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Tips to Reduce Sticker Shock on Monthly Eletrical Bills

2011-06-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

Man, it's hot out there. And your wallet can certainly feel the pinch. Here are 12 tips from the brilliant Andrea Woroch to stay cool while reducing your kilowatt usage.

Consumers across America are experiencing sticker shock with this month's electrical bill. While kilowatt rates vary by vendor, a new national increase is being seen across the country.
With the enactment of the Clear Air Interstate Rule from the Environmental Protection Agency, 31 states are required to substantially reduce power-plant emissions. Specifically, power plants must reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by a whopping 71 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 52 percent.
Coal is both the most common energy source and the primary cause of both emissions. As a result, this new regulation is expected to cost coal power plants billions of dollars for retrofitting or in facility replacements. Naturally, this expense is being passed on to consumers. Short of going "off the grid," what's a customer to do? Here are 12 tips to help reduce your kilowatt usage.
1. Go Window Shopping
When the weather hits over 90 degrees and it's too hot to be outdoors, leave your credit card at home and head to an air-conditioned mall. After a few laps around the perimeter, you'll have gotten some exercise while catching up on the latest fashions.
2. Get Out of the House
Turn off the air conditioning, the TV and all those electricity hogs and enjoy some time in the great outdoors. If your kids spend their summer vacations playing video games, they're sucking up a lot of energy without expending any of their own. Sign them up for sports leagues, summer camps and other activities outside the home. While you may have to pay a registration fee, you can still save on equipment by using Target and Sports Authority discount gift cards ordered from such sites as GiftCardGranny.com.
3. Turn Off Power Strips
Even if you've turned off the television, computer and other power vampires, those power strips are still sucking you dry. The same goes for rechargers, which may seem benign when not hooked up to your cell phone. The fact is, they're still drawing electricity when not in use, so flip that switch. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the standby power of unused appliances usually accounts for 5 percent to 10 percent of residential electricity costs.
4. Power Down Computers
Running a computer and monitor 24/7 uses about 1,100 kilowatt hours annually, or roughly $100 a year. Save 60 percent to 80 percent by putting your computer in power-saving mode or turning it off completely.
5. Use Powerless Cleaning Appliances
Use an old-fashioned can opener instead of that space-hogging electrical opener to reduce kilowatt usage. Clean rugs with a carpet sweeper instead of a vacuum. (You can find these old-fashioned cleaners at a surprising number of garage sales.) Dry laundry on a clothes line or rack instead of a power-hungry dryer. (Washers and dryers are 19 percent of your energy bill.) In general, consider how you can replace miniature power users with powerless appliances.
6. Shut the Curtains
Turn off or turn down an air conditioner by keeping windows covered during the day. You'll minimize sun exposure while maximizing the cooler night air.
7. Wash Dishes in Batches
It may seem hand-washing dishes would reduce both your water and electrical bill, but Energy Star appliances are actually much better for your family finances. The original investment, however, is terribly high. As a simple fix, wait until the dishwasher is completely full before running it. Avoid filling the machine with over-sized pots and pans as they're cheaper to wash by hand. Keep in mind that dishwashers compose 2 percent of your electrical bill.
8. Lower the Lighting Bill
You've heard lots of talk about CFL light bulbs and there's a reason why. CFLs are cheaper to run, generate less heat and last much longer. Switching out just one incandescent bulb for a CFL will save you $35 in energy costs -- or up to 65 percent -- over the projected 10-year life of the bulb.
9. Turn Off the Stove
Pasta, veggies and other foods cooked in water will continue to cook once the water is boiled. Turn the burner off half way through the cooking process and you'll reduce your energy use; just make sure you leave on the lid to hold in the heat.
10. Fill Up Your Freezer and Fridge
As with your dishwasher, these kitchen appliances operate more efficiently when full. You needn't overbuy at the supermarket, however. Instead, fill bottles and milk containers with water to take up the extra space.
11. Use a Programmable Thermostat
Give your air conditioning system a break when no one is in the house. According to Energy Star, increasing a house's temperature during these hours by pre-programming a thermostat cuts the average household's electric bill by $180 a year. That's because heating and cooling systems are 45 percent of your monthly energy bill.
12. Clean A/C Filters
Filters clog up with pollen, animal hair, dust and other unmentionables. Cleaning or replacing your filter improves efficiency. You'll want to clean it more often if you have pets or are experiencing a particularly heavy pollen season.
Share these 12 tips with your audience so more people can save energy and money.
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Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "12 Tips to Save Kilowatts and Cash" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured as a media expert source on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. For more savings tips follow @AndreaWoroch.

Jazz on the Mountain at Whistler

2011-04-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler launches inaugural festival

Canadian premiere event to showcase renowned performers in Whistler Village

September 2-4, 2011

Kevin Eubanks (Spyro Gyra)

Whistler, B.C. – Whistler will play host to the newest jazz festival in Canada, September 2-4, 2011. Set in the resort’s pedestrian Village, with free and ticketed indoor and outdoor shows, visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience performances and interact personally with jazz greats such as Kevin Eubanks – leader of the NBC Tonight Show Band for 18 years.

Arnold Schwisberg, founder and producer of Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler, today announced the exciting performer line-up of the inaugural event for the Labour Day weekend in September as well as the launch of the Festival’s official website at: www.whistlerjazzfest.com.

"Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler will have something for everyone, not just jazz fans,” says Schwisberg. “All visitors to Whistler will be able to enjoy the free street festival components with acoustic musicians, face-painters, jugglers and acrobats. And ticketed shows will provide access to some of the world’s best jazz artists performing in an intimate setting at spectacular Whistler facilities.”

The three-day festival will showcase 22 performers and 33 shows. Street entertainment is being programmed in conjunction with the Whistler Arts Council, free performances will be featured throughout Whistler Village, and ticketed events will take place indoors at Maurice Young Millennium Place and outdoors at one or more of the many spectacular venues in Whistler . Tickets go on sale April 5.

