After a week of enduring a lot of flack for doing our job, it was refreshing to hit the road with packets for counties that will get them into some of the Democratic convention functions next week. Of course, like any journey, it was fraught with its on little adventures.

I was an hour late getting started because the packets were not ready. My hat is off to all of the people who worked to get lists reviewed. At the Campaign for Change office, no one seemed to have slept on Thursday night. However, they were cordial and helpful, especially Paul Schnaitter and Ray Rivera.

And of course, it was pouring down rain. I am not complaining. We need the water. It just made a slower go of the travel. I met Becky Cook, co-chair for Clear Creek, at a parking lot in Morrison. We damply went through her packet of instructions and documents.

By then I knew that the Eisenhower Tunnel was closed. Charlene Smith from Lake County called me along the way. She was on the other side waiting for her packet. We decided to hope and pray that the tunnel would be clear by the time I got there. It was, but I was greeted with a five-mile back up and some light snow. In August!!

Charlene waited for over an hour and then met Sandy Briggs from Summit County at Frisco. We counted out documents and information. All in good spirits so I could be off to Edwards.

DNC Committeewoman Debbie Marquez and her daughter, Francesca, met me at the exit 163. We once again went over documentation for Eagle County and discussed upcoming events.

Next stop was Glenwood Springs. I got off I-70 and arrived at our drop off point to meet Camilla Auger from Pitkin and Pat Tamasko from Garfield. Once again we counted documents, went through instructions, and I headed up the road.

By now, I was running one and half hours late. So I called Rep. John Salazar’s chief of staff, Ron Carleton so he could pass on the word to the attendees of the Montrose County barbeque. Did I say that was where I was heading?

And I did arrive around 7pm. Everyone had stayed to hear me speak so I made it short. They had a great turn out. I had little mini-meetings with John Hollrah from Ouray County; Frank and Pat Ventura from Gunnison County; and Dick Unruh’s representative from San Miguel. More packets distributed and documentation reviewed. I gave Ron Carleton packets for the counties of Montezuma, La Plata, San Juan and Archuleta since he was meeting Rep. Salazar over there the next day.

Kim Wille was there taking her great pictures, and she filled up a plate of barbeque for me. It was cold but delicious. While I ate, Steve Dooley entertained me with stories about local characters. Steve is an attorney in Montrose County.

I went home with Karen Connor, former Montrose County Democratic Chair, for the night. Jayne Bilberry came over to pick up packets for Montrose and Delta. Jayne is also a member of the Colorado delegation so we talked about the upcoming convention.

Saturday morning I was on the road again. I did stop in Gunnison to buy a new cowboy hat and then headed to Salida. Tom Thomas met me at Bongo Billy’s to pick up Chaffee County’s packet. And Terry Hart was waiting, with his lovely daughter, to get Pueblo’s information. They talked to me, while I ate a quick lunch, about what is happening in their county.

By this time I am back in a deluge of rain. I arrived at Coaldale, where a big rally was occurring at Itty Bitty Campground. Dan Slater was there, as was CD5 candidate for Congress, Hal Bidlack. (BTW, Hal was at Bongo Billy’s earlier in Salida). I was able to give Kevin Bradley the packet for Fremont County.

Then I headed for Woodland Park. The Democratic dinner in Teller County was held for the first time in 11 years. Over 100 people attended. I gave the keynote speech and could feel the electricity in the air as these dedicated people gathered to celebrate new activism in the county. Laurie Glauth did a wonderful job as the emcee. Hal Bidlack gave a great speech. Attendees got to hear from Joe Alsup, who is running for State Senate; Holly Gorman, candidate for State House: and their local candidates for county commissioner, Rev. Saunders, and Charles Olson. And yes, Laurie got a packet for Teller.

Of course, the fun of the night was when Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff conducted the live auction, raising several thousand dollars.

I arrived home last night exhilarated and exhausted. However, it was a great trip for two main reasons. Connecting with local Democrats who are doing the important work to register voters, rally their communities and raise dollars is always a reminder that they are the essential core of our party. We constantly look for ways to motivate and reward them. Often that is just about “showing up.”

Secondly, I traveled over some of the most beautiful parts of our state. Mountains, valleys and streams that fill me with so much spiritual renewal. I saw a big horn sheep, young buck, lots of birds and just the wonder that is Colorado.

I don’t always have time to post comments, but I wanted to share this with you.

Pat Waak, Chair, Colorado Democratic Party

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at 5:23 pm and is filed under CDP, Counties, National Convention 2008. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.