Yesterday more than 200 people were on hand for the Engaged Spirituality Forum at Iliff School of Theology. We will be posting copies of remarks and a video of the proceedings on the website in the near future. However, I want to provide some highlights from the day on this site.

After a wonderful opening mediation with George Tinker, David Trickett, President of Iliff gave his welcome. To follow are his remarks:

“Welcome to our second collaboration with the Colorado Democratic Party. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of this undertaking. It is my goal that we will collaborate effectively with all contenders for public service, no matter one’s affiliation, for we are called to be a community asset for reconciliation and healing of deep division. In truth, we know that the fratricidal tendencies apparent in some highly visible public arenas are adding toxins to the body politic–and such conditions are not sustainable.

I will share with you why I believe this kind of event is worth continuing, and not just before election cycles but also throughout the less hectic periods of our life together: public service is to be a calling, a vocation. Certainly privilege accrues to those who serve and lead us, but at the heart of it all is properly to be a sense that a public leader is actually working not for small interests but in truth for the common good. And far too many of us have allowed this inconvenient realization to slip from the center of our focus.

I grew up in a context–the Deep South–where hardball politics has been part of the culture since before the end of the War Between the States. My hometown was the last spot on the North American continent where the flags of the Confederacy were furled (some two months after Appomattox, since my ancestors refused to believe that General Lee had made a good decision by surrendering). I have seen the good and the bad, the smarmy and the exciting: LBJ used to visit my father’s business; we lived around the corner from Huey Long’s widow, and Russell Long was a family acquaintance; I dated the daughter of a governor of our state, and he (John McKeithen) used to spend hours in the late nights when I was at the mansion talking to me about the “human” side of being a public servant; and the very first burning cross I saw was up the street at the home of our local member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He stood for something that incurred the wrath–actually, the deep fear–of those who refused to see that civility and equity were truly for all and not merely for some. And then I lived and worked in Washington, DC for almost exactly twenty years before coming here. So I, like many of you perhaps, have seen a lot.

I’ve spoken several times with one of our distinguished speakers today, Leah Daughtry, about a dream for a certain big political event that will take place here in Denver this August. Rather than merely view the event as an occasion to rally forces for the election of a very good leader of this nation, what if it was a platform for a clarion call to this whole nation for renewal? For the renewal of pride in citizenship, for the renewal of hope that we can navigate the whitewaters of societal uncertainty together, for the renewal of the change that all can have a voice at the table?

It is in this spirit that I welcome you to this place and encourage you to discern afresh the bigger-picture value of what we’re all about today. Thank you for being part of this vital conversation. We here at Iliff very much want it to continue, and aim to be a partner with you.”

With this welcome, much of the discussion centered around a call to public service. I have asked Leah Daughtry, CEO of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, to povide a copy of her remarks so we can post them as well–here and on the website.

Yesterday more than 200 people were on hand for the Engaged Spirituality Forum at Iliff School of Theology. We will be posting copies of remarks and a video of the proceedings on the website in the near future. However, I want to provide some highlights from the day on this site.

After a wonderful opening mediation with George Tinker, David Trickett, President of Iliff gave his welcome. To follow are his remarks:

“Welcome to our second collaboration with the Colorado Democratic Party. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of this undertaking. It is my goal that we will collaborate effectively with all contenders for public service, no matter one’s affiliation, for we are called to be a community asset for reconciliation and healing of deep division. In truth, we know that the fratricidal tendencies apparent in some highly visible public arenas are adding toxins to the body politic–and such conditions are not sustainable.

I will share with you why I believe this kind of event is worth continuing, and not just before election cycles but also throughout the less hectic periods of our life together: public service is to be a calling, a vocation. Certainly privilege accrues to those who serve and lead us, but at the heart of it all is properly to be a sense that a public leader is actually working not for small interests but in truth for the common good. And far too many of us have allowed this inconvenient realization to slip from the center of our focus.

