Free Republic

President-elect Barack Obama asked the nation Wednesday to make a "renewed commitment" to serving their communities, saying his presidency allows a possibility for national unity through active participation, and warning of big crowds and lots of walking on his Inauguration Day. Mr. Obama, who takes the oath of office Tuesday at noon, said Americans can visit the inaugural committee's new online service tool at USAService.org to host events in their neighborhoods. He detailed his plans to join his wife, Michelle Obama, and Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his wife, Jill Biden, on Martin Luther King Day Monday to...

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is lending his stature to an initiative from the incoming administration to connect volunteers with causes that need them. President-elect Barack Obama's "Renew America Together" initiative will officially launch a Web site on Martin Luther King Day, January 19, to help people answer the call. Obama's inauguration is the following day. The Web site, www.USAservice.org, will allow people to offer their time or resources and be contacted by people in the community who need that type of help. Powell said the site will follow the model of craigslist.org, a worldwide virtual bulletin board where...

Colin Powell held a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, touting the launch of Barack Obama's new website, USAService.org, which allows Americans to find -- and to promote -- local service opportunities that are searchable by zip code. President Bush's former Secretary of State said he was on the site this morning and vouched for its usefulness. But here's betting that Powell didn't have time to go through all of the events on it.