2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee Announces Locations Of Media And Delegate Parties

MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL 2008 HOST COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES LOCATIONS OF MEDIA AND DELEGATE PARTIES
The Mississippi Riverfront and CivicFest to Play Starring Roles

MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL, MINN (August 13, 2008) – The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee, which is hosting the 2008 Republican National Convention, announced today the locations of two premier parties that will be held during the 2008 Republican National Convention. The venues for the invitation-only events were chosen because they highlight the beauty of Minnesota’s landmark Mississippi River as well as the chance to showcase Minnesota business and innovation.

The media party will be held the night of Saturday, August 30, along the Minneapolis Riverfront with the world-renowned Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum and Mississippi River as the backdrop. More than 15,000 international, national and local media are expected to attend the Convention.

The delegate party will be held the night of Sunday, August 31, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, which also is the location for CivicFest: A Very Minnesota Celebration. CivicFest features exhibits that highlight Minnesota history and business innovation as well as more than 35 world-class exhibits. Fifty-six delegations will be attending the event.

“We are pleased to welcome our visitors to locations that are truly first-class,” said Jeff Larson, CEO of the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee. “The attendees to the media party will be astonished by the amazing architecture and natural resources that are present along the Minneapolis Riverfront. We also are eager to showcase Minnesota business and innovation as well as the wonderful historic and unique exhibits that CivicFest will offer as a backdrop to the delegate party.”

It has been 116 years since Minnesota hosted a national political convention. In 1892, eighteen hundred delegates and alternates from forty-four states, five territories and the District of Columbia met along the banks of the Mississippi River in the Exposition Building in Minneapolis. 

“The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area is home to several world-class facilities, beautiful landscapes and stunning architecture – all of which will be on display at the venues selected for these events,” said Maria Cino, President and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention. “Our delegates and media guests will be impressed when the MSP 2008 Host Committee rolls out the red carpet for guests of the Republican National Convention.”

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held September 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn. More than 45,000 individuals, including 15,000 media, are expected to attend the Convention. The last national political convention in Minnesota was the Republican National Convention held in 1892.

About The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee

The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee is a non-partisan, 501c3 nonprofit charged with promoting the commerce, image and prestige of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and the entire region in preparation for the 2008 Republican National Convention. The Host Committee is made up of community leaders who are committed to educating people and businesses to come to Minnesota to work, live, play, visit and invest. For more information, visit www.msp2008.com.               

Minneapolis Saint Paul Residents And Visitors Invited To Participate In, "More to Tri," A Series Of Fitness Events

Mayor R.T. Rybak, Life Time Fitness, Humana and Hoigaards team up to present "More to Tri"

Three-Day Fitness Challenge to Showcase Cities’ Natural Beauty, True Healthy-Way-of-Life Spirit for Residents and Visitors During Republican National Convention

MINNEAPOLIS (Monday, August 11, 2008) – Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Meet Minneapolis, Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM), Humana and Hoigaards invite Minneapolis Saint Paul residents and visitors to participate in a special, "More to Tri," series of fitness events during the upcoming Republican National Convention.

"More to Tri" involves the activities which make up a traditional triathlon – swim, bike, run – but this time the events will be staged separately to showcase Minneapolis Saint Paul's urban green landscape and highlight the area's commitment to healthy and active lifestyles. Runners, bikers and swimmers are invited to join Mayor Rybak to participate in one, two or all three events. Local residents, convention delegates and visitors, and media members are invited to participate.

C-SPAN Debuts Online "Convention Hub" For Upcoming Democratic And Republican Conventions,

C-SPAN DEBUTS ONLINE “CONVENTION HUB” FOR UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS

Washington, DC (August 12, 2008) -- C-SPAN announces today its “Convention Hub,” a unique online addition to the network’s coverage of the upcoming 2008 Democratic and Republican conventions.

Convention Hub, comprised of two websites, is designed to track coverage of the political blogosphere and social media, while making embeddable C-SPAN convention video available for online use.

C-SPAN’s Democratic Convention Hub and Republican Convention Hub are slated to launch at: www.c-span.org/politics later this month, just prior to the start of the two political party conventions.
C-SPAN has engaged New Media Strategies (NMS), an Arlington-based online intelligence and marketing firm, to design proprietary software technology for Convention Hub. C-SPAN will maintain editorial control over each of the websites.