I grew up in a context–the Deep South–where hardball politics has been part of the culture since before the end of the War Between the States. My hometown was the last spot on the North American continent where the flags of the Confederacy were furled (some two months after Appomattox, since my ancestors refused to believe that General Lee had made a good decision by surrendering). I have seen the good and the bad, the smarmy and the exciting: LBJ used to visit my father’s business; we lived around the corner from Huey Long’s widow, and Russell Long was a family acquaintance; I dated the daughter of a governor of our state, and he (John McKeithen) used to spend hours in the late nights when I was at the mansion talking to me about the “human” side of being a public servant; and the very first burning cross I saw was up the street at the home of our local member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He stood for something that incurred the wrath–actually, the deep fear–of those who refused to see that civility and equity were truly for all and not merely for some. And then I lived and worked in Washington, DC for almost exactly twenty years before coming here. So I, like many of you perhaps, have seen a lot.

I’ve spoken several times with one of our distinguished speakers today, Leah Daughtry, about a dream for a certain big political event that will take place here in Denver this August. Rather than merely view the event as an occasion to rally forces for the election of a very good leader of this nation, what if it was a platform for a clarion call to this whole nation for renewal? For the renewal of pride in citizenship, for the renewal of hope that we can navigate the whitewaters of societal uncertainty together, for the renewal of the change that all can have a voice at the table?

It is in this spirit that I welcome you to this place and encourage you to discern afresh the bigger-picture value of what we’re all about today. Thank you for being part of this vital conversation. We here at Iliff very much want it to continue, and aim to be a partner with you.”

With this welcome, much of the discussion centered around a call to public service. I have asked Leah Daughtry, CEO of the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, to povide a copy of her remarks so we can post them as well–here and on the website.

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

WARNING: If you are one of the four or five folks who have e-mailed me complaining about my support for a particular Presidential candidate, you may want to only read the first part of this post….

In an hour or so, I’ll leave Canon City and head north to do some more caucus training. I encourage you to come by if you are in the area — there should also be an opportunity at most of these events to learn more about the various Presidential campaigns, as well.

Tonight, I will be in Estes Park; here is the information on that event:

Fri, Jan 11; ESTES PARK DEMOCRATS WELCOME CANDIDATES & OFFER CAUCUS TRAINING

Estes Park Democrats will meet to hear from several Presidential campaigns, the Udall for Colorado campaign (for U.S. Senate), and Betsy Markey, candidate for Congress. The event also includes caucus training by Dan Slater, 1st Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party.

The event is open to the public.

Date & Time: Fri, Jan. 11, 2008; 7:00 p.m.Location: Estes Park Municipal Building, 2nd Floor, rooms 202-3.

Contact: John & Karen Ericson, 586-5042

Tomorrow (Saturday), I then head to Loveland and Greeley for more training. Here is the information on the Loveland training, for 1:30ish:

Its Central Committee time again, and what a meeting this should be!

Dont miss it! 1:p.m. Official Business: Our official business is to approve a formula for determining how many delegates each precinct is allotted to go forward to the County Assembly and Convention. These delegates will be selected at precinct caucuses on Tuesday, Feb. 5. We also will fill officer vacancies of the Larimer County Democratic Party. Current members of the Larimer County Central Committee have received the OFFICIAL CALL and may vote. They include Party officers, directors, precinct committee people, and Democratic elected officials. All other Democrats are welcome to attend.

1:30 or 2 p.m. Caucus Training and Candidates for U.S. House and Senate; Dan Slater, First Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, will be on hand to conduct caucus training. Betsy Markey will attend and speak. Mark Udall will either attend or send a representative to speak on his behalf. Representatives of Presidential Campaigns: Representatives of five of the eight Democratic presidential campaigns will address our meeting. Those speakers will represent Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, and Bill Richardson. Come join your friends, meet the candidates and/or their representatives, and prepare for caucuses.

Central Committee Meeting Date & Time: Sat, Jan. 12, 1-1:30 p.m.

Caucus Training & Candidate Speeches: 1:30 +

Location: Bill Reed Middle School , 370 W. 4th St . , Loveland

And here is the Greeley information:

Caucus training is scheduled for January 12th, from 5:30-8 pm, at the University Center, Columbine Room, 11th Ave between 19th and 20th Street, Greeley. Colorado Democratic Party officials, including 1st Vice Chair Dan Slater, are expected to assist. Representatives of the presidential campaigns will have tables with information. Parking is available at the University Center; for directions, go to http://www.unco.edu/uncmap/.

Training resources will include a Colorado Democratic Party Caucus Rules Summary, Step-by-Step Caucus Agenda, Caucus Process Instructions, Presidential Preference Math Worksheet, Weld County Assembly Math Worksheet, Weld County Assembly/Convention Call and Delegate Form, and Nominating Process Flowchart.

