I’m not talking a couple bucks either. Here is the registration page for this year’s New Hampshire Democratic Convention. As you can see the early rate is $10 for delegates and $15 for visitors and after today the rates increase to $20/$25. Isn’t the Massachusetts convention in the neighborhood of $75 per delegate?
Both conventions this year are platform conventions. If I remember the NHDP procedure correctly they assemble every two years to approve a platform, but do not do endorsement conventions. Why such a difference? Are venues cheaper up north? Do we have more expenses? I was at a couple of DSC meetings where this was discussed, but seeing this reopens the question as to whether the party and the delegates are getting their money’s worth. I’d be interested to hear what DSC members have to say about this in the comments.
In general, if activism is our goal we should slash rates. If we’re lucky that will encourage more people to come so that the overall collection of registration fees will stay high by more people paying less rather than fewer people paying more.
There does not seem to be any concern as to whether delegates “are getting their $$ worth” – but rather, “will the SDP raise the needed 20% of its budget from the convention this year”.
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p>That is why there is a convention every year; that is my understanding, anyway.
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p>What IS – or at least CAN be useful is:
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p>1. Workshops that really train active members of the party in specific skills [blogging, campaign finance, press & media relations to name a few].
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p>2. Networking – getting to see other party activists from other parts of the state that I don’t ordinarily get to see.
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p>3. An opportunity for issue advocacy [progressive taxation, stop casinos, end gray hound racing, etc.]
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p>But, again, the State Democratic Committee depends on the Convention to raise a full 20% of its budget. I also believe that donations are down, so that goal [fund raising] may be even more important during these hard times.
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p>Now, as to the question, “What should state conventions be FOR?” or “Do we really need a Convention every year?” or “Are nominating conventions good, and do they build the party and provide a forum for unknown candidates to become known?” – I think opinions almost certainly differ as to each of these questions.
Instead of just a couple of high-dollar events such as a convention and a Roosevelt Dinner (the latter of which I only go to as a volunteer rather than pay for), maybe there should be more less expensive events. With Deval Patrick and Barack Obama in office there is more emphasis on the grassroots and as such, the party should be more accessible. I’ve previously advocated even-year conventions and odd-year Democratic Campaign Institutes and stand by that suggestion.
It would appear that the Party refuses to recognize there’s a recession going on. If activism is at least one of the goals – then why not slash rates and open the doors? $75 bucks a pop is a lot of dough right now…and even though I’m a delegate, I am wondering whether it’s reasonable for me to spend that kind of money. I’m in the process of trying to figure out how to pay for my daughter’s college tuition right now, and lenders aren’t feeling nearly as generous as they did a few years ago.
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p>I get that the Party wants to raise a few bucks, but it will be interesting to see if attendance drops as a result of the economy.
students pay less, and there are discounts available for those who find the fee a burden. You just gotta ask for it.
In my experience, candidate money flows into Democratic organizations in NH. I was at a dinner (JeffJax I think) in Manchester last cycle and the campaigns were passing out $50 tickets like candy. Many of those tickets went unused, possibly resulting in straight profit for the City Committee. It would be my guess that the campaign money for some of the events that we see, especially around primary season, provide funds for the NHDP in a way that doesn’t happen in Mass. I spent some time at the NHDP HQ in the general. I don’t know what the financial arrangements were between the DNC and the NHDP but I would guess at least some money changed hands. Massachusetts is an export state when it comes to both political dollars and man hours.
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p>Somebody who reads this blog probably knows. Anyone have real facts as opposed to my guesses?
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p>I think that the fact that we do endorsing conventions is one of the reasons that we tend to have higher prices. We have large conventions and clearly many people are willing to pay the fees in nominating years and they get in the habit of paying the fees in off years.
I don’t think the MDP has one, but many state and even county parties throughout the country do. NH has an annual JJ dinner and 100 club dinner which are their big fundraisers. I would like to see one $100 per plate dinner near the end of each reporting quarter which could be billed as a final push, with monthly low dollar ($25) less formal events during the eight months that do not have $100 events. I confess I have no idea how much money this will get the party, but it does seem to make it more accessible. Meanwhile, conventions and DCI fees could be $50 per attendee (though I don’t recall what DCIs fees have been).