Convention Hub features include:
• Real-time tracking of credentialed state and national political bloggers, aggregated on the websites, to enable users to follow the latest online convention news and analysis;
• Video clips from the network’s convention coverage, embeddable, to facilitate use by political bloggers and other convention watchers;
• Linkable access to the complete C-SPAN Video Library, allowing interested users to fully search all C-SPAN video content;
• Live coverage of C-SPAN television and radio networks;
• Blogger Tips and Online Convention Video Finder tools;
• Real-time feeds from Twitter users using the hash-tags #RNC08 and #DNC08

“For nearly 30 years, C-SPAN has given voice to the opinions of the American public through its televised call-in programs. In 2008, Convention Hub allows C-SPAN to become a central point for the political opinions of the online community,” said Susan Swain, C-SPAN Co-President.

“C-SPAN’s Convention Hub recognizes the importance of the online environment in shaping political news and conversation. Just as C-SPAN is known for direct interaction with viewers through call-ins, NMS will help C-SPAN build direct relationships with bloggers by linking, featuring, and even soliciting their content,” added Pete Snyder, NMS Founder and CEO.

2008 Republican National Convention Names Unisys Official IT Managed Services Provider

2008 Republican National Convention Names Unisys Official IT Managed Services Provider

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - To provide IT assistance during the 2008 Republican National Convention, President & CEO Maria Cino today announced Unisys as the convention’s Official IT Managed Services Provider.

"Support provided by Unisys will allow us to maintain efficient and effective day-to-day operations," said Cino. "Nearly every aspect of the convention relies upon state-of-the-art computer technology and we are thankful to have Unisys on board. From monitoring the convention servers to manning the IT help desk, Unisys will be an important partner in the convention's success."

As the Official IT Managed Services Provider, Unisys will provide the convention with project management and oversight of the computer operations during the 2008 Republican National Convention. Unisys will assist in all aspects of monitoring and maintaining servers and equipment. The company will coordinate with convention IT staff and other providers to help keep the convention systems running smoothly.

"Unisys is pleased to have been selected by the Republican National Convention to provide IT managed services for this historical event," said Greg Baroni, president, Unisys Federal Systems. "We look forward to providing the critical IT services that will help make this year’s convention the party’s most technologically advanced event yet."

Saint Paul Police Department Announces Second Phase of Traffic Management Plan for City During RNC

Saint Paul Police Department Announces Second Phase of Traffic Management Plan for City During RNC

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (August 11, 2008) – The Saint Paul Police Department and the City of Saint Paul today released the second phase of the traffic management plan for the Republican National Convention (RNC). The plan outlines an area immediately surrounding Xcel Energy Center where vehicles and bikes will be restricted. The plan will go into effect starting after the evening rush hour on Friday, August 29, and will end by Saturday, September 6.

The second phase of the plan includes the following additional information:
• St. Peter Street: Will be open; no parking, stopping or standing will be allowed
• Chestnut Street: Southbound lane will be open
• 10th and 11th streets: Will be open; no parking will be allowed

Detour routes will be well-marked to help move traffic throughout the area. The police department’s plan ensures that most major access roads to Saint Paul – including Interstates 94 and 35E, Wabasha and Robert streets, and Shepard Road – will remain open.

“This plan is designed to help us provide top security for the RNC while also ensuring that the city remains open for business during the convention,” said Matt Bostrom, assistant Saint Paul police chief, representing the lead public safety organization for the convention. “We are committed to providing as much information as possible to the people who live, work, and do business in Saint Paul as it becomes available.”

City officials have been meeting with Saint Paul residents to help answer questions and address their concerns. They are also working with businesses in the immediate area to discuss issues and help them work out plans for delivery access during the convention. Community meetings will also be held today from 6-7 p.m., and on Wednesday, August 13, from 8-9 a.m. in room 40 of Saint Paul City Hall to provide more information to the public.

Alternative transportation The Saint Paul Police Department is committed to helping residents and employees who work downtown get in and out of the area during the convention. The city and police department are providing information on alternative routes and transportation during the RNC.

“The City of Saint Paul has invested a lot of time and effort into planning for the convention to meet the needs of convention-goers and those who live and work in downtown Saint Paul,” said John Maczko, city engineer. “We encourage residents and employees who work downtown to carpool, bike, or take public transportation if possible during the convention to help ease traffic pressure.”

More details about alternate transportation are available on www.smart-trips.org, www.metrotransit.org, or by calling 612-373-3333. Bus detour routes around the convention center will be available at www.metrotransit.org. Following are tips to avoid traveling on Kellogg Boulevard during the convention.

