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REP Heads to the Convention

As this Green Elephant goes to press, we’re in the final preparations for our first-ever appearance at a national political convention. It has been a huge logistical challenge.

As of this writing, ten days before the convention starts, the last details are finally falling into place... thanks to our volunteers, hard-working staff, and (most important of all!) funders, whose extra gifts made it possible.

We’ll have our own booth at CivicFest in Minneapolis, where all exhibitors will be featured together.

Lifetime REP member Theodore Roosevelt IV will speak at the REP and ConservAmerica reception in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Music Room two hours before Senator John McCain’s acceptance speech—and only two blocks away. Ted is a great speaker, so we’re thrilled to have him at our event. (Also worth noting is that, at REP’s instigation, he recently flew from New York City to Virginia to record a video about conservation, environmental protection, and John McCain. The McCain campaign is delighted to have that video for its website... and impressed that REP was able to persuade Ted to record it.)

REP President Martha Marks will address a forum on energy, hosted by the “Tuesday Group” of moderate U.S. senators and representatives. Other speakers on the dais with her will include former Governor (and REP Honorary Board Member) Christine Todd Whitman and Congressman Fred Upton (MI).

Minnesota Coordinator Brian H. Davis has provided superb on-the-ground help and also, with his wife, Marilyn, graciously will host Martha in their home during her five nights in St. Paul.

Arizona Coordinator Tina Beattie is paying her own expenses to help “man” our booth and spread her enthusiasm for REP at the RNC.

Other REP members who we know will be at the convention—because they are delegates—are Director Bill McLaughlin (CA), Director-elect Senator Sean Kean (NJ), Patrick Mara (DC), David Burge (GA), Bill Graham (IL), Edward Bertorelli (MA) and former Congressman Rob Simmons (CT). We look forward to seeing lots of others who we don’t yet know are attending.

Staff who will be working the convention are Jim DiPeso, David Jenkins, and Rob Sisson.

Look for a convention report and photos at rep.org and in the next Green Elephant.