Guitarist Kevin Eubanks, the first Artist-in-Residence for Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler, will perform solo, with his Quartet, and will be "up close and personal" with festivalgoers in Whistler Village all weekend. In addition to Eubanks, American guitarists Stanley Jordan and Russ Freeman, as well as seasoned Canadian jazz guitarists and educators Stan Samole, Lorne Lofsky and Greg Lowe are scheduled to perform. Other greats confirmed to appear include established contemporary jazz groups Spyro Gyra and The Rippingtons, and jazz veterans vibraphonist Gary Burton from Boston with his New Quartet and Montreal pianist Oliver Jones with his Trio. Additional shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Festival also includes a unique educational element, giving aspiring young musicians the opportunity to attend a Jazz Master Class Series for guitar at Maurice Young Millennium Place in the heart of Whistler Village.

“Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler is setting the stage to be regarded as one of the most innovative jazz festivals in the country,” says Schwisberg, a lawyer whose passion for jazz has also led to a career as a radio and TV host, a record producer for Universal Music, and a consultant with jazz festivals in Montreal and Toronto.

Unlike urban jazz festivals, Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler will be offering a very different experience. The pedestrian-only Village, with its stone pathways connecting the resort’s plazas and squares, is an ideal setting for a more intimate and highly interactive jazz festival. The Festival aims to attract thousands of visitors to Whistler over the Labour Day weekend.

To more broadly deliver the experience, plans are underway to mount high-definition video cameras at each major act – and to produce streaming video to the internet, satellite and for mobile applications. “Those who can’t attend in person can watch highlights from their computer, tablet or phone,” says Schwisberg. “Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler represents the next generation of jazz festivals. It’s really about bringing the music – and the vibe of Whistler – to the people.”

Mayor Ken Melamed of the Resort Municipality of Whistler says the Festival is an exciting new addition to the growing calendar of outstanding events in the resort. "We've been impressed with the planning process, the program and the professionalism of Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler. Visitors to Whistler are in for a real treat this September."

For more information about the concert and events schedule, artist bios, and details about ticket purchasing, promotions, and merchandise visit www.whistlerjazzfest.com

Sponsors of Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler so far include: The Globe And Mail, North Shore Credit Union, Indigo Books & Music, Heineken, Appleton Rum, WineOnline, Shaw TV and charity sponsor CNIB. More sponsors will be announced as the Event approaches.

With more than 200 retail shops, 90 restaurants and bars, and a vast range of accommodations, visitors to Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler can enjoy the music, an amazing array of amenities, and the endless choice of activities provided by a mountain playground. For information about accommodation and activity options call our local travel consultants at 1.800.WHISTLER or logon www.whistler.com .

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Media can visit www.whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.

Whistler is Canada’s premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as town homes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and water sports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com – Whistler’s official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

Media Contacts

Jazz On The Mountain At Whistler

Founder & Producer

Arnold Schwisberg

905.530.2110

604.905.4200

abslegal@total.net

Festival Director

Kristen Robinson

604.932.2409

kristenrobinson@telus.net

Tourism Whistler

Senior Manager, Communications

Breton Murphy

604.935.3356

bmurphy@tourismwhistler.com

Smugglers Notch Resort, Our Family Takes 1st Place in the "I Did a Sled' Competition!

2011-03-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

Just call it "Smuggs"
(JEFFERSONVILLE, VT). I totally forgot to share news of our amazing end-of-year vacation, this past December at our host Michael's timeshare at Smuggles Notch Resort! Smuggler Notch, or "Smuggs" as the regulars affectionately call it, has been ranked "#1 for Family Vacations," by Ski Magazine, among a host of other impressive awards.

I've only ventured to Vermont in the summer, so it was a great thrill to see the "Green" Mountains in winter, capped as they were with powdery snow and promise. Our family weathered the seven hour car-trip from the Fingerlakes to Jeffersonville a day after Christmas. In a tasteful condo that comfortably sleeps ten, we enjoyed the Master Suite with a jacuzzi and stunning mountain views. We were thrilled to share our week's vacation with our our other dear friends Heather and Charles and their two children.

Heated Pools, Trails, Playhouses
Add a heated pool (and I do mean HEATED)steps from your condo and the thrilling spectacle of amazing cross country trails right below the pool area, and you might just be in heaven. And when you discover that the Nordic Shop serves freshly popped popcorn and tasty cocoa, and right next door is a late night kids playhouse of sorts, well, you feel it's all too good to be true.

Torchlight Parade, Fireworks, Zipline Tours
Each day, dozens of programs (yoga, painting, crafts, karaoke, nature walks and more) are available to guests. On Thursday evenings of each holiday week, the Resort’s Snow Sport University instructors ski or ride in a dramatic torchlight parade as they descend a ski trail into the Village, where guests gather can around a bonfire.

A spectacular fireworks display lights up the evening sky with the Green Mountains as a backdrop. If you are all about collecting memories that last a lifetime, then you have to put this on your "to do" list. We saw these fireworks on New Year's Eve. It was a special way to ring in 2011. And don't forget to put the heart-racing, "Zipline Canopy Tour," a couple of classes at their renowned"Ski School," dog-sled tour adventures and moonlit guided snowmobile tours on your "wish lists" as well.

Michelle Berry, Robert Lofthouse and Nina Berry-Lofthouse

"I Did a Sled Competition"
See that good looking family on the left? That's us posing in front of our winning sled- which we actually took two rides on- a test run (in which we came in second place) and a WINNING run, in which we placed ahead of forty other great participants. That's right, we came in 1st Place at the "I Did a Sled Competition!" Combining the Berry-Lofthouse family prowess in engineering, design and elegance, with just electrical tape and cardboard, our handmade "sled" went the farthest down the hill (and also the fastest). We hope to return next year to defend our title!
So, if you're looking for a fun and enriching family-friendly vacation, make sure to check out Smuggs! Families visiting Smugglers’ Notch Resort over the Winter holiday periods typically enjoy a full complement of package inclusions and special activities during Christmas Week, December 19-26, 2010; New Year’s Week, December 26, 2010 – January 1, 2011; and Presidents’ Week February 18-25, 2011.

