BlogA record number of blogs will receive credentials for the 2008 Democratic National Convention -- connecting audiences around the world with the sights and sounds of this historic event. Never before have blogs been included in such strong numbers and provided with resources that will enable them to be the eyes and ears of so many at the Convention.
The following blogs have been credentialed:
UPDATE
If you’re in the Grand Junction area and couldn’t make it out to the our “Convention Conversations” community forum on Wednesday, here’s a couple photos from the event and some great local press.
DNC team discusses GJ involvement
Grand Junction Free Press – May 29, 2008
DNCC Community Forum
KREX-CBS Grand Junction – May 28, 2008
Also, remember that if you’re on the Western Slope or any of the other great destinations throughout Colorado, there are plenty of ways that you can be a part of the Convention experience and attract Convention visitors out to see more of this beautiful state and region. You can find out more here.
State Rep. Bernie Buescher served as our gracious host at Mesa State College, making a strong case for Convention attendees to make their way "over to the good side of the mountain" during either the weekend before or after the Convention - or both! With some 200 lakes on the top of the Mesa and the red-rock Colorado National Monument, the natural beauty in and around Grand Junction is certainly a compelling draw. Short of that, he said he hoped at least a couple hundred cases of Palisade Peaches make their way to Denver for Convention week.
On the topic of Colorado businesses getting involved in the Convention, our CEO Leah Daughtry suggested that some of the well regarded wineries on the Western Slope explore partnership opportunities with catering companies serving the host of events in and around Denver during Convention week. As one attendee commented after the event, "We don't just sorta do wine here."
Unfortunately our staff was just here for a brief mid-day swing, so we'll have to take his word for it. Until next time.
Last week we announced the two Presidential winners of our “Write to Lead” essay contest, which encouraged Colorado students to voice their thoughts on leadership and the future of our country. We previously introduced Mari Tanabe, a junior at Manitou Springs High School who wrote the essay “Restless for Change.” Now we’d like to introduce our other Presidential Winner, Jared Jolton, an 8th grade student at Colorado Academy, who wrote the essay entitled “In Front of the Pack.” Watch the video below to see Jared accept his award and read a portion of his essay. We’re sure you’ll be just as inspired as we were. Enjoy!
We recently sat down with one of our “Write to Lead ” Presidential Winners, Mari Tanabe, an 11th grade student from Manitou Springs High School in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Mari tells us below where she got the inspiration for her essay and what it’s like to be a winner with “presidential” stature.
Q: What went through your mind when you heard the news that you won the essay contest?
A: I was pretty shocked when I heard that I won the essay contest. I got a phone call right after school in the parking lot. Everything seemed a little unreal, and I didn’t realize what an amazing experience I was being presented with until after I hung up the phone.
One of the great things about holding the 2008 Democratic National Convention in the Intermountain West is the opportunity it provides to showcase the growing success of Democrats throughout the region. We sat down for a chat with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano about this summer’s Convention and the compelling story our Party has to tell of Democratic leadership in the West.
Earlier today, I had the honor of appearing on ‘Pastors and Ministries of the Week,’ a radio show on KLDC-AM 1220, one of Denver’s leading gospel radio stations. As a fifth generation pastor and new, but proud resident of Denver, I’m always happy to update local communities of faith on our planning and progress. I tune in online to KLDC-AM every now and then, so it was a treat to be in the studio today and see where it all happens. My friend, Leon Owens, hosted the show. We had a great time catching up and talking about some of the faith initiatives we’re working on for Convention week. For the first time ever, we will open the Convention with an interfaith gathering open to the public on Sunday, August 24 in Denver. We’ll announce speakers for the event and more details in the next few weeks, so stay tuned. In addition, we’re hard at work planning our first-ever ‘People of Faith’ caucus to meet regularly during Convention week and discuss issues of importance to faith communities around the country. We’re making great strides this year and I invite you all to keep watching – and listening – as we announce more.
Kristi King was selected in May, 2008 to design the 2008 Democratic National Convention credentials. We recently had the chance to sit down with this local Colorado woman to ask a few questions about what it’s like to design such an historic item. Read her responses below.
- How long have you lived in Denver?
- I am a native of Colorado. I have lived in the Denver metro area since 1974.
- When designing something of this magnitude, where do you draw inspiration from?
The most important initial inspiration comes from the client. I met with the DNCC a couple of times before I really had a grasp on the importance of the credentials. From a designer view point, we want the final product to be a knock out, but with a project of this magnitude and with this much historical importance, I had to take into account how to make all the elements work. After that, the inspiration was a piece of cake, Denver's 150th Anniversary, the 100 years since Denver hosted the Democratic National Convention and Denver today. I wanted the city of Denver past and present to be the main focus from the get-go.
Marking its eighth stop overall and first on Colorado’s Western Slope, the DNCC’s traveling community forum series will visit Grand Junction next Wednesday, May 28th at 11:30 am MT at Mesa State College. DNCC CEO Leah D. Daughtry and Colorado State Representative Bernie Buescher will provide local residents with the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and find out how they can become involved in the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
The series - "Convention Conversations: A Traveling Forum Sponsored by the DNCC" - launched in September and has visited cities throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West in recent months, with stops in Denver, Boulder, Pueblo, Lakewood and Colorado Springs, Colo.; as well as Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
WHEN:
11:30 am, WEDNESDAY, May 28, 2008
WHERE:
Mesa State College
Campbell College Center – Liff Auditorium
1151 Elm Ave.
Grand Junction, Colo.
NOTE: Members of the public interested in attending the forum are asked to RSVP to rsvp@demconvention.com or (801) 328-1212, ext. 205, as space is limited.
100 days before the gavel drops and the 2008 Democratic National Convention begins, we hit the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver to talk to Coloradoans about what it will take to put on this summer's Convention. Check out the video and see how with only a few months left until the Convention, we are READY to put on this great event.
Over the last 24 hours, we have seen some great posts from bloggers selected to be part of the Democratic National Convention’s first ever State Blogger Corps. We have been particularly impressed with the response from bloggers in the Western region. Just a few of our favorites are listed below. And as part of the announcement, DNC Chairman Gov. Howard Dean gave an exclusive interview to Aaron Silverstein of SquareState.net, the blog selected to represent Colorado. To read Aaron’s complete interview, click here:
Gov. Dean also recorded videos to congratulate the state blogs – you can watch two of them here:
http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com
http://hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com
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