Has anyone here ever attended a National Democratic Convention before?

[snowbear]

I mean the "BIG ONE".. the one held every 4 years for our presidential nominee.

Or.. ..does anyone know if you have to be an invited delegate or a volunteer of some sort in order to attend?



It's sure looking like Governor Dean will be announcing a "Rocky Mountain High" convention soon!!

The selection process narrowed it down to NYC and Denver some time ago.. and since that time, Denver has done everything RIGHT to secure the bid.

Aside from Senator Reid and other prominent Democrats, last Thursday Dr. Dean said that Governor Bill Richardson has been twisting his arm for Denver so much that he only has one arm left! ~~~~> http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4632194

BTW ~~ Denver is so confident, they've already launched the 2008 Democratic Host City Convention Website!

http://www.denverconvention2008.com/

It would be awesome if there was a way for us to plan a "Rocky Mountain DU High Meet-Up" during the convention!

But how does it all work as far as attending? ~~ Could we apply to get in as a Democratic group?

If anyone here has ever attended a Democratic Convention, or just know the scoop.. can you please share the info?


~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
P.S. Thank you to Matt at "2008 Democratic Convention Watch" for keeping his site continuously updated!! http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/

[Eurobabe]

1. I think it should be hosted in DENVER!!

about getting to the convention, you have to be a delegate for your state. I had looked into that in Virginia, it's not too hard there, just some paperwork to fill out, and getting some backing by your peers IIRC.

Good luck, that will be a hell of a convention BTW. Lots of hope riding on that one...

[Up2Late]

2. Both Party conventions always bring lots of temporary jobs to town.

I think that's your best bet if you want to get in, other than that, I think most states elect their convention delegates during one of the primary elections. (we had the DNC convention here in Atlanta a few years back)

[snowbear]

3. Thanks guys.. "DU does Denver" would be FUN !!!

If you look at the articles on Matt's website, even though Bloomberg wanted Democrats to hold it in NYC.. he ran into some financial concerns. Denver has bent over backwards unionizing hotels, you name it to make certain they are selected.

It's just a matter of when Gov. Dean announces it at this point!

BTW.. During the '04 elections when we were caucusing here in Anchorage.. some dude came in while our area was in a huddle and said "we need two delegates for your district"

Everyone just sat there dead silent --> http://eliteleague.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/duh!.gif ... After a few minutes.. some guy looked at me and said "I'll do it if you do it"

So he and I filled out the form they handed us.. I received a few pieces of mail over the first year after which began with "Dear Delegate..." but I have no clue how long their terms are..

Guess I need to call our local Democratic Party, huh?

They mentioned that some delegates in our state get to attend on their dime, but that of course-- they can't send all of them. I'm not sure how the selection process works here.

But hey.. Maybe Skinner can pull some strings for all of us?

[OnlyWeKnow]

4. I attended the 04 convention as an elected delegate!

It was awesome!

[snowbear]

6. When you have time..

Can you tell us about it??

Did they select a certain amount of delegates?

What did you all do there?

Was it a blast????

It would be great to hear about your experience!!

[flyarm]

5. yes i was a delegate to the dem convention 2004...

and had to be elected as a delegate for my county ...and pre-approved by kerry camp.to run for election for the delegate postion.

It was incredible!!

fly

[snowbear]

7. AWESOME !!!

I know it's late.. but maybe later when you have time, can you please let us know what all you got to do?

