Who's going to Corpus?

[crispini]

Meeeeeeeee!

[PDittie]

1. Me

and mi esposa.

Some delegates are reporting that the Omni is already full but that is -- allegedly -- only on the website, as the hotel has blocked off rooms for convention-goers. According to my SD chairman they want you to call them directly for a reservation. Still, late last night another person in my SD also reported them full. So act quickly, unless you want to be staying in some fleabag that smells like cigarette smoke and has a rattling air-conditioner.

(I'm kind of looking forward to summer now after all this cold weather we've had.)

[crispini]

2. I called them directly for a reservation yesterday afternoon

and Saturday night is already full.

I may try back again later :shrug: surely somebody will cancel?

[merci_me]

5. I was able to get in at the Omni Marina

which is only two blocks further than the Omni Bayfront.

As anyone found a good downloadable map of the convention/hotels area?

[CoolOnion]

26. How did you find out the convention hotel?

I looked on the TXDemocrats website and didn't see anything.

[sonias]

3. Maybe

I did get a delegate slot but I'm not sure I can go. We had plenty of slots left over. Our Senate District (25) had unused delegate slots even after approving every one that wanted to go as an at large delegate.

What a difference a non-presidential election year makes.

[WolverineDG]

4. I don't think my county HAD a convention

so how do I go if I want to?

dg

[sonias]

6. There had to have been something

It's required by law. Maybe it was combined with another senate district/county convention.

Call you local party office on Monday.

List of county chairs/local county parties:
www.txdemocrats.org/people/county-parties

It may be too late to go as a delegate, I think all the names have to be voted on by Saturday 3/20. You can always volunteer to go though.

Good luck dg! :hug:

[Sailing]

7. At our convention

They stated that delegates could still be added later. I was the only one to sign up for the four slots in my precinct. When I turned in the delegate paperwork, I asked about it again, and got the same answer. I don't know what the process would be however.

At this time, I plan to go.

[sonias]

8. Do you mean PCT convention or County convention?

Did you go to the county convention yesterday - 3/20/10?

That's the process. You got elected from your PCT convention (this year 3/2/10) to go to the County or SD Convention. And there again there was another election for delegates to the state convention.

Here is the explanation from the TDP website:
HOW TO BE A DELEGATE TO THE 2010 TEXAS STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
www.txdemocrats.org/Convention/how-to-be-a-delegate.pdf

[Sailing]

9. Yes...

I'm referring to the Travis county convention, yesterday.

[sonias]

10. There were delegate slots on both sides

SD14 and SD25, but my understanding is that those names had to be filled yesterday if they were to come from attendees, at large and other names that could be voted on yesterday.

Now the only way for someone to become a delegate is if they are at least an alternate to the State Convention. Then they can be moved up to a vacant delegate slot in their Senate District at the state convention. Or an elected delegate can assign their badge to an alternate via a form from the county party.

I do not know of a way a person who voted in the Democratic primary, but did not attend either convention, and was not elected from their PCT at either convention can become a delegate.

I haven't a clue how that can happen. If there is a way - the first step is still to contact your county party and find out.

Otherwise, the TDP is looking for volunteers.

Volunteer form at the TDP web site
www.formspring.com/forms/?882920-PC0dDmw8D7

[crispini]

13. We were actively trying to find attendees Saturday,

even calling people who weren't there. It was my understanding that the delegation chair could add members to the delegation (if there are empty slots) up until the time those names are submitted to the state, and we made an announcement to the the group saying that if anyone knew anyone else who wanted to go, that they should contact the delegation chair. They only have to have voted in the primary. :shrug:

[sonias]

14. We did too - make calls and suggest people to find on the floor

I agree that the only hard requirement is that you had to have voted in the Democratic primary. You did not have to be present to have been voted in, but there is a requirement of your name being on the list of delegates and alternates. So if someone did not add your name at the county convection and you are not an elected party official I don't know how you might get added as a delegate.

I have no idea when the county parties turn in those names to the state party.

So I still say that step 1 if you are interested in going, and don't think you were elected is call your local party and ask. :shrug:

[Sailing]

17. I suppose I misunderstood that announcement. (nt)

[derby378]

11. ChickMagic and I are going

We got elevated to Delegates-At-Large. We reserved our hotel room before the convention. Not at the official hotel, but at a place that's practically on the beach.

[tbyg52]

12. Maybe. Depends on if I can do it around work

I might be able to get the Friday off, but I might not. (I'm not keeping anybody else out - we had more slots than people.)

If I couldn't get Friday off, would there be any point in going? If I couldn't get it off, I could still arrive about 5PM on Friday.

[tbyg52]

15. Perhaps someone who could answer my question above

didn't realize I had a question? Thanks!

[sonias]

16. Friday is very important

That's the day the group/club caucuses meet. Thursday is mainly a check in day with a big kick off party, but the real business of the convention happens Friday and Saturday.