Finally, I’ll be doing caucus training for Park County on Sunday. Here are the details for that event, if you can attend:

NEXT MEETING OF PARK COUNTY DEMOCRATS

January 13, 1:00 PM

Jefferson Community Center

The Public is Invited

The next meeting of the Park County Democrats will take place on Sunday, January 13, at the Jefferson Community Center. The meeting begins at 1:00 pm. The public is invited. There will be Caucus Training prior to the start of the Central Committee meeting. If you’re interested in the Caucus process and what exactly is involved, please come to this meeting.

The Jefferson Community Center is located in Jefferson along US Highway 285 about 15 miles northeast of Fairplay and 23 miles southwest of Bailey.

I’m not done on Sunday, though. On Monday, I’ll be in Frisco, and on Tuesday, I’ll be in Rocky Ford for caucus trainings for those two areas. Hopefully, I’ll have a chance to write about the details of those before Monday.

——————————————

Last night, we went up to Colorado Springs to attend the grand opening of the Obama for President office there. I’ve been to open houses and grand openings before, and I expected maybe 20-30 folks there. Boy, was I surprised! A reporter I was standing next to estimated at least 250 people in attendance. I don’t think there was room for any more people there in that office — it was one of the more impressive sights I’ve seen lately.

Several folks spoke and were recognized, including former El Paso County chairs Ed Raye and Mark Johnson. The place was so packed, they had to do the speeches and information twice — once for one room, and again a second time for the another room of people. It was really impressive to see this level of support in Colorado Springs, of all places, for a Democratic candidate.

Well, I need to head off to Estes Park. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Dan Slater did a nice job of commenting in his blog on the State Executive Committee and State Central Committee Meetings this past Saturday. In spite of the weather there was a terrific turn out. It underlines the enthusiasm on the part of Democrats in the state. I personally welcome Butch Hicks as our new treasurer. He has big shoes to fill with Rep. Mark Ferrandino moving on. But Butch has been treasurer in Adams County for years and brings a ton of experience.

The next day, Sunday, Sky Gallegos and I flew to Durango for another community conversation and training. Over 80 people from La Plata, Montezuma and Archuleta County showed up to hear about the upcoming convention. They stayed for the next hour to learn about the caucus process and the DNC’s Neighbor to Neighbor project.

It was the liveliest session we have had, with tons of questions. I used part of Dan Slater’s really good powerpoint presentation, plus a new chart that Billy Compton has put together to show the total process. Dan’s presentation is up on the website so it can be downloaded. However, he is conducting a number of trainings throughout the state, as am I and Carolyn Boller. I also know that many counties are conducting their own.

Among the participants on Sunday, Joelle Riddle and Wally White, La Plata County Commissioners, were in attendance. John Whitney from Rep. John Salazar’s office was on hand. The Durango Herald called the event part pep rally. And we all agree.

After dropping Sky Gallegos at the airport, I stayed at Alison Dance’s lovely guest studio. Because of the ice and snow, I experienced what it is like to be without my winter tires. The car I was driving slid down a hill into the ditch. Luckily I was rescued by my hosts and no damage to the car or myself. The next morning’s snow storm cancelled my trips to Cortez and Dove Creek, so I spent most of the day on conference calls and my trusty Blackberry.

On Tuesday morning, Joelle Riddle and I traveled through the snow to have breakfast with Chairman Frost of the Southern Utes. We discussed how we might get some of the Democrats in the seven tribes to run for delegate. I have a list of people to confer with in the next few weeks.

It cleared enough so I could fly back to Denver and meet with Beage Atwater, who is once again directing the coordinated campaign. That was followed by a larger meeting with the DSCC and consultants. Staff is already working on outreach efforts,.

That evening a dozen members of the CDP Faith and Politics Project met with Rev. Terri Lavelle, director of the DNC Faith in Action Program, and John Kelly, who works on outreach for the same program. The night before they had attended a house party of 20 people from the Catholic community.

Our major discussion was around the upcoming seminar on Engaged Spirituality. We hope to use this event to recruit more people who would be willing to hold house parties. To follow is the information on the seminar to be held January 12, 2008.

Registration is 9:30 a.m. Program begins at 10:00 a.m.
End time: 4:00 p.m.

