since we were only contacting Democrats anyway.  I just had to make the action intentional and make finding the time a priority.  I found a neighbor who was willing to be a co-PCP (PO). I rode my bike, and we went door to door (following a Van list of Democrats) and I was surprised that we picked up 3 or 4 Block Captains the first late afternoon we did it. Everyone we talked with was friendly even if they couldn't be a Block Captain. We discovered that going late afternoon to early evening on weekdays was the best time to find people home, a bit more relaxed and able to speak with us. 

3.  What helped you keep it up over the years?

What helped me keep with it?   I think having a co-PO each year has been a big help. I have had 3 different ones, due to previous ones moving out of the District. Working together provides for lots more ideas and makes the work easier. Also, attending the HD8 monthly meetings, as well as the semi-annual reorg meetings of the Denver Dems has helped me meet more POs and active Democrats which encourages me to keep going.  

     Another big help was Sharon Kermiet, a PO in a neighboring precinct, who recruited herself (!) to be the HD8 Volunteer Coordinator a year or 2 ago..  She has encouraged and helped me with VAN, is extremely organized and willing to assist all the POs with ideas and logistics.  Both she and I firmly believe in the Block Captain "theory" of engaging voters in our respective Precincts, which was encouraged and taught by the former Captain, Dave Wolf. 

She also hosts a monthly brown bag lunch discussion group for POs to wrangle ideas among us. 

4. What are any current projects you have that being a PO supports/helped you do?

Current projects?  Maintaining my current Block Captains(BCs) is a high priority - as well as continuing to recruit more of them.  We have only about half the number we need for the 40 blocks in my precinct.  I try to send out intermittent emails to them with Precinct, House District or County Dems news and events which can keep BCs involved. (That response has been not as good as we'd like, but we will continue to do this in 2025.