[flyarm]

8. a formula is used of male to female delegates from each county

there is a worked out formula..our county had 3 women and two men...each county and state is different..
the dem party tries to be all inclusive..with minorities..and gays and every cross section of life..

i can't answer for other states..but in my state you must declare a candidate before primaries..with DEC by filling out paper work that goes to state DNC..

after primary ..whatever candidate wins then the applicatins are sent to the candidate..and approval is made by candidate to who can run for delegate..

i was chosen ..and i had to run for election..a special election in my county took place..just for delegates..

i won a slot of 3 women 2 men..

you go and represent your county and state..

it is an incredible honor and thrill!!

and as busy as you want it to be..i signed up for as many caucuses as i could fit in a day before going to the floor each late afternoon.

i even hired a limo to get me to as many events as i could go to..i wanted to represent my county as best i could

you must pay your own expences and flights and hotel..it is not inexpensive..

each event while at the convention you pretty much pay to attend..other than the opening night events..

all luncheons you pay to attend..
emily's list cheapest ticket for lunch with Ann Richards, and Barabara Boxer was 250.00 as an example..

a horrible lunch ( food wise ) with Gloria Stienem was $150.00

everything cost pretty big bucks...all night time parties after convention were expensive...

but it was a thrill..

i met so many incredible people!!

and the big deal is breakfasts ..as celebrities come to the state breakfasts..and it sorry to say depends on how important your state is to what celebrities you get each morning!!

My state was pretty important so we got all the big dogs!! and in many cases you get to talk to them up close and personal...

M. Moore was swamped at ours though by media..they were like a pack of wolves around him..
we had : Ben Aflack
Richard Dryfus
M. Moore
Joe Wilson
Jesse Jackson
Elizabeth Edwards
to name a few...and many many politicians

Jesse Jackson stayed at our hotel so each night he came into the bar and talked to everyone and took pictures with all of us..he was wonderful!
It is a very busy schedule..with state parties each night..and candidate parties , long days , long nights of parties and little sleep!!

but the most incredible times ...

i had the time of my life!!

hope that answers some of your questions...

to bed tonight..night..fly

[snowbear]

11. Wow... thanks for the great info Fly !!!!

It really does sound like an honor to attend!! :patriot: ~ ~ :patriot:

'Cept.. yeah.. I think I'd skip out on those $250.00 luncheons..

Well... unless.. ----unless--- we're talking Ben Affleck, me, a picnic basket, and a bottle of wine on the top of Pikes Peak..

Heh heh.

But seriously.. it has to be a blast to meet so many prominent party leaders, progressive radio hosts, and just all around incredible Democratic supporters!!

Do you think you may try to go again? Denver '08 sounds like SOooOOoo much fun.

Especially if some of the DU'ers lucky enough to attend are able to meet one other!!

[cybildisobedience]

15. that was my experience as well

You had to commit to a candidate very early in the process - -in our case, it was by January 20th or so - - and you had to more or less know who was going to win. The statewide Dem. committee made some selections as to who was eligible to run. Then you had to gather signatures of Dems in your county in what seemed like a pretty short amount of time -- about two weeks. There were "petition parties" all over the county.
You also had to then be elected in the primary.
The whole process was about four months, then the convention was three months later.

[WatchWhatISay]

9. You dont have to be a delegate to attend

Only to vote and be seated with other delegates.

[snowbear]

12. Oh wow... I'm glad I asked this so we have plenty of time before it actually happens..

Whether we can really get at least some DU'ers from around the nation to all get together there or not is something I'd sure like to find out.

We have enough time to do some initial planning... but we can't really start that process until we get all of the inside scoop on whether or not we can attend as a Democratic group?

I know we'll get it all figured out eventually!!

[WatchWhatISay]

10. You dont have to be a delegate to attend

Only to vote and be seated with other delegates.

[msn]

13. Attending difficult, but helping out is easy

Larissa

I've attended 5 conventions as a DNC volunteer and staff member, so here's a good summary of how to get inside the convention. First note that conventions are not open to the general public. But here are a few ways to get in:

1) Delegate - As shown in other comments being a delegate (or alternate) is the obvious way to attend, and you get great seats, but it's hard to be one. Delegates are picked at the local level, and are usually local bigwigs. So if you want to be a Hillary Clinton delegate from New York City, don't hold your breath. But if you want to be a Bill Richardson or Tom Vilsack delegate from Georgia, or Minnesota, you'll have a much better chance, IF your candidate wins. So get involved early in a campaign, offer to run as a delegate, and hope that by the time the primary gets to your state your candidate is still in the race.