The event is at the Iliff School of Theology, 2201 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80201. The meeting will take place in the Great Hall to the right as you enter the main entrance.

Agenda to follow:

Engaged Spirituality Forum
Faith and Politics Project of the Colorado Democratic Party
Hosted by Iliff School of Theology
January 12,2008

10:00 a.m. Native American Meditation: George Tinker

10:15 a.m. Welcome: Iliff President David Trickett

10:30 a.m. Greeting and Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Pat Waak, Chair, Colorado Democratic Party

Keynote Speaker: The Rev. Leah Daughtry, Chair of the 2008 Democratic Convention

11:00 a.m. A panel discussion: Exploring the Constitutional Mandates: Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause
The Rev. Ron Stief of “Faith in Public Life”
Taj Ashaheed: Executive Director of the Colorado Muslim Council
Representative Morgan Carroll, Colorado General Assembly

12:30 p.m. Lunch with Governor Bill Ritter

1:30 p.m. & 2:30p.m. Break-out Workshops
Faith and Immigration: American Hospitality and Economic Necessity
Representative Terrance Carroll, Colorado General Assembly
Dr. Miguel de la Torre

Faith and War: Superpower for Conquest or Common Good
Larry Howe-Kerr, Catholic Social Justice Activist
Pastor Ted Fritshel

Faith and Healthcare – Life-Health Issues in a Broader Context
Representative Jim Riesberg , Colorado General Assembly
The Rev. Dr. Michael Attas, Medical Ethics Professor at Baylor

Faith and the Environment – Making the Connections
The Rev. Peter Sawtell, Director of Eco-Justice Ministries, UCC
Eileen Regan, Environmental Scientist and Spiritual Director

Registration fee is $20, which includes a box lunch. You can register online at www.coloradodems.org

Contact for information: Pat Waak, Chair, Colorado Democratic Party, pwaak@coloradodems.org

It is my policy as Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party to interview all potential candidates for public office. It provides an opportunity to help them evaluate why they are running, what resources (internal as well as external) can they bring to the race, and whether there are other ways to accomplish their objectives.

Running for office is an awesome responsibility. An additional responsibility of the officers of the party is to be respectful and helpful. We try very hard to do that. Not everyone is pleased with the outcome. But leadership means that you seek the common good.

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

First, an apology: As many of you know, I was in Northern Virginia a couple of weekends ago for the Winter DNC Meeting. I promised to blog about all of the Presidential candidates and their speeches. I actually spent about 45 minutes writing a very long and detailed post that evening; however, when I hit the “Submit” button on my WordPress site, everything disappeared. I had not backed any of it up. I completely lost all of it. I have not had any time since then to re-create it, and now it is kind of late to do so.

To summarize, though, the candidates did a wonderful job. While I have endorsed Senator Obama, each of our candidates reinforced my feeling that we will be well-served by whomever we select as our nominee in Denver in August. There was also a lot of concern in the hall for the reports of the hostage situation at Senator Clinton’s office in New Hampshire, and I can tell you that I had a short conversation with the New Hampshire Chair, Ray Buckley, later that evening — he looked both exhausted from the day’s stresses and relieved that the hostages all got out without physical harm.

It was a great DNC meeting, and the last one before we meet again the day after the Convention adjourns in Denver in August.

—————–

Saturday was an opportunity for our State Central Committee and State Executive Committee to meet and get some last-minute business done before the caucuses. There was not anything really controversial going on, but we still had a great crowd anyway — even with snow falling throughout the state. That really impressed me — we used to wring our hands to make quorum at meetings just a few years ago, but even with bad weather and no controversy, we still made quorum easily for both meetings. Some of that is due to a rules change I helped bring about that changed the way we calculate quorum, but I think that a greater reason for it is that we have more folks who are truly excited about the opportunities we have to change Colorado and to change America in 2008 and beyond.

We approved the 2008 CDP budget — and we also noted that 2007 was the best off-year for fundraising in our Party’s post-Amendment 27 history. Rep. Mark Ferrandino, our extraordinarily capable and diligent Treasurer, attended his last meeting as Treasurer as we selected another quite able-bodied soul to fill his spot: Adams County Dems’ Treasurer Butch Hicks. I worked with Butch on the Site Selection Committee, and I know he will do an outstanding job as our new Treasurer, although he does have huge shoes to fill.

We handled a few other housekeeping items — a couple of minor rules changes, and formal approval of the delegate allocation to the counties for the State Assembly and Convention. Several Presidential campaigns had representatives there (Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Biden, Kucinich), and we also heard from our Congressional candidates in attendance. Senate President Peter Groff gave his first speech to the Central Committee in that role, and we also heard from the always-eloquent Speaker Andrew Romanoff. Finally, we heard some inspirational words about our role as the host state party for the National Convention from DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry.

After those meetings, three of the Congressional Districts held their meetings. The 2nd CD had a packed meeting where they debated when and where to hold their Convention and Assembly, finally deciding to hold it a couple of weeks prior to the State Convention and Assembly, in Westminster. Following those meetings, there was VAN training, and I led a training for some county party leaders on how to prepare for and hold the caucuses and county convention / assembly.

————————————

A few other notes:

First, several people have asked me when I will be giving the next caucus trainings. While we are still working on a few other dates to firm up, here are the ones that have been set. On Friday evening, Jan. 11, I will be doing a training in Estes Park. The following day, Jan. 12, I will be conducting trainings for Larimer Dems in Loveland and for Weld Dems in Greeley. On Sunday, January 13, I will then be doing training in Park County, at the Jefferson Community Center. On Monday, January 14, at 7 pm, I will be doing training in Summit County (I’m assuming I will be in Frisco). The following evening, January 15, I will be doing the training in Rocky Ford. Then, on Saturday, January 19, I will be doing training here at home in Canon City, for Fremont County and the surrounding counties. Finally, on Wednesday evening, January 23, I will be conducting training for the counties in HD 63 in Alamosa.

So far, those are the ones that have been affirmatively scheduled. If you’d like for me to come to your area, please drop me a note and we’ll try to find a date that works well for everybody.

Second, Jay Fawcett, who ran an outstanding campaign for the 5th CD, and who forced the Republican Party to spend hundreds of thousands of national dollars on a district that they assumed was safe, is working hard to retire his debt from that campaign. Here’s a note from Jay:

ActBlue has reactivated my campaign account for the purpose of debt relief. I made a principled decision to pay all vendors and salaries first and I succeeded. But that leaves the campaign owing me about $70,000 I have been asking support to get to $50,000 on ActBlue by 15 December, after that I close out the campaign and move on. Any help and suggestions you can provide will be appreciated. Please spread the word and the web site.

Jay Fawcett

http://www.actblue.com/page/fawcett4congress

If you can, please visit the ActBlue site and help Jay as much as you can. I know he will appreciate it.

Coming back from the DNC meeting, we had the opportunity to hit the ground running. Monday night Sky Gallegos, Deputy CEO for Intergovernmental Relations of the DNCC, and I conducted a community forum in Fort Collins. It was standing room only, with representatives from Larimer, Weld and Morgan Counties in attendance.

The meetings that Sky and I are doing include an opportunity to discuss what will happen at the Democratic National Convention next year, as well as caucus training and the DNC’s Neighorhood Leader program. The questions were centered around volunteering and ways to promote your local community to incoming visitors. For some fun commentary, check out www.demconvention.com. They have a blog with video interviews.

However, the caucus training was important as well. About 60% of the audience had been to caucus before. The rest were really learning about caucuses and how to become delegates. Adam Bowen, Larimer County Democratic Chair, said that there were lots of new faces in the crowd. And we recruited about 15 new neighborhood leaders.

On Tuesday, Dick Wadhams and I made presentations to the Denver Lions Club. A packed lunchtime group listened to us talk about the importance of caucuses in Colorado and the changes we expect to see with the coming year’s participation. My prediction is that we will have a record turnout in 2008 because of all the Presidential candidates working in the state, the early date for our caucuses, and the interest in becoming a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Denver.

On Wednesday, over 200 people gathered at A Spice of Life conference center in Boulder. The DNCC held a community conversation with Leah Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC, and Rep. Alice Madden, Colorado House Majority Leader. The big announcement was the introduction of Andrea Robinson, who will be in charge of “greening” the national convention. I also had a few moments to explain the caucuses and how one could become a delegate.

Other upcoming events:
1) The Colorado State Executive Committee and State Central Committee will be meeting on Saturday to approve next year’s budget, elect a new treasurer, and handle party business.