• If you’re traveling east on 94, take 10th or 7th St. exits.
• If you’re traveling south on 35E, take 10th St./Wacouta St. or University Ave./Capitol exits.
• If you’re traveling north on 35E, take Shepard Rd. or 11th St./Capitol exits.
• From 94 heading west, take Kellogg Blvd./Mounds Blvd. or Hwy. 52/6th St. exits.
• From the southwest, take 494 east to Hwy. 5, which turns into 7th St. Follow detour signs.
• Heading east on 494, take 35E north to the Shepard Rd. or 7th St. exits.
• Heading east on Hwy. 62, take Hwy. 55 south to Hwy. 5 east, which turns into 7th St.
• From the south, take Hwy. 52 north to the 7th St. exit., follow detour signs
• From the southeast, take Hwy. 10/61 north to Warner Rd. west and go right on Sibley St

Build-Out Continues Into Third Week For 2008 Republican National Convention

Build-Out Continues into Third Week for 2008 Republican National Convention

Hundreds of Workers Continue Transforming Xcel Energy Center
in Advance of Sen. John McCain's Nomination

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The 2008 Republican National Convention today released a second behind-the-scenes, time lapse video of the ongoing transformation of the Xcel Energy Center into the podium for the Republican Party's nomination of Sen. John McCain.

In the two weeks since work began at the venue, workers have modified more than 30 suites into media studios, installed nearly 25 miles of cable and began rigging the trusses that will hold lighting, speakers and other production equipment. We invite you to view progress by clicking here.

 

About the Republican National Convention
The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event. For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website at www.GOPConvention2008.com and join our social network sites on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

RNC CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES OFFICERS FOR THE 2008 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan today announced the principal officers for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“I greatly appreciate the service and participation of the 2008 Republican National Convention officers, who will ensure that the Convention proceedings, particularly the nominations of Senator John McCain and his vice presidential nominee, are conducted under the great traditions and the rules of our Party this September in St. Paul, Minn.,” Duncan said.

U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio will serve as Permanent Chairman of the Convention.  Congressman Boehner was elected to represent the 8th Congressional District of Ohio for a ninth term in November 2006.  He continues to be a key leader in the fight for a more limited and accountable federal government. 

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will serve as Temporary Chairman of the Convention.  On Nov. 15, 2006, McConnell was unanimously elected Republican Leader in the 110th Congress by his Republican colleagues, and serves as the 15th Republican Leader and second Kentuckian to lead our Party in the U.S. Senate.

The 2008 Republican National Convention Deputy Permanent Co-Chairs include: Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer; former New Hampshire State Chairman Steve Duprey; David Roederer of Iowa; U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida; Kathleen Shanahan of Florida; and Michigan National Committeeman Chuck Yob. 

In addition, U.S. Rep. David Dreier of California will serve as Parliamentarian; South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster will serve as Chief Sergeant at Arms; former Massachusetts Republican State Chairwoman Jean Inman will serve as Convention Secretary; and James S. Bookwalter of Connecticut will serve as Chief Page. 

Convention Committee Chairmen include Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Jim Herring, who will serve as Credentials Committee Chairman; Georgia National Committeeman Alec Poitevint, who will serve as Convention Rules Committee Chairman; and former State Chairwoman Jayne Millerick of New Hampshire, who will serve as Chairman of the Committee on Permanent Organization.

U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy, of the 22nd Congressional District of California, will serve as Chairman of the Convention Committee on Resolutions (“Platform Committee”) and U.S. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina will serve as Platform Committee Co-Chairman.

These newly named officers will join current Convention officers in overseeing the 2008 Convention proceedings, RNC Co-Chair and National Committeewoman of Ohio Jo Ann Davidson, who serves as Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements; Illinois National Committeeman Bob Kjellander who serves as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements; California National Committeeman Tim Morgan, who as Treasurer of the National Committee serves as Treasurer of the Convention; and Blake Hall, National Committeeman of Idaho, who as General Counsel of the RNC serves as General Counsel of the Convention.

MSP 2008 Host Committee Launches Recycling Program For 2008 Republican National Convention

HOST COMMITTEE LAUNCHES RECYCLING PROGRAM WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT AND COCA-COLA FOR 2008 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL, MINN. (August 6, 2008) - Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee officials joined representatives from Waste Management, Inc. and Coca-Cola Recycling LLC at the Xcel Energy Center today to announce a first-of-its-kind recycling program that will take place during the 2008 Republican National Convention, to be held Sept. 1-4. In addition, the Committee will officially name Waste Management and Coca-Cola Recycling as the Official Recycling Providers of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

The “closed-loop” recycling program will utilize a system where all of the recyclable material recovered at the Xcel Energy Center and St. Paul RiverCentre during the convention will be recycled in the Minneapolis Saint Paul Area. Recycling bins and signage will be located throughout the convention. Waste Management will collect all waste and recyclable material during the convention and take it to its facility in Minneapolis where all of the recyclable material will be sorted and baled. The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and aluminum cans will then be shipped back to the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Eagan, Minn., and ultimately processed by Coca-Cola into new bottles and cans. Both convention facilities sell the majority of beverages in plastic bottles. Waste Management will also be recycling all of the paper and cardboard recovered at the event.

“We are thrilled that this convention has prompted new and innovative programs among our Official Recycling Providers, Waste Management and Coca-Cola,” said Cynthia Lesher, president for the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee. “As part of our efforts to make this convention as eco-friendly as possible, we are working with them to keep a large portion of the recycled material right here in the state.”

“The 2008 Republican National Convention has made it a priority to implement numerous conscientious environmentally friendly initiatives,” said 2008 Republican National Convention President and CEO Maria Cino.  “We are pleased that Coca-Cola and Waste Management have joined our efforts to be as environmentally friendly a convention as possible.”

There will be nearly 300 stations with co-branded event recycling bins and waste containers throughout the Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre for convention attendees to dispose of their waste and recyclables. All recycling containers will be “single stream,” meaning any recyclable material – aluminum, paper, plastic, or glass – can be deposited in the container.

“Waste Management wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle properly while attending the convention,” said Julie Ketchum, government affairs director for Waste Management, Inc. “By using co-branded containers Waste Management and Coca-Cola have made it simple for convention attendees to do their part for the environment.”

“By creating opportunities to easily recycle, Coca-Cola Recycling can help to ensure that we capture the packaging for all of the beverages consumed at the 2008 Republican National Convention,” said John Burgess, president and chief executive officer, Coca-Cola Recycling.  “Our expertise will not only allow us to provide the infrastructure to divert most of the materials collected at the Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre from local landfills, but the recycling bins, energy-efficient coolers and hybrid electric trucks that CCE will use throughout the venues will stay in Minnesota, providing a sustainable and long-term solution to help keep Minneapolis Saint Paul green long after the Convention is finished.”

Waste Management is the largest recycler in Minnesota, recycling nearly 250,000 tons of material at its Minneapolis facility, and is also the largest recycler in the nation, recycling nearly 8 million tons of recyclable commodities a year. By 2020, the company hopes to triple the amount of recyclable material it processes in a given year.

In addition to the recycling program with Waste Management and Coca-Cola, the Host Committee and the Committee on Arrangements have made great efforts to be eco-conscious in the planning and execution of the convention. Efforts include utilizing hybrid vehicles; providing information and applications online versus in print for volunteers, delegates and media; printing materials on recycled paper or other alternative types of material including producing the 45,000 GOParty Cards for delegates and media on a bio-plastic material derived entirely from plants; conducting volunteer training virtually; and creating an office environment for convention planners that is equipped with recycled furniture, carpet and office supplies. In addition, 80 percent of employees live within walking distance to the offices.

About The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee
The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee is a non-partisan, 501c3 nonprofit charged with promoting the commerce, image and prestige of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and the entire region in preparation for the 2008 Republican National Convention. The Host Committee is made up of community leaders who are committed to educating people and businesses to come to Minnesota to work, live, play, visit and invest. For more information, visit www.msp2008.com.

About Waste Management, Inc.

Waste Management is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services in North America.  Waste Management’s more than 50,000 employees company-wide serve 21 million municipal, commercial, industrial and residential customers through a network of 413 collection operations, 370 transfer stations, 283 active landfill disposal sites, 17 waste-to-energy plants, 131 recycling plants and 100 beneficial-use landfill gas projects.

Combined with its wholly owned subsidiary WM Recycle America (WMRA), Waste Management is North America’s largest recycler handling nearly 8 million tons of commodities each year, saving more than 41 million trees and enough energy to power 1.6 million households.

