Leah’s Preview of the National Western Draft Horse and Mule Show

After much anticipation, a panel of judges will choose tomorrow the official donkey mascot for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Our own Leah Daughtry will join Senator Ken Salazar, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp, Elbra Wedgeworth of the Denver Convention Host Committee and National Western president and CEO Pat Grant to make the selection during the National Western Draft Horse and Mule Show. In preparation for the big event, Daughtry shares her thoughts on marrying Western values with a traditional Democratic Party affair such as the Convention and the inside scoop on her trip to Sheplers to buy her first pair of cowboy boots (which are still being broken in). And be sure to check back for photos and video of the winner on Sunday!

The DNCC and the National Western Stock Show Parade

Earlier this week, we posted here about our first experience and impressions of the annual parade in downtown Denver to open the National Western Stock Show. Now, we’re back with video of the big event — a parade of longhorns marching down one of Denvers busiest streets followed by tractors, stage coaches and a menagerie of color and spirit.”A visual manifestation of our West and our Western culture” is how National Western Stock Show President and CEO Patrick Grant described the parade. Click below to hear more of what he had to say, including his thoughts on the opportunity presented by the Democratic National Convention in Denver, as well as comments from Hall of Fame Pitcher and Parade Grand Marshal Nolan Ryan, who spoke to the impact of both agriculture and the Convention on the Colorado economy. Governor Bill Ritter even paused from his saddle to offer a greeting to our DemConvention.com visitors!

Fresh Paint on the Walls (and in our hair)

Earlier this week, we posted here about our January DNCC Service Days outing at Manual High School with Governor Dean and the DNC Executive Committee. Watch this video to learn more about Manual and see how the DNCC staff worked with the local community to make this school with such a rich history an even brighter place.

Las Vegas Convention Conversations

As reported on our blog Wednesday, DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry packed an overnight bag this week and headed to Las Vegas for a Convention Conversations forum with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. In this video, you’ll see some of the great sites of Las Vegas and meet some of the people who came out to learn more about the Democratic National Convention and how they could get involved in the historic regional opportunities of 2008.

Happy Holidays from the DNCC!

While Convention planning continues at a fever pitch, its important to take a few moments out of the day to focus on the season at hand. The DNCC staff did just that this week to wish our DemConvention.com family a happy holidays. From the DNCC family to yours, we wish you a very happy, safe and healthy holiday season — and well see you in 2008!

DNCC Service Days: Urban Peak

At the beginning of this week, DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry and the DNCC staff were joined by Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter for this months DNCC Service Days project at Denvers Urban Peak — a non-profit shelter and service provider for homeless youth. The DNCC and the First Lady prepared a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns and festive holiday sweet rolls for the youth at Urban Peak. Following the meal, Leah presented the organization with a box filled with clothes and other warm items such as gloves and hats donated by the DNCC staff for the cold weather months. Watch this video to see the event first-hand.And be sure to check out this story from the Rocky Mountain News.

Here’s a bit of what they had to say:

Daughtry, chief executive officer of the Democratic National Convention Committee, asked how the pregnancy was going. They talked about the need to take prenatal pills. Cousins, while eating crispy bacon smothered in maple syrup, proudly told her about getting an apartment and saving some money.Around the trio, video cameras rolled and the cafeteria at Urban Peak in Denver on Monday morning was filled with a cacophony of voices – troubled youth and those cooking breakfast for them in the kitchen on the other side of the counter.

Among those cooking was Colorado’s first lady Jeannie Ritter and the staff of the DNCC.

DNCC: Behind the Scenes

After weeks of planning and days of packing, the Democratic National Convention Committee moved from our temporary home in downtown Denver to our new home — seven floors down in the same building. Our new office space gives us plenty of room to grow as our team expands in the months leading up to the Convention next August: 15,000 square feet with five conference rooms, each named after a state in the Rocky Mountain West. Watch this video for a first-person highlights tour of the office, including several of our “green” features. Caution: wet paint.

On the Road with Sky Gallegos

Hello from Durango this time. Continuing on the Pat and Sky tour of Colorado, Pat and I held a Convention Briefing and Delegate Training in Durango this past Sunday. We missed the snow on both sides of the visit by days so we had a clear blue sky for the flight, which of course was gorgeous. Speaking of skies — the first thing I noticed when I got off the plane, was that the sky there was even bigger than it is in Denver. It’s a beautiful part of the state.Before heading over to the Durango Community Rec Center, Pat and I stopped for a quick breakfast (well, it was breakfast for me because I can eat huevos rancheros any time of day) at the Brickhouse Cafe. Very cute little place on Main Street. I think we had our biggest crowd yet for this briefing — attendees from three counties. And of course once again a good mix of electeds, activists and folks just interested in hearing about the upcoming year. This time we had many more technical questions about the caucus process; a product I think of having more activists and precinct captains in the room. We also had a couple good suggestions for future Convention-related events around the state. All in all it was very productive and fun day. I even had time to do a little shopping on Main Street and take in a beautiful sunset before I headed back to Denver.

Convention Conversations – Boulder

This Wednesday, DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry visited Boulder, Colorado for the third in an ongoing series of Convention Conversations. Joining Daughtry on stage was Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden. In addition to offering information on how Boulder residents and members of the local business community can get involved in the Convention experience, a good portion of the discussion focused on organizers’ efforts to “green” Convention planning. During the forum, Leah introduced Andrea Robinson, the first ever Director of Greening for a Democratic National Convention. Watch this video to hear Leahs remarks from Boulder and learn a bit more about the newest addition to the DNCC team.

 

To read more from media on this event click here, here and here.

Dispatches from the Road-Ft. Collins, Colorado

Hello again. This is Sky Gallegos, Deputy CEO for Intergovernmental Affairs — back again with new video from our travels around the state of Colorado. A few weeks ago, Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak and I visited Steamboat. This week, in the second in a series of our joint appearances,” Pat and I visited Democratic activists in Ft. Collins to brief them on the Convention and how they can participate either as a volunteer or as a delegate.The excitement in the room was palpable, as we had 70 to 80 people attend on a brisk Monday night in early December. Once again, we had a wide variety of participants with a full spectrum of political experience — everyone from a newly elected Loveland City Council member to a college student just dipping her toes into the political waters.

And we even got to venture over to College Ave. for a quick bite at Bisetti’s. That was some good pasta.

Watch this video to hear our take on the event and check out some of the comments we had from the local attendees.Well be in Durango next — so stay tuned for more dispatches from the road.