Denver 2008 Convention Meeting
Committee chairs met last Friday. A larger meeting took place yesterday. It started with a welcome by Mike Dino, CEO. Then Katherine Archuleta discussed the values that are being placed on the convention planning and execution. 1) They want it to be a “wow” experience; 2) Inclusiveness is really important - delegates will be taken care of, others want to be involved; 3) It will be a “green” convention; 4) It is possible that the nominee for President or Vice-President will be a woman, an African-American or a Hispanic and this provides for great educational opportunities.
There was a presentation on having a green and sustainable convention with a guest speaker who is working on the Olympics to do the same. Beth Conover introduced this section. She is working on sustainability in Mayor Hickenlooper’s office. (She is also married to my former assistant, Ken Snyder).
An overall session was held with the folks who worked on the Boston convention. Steve Kerrigan, from the mayor’s office in Boston, led the discussion and answered questions that included everything from how they dealt with the homeless to communications and transportation. Breakout sessions continued after lunch. I attended the one on volunteers. In a separate conversation, I talked to Steve about how the Boston committee worked with the Massachusetts State Democratic Party to recruit and train volunteers. An added challenge for Mass. was that the nominee was from that state and had need for volunteers to go into New Hampshire almost immediately.
After the breakout sessions, my committee on organizational outreach met. Co-chairing this commitee are Ramona Martinez and myself. Our major goal is “to communicate with all national, state and local organizational stakeholders to seek input into the 2008 convention planning.” We will be taking information to the upcoming Association for State Democratic Chairs meeting and the Western Regional Caucus. I am also contacting other state chairs for input. In addition, we will begin putting out regular information to county chairs so that we can get volunteers involved locally until the convention is ready for them. There is much work to be done.
Pat
March 21st, 2007 at 6:05 am
Pat’s description of the goals of the convention organizers make it easy to reflect on what a WOW experience the event can be. There are at least three areas where the city and the state are in the midst of remarkable leaps forward. To speak of just the area of art and music: the new Hamilton wing is an iconic gift to the world of art; it is paired with an equally iconic gift of the Still Museum, about which a stunning article in the New York Times made it clear that this unique body of art, kept from view for decades, will be an attraction for art lovers for years to come.
Alongside these museums, the widely praised Cornerstone Arts Center of Colorado College is due for completion about a year from now. It is on the cutting edge of green, sustainable architecture, yet designed to enhance every encounter between students and all realms of the world of art. The new school of music at the University of Denver includes performance spaces with almost preternatural acoustics. The potential to bring in outside choral, chamber, and symphonic groups is staggering: one can easily envision such artists as Yo Yo Ma, Emmanuel Ax, the renowned St. Olaf Choir and the near seraphic beauty of the Cambridge Singers performing in venues of flaw less acoustics. Community input, integration of sites, and early invitations are key. The long term effect on the reputation of the state and city: simply priceless.
March 24th, 2007 at 8:55 am
I’d like to volenteer at the convention. I won’t clean,but you could put me down for about anything else. I’m a dentist in Boulder and have already given my partners notice that I will be taking time off for the event. Please let me know who to contact. thanks julie
March 25th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Please go to the CDP website and sign up. www.coloradodems.org. Look for the button on the right hand side. Paty