Liveblogging the VAYD Convention! (Final Update with Blogger of the Year Winners!)
Final Update: I've e-mailed Trent Armitage and asked him to leave a comment with all of the winners of all of the caucuses. They didn't have to pre-file, so I couldn't get their names (Dom kept things moving fairly quickly).
The Banquet was excellent - the JMU YD's did a fantastic job. Dave "Mudcat" Saunders gave us a great insider's perspective on the 2008 Democratic primaries and was very, um, clear about what he thought of certain Republicans and their constituency groups. Great Q&A session as well - it's time to tell the "metropolitan opera house wing of the Democratic Party" that rural voters and issues matter!
The resolution granting Lowell Fulk the honor of "Young Democrat for Life" was perfect, and when the JMU YDs put on the green "Fulk for Delegate: The Credible Fulk" t-shirts everyone cheered. A great moment.
OK, OK - the news you've all been waiting for - the winners of the Blogger of the Year awards!
- Young Adult: Waldo Jaquith
- College: Nate de la Piedra
- Teen: Kenton Ngo (who was also elected the next VAYD Blogmaster!)
Here are other blog posts on Convention.
Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winners! Keep up the great work, and best of luck to Kenton, who will be such a great Blogmaster everyone will forget I ever did this. Probably for the best.
Updated at 3:52 - Tina Hawley (Longwood) is unopposed for VAYD Outreach Chair.
Updated at 3:48 - " 'Lil Amy" Lewis (Arlington) is unopposed for National Committeewoman.
Updated at 3:46 - John Taylor Chapman (Alexandria) is unopposed for National Committeeman. He's going to blog!
Updated at 3:32 - John Alex Golden (Arlington) is the next VAYD president! (Dom was gracious enough to remind me that Erick received more votes than I did last year.)
Jennifer Bissett (Alexandria) is unopposed for Executive Vice President.
James "Skippy" Martin (University of Mary Washington) is unopposed for Vice President of Membership.
Mike Sizemore (Virginia Tech) is unopposed for Vice President of Political Action.
Ally McIntosh (William and Mary) is unopposed for Vice President of Communication.
Anthony Dale (Alexandria) is unopposed for Vice President of Finance.
Mark Turnbull (William & Mary Alumni) is unopposed for VAYD Secretary.
Andrew Almand (Arlington) is unopposed for a THIRD term as VAYD Treasurer.
Updated at 3:05 - Internet was down for a while, so I apologize for not updating the status of the resolutions. We passed a resolution calling for increased representation of Young Democrats in Virginia's delegation to the national Democratic Convention in Denver, Co. We also passed a resolution condemning Rep. Virgil Goode's (R-5th) remarks in a constituent letter on the topic of Islam and immigration. Finally, we passed a resolution calling for a committee to study the possibility of the VAYD endorsing candidates in Democratic primaries. There was also a secret resolution to be announced at the banquet. Combined with the Blogger of the Year awards, it's going to be the most suspenseful banquet ever!
Seriously. Ever.
Right now we are in the midst of elections for VAYD officers - Erick Sanchez (George Mason) is currently speaking (3:13) about his candidacy for President, and next is John Alex Golden (Arlington).
Updated at 10:35 - we just passed some amendments to the Constitution, including making it clear that people can call in to Executive Committee meetings and also that YDs can be members of 2 clubs during the year (to allow students who are part of a college club to participate in their home club during the summer).
I would say it was a thrilling debate, but that would be untruthful.
Updated at 9:50 - We've adopted the reports from the Credentials and Rules Committees, named all temporary committees permanent committees, and elected officers of Convention:
Dominic Gabello - Convention Chair
Trent Armitage - Convention Secretary
Adam Sharp (me) - Convention Parliamentarian
Now we start debating constitutional amendments. This year's amendments are tedious, and most were passed last year, but someone forgot to update the Constitution. Probably my fault, since I was the Constitution and Bylaws chair last year.
Hey this is Adam Sharp, I'm spending my last day as Blogmaster of the VAYD serving as Parliamentarian and also liveblogging our annual Convention at James Madison University in the gorgeous Harrisonburg, VA.
It's 9:20 and we're listening to Sam Rasoul, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the Sixth District. He's running on health care reform, education reform and small business reform. His website is www.samrasoul.us - right now he's taking questions on what Young Democrats want in a candidate who is a Young Democrat.
Revised and Expanded Comments from the Convention Floor
Submitted by Politicl_Animal on Sun, 2007-04-01 20:34.
"As the only Young Democrat to ever oppose Dominic for the presidency of VAYD, I would like to take a moment to thank Dominic for his service to the VAYD. It has been a pleasure working with him for the last two years.
"Dominic always answered my calls or called me right back. We'd chat on Google late in the evening when he was bored and I was at work. He has always been quick to point me in the right direction when I needed something, or squash my latest hypothesis with information only an insider would have.
"I know 95% of the people here do not know the work Dominic has put into this position - making the calls to raise money, to convince people to attend events, to pull strings to make sure that we had events and they went smoothly - and he'll be last one to tell us. He would work long hours for Governor Warner, then spend more time working for us.
"I know Dominic was disappointed when Virginia's best hope for the presidency decided not to run last year, but he's on his feet and I know he will go far.
"Thank you, Dom, for being a great leader and a great friend. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with you, and to know you."
- Comments made as a Point of Personal Privilege by Adam Sharp on the VAYD Convention floor Saturday, March 31, 2007
********
"Man is a political animal." - Aristotle
A Big Thank You...
Submitted by CptlCowboy on Sun, 2007-04-01 19:16.
...to everyone who came to Convention this weekend, and for all your support. I'm looking forward to a sucessful and exciting year for VAYD.
It's time to get to work and Vote Strong, Virginia :-)
~~jag~~
Caucus Chairs
Submitted by longwooddemocrat on Mon, 2007-04-02 00:21.
Here is the list of Caucus Chairs I have, but some are still missing and I will get you them ASAP
Trent Armitage- Southside Regional Chiarman
Ann Alexandrowicz- Southside Regional Vice-Chair
Kenton Ngo- Northern Region Vice-Chair
Adam Osterman- City/ County Chair
Matthew Guckenberg- Central Region Chair
Natalie Weiner- Central Region Vice Chair
Brittany Morrison- Southwest Region Chair
Carlo Quintela- Teen/ High School Caucus Chair
Emilie Begin- College Caucus Chair
The rest will come as needed
Trent Armitage
VP Longwood University Young Democrats
Southside Region Chair, VAYD
(860)416-3490- Cell
(860)584-2858- Home
(434)395-3713-Dorm
trenton182- AIM
Valley Region
Submitted by Jamie on Mon, 2007-04-02 08:09.
This year I'm excited to pass on the position of Valley Region Chair to Ms. Lauren Gilbert, freshman at James Madison University. Her vice chairs are Sophie Brown and David McKinney, also of JMU.
Id like to Thank Adam for
Id like to Thank Adam for live blogging today. Convention has been fun so far, and Im excited that a new crop of candidates will be elected soon.
Dominic P. Gabello Soon to be Former President Virginia Young Democrats