2) There will be Faith and Politics House Parties on Monday evening. On Tuesday of next week, we will host a larger meeting at the CDP at 6:30 P.M. Rev. Terri Lavelle and John Kelly from the DNC’s Faith in Action Project will be here.

3) The Faith and Politics Seminar is scheduled for January 12, 2008 at Iliff School of Theology. Speakers will include Leah Daughtry, Governor Bill Ritter, Rep. Terrance Carroll, Rep. Morgan Carroll and Rep. Jim Reisberg.

4) Sky Gallegos and I will be hosting a community conversation and training in Durango, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007 at the Durango Community Recreation Center (Peaks Room). The event will go from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

5) I will be visiting with Montezuma County Dems in Cortez at The Main Bookstore in Cortez at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007.

6) And I will be having dinner with the Dolores County Dems at the Blue Mountain Cafe in Dove Creek at 6:30 P.M. that evening.

Hope to see you at one of these events.

The campaigns are heating up, and as we move forward, it is always interesting to see the tactics of our opponents. Some of you may have followed the flap from my face off with Dick Wadhams, Republican Chair for Colorado, at the City Club.

It started when Wadhams talked about Rep. Mark Udall’s record being fair game for the upcoming Senate race. I responded by pointing out that Bob Schaffer has failed to take a stand on important Colorado issues, like the Roan Plateau, Pinon Canyon, SCHIP, and doesn’t even have anything on his website about any issues.

Wadhams then demanded that I go back and ask Mark Udall why he refuses to debate Schaffer. According to Wadhams, Aaron Harber of Channel 12, had asked Udall to debate and Udall had refused. News to me. And news to Mark’s campaign manager, Mike Melanson.

Here is part of a message I got from Aaron:

“I know it may have looked like I had a conversation with Dick Wadhams but the last conversation I had with him was when you and Dick appeared together on my program. That is why I was more surprised by Dick’s statement than anyone else when Mike Melanson called me asking about Dick’s statement.

When Mike called me, he gave me the impression Schaffer’s people had proposed six dates to Udall’s people and the Udall team had turned them down. Dick knows this never happened (well, at least as far as I know anyway). Similarly, while I had suggested some dates at different times, at no time were there ever six specific dates proposed by me before the two camps (again, as well as I can remember).”

We should expect a lot of untruths during the coming year. We need a truth squad out there who carries out vigilance.

By the way, Wadhams also said that Governor Ritter did not consult with the business community before he signed his executive order on the partnership program with state employees. I knew that was false because I had conversations with business representatives who had been consulted.

And since we are talking about our Republicans colleagues, Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who Bob Schaffer calls his “hero.” is featured in U.S. News & World Report’s latest issue. On page 24 under a title, “Financial Aid for the Rich,” Kim Clark reports that Musgrave inserted an exemption in a bill last year that “allows the children of wealthy entrepreneurs to collect aid intended for the needy.” This loophole applies to federal financial aid for college.

Next week the DNC Winter meeting will take place in Virginia. It will be the last big meeting before the DNC Convention next August. Dan Slater, Sherry Jackson and I will be heading off next Wednesday for caucus meetings and general sessions.

Other important upcoming events:
December 3, 2007 Fort Collins community meeting with Sky Gallegos and me.
December 5, 2007 Boulder Community Conversation with Leah Daughtry, DNCC, and
Rep. Alice Madden
December 8, 2007 State Executive and State Central Committee Meetings in Denver
December 9, 2007 Durango community meeting and training with Sky Gallegos and
me.
January 12, 2009 Engaged Spirituality Seminar at Iliff School of Theology,
Speakers include Gov. Bill Ritter, Leah Daughtry, Rep. Terrance Carroll, Rep.
Morgan Carroll, Dr. Miguel de la Torre and others.

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

I forgot a couple of VERY key points in the last post that Colorado Democrats need to know about the hotel assignments (for those on e-mail, my apologies for three in one day).

First, please, please, please do not call the Grand Hyatt in a mad dash to book your rooms. They won’t have any. All of the rooms have already been set aside by the DNC for the Host Committee. A barrage of phone calls to the Grand Hyatt will just unnecessarily upset their staff. Furthermore, if you think you may be a delegate, don’t worry. If you are elected a delegate, you will have a room if you want it (and want to pay for it — they aren’t free). Instructions on how to reserve your room within the DNC / CDP room block will come to you with plenty of time once you are elected in May.