In addition to more evenly distributing fundraisers over the calendar and by cost, I would also suggest a greater geographic distribution rather than a high concentration in Boston. The quarterly dinners could be Boston, Worcester, Boston, Springfield with maybe the low-dollar events being Merrimack Valley, North Shore, South Shore, Cape & Islands, Fall River/New Bedford, Metro West, Fitchburg/Leominster, and Pittsfield. This way we’re not always hitting up the same people and those far from Boston will feel the party is more accessible to them.
is a low dollar, ($25) fundraiser, held in Metrowest every year. We have great speakers, distinguished Democrats.
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p>We have no VIP table, and the electeds and candidates love the chance to sit and talk with the people who do their grassroots organizing for them. The activists are energized by speaking with the electeds and candidates, they remember why we love them.
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p>This year we honored Kate Donaghue and 14 other hard working activists received awards from their local legislators.
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p>This is a fun annual event!!
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p>There is a place for both.
None of us can “go to everything” and these days, I have a a far more limited budget for making campaign donations then I did in 2006, so choose very carefully choose both how much time I can afford to donate, and where to spend those limited budget dollars.
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p>Your MW event left the rest of the day for work or housework, did not have a parking cost tacked on, and was inspiring, inclusive, and positive – I enjoyed seeing other activists not just from the Merrimack Vallen/Northern Middlesex, but Worcester, Hampden & Hampshire [who had tables, perhaps because Kate Donoghue’s award was such a draw].
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p>All of us – myself included – have received help, inspiration, and information from Kate – I don’t know where she finds the time and energy to do what she does.
charging for parking is one more way to encourage carpools!
and thanks to everyone who attended and who has sent me congratulations!
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p>It really validated the work that so many of us do, day in and day out.
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p>Kate
As FrankSkeffington noted and it looks like KTHiker was saying, the NHDP is in a very different position than the MDP and most other states. They can bring in huge sums of money from candidates.
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p>Rather than calling it a Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, the MDP has the Roosevelt Dinner. The MDP has worked to make the Roosevelt Dinner more accessible. Any Democrat who raised $400 could attend the Roosevelt Dinner and bring one of his or her donors. People could do this just by asking for money or hosting your own low dollar event. A number of people used this option. Last summer the MDP encouraged people to hold barbecues to raise money for the MDP.
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p>Even though the big money is in the bigger donors, the MDP is working diligently to give everyone the opportunity to help.
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p>If you believe that the party should be doing more local events, please do give them (or me 508-404-8531) a call and we will work with you on setting up an event! Or if you are not in a position to set up an event, please work to support one of our existing events!
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p>You can still donate to my Four Hundred Club account. I am waiting for the numbers to come in, but although I hit my goal with my Four Hundred Club account, I have a dollar commitment for this year that I am still trying to reach!
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p>Also, back to the convention, guests are welcome at $25 and volunteers can attend at no charge.
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p>Kate
I’m not sure where I’d put the burden of proof. Knowing nothing specific, I think we can reasonably assume their convention is cheaper to put on.
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p>One thing, though. There really is much less money in New Hampshire. The state reps make $100 a year. The median standard of living is probably comparable, but there are pockets of deep poverty in New Hampshire. I guess I would err on the side of cheaper there, to make it as inclusive as possible.
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p>That said, our convention costs too much. It’s $75 this year to walk in the door.
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(but of course not as a delegate at each)…I can say they are apples and oranges. In fact to dynamics of NHDP and MADP was completely different. First the conventions…the NH convention I was at was in a high school gym…maybe 500 people, whereas the MA conventions get a few thousand…so the logistical costs–the facilities, the crowd control, ect is greater in MA. Also, NHDP–as has been pointed out–have so many more ways to raise money and have a lot less voters to persuade with the money. Because of the NH Presidential primary, NH Dems in general milk the money train…with county and city dems holding breakfasts and dinners that shake down ambitious DC pols, along with the state party that holds TWO fundraisers–the jeffjax and the “century” dinner. But the big money maker for the NHDP is the $50,000 or so they charge each presidential campaign for access to their voter list. With Obama as pres and assuming no Dem challenger, the NHDP will have a cash flow crunch…in fact they had just that in the late 90s and I don’t think it was a coincidence that a Dem was in the Whitehouse.