2) Press - Lot's of press people get in, and bloggers are considered press. You won't get prime seats, but you might get in.

3) Volunteer - The conventions need lots of volunteers, and some of the jobs are inside the hall. They usually need pages/ushers, as well as civilian security - A happy, pleasant, volunteer college student will check your credential, while uniformed police and Secret Service stand 2 feet behind with grim faces just in case! Once the city is chosen, contact the Host Committee or Convention Committee to find our what volunteers jobs are available.

If your available to be a full time volunteer for the whole summer leading to the convention, contact the convention offices and offer your services. Being a full time volunteer can lead to very interesting assignments, and in the end will often get you into the hall as a part of the support staff.

Most volunteers, will not, however, get inside the hall. But the conventions need hundreds, maybe thousands of volunteers to help things move along, and it's a great way to get involved.

I was a high school student in 1976 in New York, went to a volunteer meeting the weekend before the convention, and an hour later was running letters and documents to various hotels around New York. I was rewarded at the end of the week with a credential, and got to be inside Madison Square Garden and watch Jimmy Carter accept the nomination. I got hooked, and was on the DNC convention staff in 1980 in New York, and 1984 in San Francisco. (Also volunteered in '88 in Atlanta, and '92 back in New York). Working at a convention, either inside or outside the hall, is great fun, and helps to ensure the candidate a successful convention.

[Mabus]

14. I was a delegate

I was originally elected at the local caucus level. After I was elected I had to submit some paperwork to the KSDP to signal my intent to run as a delegate at the regional/Congressional District. Then I had to go to the regional convention for the 3rd Congressional District and I was elected as delegate directly to the DNC. fwiw, I was competing as delegate with another DU'er. We were divided up according to whom we were representing. The Kery delegates got to use the auditorium. The rest of us were informed that the local caucuses had yielded enough delegates that one non-Kerry delegate would be elected from our group. I was elected as a Dean delegate and I represented the Kucinch, Dean, Edwards and Clark faction of the Kansas party.

My alternate was choosen by a vote the next month at the state convention. There were also a few at-large delegate positions available that went to people who ran for those positions. Like me, these alternateds and at-large positions required you to fill out some paperwork and submit it to the state party.

After I was elected I was contacted by the state party and given instructions on how to sign-up for the DNC's delegate registration. I got an e-mail with instructions on how to reserve my room (the states had been assigned hotels) and other information. Both my husband and I had to pay our own transportation and hotel costs.

In the weeks before the convention itself, I was flooded with both phone calls and e-mails, from seemingly everywhere. I was interviewed and polled by numerous national news organizations (ABC, CBS, MS/NBC, CNN, Boston Globe, New York Times, etc.). One of our jobs was to contact local media and do interviews. Otherwise, our job was to keep and create a buzz (get people excited) on the local level about the upcoming convention.

As a delegate it was an interesting experience. The days are pretty much free to attend classes, caucuses or go sightseeing. My husband and I attended seminars and clssses by the likes of David Brock and Roberty Kennedy, Jr. We also attended and participated in the Native American caucus. Then we found the progressive convention across town and started going there. We saw Dean, Kucinch, Conyers, Bill Moyers (of the Backbone Campaign) and Medea Benjamin speak there. Below is a picture of Dean and Kucinich at the progressive convention.



In the early evening they would send the busses to take us to the convention center. You could only ride the bus if you had a delegate or alternate badge, so my husband and I took the subway several times to get to the convention center so we could go together. The Kansas delegation stayed in the same hotel as Tennessee, Utah and one of the Dakotas.


My advice would be try to go as a delegate. It is a lot more fun. You have more free time to go where you want. As a volunteer you're stuck wherever they ask you to go and do whatever they want you to do.