A Busy Democratic Convention

It wouldn’t take a lot of enterprise to successfully eat and drink for three days without spending a penny at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.  

A tentative schedule of the convention was prepared by Quinn Gillespie & Associates LLC, a Washington D.C. public relations and lobbying firm.   

The 15-and-one-half page listing contains roughly 300 parties, receptions, hospitality suites, meet-and-greets, dances, teas, lunches and desserts.  

There are some seminars listed too like the Democratic National Convention Committee’s Symposium on Unconventional Women, which 2,700 people can attend at a cost of $12. So technically that wouldn’t be free if refreshments were served.  

What might be helpful in fully understanding the Quinn Gillespie convention matrix would be a glossary of acronyms.  

The DNCC shouldn’t be confused with the DSCC, the DLCC or the DCCC. Nor should the NACDS be confused with the NUDC or the NJDC. Is the NEI related to the EEI? What about DAGA and APIA – they both have two As. And the only difference between CEC and CHC is the space of two letters, F and G. Does that mean anything?  

From 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on August 26, the Quinn Gillespie document informs, is the Healthcare Groups Reception at the Buckhorn Exchange. The sponsors are: AAFP, AADA, AAO, AAOS, AOA, ACC, ACEP, ACR, ACS, ADA, AMA, APA, ASA, CAP, NASS and, finally, STS.  A smart guess would be that the first A is “American” and the second A is “association.”  

Nonetheless, a glossary would be helpful.  

Those not arriving at the convention Sunday August 24 missed the 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Yoga Health Festival at City Park Flower Garden.  

From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on August 25 there is the Texans in the Rockies brunch, which might take some finagling to attend since it is ostensibly for the Texas Congressional delegation and Texas convention delegates. 

Alternatively there is a luncheon at the Mezcal Restaurant co-hosted by the National Association of Realtors and The Creative Coalition, a non-profit whose goal is to inform people in the arts and letters world about important public policy issues,  whose them is “Housing in America.”  

Good news for the ME, RI, VT and MD delegates, AT&T is throwing a luncheon for all of them at the Pinnacle Club from noon to 3:00 pm.  

From 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the DCCC Hospitality and Concierge Suite beckons at Mt. Sopris at the Grand Hyatt.  

That likely eclipses three riveting, $12-a-throw DNCC symposiums on  “Philanthropy: A Driving Force for Change,” “America’s Retirement Security/Challenge” and “Transportation Infrastructure.” Seating is limited.  

QWEST hosts a reception for women leaders. At the same time over at the Denver Athletic Club the Indian American Leadership Initiative honors the achievements of Democrats of Asian Indian descent.  

In an interesting turn, The Creative Coalition’s Going Green Reception from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm honors Bank of America.  

That conflicts with the an event organized by the Human Rights Campaign, the National Black Justice Coalition and the Gill Foundation which celebrates the diversity of the convention specially the CEC, CHC and Asian Pacific American Caucus.  

Further research shows the CEC could be the California Energy Commission or the Congressional Entertainment Caucus. A more likely candidate is the Council for Exceptional Children, whose webpage says it is “dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities and/or the gifted.”  

As for CHC, the answer is less opaque. Safest wager would be the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Odds are long that the hosts of the event would honor Centerline Holding Company, Chestnut Hill College or Commonwealth Health Corp., which should be attending the health care reception anyway.  

There are oodles of events during the televised convention hours but perhaps it might be OK to sneak off at 8:30 pm for the Strike for Your Rights event at the Lucky Strikes Bowling Alley organized by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.  

There are plenty of late night activities to choose from, many lasting until 2 am. Moderate Democrats have a soiree. Or there’s Comedy Kebob, organized by the Arab American Institute. Planned Parenthood’s “Sex, Politics and Cocktails Late Night Dance Party” is in the aptly named Samba Room.  

That’s just August 25. There are roughly 100 events on August 26 and another 70 on the 27^th. And the Quinn Gillespie guide was created awhile back so more events have likely been added.  

After all the free food, burn some calories at batting practice over at Coors Field from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm August 26. Or there’s the Democratic Women’s Caucus breakfast.

Lunch on the 26^th offers a veritable cornucopia of options. The Truman National Security Project Luncheon: Passing the Baton is but one. 

 At cocktail hour, veterans are saluted, free speech is celebrated, the Harvard Kennedy School throws out the red carpet and the American Association for Justice honors Civil Justice Democrats. No one likes an uncivil Justice Democrat.  

And, like Gibraltar, the DCCC Hospitality and Concierge Suite at Mt. Sopris beckons.

Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker kick up their spurs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre from 7:30 pm until midnight conflicting with the Rock to Win concert featuring Melissa Etheridge and hosted by the Human Rights Campaign.   

The seemingly ubiquitous AT&T also helps salute African American voters and honors the New Democratic Coalition.  

The Every Woman Counts late Night Celebration is at the Cowboy Lounge.  

On the 27^th, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosts a tea honoring the women members of Congress. The Black Eyed Peas perform at the The Creative Coalition and Target’s Gala Benefit that evening.  

And the DCCC Hospitality and Concierge Suite beckons.  

Spend late night with the Democratic Governor’s Association or RIAA — AT&T is one of the sponsors — or the Congressional Black Caucus Institute or hang with female governors as they honor the late Ann Richards.  

The 28^th is a busy day for The Creative Coalition. It is hosting a brunch along with Screen Media Films relating to African American heritage.  After that concludes at 11:00 am, the coalition is co-hosting ”A Minute with the President” lunch with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.  

All great parties come to an end and the 29^th is both the closing lunch for the National Democratic Institute’s International Leaders Forum but also the DSCC’s closing reception in the Samba Room.  

But the stalwart DCCC Hospitality and Concierge Suite still beckons.  

Shoehorned somewhere along the way, the presidential candidate accepts his party’s nomination and addresses the convention. Right?  

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