As the opening day of the 2006 convention of the National Stonewall Democrats draws near, more activities and events have been finalized.
The three-day event will be held in Pittsburgh June 2-4.
The Stonewall Democrats announced on its Web site that decorated Iraq War veteran Capt. Patrick Murphy will join Howard Dean, keynote speaker and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, at a June 2 VIP reception at the Cavenaugh-Graham mansion.
Murphy, the Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, is a former constitutional law professor at West Point and a criminal prosecutor.
As governor of Vermont, in 2000 Dean became the first governor to sign a bill legalizing same-sex partnerships.
The majority of convention activities will be held on the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus.
Scheduled workshops include “Messaging on GLBT Issues in an Election Year,” “Earned Media: How to Spotlight Your Organization’s Work,” “How to do Field Campaigning,” “Organizing Effective Canvassing” and “How to Plan an Event That Raises Money, Not Your Blood Pressure.”
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Convention organizers have signed the GLBT television network here! as a media sponsor, and crews from here! are expected to film speeches, workshops and events throughout the convention.
As a sponsor of the convention, the Pittsburgh Pirates has made a block of tickets available for the June 3 night game against San Diego in PNC Park. Other major sponsors of the convention include America Votes and GoTV.
Convention participants are encouraged to arrive early on June 2 to participate in a non-partisan voter registration effort sponsored by America Votes and Liberty PA at the Three Rivers Arts Festival; the campaign will be conducted from 10am until 5pm. Canvassing will resume on June 4 after a picnic with the keynote speaker.
To register, visit the National Stonewall Democrats Web site at www.stonewalldemocrats.org.
Schedule of events
Friday, June 2
·10am: National Stonewall Democrats board of directors meeting featuring address by Evan Wolfson, Pittsburgh native and executive director of Freedom to Marry
·10am-5pm: Liberty PA/America Votes canvassing activities
·5-7pm: social at 5801 Video Lounge & Cafe, 5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside
·7-9pm: VIP reception with Howard Dean and other speakers at Cavanaugh-Graham mansion
Saturday, June 3
·9am: convention registration and continental breakfast
·9:30am: breakfast with keynote speaker
·10am-noon: campaign training
·Noon-1:30pm: picnic with Howard Dean and other speakers and trainers
·2-3:15pm; 3:45-5pm: campaign training
·7:05pm: Stonewall Night at PNC Park, $22; followed by a social at Images, 965 Liberty Ave., downtown
Sunday, June 4
·10:30am: National Stonewall Democrats membership meeting; special guest: Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (schedule tentative)
·12:30pm: lunch with Howard Dean
·2-4:30pm: Day of Action with LibertyPA