March 03, 2008

Rep. Perlmutter Joins DNCC CEO Leah Daughtry as Community Forum Series Returns to Denver Metro Area

LAKEWOOD – As excitement and interest in the 2008 Democratic National Convention continue to grow, U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) joined Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) CEO Leah D. Daughtry today for the fifth in a series of community forums focused on engaging citizens throughout Denver and the Rocky Mountain West in the Convention experience. Rep. Perlmutter and Daughtry, along with Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy, answered questions, offered information and discussed opportunities for economic benefits for Lakewood area residents and business owners in advance of the four-day event in August.

Rep. Perlmutter stated, “This forum is a unique opportunity for people to find out how they can be involved in the Presidential nominating process.  Many of the Convention events will take place not just in Denver, but in the surrounding communities like Lakewood.  Regardless of political party, this is a chance to participate in the democratic process and be a part of history.”

The series – “Convention Conversations: A Traveling Forum Sponsored by the DNCC” – launched in Denver in September and has traveled to Pueblo, Boulder and Las Vegas in recent months. The community forums are designed to provide residents throughout the Denver area and the Rocky Mountain West with opportunities for direct communication with top Convention organizers and a venue to ask questions, share ideas and find out how they can get involved in the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

“We have been thrilled with the early enthusiasm here in the Denver area and throughout Colorado,” said Daughtry. “And we want to do everything we can to not just sustain that level of excitement but to continue to grow the community’s engagement in the coming months. Take advantage of this opportunity to witness history, but also be a part of it, right in your backyard.”

While several Lakewood area hotels are among the DNCC’s official hotel properties, Convention organizers said they aim to put forth tools and information to help even more local business owners help themselves in making the most of this Convention. Daughtry pointed to the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee’s online vendor directory – available at www.denverconvention2008.com – as one such tool to help business owners connect with opportunities associated with the Convention.  Daughtry also encouraged businesses to engage in direct marketing to organizations that traditionally attend conventions, to include Convention specific information on their websites, to pool with neighboring businesses to provide transportation for Convention visitors to their locations and to share information with the Host Committee about any special Convention deals they will offer.

Area students were also invited to participate in “Write to Lead,” the official youth essay contest for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In partnership with Post-News Educational Services and Qwest Communications, the DNCC is offering the contest as a unique opportunity for middle and high school students throughout the state of Colorado to voice their thoughts on leadership and the future of the country and to engage in the 2008 Democratic National Convention experience in an extraordinary way. Two students will be named as Presidential Winners and have the opportunity to attend the Convention, while finalists will serve as ambassadors to state delegations across the country. Students can submit their essays and get more information at DemConvention.com.

In addition, Daughtry encouraged residents to get involved in the Convention experience by participating in the DNCC’s citizen photo journalism initiative and becoming a regular visitor to DemConvention.com. This site now provides visitors with the ability to sign up for regular updates on Convention news, events and other developments.

In keeping with the goal to engage different types of audiences in new and creative ways, DNCC videographers recorded interviews with Lakewood area residents attending the forum asking what having a Convention in the Rocky Mountain West means to them. Organizers will work to incorporate those ideas and vision in their planning during the coming months. Interviews from the event will be posted to www.DemConvention.com under the video section in the coming weeks.

Held from August 25-28, 2008, the Convention is expected to pump an estimated $160 million into the Denver area’s economy and draw approximately 35,000 visitors to the region. 

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About the DNCC:
The 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee is the official arm of the Democratic National Committee responsible for planning and organizing the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Paid for by 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc. www.demconvention.com