Want to go to the 2012 Democratic National Convention?

It's a great opportunity to network, to see and be seen (0.00 / 0)

This year because we in NJ have moved our Presidential primary back to June, we get bonus delegates, so there is a greater opportunity to be part of the Convention than in the past. for example, in 2008, in my my district it called for 3 delegates and 1 alternate, now it is 5 delegates and 1 alternate. (And I'm not on the ballot)

These county workshops are the first of several throughout the state, but it wouldn't hurt to come to these earlier events even if you are not from Bergen or Middlesex.

Since women are clearly in the minority as offfice holders, there is an opportunity as the delegation must be equally divided among men and women.

Besides running as a District delegate, you can be selected as an at large delegate to satisfy the diversity goals that NJ has so that the delegation looks like the actual electorate. There are goals for African Americans, Hispanics, LGBT, Youth, People with Disabilities, Asian Pacific Islanders and ecen Native Americans. All things being equal, If you are a two-fer or a three-fer that logically would be a plus.

Also, NJ is allotted 15 Committee memberships which give individuals convention credentials. (5 each for rules, platform and credentials)

So between Delegates, Alternate and Committee members, NJ has a total delegation of 199!

In 2004, I was picked as an At-Large Delegate and it was an incredible experience. In 2008, I was asked to run as a District Alternate and was upgraded to full  Delegate when I got to Denver. The contacts that I made helped immeasurably when I worked on the legislation to amend the NJ LAD. The National contacts were very much key in my getting involved with the successful Hate Crimes legislation and, my  national political education and eventual appointment to the Democratic National Committee to help ingluence that organization to change it's charter and by-laws to include "gender identity" non discrimination, and the opportunity to run and be elected to the DNC's Executive Committee. That's the reason I'm here now in Vegas waiting for Debbie Wasserman Shultz to fly in tomorrow from Arizona.

So, if you do get the chance to go to Charlotte, given the opportunity to create change, ya never know what can happen!

And hey, I haven't even started talking about the parties!!... Well, that's a whole 'nuther story!

Obama 2012!

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Sat Dec 10, 2011 at 06:21:11 AM UTC

One more category of opportunity (0.00 / 0)

There are opportunities for young people to come as "Pages".

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Tue Dec 13, 2011 at 18:33:52 PM UTC