For more information, about booking your family vacation at Smuggs, contact:
Karen Boushie, mediarelations@smuggs.com
802. 644.1156

Raise a Toast to Monterey Wines this Summer: Save the Date

2011-03-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

Monterey Wine Country’s Annual Summer Festival Announces Date and New Location!
(Monterey, CA)—March 7, 2011—Taste Monterey Wine Country at 19th Annual Winemakers’ Celebration on August 13, 2011, at The Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel. The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (MCVGA) will bring together over 40 wineries to pour roughly 200 wines at the outdoor summer festival. The Winemakers’ Celebration festivities will include: culinary samples from international restaurants located in the Barnyard Shopping Village; jazz music in the shopping square; winemaking displays, and the bidding excitement of the Silent Auction—including numerous lifestyle packages, special wine items, photo sessions, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates, and more. Featured wineries and restaurants will also be offering guests special offers and pricing to be enjoyed the day of the celebration and beyond.

Tickets for the 19th Annual Winemakers’ Celebration, August 13, 2011 The Barnyard, Carmel, 1-4 p.m., are available online at www.montereywines.org or by calling 831.375.9400, $30 in advance / $35 at the door.

Nine American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) make up the world-class designation of Monterey County. Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, Hames Valley, Chalone, Carmel Valley, San Antonio Valley, and San Bernabe comprise 200 vineyards. Vineyards are located from the cooler north, heavily influenced from the Monterey Bay, to the warmer southern end, still influenced by the late afternoon winds and resulting cooling temperatures later in the day. Winemakers will be on hand to discuss their craft and showcase how 42 varietals can be made from a single winegrowing region.

The Barnyard Shopping Village is Carmel's one-of-a-kind shopping haven. Situated on more than six acres, the open-air shopping village delivers a unique, upscale boutique environment nestled into cascading levels of breathtaking gardens lined with red brick pathways. Located only one mile south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, off of Highway 1 and Carmel Rancho Boulevard, the Barnyard Shopping Village boasts more than 45 locally owned and operated shops, eight International restaurants and cafés, as well as a variety of professional services.

About MCVGA

The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association (MCVGA) partners with community members to promote and support leadership in the art, the science, and the business of wine. Founded in 1974, MCVGA is a non-profit organization representing over 80 vintners and growers in Monterey, California. For additional information, please visit www.montereywines.org or call (831) 375-9400.

CONTACT:
PARKER SANPEI & ASSOCIATES
Linda Parker Sanpei
805.543.2288
Linda@parkersanpei.com

Stowe Mountain Lodge Gears Up for Thanksgiving, Family Ski & Stay Pkgs

2010-11-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

(Base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont) As Stowe Mountain Lodge prepares for their third busy winter season, they have released a multitude of packages and specials. From a celebration special for two recent awards Stowe Mountain Lodge has garnered to a classical New England Thanksgiving package, this winter is abound with deals for travelers. Please see a selection of these promotions below. For more specials, please visit http://www.stowemountainlodge.com/stowe-vermont-vacation-packages.php

New England Thanksgiving Package
Guests are invited to give thanks and celebrate Thanksgiving at Stowe Mountain Lodge. Executive Chef Tiffany Sawyer has prepared a classical New England Thanksgiving menu including maple sugar butter glaze turkey carving station with port and orange scented cranberry sauce, butternut squash bisque, shellfish chowder, bourbon blue cheese sweet potato mashed and homemade pumpkin pie.

· Discounted luxury accomodations

· Thanksgiving dinner for two in Solstice (with the option of adding additional adult or children’s dinners)

Ski & Stay Package

Stowe is the Ski Capital of the East, recognized for boasting the highest peak in Vermont, Mount Mansfield. Stowe Mountain Lodge is the only ski-in/ski-out resort in Stowe, making it the perfect complement to day on the slopes. Guests are also welcome to take advantage of Stowe Mountain Lodge’s complimentary ski valet, which will keep snow gear dry, warm and organized during their stay.

· Discounted luxury accommodations

· Breakfast for two each morning

· 2 adult lift tickets per day

· $50 spa note

Family STOWEcation Package

With tons of family-friendly activities and a welcoming environment, Stowe Mountain Lodge invites families of all sizes this winter to enjoy the winter season in Stowe. With accommodations ranging from a full studio to a four-bedroom suite, Stowe Mountain Lodge comfortably conforms to family travel, featuring year-round heated pool, kids’ game room, on-site dining and KidSpa (to open this winter).

· Discounted luxury accommodations

· Make-your-own snowman kit

· Kids’ welcome basket—including s’mores, popcorn, hot chocolate, etc.

· In-room movie rental

· 6 tokens for Stowe Mountain Lodge’s game room

Contact: Morgan Fukumoto
Public Relations Manager
Stowe Mountain Lodge
Regional Sales & Marketing Office
43 Thorndike Street, Suite 3-1
Cambridge, MA 02141
Phone 617.621.1700
mfukumoto@destinationhotels.com
www.stowemountainlodge.com
www.destinationhotels.com

Whistler Offers deals, events and Olympic legacies for families all summer

2010-05-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Summertime in Whistler means endless family activities and great accommodation deals - offering families the ultimate summer getaways for weekends, week-long getaways or extended visits.

Hiking, biking, golfing and dining - along with skiing and snowboarding on Blackcomb Mountain (until late July), as well as festivals and events - all combine to provide the quintessential summer Whistler experience.

And while the spring sun has melted the valley snow, Whistler's 2010 Winter Games venues will be opening their doors to summer visitors. Although the Winter Games are behind us, you can still have a taste of the Olympic spirit.

The Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) opens June 25 with self-guided and guided walking tours, as well as a new "Behind the Scenes" shuttle bus tour that transports guests from the village to the WSC- from top to bottom. The centre's facilities will also be available for events and meeting space bookings starting in June.

Warm, sunny weather has transformed Whistler's valley into a lush playground and hundreds of kilometres of mountain biking trails are now in ideal condition after a snowy winter. Families looking for a free scenic cycling experience can enjoy the Valley Trail system, offering 35 paved kilometres through lush forests and past glacier-fed lakes, surrounded by mountains.

In addition to village-based biking and hiking trails that access Whistler's temperate rainforest, a network of trails atop Whistler and Blackcomb mountains makes for hours of exploration the whole family can enjoy. Amazing views of the Coast Range mountain peaks and glaciers, alpine meadows and wildlife habitat - including black bears and hoary marmots - are provided along more than 50 kilometres of trails accessible via the PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience.

Family-friendly events taking place this summer in Whistler:

•·All summer, Whistler Street Entertainment presents free juggling acts, circus performers, musicians, bike stunt riders, dancers and acrobats attractions and performances every weekend in the heart of the Village.

•··July 17 and 18 is the Whistler Children's Art Festival, with lots of free activities, popular children's performers, wandering musicians and characters, and hands-on workshops led by professional artists in fine arts, crafts, theatre, multi-media, dance and music.

•·The Whistler Dragon Boat Festival takes place July 3 and 4. This year's event will also feature the Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships. Join the teams for a weekend spent in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world filled with beating drums, fierce paddling, cheering spectators, and live entertainment

Whistler.com can tailor a package for your family. For more information, call toll free 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit http://www.whistler.com/ for more details and offers.

Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.

Steinhatchee Landing Resort in Florida Welcomes Scallop Seekers

2010-05-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Big Bend Area Gulf Waters Open, Scallop Season Begins July 1

Equal parts snorkeling, hunting for hidden treasure and saltwater fishing, scalloping is a can't-miss summer event in Florida's Big Bend. The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has left the Steinhatchee area unaffected thus far and Steinhatchee Landing Resort, a family-style, riverfront vacation retreat, welcomes scallop seekers for a busy 2010 scallop season, July 1 through September 10. One- to four-bedroom individual cottages start from just $212* per night, allowing multiple families and multiple generations to share accommodations and travel together for a budget-friendly summer vacation. And located just three miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico and along the Steinhatchee River, Steinhatchee Landing is just minutes from Dead Man's Bay, a unique ecosystem and breeding ground for some of the best bay scalloping in the United States.

"The Gulf waters surrounding the Steinhatchee area are currently open to fishing and scalloping for the summer season," said Dean Fowler, developer of Steinhatchee Landing Resort. "Our local guides are experiencing some of the best near shore fishing with Trout and Reds in recent months and the same goes for offshore angling for Grouper. We haven't seen any oil along our shorelines from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and aren't expected to in the coming weeks."

A popular activity for families, scalloping best resembles snorkeling, but with the simple addition of a mesh bag for storing the harvest. Most scallops can be found in the shallow, grass flats of the Gulf of Mexico that range anywhere from three to six feet deep. Only two to three inches in length and located inside a fan-shaped shell, the scallops can be easy to spot with their 30-40 bright blue eyes, but provide a good chase as these eyes help them detect predators.

Steinhatchee Landing Resort provides several boat slips for a nominal fee and will also arrange guided trips with local charter Captains who can guarantee a daily limit of the bay bivalves. Several locals are available at the marina docks to shuck scallops for a small fee as well and the Landing's cottages provide full kitchens for cooking up a fresh day's harvest.

After a full day of wading and scooping scallops, guests of the resort can rest, relax and enjoy the Landing's extensive amenities, including the 55-foot swimming pool and pavilion area with playground, table tennis, fitness center, an indoor swim spa and three-person sauna. The resort also offers canoe and kayak rentals, croquet, tennis and archery.

A peaceful drive from any direction, Steinhatchee Landing Resort is just 75 miles west of Gainesville, and a two-and-a-half hour drive from Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa Bay. To book your stay, call toll-free (800) 584-1709 or (352) 498-3513 or visit www.SteinhatcheeLanding.com

*Rates based on availability and minimum stay requirements may apply. 10% resort and state taxes not included. If the Gulf of Mexico becomes closed to fishing or scalloping in the Steinhatchee area as designated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill anytime from July 1-September 10, Steinhatchee Landing Resort will return advanced deposits on stays scheduled during those closed dates for the summer season.

Media Contact:
Gentry Baumline-Robinson
Hayworth Creative Public Relations
(386) 677-7000
gentry@hayworthcreative.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------

San Diego North: Wellness Destination

2010-05-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

San Diego North’s year-round temperate climate and an abundance of outdoor recreational activities make this resort region a great destination for health and wellness. Visitors can get a whole body work out while having fun and stimulating the mind during a getaway that encompasses all aspects of total fitness:

· Cardiovascular – Hiking Torrey Pines State Reserve on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean or cycling past a waterfall through the extensive geological formations of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve allows visitors to experience stunning views of the region’s natural beauty while engaging in cardiovascular activity. Enjoy over 2,000 acres of undeveloped coast as you gaze upon the spectacular sandstone cliffs which overlook the Pacific and wide sand beaches below. Also, the Torrey Pine is the rarest pine in North America.

· Strength Training – Visitors can take a yoga class on a stand up paddle board on the ocean or learn to surf; these activities combine traditional fitness components to strengthen muscles and sculpt the body in a serene setting.

· Flexibility – Whether engaging in seaside yoga sessions, partaking in golf fitness screening and flexibility classes or learning circus-style aerial stunts, visitors can find a multitude of activities designed to increase flexibility and overall range of motion.

· Mental Stimulation – An abundance of mental restoration offerings, including year-round colorful exotic gardens perfect for meditation and therapeutic spa treatments made from local organic and natural healing ingredients, provide visitors with a variety of options for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-reflection.

· Nutritional – Containing the most organic farms of all the counties in the nation, San Diego’s surplus of fresh produce make it a natural choice for farm-to-table dining. Visitors can also learn about nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle from The Grand Del Mar’s Holistic Lifestyle Coach while enjoying a nutritious meal at the award-winning property.

For more detailed information on health and wellness offerings in the San Diego North region, please visit the www.SanDiegoNorth.com press room. Special well-being packages and deals can also be found at www.SanDiegoNorth.com/Wellness Contact: Amber Connor, Public Relations Coordinator

San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau

360 North Escondido Blvd.

Escondido, CA 92025

Tel: 760-745-4748

Fax: 760-745-4796

aconnor@sandiegonorth.com

www.SanDiegoNorth.com

www.twitter.com/VisitSDNorth

Fan Us:

www.facebook.com/SanDiegoNorth

Great Winter and New Year Deals at The Birches Resort on Moosewood Lake

2009-12-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

Special Packages for the New Year, Accomodations from Roomy Homes to Remote Wilderness Yurts

(ROCKWOOD, MAINE, December 15, 2009).The winter season opens at The Birches Resort in Rockwood, Maine with two great deals: New Year's Weekend Package (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) includes lodging, New Year's Eve buffet, live music by "Final Approach" on Thursday and Friday nights, and breakfasts in the lodge, plus access to all winter snow sports. Price for two adults starts at just $379 for a lodge room, or $549 for a 1-bedroom cabin. Tax, gratuity, equipment rentals, alcoholic beverages not included.

Snowmobile Club Package for groups of 12 or more starts at just $80 per person per night on weekdays, and $84 per person per night on weekends. Deal includes lodging, breakfast and dinner. Tax, alcoholic beverages, gratuities or equipment rentals not included. Certain restrictions apply.

For more information about these deals or the resort, please visit: www.birches.com or call 800-825-WILD.

About The Birches Resort:

Located on Moosehead Lake in Rockwood, Maine, on a privately owned, 11,000 acre nature preserve. In the heart of Maine’s Great North Woods, the last remaining wilderness in New England. Built in the 1930's as a hunting lodge, today the resort offers guests a variety of outdoor activities and comfortable, homey accommodations. The Birches Resort restaurant is one of the finest in Northern Maine and the lodge is a perfect place to relax after a day on the trails. Cross country skiing, sledding and snowshoeing, white water rafting, fishing, canoeing and kayaking are available within the resort's parameters - you don't need your car once you're there. http://www.birches.com/.

CONTACT:
Gero Communications
mgero@gerocom.com
617-277-1675

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Only All-Suite Property in the Adirondacks: Whiteface Lodge Introduces Two Winter Savings Packages

2009-12-14T22:55:00.000-08:00

"Suite Resort Credits" and "Ski Free" Packages Offer Seasonal Savings
LAKE PLACID, NY (December 14, 2009) - The Whiteface Lodge Resort & Spa in Lake Placid, NY introduced two new winter savings packages designed to inspire families, groups of friends and others to enjoy fun-filled activities at the Resort and in the beautiful surrounding Adirondacks.

Suite Winter Package / Available Now - April 1, 2010

The "Suite Winter Package" features varying levels of Resort credits, aimed to motivate guests to enjoy the property's myriad activities, amenities and food / beverage experiences. It's also an opportunity for the Resort to showcase its spacious and elegantly appointed Adirondack-themed one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. The Whiteface Lodge is the only all-suite property in the Adirondacks.

The package is effective immediately and available Sunday - Thursday until April 1, 2010, (excluding holidays). For guests who book a one bedroom suite, the package provides a $50 Resort credit for a one-night stay; a $150 credit for a two-night stay and a $300 credit for a three-night stay. Additionally, guests who book the package will receive a sumptuous and free American breakfast each morning in Kanu, the property's signature dining area. Guests may use the Resort credits towards dining in Kanu or the adjacent Kanu Lounge or they may apply the credits and enjoy a soothing spa treatment in the Resort's on-site 5,800-square-foot spa. The price for a one-bedroom suite is $395/night, excluding taxes and other fees. (The package does not apply to existing reservations. Resort credits cannot be applied toward the final bill). The Suite Winter Package is also available for the Resort's luxuriously appointed, Adirondack-themed, two- and three-bedroom suites.

"Ski Free" Package

Beginning January 2, 2010 through March 31, 2010, The Whiteface Lodge is offering a savvy "Ski Free" package for Whiteface Mountain, site of the 1980 Olympic Men's Alpine competition. The package requires a minimum two-night stay in a luxury one-, two- or three-bedroom suite. Guest who book a one-bedroom suite, priced at $446/night, receive two gratis lift tickets daily; a stay in a two-bedroom suite ($758/night) provides two complimentary lift tickets daily; and a booking for a three-bedroom suite (priced at $920/night) provides 4 complimentary lift tickets. Guests who participate in this package will receive a gratis full American breakfast in Kanu each morning. (Nightly room rates do not include Resort fees or taxes).

About The Whiteface Lodge

Located in the woodland setting of the High Peaks region of Lake Placid, New York, The Whiteface Lodge is the only all-suite Resort in the Adirondacks, offering 94 guest accommodations. The Resort also offers a value-added experience unparalleled in the region, providing guests with access to a wide range of gratis amenities, services and activities, including a sumptuous breakfast each morning in Kanu, the Resort's signature dining area; a creative kids program for ages three to ten called Kamp Kanu; onsite heated swimming pools; fishing in a stocked catch and release pond, with all equipment provided; basketball, tennis and paddle tennis courts; sophisticated fitness center; three-season ice skating rink; family game room with a two-lane bowling alley; nightly s'mores campfire; and a 54-seat movie theater. Additionally, during the summer, guests of the Resort receive complimentary access to the private lakefront "Canoe Club," where kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats are all gratis.

Inspired by the historic Adirondack "Great Camps," signature features of The Whiteface Lodge also include plush Adirondack-styled furnishings, fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, private balconies, granite baths, and complimentary high-speed Internet. A 5,800-square-foot Spa, with treatments and services embracing local elements and ingredients, is a favorite spot for Resort guests.

The Whiteface Lodge features four dining areas -- The Kanu Lounge for casual fare and Kanu, where guests may enjoy a formal or casual culinary experience, such as tapas and cocktails, or a three-course, wine-pairing lunch or dinner. Featuring old-fashioned decor blended with a wide range of modern ice cream dishes, the Resort's onsite Ice Cream Parlor was developed to provide tasty treats to guests of all ages. Additionally, select grilled culinary fare, complimented by refreshing beverages, are featured at the Resort's private Canoe Club, located on Lake Placid. (The Canoe Club is open only during the summer). Recently, the Resort expanded its culinary services, enabling guests lounging by the pool, in lean-tos or on the outdoor patios and terrace to enjoy tapas, meals and beverages of their choice. The Resort also provides 24-hour In Room Dining.

Awards & Accolades

The Whiteface Lodge is an AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning property. In July 2009, The Whiteface Lodge was named a top resort on Travel + Leisure's 2009 "World's Best Awards" list. The Resort was ranked number 22 among the "Top 50 Resorts in the US and Canada," achieving the highest accolade of any hotel or resort in the Adirondack region. In 2008, the Resort ranked third on the 'Best Hotel Spa' list per Condé Nast Traveler's list of the "Best Spas in North America and the Caribbean." and it placed 41 on Conde Nast's 2008 list of 'The Top 50 Ski Hotels in North America." Additionally, The Whiteface Lodge has been named "one the top places to stay" according to National Geographic Traveler's 2009 "Stay List"; one of 2007/2008 World's Top Hotels, Resorts, and Spas per Zagat's; and was listed in third place on TripAdvisor.com's 2009 list of "Top 10: Spa Destinations." The property has also appeared on Condé Nast Traveler's "Hot List" and The Robb Report's "Best of the Best" list since its 2005 opening. With a renowned culinary program, The Whiteface Lodge was selected to participate in the prestigious 2009 James Beard Society "Taste of New York" culinary event in New York City. The Resort's Executive Chef and Sommelier achieved the coveted honor of creating and presenting the entree and wine pairing to over 50 distinguished culinary experts and journalists.

The Whiteface Lodge is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. For information, please call 1-800-903-4045 or visit www.TheWhitefaceLodge.com.

CONTACT:

Renee Martin (x21) / Danielle Terzian (x14)

Carolyn Izzo Integrated Communications

845-358-3920 x21

rmartin@ciicnews.com

Small retailers expect welcome sales jolt from Free Shipping Day on December 17, 2009

2009-12-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

More than 600 merchants big and small have signed up to participate in Free Shipping Day, which is set for December 17.

Ft. Collins, Col. – When the inaugural Free Shipping Day was held in December 2008, retailers embraced the event because it extended the online holiday shopping season and created substantial exposure that the merchants otherwise would not have seen. This is especially true for small retailers, many of which set single-day sales records and web site traffic. Because of this, it is no surprise that most retailers that participated last year have signed up for this year’s Free Shipping Day, which is set for Thursday, December 17. Last year, 250 merchants participated. The number for this year’s Free Shipping Day is over 600.

“We received an enormous amount of online, print and broadcast media coverage, and that created awareness for Free Shipping Day and the retailers that participated,” Knowles said. “Smaller merchants especially benefited because it was free exposure that introduced them to consumers who could become repeat customers.”

Free Shipping Day is a one day shopping event when participating merchants offer free shipping to their customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. The event has attracted the major retailers that have deep marketing budgets. For smaller merchants, Free Shipping Day has emerged as profitable in many ways.

Julie Swatek, who is founder and president of Scrap Your Trip, was hesitant to try free shipping until she learned about last year’s Free Shipping Day. She decided to participate, giving customers free shipping. The result was a 92 percent increase in sales over the previous day.

“We were so stunned with the response that we had to work overtime to fill the orders,” said Swatek, whose company sells travel and scene-specific scrapbooking materials. “This year, we know what to expect, so we are working hard to make sure we are completely caught up so on December 17 can just focus on orders generated from Free Shipping Day.”

Swatek was so impressed with the response created by Free Shipping Day that she decided to implement free shipping for customers at the beginning of 2009. As a result, Scrap Your Trip’s average order has increased 23 percent over last year.

Kari Kraichely of Charm Boutique, which sells handmade jewelry and gifts, said her site set a single-day record for traffic because of its participation in last year’s Free Shipping Day. In preparation for December 17, Kraichely has increased her staff to fill the anticipated orders.

“We don’t have the marketing budget of a big retailer, so Free Shipping Day represents a great opportunity to increase our customer base,” Kraichely said. “We already offered free shipping before we participated in last year’s Free Shipping Day, but since the event gave us exposure to people who didn’t know about us, we had a lot of repeat sales throughout the year.”

Knowles expected a favorable response from retailers and consumers last year, but he didn’t anticipate the overwhelming interest that the event actually received. The FreeShippingDay.com web site saw 250,000 hits in a 10-day period, including 100,000 on the actual day itself.

If you'd like to arrange an interview with Free Shipping day founder Luke Knowles, please contact Jeff Louderback at: 407-474-6149.

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Free Shipping Day is a one day online shopping event on Dec. 17, when participating merchants offer free shipping to their customers with guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Participating merchants include Toys R Us, JCPenney, Apple Store, Nike, Sears, Babies R Us, Eddie Bauer, PacSun, Ralph Lauren and Adidas. For more information, visit www.freeshippingday.com.

Econo Lodge Sweepstakes for Music Fans

2009-08-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

A new sweepstakes gives travelers something to sing about.

Through Aug. 27, 2009, enter the "Econo Lodge Travelin' Tunes Sweepstakes" for a chance to win a trip to one of two top attractions: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum or the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. This grand prize includes all the essentials for an epic vacation:

-- Round-trip airfare for two

-- Three nights' hotel accommodations at an Econo Lodge hotel in Cleveland or Nashville

-- $1,000 spending money

-- A VIP tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

More gifts are part of the "Econo Lodge Travelin' Tunes" mix: One runner-up will receive an MP3 player with car charger and travel adapter plus a $100 music gift card. Twenty-five entrants - five per week - will win a $25 music gift card. Plus, the first 100 people to enter will receive a car wash kit, so your ride is always ready to hit the road.

To enter the "Econo Lodge Travelin' Tunes Sweepstakes," visit http://www.econolodge.com. Then, select your favorite road trip song, and sign up for the award-winning Choice Privileges rewards program. Your name will be entered automatically in the sweeps. Joining Choice Privileges is free. Members of this award-winning program start earning points immediately towards free nights, airline miles, dining and entertainment rewards and more.

This high-value sweepstakes shines a light on Econo Lodge's great value. Whether your "Travelin' Tunes" taste runs "Life Is A Highway" or "Take Me Home Country Roads," the brand welcomes with inviting rooms, affordable rates and cost-saving amenities, including free continental breakfast and Wi-FI. Located in top destinations across North America, the hotels are a great fit for road trips, and no car trip is complete without your favorite sounds.

Econo Lodge's sweepstakes is in tune with the times. Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of leisure travelers took their cars on road trips last year*. This summer, new airline fees for food, baggage and even pets plus relatively low gas prices - about a dollar per gallon less than last summer - have people hitting the road again for affordable vacations that are closer to home.

For more information on the "Econo Lodge Travelin' Tunes Sweepstakes," visit http://www.econolodge.com, and look for updates soon on what travelers are choosing as their top tunes.

Slice of Heaven on Blue Mountain Lake

2009-06-17T10:11:00.001-07:00

BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE, NY) Henry David Thoreau wrote, "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." From the sandy beaches, breathtaking blue skies and fully-equipped cottages at Prospect Point Cottages on Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondacks, you'd think the owners and managers here took Thoreau literally. All cottages have heat; some are even equipped with fireplaces. Your lodging includes cozy bedding, plenty of traditional Adirondack throws and blankets tucked inside cedar chests, roomy closets and storage space, immaculate bathrooms, full kitchens, cathedral ceilings and delightful screened-in porches on the pristine Blue Mountain Lake. While relaxing on their private porches, guests take in some of the most breathtaking views the Adirondack area has to offer.

Life vests, canoes and row boats are provided to guests free of charge. Launching occurs from a private beach and quaint playground that are steps from your cottage. Add a warm, family atmosphere of friendly guests (your cottage neighbors that often make friendships and book together for the same dates annually) and a staff that's superbly attuned to anticipating your needs and whipping up a divinely-inspired Adirondack included in the modest rental fee (during October-June 20 only), and you really won’t want to ever leave. Warning: If you don’t want to pack on the pounds from these rich meals, you MUST hit the many on-site and nearby trails right after you dine.

After a day of hiking, biking, touring or paddling, retreat to the centrally-located Main Lodge that’s open 24 hours a day. Here you’ll find a blazing fire, beverages, snacks, WiFi, a sinfully comfortable couch, plenty of cozy chairs, a modest library (where famous guests like author Jonathon Scott Fuqua's novels can be found, among others), games and toys, a lending DVD library and a screen projector for evening movies.

A quick trip down the road leads guests to the famed Adirondack Museum (see the front desk at Prospect Point for discount admission coupons) and the nearby Indian Lake Community Screen and Theatre where $5 movies are available throughout the summer.

If you want a retreat that speaks to your heart and soul, call to book your cottage today, as demand is sometimes higher than space allows. Reasonably priced and nationally-reviewed, this is one slice of Heaven you can't afford to miss. Prospect Point is open year-round. Phone: 518-352-7378 or e-mail: info@prospectpt.com or log-on to www.prospectpt.com

Exclusive Travel to Paris is Possible

2009-04-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, please contact Claudia Schou at (562) 983-8139

PARISPERFECT.COM OFFERS THE ULTIMATE ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE FOR EPICUREANS, AND FOR GIRLS WHO JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Best-Loved Paris Apartment Rental Company Offers Budget-Conscious Travelers a Taste of Luxury

PARIS, FRANCE—Paris Perfect is offering a pair of exclusive travel packages designed especially for gourmands and girlfriends looking to get away this Summer. Food lovers will enjoy a variety of delectable delights with the Gourmet Getaway and gal pals can pamper themselves with the Girlfriends’ Getaway. Both packages can be booked online at Paris Perfect.com.

Paris Perfect’s Gourmet Getaway features a semi-private cooking lesson with renowned Chef Christian Constant along with ultra-chic and sophisticated accommodations, breathtaking city views and an exquisite culinary package. Gourmet Getaway is the ideal luxury vacation for budget-minded travelers offering more than $550 in savings! Starting at $1,785 USD per couple for a one-week stay—including tax and gratuity included, Gourmet Getaway is available once a month throughout the year. The package includes:

· A welcome basket with a bottle of French wine and award-winning chocolate macarons upon arrival at the Paris Perfect apartment

· A three-course lunch accompanied by a glass of wine at the popular Café’ Constant, recipient of a ‘Bib Gourmand’ from Michelin.

· A gourmet cooking lesson in the famous Michelin starred kitchens of Chef Christian Constant for only $145 per person, a 50% discount off the regular price of $290 each!

· Two complementary tickets for a Seine Cruise

· Discounts on the popular Segway Tours of Paris, Classic Walking Tours and Fattire bike tours!

Paris Perfect’s Girlfriends' Getaway, is the perfect opportunity for girlfriends to reconnect and spend a weekend indulging in arts, culture and world-class shopping. Perfect for any bridal shower or girls’ weekend, Girlfriends’ Getaway package offers accommodations for four to five guests in a spacious two-bedroom apartment starting at $1,575 USD for a five night stay—including tax and gratuity.* This package includes:

· A welcome basket with French wine and a box of award-winning French macarons by renowned Chocolatier Gregory Renard upon arrival at the Paris Perfect apartment

· Complementary hair consultation and a 20% discount on styling, cuts and coloring at the tony Thierry Elia Salon on the Left Bank.

· Two complementary tickets for a Seine Cruise

· Discounts on the popular Segway Tours of Paris, Classic Walking Tours of Paris and Bike tours of Paris and Versailles!

*Includes tax and gratuity. Based upon availability, 14 days advance booking required. Package must be prepaid in advance. Items in package are non-transferable or refundable. Offer based on availability and available throughout the year.

Located in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city, ParisPerfect.com offers sophisticated and stylish, yet moderately-priced apartment rentals that afford its guests an authentic taste of Parisian living. For more information about Paris Perfect visit ParisPerfect.com.

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ABOUT PARIS PERFECT

Paris Perfect is an affordably priced luxury-apartment rental business in Paris that founded in 1998 by husband/wife team Philippe and Madelyn Willems, Paris Perfect offers vacationers a rare glimpse of authentic Parisian Lifestyle in once-in-a-lifetime apartments that are located in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. With its well appointed apartment rentals, Paris Perfect affords its guests the unique opportunity to experience Parisian lifestyle firsthand. Paris Perfect offers a range of accommodations, many with once-in-a-lifetime Eiffel views, and the added benefit of Air Conditioning. Find charming studios to decorator-designed apartments for the entire family. The apartment rental has gained popularity among travelers who want to experience Paris from a local perspective. Travel writers and editors have heaped on the accolades. In a recent feature article, Business Week Magazine wrote: “If you want a beautiful apartment with a view of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Perfect is the agency for you…elegant, well-equipped and centrally located apartments.” For more information, please visit www.ParisPerfect.com .

