In California, we (DFAers and MMOBsters) are lucky because many people here were already local Dem Party activists. I think, because Dean gave his famous "What I Want to Know" speech at our 2003 convention, he captured the hearts of many Party regulars that already wanted what Howard had the guts to demand. So they helped teach the rest of us  how the local Dem structure works.

Our Western caucus in Sacramento had an open "Listening" breakfast as well as audience seats for grassrooters because grassrooters were already part of the host California State Party system. We had an ace woman who's a county chair up there that made it happen.

I have learned that understanding the Party structure isn't hard, just hard work. Show Up, as Dr. Dean says. Many times it is: show up at local gyms or union halls for long and really boring meetings ;-)

Because of the DFA network, we all got the info and Showed Up at our Assembly District Committee re-org meetings last month. (That's the entry level.) And we got tons of progressive DFAers elected as delegates to our next CA State convention. Like any volunteer org, it is the delegates that work the hardest and make an impression, that will get elected to the next level. Like high school, you have to show up to decorate the gym, if you want to run for student council.

I do think that if Dean wins (cross fingers), there will be more communication around Party structure. Each state is its own fiefdom, though, so everyone's milage will vary.