Why should you care about the caucuses? - Well you should. They make very important decisions about what the party represents. They make endorsements and they help their members influence party resolutions.

And there's a caucus for just about everything - from Stonewall Democrats to Texas Democratic Gun-owners.

[tbyg52]

18. Gotcha. So I need to see if I can get Friday off. Thanks for the info. nt

[tbyg52]

19. But if I can't get that Friday off is there any point in going at all?

Or should I just skip it in that case?

[sonias]

20. Have you ever been to a state convention before?

I would definitely tell you not to blow it off during a presidential election year. In those years like the one coming up in 2012, people will be fighting tooth and nail for those delegate slots and a chance to go to national. If you couldn't go for both days, I would tell you to let someone take your place at that convention.

On these off years when the convention is mainly party building, the competition is not there, but you will get a sense of what goes on at a convention. It's much more comfortable and relaxed. You can take time to meet people in the caucuses, meet party and elected officials, listen to speeches. Cruise the vendor booths etc.

If you have never been, you should try to go at least on Saturday.

However, I'm not sure you will be a delegate if you only go on Saturday. At some point on Friday, anyone who was a delegate that has not checked in and picked up their credentials, will be assumed not to be there. And an alternate can be moved up to your delegate slot.

Again this may not be that important since there isn't a whole lot of voting going on. If you check in on Saturday and they no longer have delegate/alternate badges you could still be a visitor.

Hope that helps.

:hi:

[Sailing]

21. That's the thought I had

It would be a new experience for me and a chance to see how the process works. It fell into my lap and thought it would be a good opportunity.

But, I certainly wouldn't stand in the way of someone more deserving, who has contributed more than I have, from getting the slot.

[sonias]

22. Do it!

This is the best time to get to learn the ropes. Plus it's fun. Get involved with a caucus that interests you and they'll probably have some good speakers. Hang out with your friends or make new ones. We're all Democrats and it's a big tent.

I don't know if there will be a DU caucus (it's unofficial anyway). But in past years there have been get-togethers with other DUers from around the state. The blogger caucus usually has a party that's very good every convention. Try to go to that one for sure. One convention the DUers met at that blogger party and had our own table inside their party. I think that was the 2006 convention in Fort Worth.

:kick:

[Sailing]

23. Yeah, I was thinking about asking if

they had a Yankee Texans caucus too, but figured I would get booted off this forum awfully quick, if not worse. :rofl: :rofl:

[sonias]

24. Yankee Texans caucus?

Why the hell not? You could start one.

We don't hate Yankees we only hate blue-staters who hate Texas.

Oh and we hate yankees like the bushies if they come to squat - well, because they're evil. And we have plenty of home grown idiots in Texas already. :evilgrin:

You are good! :thumbsup:

[crispini]

25. FYI, we will be refighting the battle over the Texas Two Step

So if someone feels strongly over that they may want to be there.

[tbyg52]

28. No, I haven't

And I already said that I would not be taking up anyone else's place (so there is no alternate to be moved up), and that I could be there by 5PM on Friday, even if I didn't get off work Friday.

Sounds like I should go even if I can't get off work - thank you for the info!

[johncoby2]

33. I am going

Blogger party is Friday. Always fun.

[sonias]

34. Do you have any more details on the blogger party?

Time, location etc. Or is it still to be determined?

[CoolOnion]

27. I'm going!

Everybody who showed up at Senatorial District 23 gets to go, since we can't fill all the spots from the small turnout we had.

[sonias]

29. Same thing all over the state

Want to make a bet that the delegate shortage won't happen in 2012? No you don't want to make that bet. :P

Anyway, to answer your question about the hotel. There is a tentative schedule that mentions the Omni Bayfront. If the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) is meeting in the Omni Bayfront, it's assumed that's the main hotel.

Tentative State Convention Schedule

The convention actually takes place in the American Bank Center, so if you book a hotel anywhere near that location, you are good.
americanbankcenter.com/center/
Address:
1901 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX‎

Use google maps to find hotels near American Bank Center and you'll get a big listing.

:hi:

[CoolOnion]

30. Thanks for the info!

I'm looking at the Hotel Corpus Christi Bayfront. It's an older hotel, but looks pretty nice, and it's only half a mile from the American Bank Center. I can walk that.

[WolverineDG]

35. It's easy to get to

if you can't get into a decent hotel downtown, there are plenty along I-37 & nearby SPID. IIRC, La Quinta, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, & others.

dg

[WolverineDG]

31. I'm going!!

Took a few phone calls, including one unreturned call from my party chair :grr: but I am on the list to go to CC! There is still time to get your name on your county's list...not sure when they have to turn in the lists to the State, but if your county's delegation is still needing warm bodies, you've still got a chance to go.

:woohoo:

dg

[sonias]

32. Congratulations dg!

Way to go!

:hug: