PLANNING FOR 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION ON PACE OR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON ALL FRONTS
Democratic National Convention Committee Reflects on Progress, Accomplishments on One-Year Anniversary of Denver's Selection as Host City
DENVER - As Denver marks the one-year anniversary since the city was selected to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced that planning for the four-day event is on pace or ahead of schedule across the board.
"It's remarkable how time flies," said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. "And with just eight months to go, we have not a moment to waste. But we have certainly made the most of every hour of every day during this last year. From assigning hotel rooms to mapping our transportation system to engaging the community in our planning, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure we are on pace or even ahead of schedule on all fronts. All of this progress would not have been possible without the steadfast support from our partners here in Colorado - in particular, Governor Ritter, Senator Salazar, Representative DeGette and Mayor Hickenlooper, the Mile High City's best ambassadors."
Highlights of progress made to date include:
Putting Down Stakes
• The DNCC opened its Denver headquarters in July, earlier than any previous Convention, highlighting the eco-friendly elements of the office at Civic Center Plaza.
• DNCC staff counted down to the first public display of the organization's logo, which was projected in lights on the exterior of the Pepsi Center. The logo features a majestic mountain skyline and star-filled horizon characteristic of Denver and the entire Rocky Mountain region.
• In less than six months, the DNCC grew from 10 to nearly 50 full-time staffers, with more than half of the team coming from the Rocky Mountain region.
Naming DNCC Leadership
• Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Howard Dean announced Daughtry as DNCC CEO and named the DNCC's senior management team in April 2007 - well before any Convention team has ever come together. Emmy Award winning producer Ricky Kirshner and long-time Democratic Party strategist Mark Squier were named as Executive Producers for the Convention program.
• Governor Dean announced his intention to nominate Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as Permanent Convention Chair and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as Permanent Convention Co-Chairs - a team exemplifying the new kind of leadership the Democratic Party is bringing to the country at all levels.
Engaging the Community
• The DNCC has hosted four in a series of 10 community forums in Denver and throughout the Rocky Mountain West. Daughtry was joined by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Jr. for the first forum in Denver and by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter in Pueblo, while Colorado House Majority Leader Alice Madden joined the DNCC for an event in Boulder. On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid met Daughtry in Las Vegas for the first town hall forum outside of Colorado.
• In an effort to give back to the community hosting the 2008 Convention, staff is participating in a series of "DNCC Service Days" focused on three areas of importance to the Denver-area community: youth, environmental projects and the combined issues of homelessness and hunger. To date, "DNCC Service Days" projects have included preparing and serving a special holiday breakfast with Colorado's First Lady Jeannie Ritter for homeless and runaway youth at Urban Peak; sorting canned goods with Atlanta Mayor and Convention Co-Chair Shirley Franklin at The Crossing, a Denver Rescue Mission facility; working with a Montessori school in Five Points on an indoor activity with children and a playground area clean-up; facilitating a soccer skills camp with local middle school students and Colorado Rapids players; and spreading mulch around trees in City Park as part of a project focused on environmentalism. Yesterday, Governor Dean joined the Convention staff and students from Denver's Manual High School for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day crafts project and a renovation effort in a school meeting room.
• The DNCC deposited $2 million in the local, minority-owned Native American Bank, continuing the DNCC's tradition of depositing funds in minority and woman-owned banks in the Convention host city.
• In August, Governor Dean and Daughtry, joined by Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper, welcomed the Denver community to the Pepsi Center grounds to celebrate the one-year out mark for the 2008 Convention. DNCC videographers were on hand to record thoughts from attendees on what the Convention means to them.
• The DNCC is using citizen photo journalism as a means to bring more people into the 2008 Convention experience and help Convention visitors see the West through local eyes. As part of this effort, the DNCC is collecting photos of people and places that represent the spirit of the Rocky Mountain West - photos are featured on www.DemConvention.com and will be showcased during Convention week in Denver.
Setting the Operational Wheels in Motion
• For the first time ever, the DNCC is putting the entire state delegation housing selection, assignment and booking process online - a step that will save more than 50,000 sheets of paper in delegate mailings. The DNCC has successfully contracted with more than 100 Denver area hotels for Convention week.
• Delegations were assigned to 27 hotels in one of three clusters - Downtown, Stapleton and the Denver Tech Center - all within 20 minutes of the Pepsi Center with the majority of delegates having the option of walking or taking public transportation to the Pepsi Center.
• The DNCC website first went live in April 2007 - almost a year ahead of the 2004 cycle. Since then, the DNCC has launched a blog and established a variety of DemConvention social networking groups on sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Flickr.
• Some 450 members of the international, national, local and online media, including bloggers, attended the Fall Media Walk-through - the first official opportunity for media to become acquainted with the Convention site and begin making coverage plans. Governor Dean addressed the gathering and spoke to the importance of the upcoming election and the Convention in Denver.
• The DNCC has hosted more than 15 visits to Denver for groups and organizations from across the country representing many of the 35,000 visitors that will visit in August.
• Solidifying one means of Convention transportation, the DNCC announced that United will serve as the Official Airline Provider for the 2008 Convention.
• In a Convention first, the DNCC appointed a Director of Greening to lead ongoing efforts to make 2008 the most sustainably-produced political Convention in American history.
• Two long-time veteran members of the Denver Police Department will head security for the DNCC and coordinate security planning with Secret Service and local law enforcement.
• In another Convention first, General Motors will provide an entire fleet of vehicles using the highest fuel efficiencies and technologies, including flex fuel and hybrid vehicles as the DNCC's Official Vehicle Provider.
• Nearly eight months ahead of the 2004 cycle, the DNCC named its Official Telecommunications Provider. The Denver-based telecommunications company Qwest will provide voice and data lines, including high-speed Internet, at the Pepsi Center for the DNCC, delegates and members of the media.
The Democratic National Convention, held from August 25-28, 2008, is expected to pump an estimated $160 million into the Denver area's economy and draw approximately 35,000 visitors to the region.