Furthermore, please, please, please don’t call the Colorado Democratic Party about the room block. While the CDP has some degree of control over the room block, nearly every room in our block will be taken by delegates, alternates, and standing committee members. Any rooms left over will go to other key elected officials. No matter how much you push or beg, Sherry Jackson, Pat Waak and everybody else at Headquarters just can’t make a room appear. If something changes, the Party will make an announcement — but that is unlikely to happen.

Finally, if you really, really want to be a part of the delegation fun at the Grand Hyatt, while we can’t promise you a room, we can reserve a place for you at the always-exciting delegation breakfasts. Every year, we have national figures stop by and chat with our delegates while we eat breakfast and hear of plans for the day. In 2004, for example, we had members of the Kerry family, Senator Max Cleland, fmr. Sec’y of State Madeline Albright, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Donna Brazile, and Sen. Tom Daschle each address us during breakfast. Demand for such a spot will be heavy (delegates and their families, of course, will be welcome to all delegation events such as this for free), so the price to attend is reflective of the demand. You can become an Ambassador and be a part of every delegation breakfast, or you can become a Host and attend one delegation breakfast. For more information about either of these wonderful (and limited) opportunities, go to the CDP website at:
http://www.coloradodems.us/events/dineatourtable

(Cross-Posted to DemNotes at www.DemNotes.com)

As I indicated at the end of my post earlier today, the DNCC has announced the housing assignments for the Democratic National Convention in Denver next August.

First, some background: Somewhere between 17,000 and 19,000 rooms across Denver have been blocked off by hotels in the metro area for the Convention. Of these, around 6,000 to 7,000 are set aside for state delegations. The ones that are set aside for delegations are all in one of three areas: Downtown, Tech Center, and Stapleton. This summer, nearly every state sent a representative to Denver to tour hotels in those three areas and make their preferences known to the DNCC. Since September, the DNCC has been working on a complicated puzzle, trying to take into account the preferences of the delegations (some wanted close hotels, some wanted cheaper hotels, some wanted hotels with a lot of amenities, and some were limited to the largest hotels, etc.) and the available hotels.

Today, the DNCC announced the assignments.

For starters, the Colorado Delegation will be staying in a pretty good downtown spot: the Grand Hyatt. (Note that this is not the newer Hyatt Regency, which will be the DNC’s Headquarters Hotel; no delegation is staying there). Here’s an interesting point: normally, we share our hotel with one or two other delegations. In 2004, we shared the Wyndham in Boston with the Georgia delegation. However, according to the press release from the DNCC, no other delegation is staying at the Grand Hyatt. The full press release is available at:
http://www.demconvention.com/a/2007/11/delegation_hote.html

Some other notes of interest:

– For the home states of our “front-runners” for the nomination, the New York delegation is staying at the Adams Mark; the Illinois delegation is at the Marriott City Center; the North Carolina delegation is at the Doubletree Denver Tech Center; and the New Mexico delegation will be at the Crowne Plaza, Downtown.
– California is also at the Adam’s Mark; Texas is at the Radisson Denver Southeast.
– Governor Dean’s Vermont delegation is at the Magnolia Hotel.
– Where will you see the most delegations? The Stapleton Doubletree and the Four Points by Sheraton, Southeast both have four delegations each staying at their properties. Alabama, Georgia, North Dakota and South Dakota are staying at the Stapleton Doubletree; Alaska, Minnesota, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island are at the Four Points Southeast.
– Our neighbors besides New Mexico? Wyoming is the Hyatt Place at the Denver Tech Center; Utah (who got the first priority during the lottery) is at the Warwick; Arizona is at the Hyatt Regency in the Tech Center; Oklahoma is at the Embassy Suites Southeast; Kansas is at the Doubletree Tech Center; and Nebraska is also at the Embassy Suites Southeast.
– Finally, if you want to see some of the Party’s rising stars, you should hang out near the Wyndham at the Tech Center or the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott around breakfast time. The New Hampshire delegation is staying at the Wyndham; the Iowa delegation has the Downtown Courtyard. Aspiring presidential hopefuls beyond 2008 often work to stop by each of those two delegations to speak to their delegation breakfast meetings.

Whew! With every passing day, this dream of holding the National Convention in Denver becomes more and more real, doesn’t it?