About Coca-Cola Recycling LLC

Based in Atlanta, Coca-Cola Recycling is dedicated to recovering and recycling packaging materials used in North America – including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, aluminum, cardboard and plastic film.  Coca-Cola Recycling is working to recover and recycle the equivalent of 100 percent of the packaging produced by the Coca-Cola system in the United States.  Founded in 2007, Coca-Cola Recycling is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CCE, the world's largest marketer, distributor, and producer of bottle and can liquid nonalcoholic refreshment.  CCE sells approximately 80 percent of The Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of The Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco, and the Netherlands

MSP 2008 Host Committee And City Officials Host Free Taxi Wash

HOST COMMITTEE AND CITY OFFICIALS HOST FREE TAXI WASH
Spruce up for RNC Cities Offer Reciprocity, Inspections and Free Training Sessions for Drivers

Minneapolis Saint Paul, Minn. (August 5, 2008) - Minneapolis Saint Paul Host Committee leaders joined local mayors and area Convention and  Visitors Bureau (CVB) directors today to wash cabs while helping to promote the taxi reciprocity program and free training sessions each city will hold in mid August.

From August 24 to September 7, cities will offer reciprocity to all cab drivers, enabling them to pick up and drop off fares anywhere in the cities of Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Bloomington, as well as the Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport, during the convention. Currently taxi drivers are only allowed to pick up fares in their designated cities. 

“The residents of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area have been great partners in our efforts to host a successful convention,” said Maria Cino, CEO and President for the 2008 Republican National Convention.  “Because of efforts like this one, we’re confident a warm welcome will be extended to the 45,000 attendees who will be arriving in just a few weeks.”

Cab drivers must register for reciprocity in advance by submitting to an official cab inspection, paying a $35 administrative fee and completing a free training session. Qualifying cabs will then receive a decal certifying that they have completed the steps and are eligible for reciprocity.

“Our local taxi cab drivers will be among the first to welcome the 45,000 visitors coming to town for the convention,” said Jeff Larson, CEO of the MSP 2008 Host Committee. “We want our guests to have a great first impression of Minneapolis Saint Paul and the surrounding area and experience a clean and friendly community.”

Reciprocity will expedite the service throughout the Minneapolis Saint Paul metro area during the convention, as cabs can pick up fares in the same city where they’re dropping off passengers, allowing for speedier, more efficient service and reducing wait time for customers.

“We need to make it as easy as possible for our guests to hail a cab and reach their destination safely and in a friendly, timely manner,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “These new programs will allow cab drivers throughout the metro to work together to help us greet our guests for the convention in a courteous, professional way.”

The training sessions, to be held in each city the week of August 11, will offer helpful customer service advice, encouraging drivers to be ambassadors for the area. Attendees will also receive packets detailing key convention venues, restaurants and attractions as well as information on travel route tips, road closures and traffic updates during the convention. Cab drivers who attend the training sessions will also receive special T-shirts and welcome buttons courtesy of the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee to wear during the convention to provide a consistent, welcoming image.

“It’s up to everyone in our communities to do their part to make a lasting impression on our guests,” said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. “In many cases a taxi driver is one of the first points of contact for a visitor. I’m confident our metro drivers are going to help us make the cities shine.”

The taxi wash is the first in a series of Host Committee and city-sponsored events designed to encourage residents and businesses to help spruce up Minneapolis Saint Paul prior to the convention. Additional spruce up events include:

• Airport clean up and signage campaign
• Spruce Up MSP volunteer clean-up day, August 16, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Metrodome parking lot (5th St. and 11th Ave.)
• Saint Paul Conseco Upper Lot (Broadway Street and Kellogg Blvd.)
• Mall of America is planting flowers, landscaping, and repainting.

Build-Out Continues For 2008 Republican National Convention

Build-Out Continues for 2008 Republican National Convention

Hundreds of Workers Continue Transforming Xcel Energy Center in Advance of Sen. John McCain's Nomination

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The 2008 Republican National Convention today released a behind-the-scenes, time lapse video of the ongoing transformation of the Xcel Energy Center into the podium for the Republican Party's nomination of Sen. John McCain.

In the week since work began at the venue, workers have removed 3,000 seats, built workspace for staff and media, and began technological enhancements needed to support the 45,000 participants expected. You can view progress on the GOP Convention's YouTube Channel here.

Stay tuned! The 2008 Republican National Convention plans to release a new video each Sunday, so that all can follow along with the six-week transformation.