By Steve Steiner

Managing Editor

ssteiner@elkintribune.com

Editor's note: The following was written prior to Tuesday's inauguration. A follow-up article is scheduled to appear in the Jan. 29 edition of the Ripple.

It is hard to believe, let alone imagine, that one single act may have played a role in securing North Carolina's electoral college vote for Barack Obama.

“It all began when someone stole a campaign sign from my front yard,” said Andrew Mackie.

In order to replace the sign, Mackie had to travel to Winston-Salem, and as the old saying goes, it was there that “history was made.” That is because by the time Mackie left the Obama campaign office in Winston-Salem, he had become the Yadkin County chairman for Yadkin County for Obama-Biden “Yes We Can.”

“The person who stole my sign didn't know what they were causing,” Mackie said.

From that point, Mackie added, the people in Winston-Salem was mailed a list of people interested in Obama's campaign. Out of that group, a core group emerged. It consisted of Kevin Thomas, Angie Wiles, William Fletcher, Everette Hartzog and Sheilah Fleming.

Starting around May, before the primary, they conducted monthly meetings that took place the first Saturday of each month at Ace's Restaurant in downtown Yadkinville. They canvassed. They registered voters. Whatever they could do to promote Obama’s candidacy, they did.

Mackie believes the effort paid off. The vote for Obama in Yadkin County may have been a drop in the bucket compared to other counties — and Mackie pointed out that nearly 77 percent of voters selected McCain, the highest percentage statewide — but the votes for Obama did matter.

“Our group was able to make a difference,” he said. “Obama won North Carolina by about 17,000 votes.”

It was a time to celebrate, which the group did the Saturday following election day. They were so excited they decided right there and then to go to Washington, D.C. to attend the inauguration.

“It was a spur of the moment decision,” said Mackie.

But once the decision was made, that was it. Mackie, along with Lynn Wells — the trip co-chairwoman— and her husband, John, immediately set about getting the trip organized. Ironically, said Mackie, Lynn Wells will not be able to attend because of impending surgery.

Initially, it was hoped a large contingent from Yadkin County would attend, and indeed, a notice ran inviting anyone who wanted to go to contact the organization. Mackie said the notices did attract a number of people and the hope was enough people would sign up, making it worthwhile to rent a bus.

“We had lots of responses,” he said.

However the uncertainty of the economy kept the number small, especially when prospects learned the trip would cost about $250 per person.

In the end, 16 people are going. One group will travel in a rented van, the others in a rental car.

Even so, Mackie said he is still getting asked about the trip. Every day when he has breakfast at the Bojangles restaurant, people approach and ask, “Are you still going to Washington?”

Regardless the number of people attending, going for the inauguration warms Mackie’s spirits.

“It’s a really good feeling knowing we are representing Yadkin County,” he said.

The fact no one in the “delegation” has tickets is no deterrent.

“We will be standing on the Mall. Hope to get as close as possible,” he said. “Probably depend upon the Jumbotron to see and know what’s going on.”

He added, half in jest, that the group will even have its own “inaugural ball,” right in the lobby of the hotel in Culpepper, Va., where they will be staying.

Obama’s election and inauguration has Mackie feeling emotions he has not felt for quite awhile.

“There’s a new sense of hope,” Mackie said. “(Obama's election) has lifted my hopes and given me a new faith in this country that we can be who we are and can be — and that we will be.”