Keep Piracy at Sea

2009-04-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

K. Matthew Dames, Editor of Copycense is making national headlines in the current debate over the use of the word "piracy." Dames entered the fray two years back when he launched a discussion of "pirates" and "piracy" in his trend-making treatise on piracy. See: http:www.copycense.com).

According to the April 23, 2009 New York Times "Freakonomics" blog, Mr. Dames is quoted as saying: "Confusing piracy at sea with “piracy” on the internet, according to Copycense, is misleading "public relations blather."

Now of course, you realize that I only post such a disparaging comment about the field of public relations (yes, I know there are some many hacks out there, but I've never joined that suspect group of flaks/flacks, hacks, twisters and spinners, etc.) because er, well, Mr. Dames is (ahem) my client.

For a more in-depth, scholarly treatment of the matter, check out his paper, titled, "The Framing of Piracy: Etymology, Lobbying & Policy" at:
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1392914

Now if only someone would take up the battle to stop the misuse of "it's" and "its." The violators (many national advertising agencies, businesses, friends and neighbors) unfortunately, do not seem concerned with their evil-doing.

However, this author remains wistful that the egregious misuse of the two words will come to a halt in her lifetime. And as for the misuse of "piracy" in connection with intellectual property, good luck with that.

But nonetheless, I shall keep a hopeful watch out for Mr. Dames and his definitive quest to keep piracy at sea. Ahoy.

Managing Through Recession Sharpens Business

2009-04-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Entrepreneurs Say Managing Through Recession Makes Them Sharper Business Owners, According to the American Express® OPEN Small Business Monitor

Small business owners’ sentiment over the economy may have hit bottom and started to rebound, particularly among retailers.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than three quarters of entrepreneurs believe managing through the recession has made them better business owners, according to the American Express OPEN® Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners. Four in ten business owners have an optimistic outlook on near-term business prospects, on par with one year ago when the macroeconomic climate was significantly different. Nearly four in ten entrepreneurs feel the current economic environment creates opportunities for their business.

While optimism has stabilized, business owners are still managing their firms with caution. Capital investment plans are at their lowest level in the eight-year history of the Monitor, hiring plans are down significantly and many entrepreneurs are adjusting their own retirement plans. Forty-two percent of business owners plan to make investments as a way to grow their business over the next six months, down from 53% last spring. Just over one-quarter of entrepreneurs have plans to hire this spring (28%), which is among the lowest Monitor readings in its history.

"There is no doubt the struggling U.S. economy has tested business owners’ resilience, but the entrepreneurial spirit remains strong and innovative” said Susan Sobbott, president American Express OPEN. "It is a positive sign that optimism – often a leading indicator for business growth– is at levels comparable to last year, suggesting a rebound in business owners’ perspectives and their renewed focus on finding the opportunities even in our battered economy.”

More than one-third of small business owners say that the current economic environment is creating opportunities for their businesses, according to the American OPEN Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners. Four-in-ten business owners have an optimistic outlook on near-term business prospects which is on part with spring 2008 when the macroeconomic climate was dramatically different.

Although small business owners may be feeling more confident about the economy, they are wary about expanding. According to the Monitor, capital investment plans are at their lowest level in the 8th year history of the survey, hiring plans are down significantly and many entrepreneurs are putting off retirement.

When times get tough, the tough get creative. Small business owners are finding new resources to tap and alternate ways to manage costs, including: instituting hiring freezes (48%); bartering for new products or services (45%); refusing to take a salary (30%); having a family member work pro bono (27%); renegotiating leases and supply contracts (25%); working a second job (18%) and cutting benefits (16%).

Survey Methodology

American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor, released each spring and fall, is based on a nationally representative sample of 727 small business owners/managers of companies with fewer than 100 employees. The anonymous survey was conducted via telephone by Echo Research from February 24- March 9, 2009. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.6%.

American Express Company www.americanexpress.com is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

Please contact Alex Della Rocca at 212-539-3203 or alexd@mbooth.com to receive copies of the data breakouts, to speak to an American Express OPEN spokesperson who can weigh in on the survey topics, to hear from entrepreneurs that can offer firsthand comment or with any questions. Breakouts are available by key business sectors (retail, manufacturing and business services), gender and geography.

The Tweet to Beat: Paying $3 Per Twitter Follower...

2009-03-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Help a worthy cause by following Tim Ferriss on Twitter!

Seeking to definitively be the TWEETER of the moment, best-selling author Tim Ferriss, guru of the 4-Hour Work Week has issued a challenge that promises to bring much needed income to U.S. public school classrooms.

Ferriss vows to donate $1 to new followers on Twitter! This dollar will be matched by $2 dollars from the organization: DonorsChoose.org.

To find out more, link here: http://bit.ly/RLVkH
or here: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com

Happy following, everybody. Thanks, Tim, this is a great idea and a worthy
cause. We'll keep our readers posted.

Wake Forest Annual "Elevator Contest" March 27-28

2009-03-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

A virtual reality platform that provides 3D data management, artificial intelligence and more via gesturing based navigation…a retinal prosthetic that aims to restore vision to those blinded by macular degeneration…a smart alarm cell phone application that wakes the user at the optimal point in their sleep cycle…These and other amazing entrepreneurial ideas from Yale, Kellogg School of Management, Wake Forest University and many other top universities in the U.S., will be in the spotlight Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28, in North Carolina, when Wake Forest University hosts its annual and highly-regarded “Elevator Competition." In it, student teams will have two minutes to pitch their novel ideas to angel investors, for cash prizes and more.

Members of the media are invited to ride along in available elevators in the Wachovia Center in downtown Winston-Salem, to listen to the rapid-fire pitches of competing teams. Media members are also welcome to a public event featuring Bob Young, co-founder of Red Hat, Inc., as he discusses “Thoughts From a Serial Entrepreneur,” at 5 p.m. Friday evening at WFU’s Worrell Professional Center, Room 1312.

To reserve a place on the elevator, by calling Sylvia Green at 336-758-3559 or e-mailing Pam Cook-Longworth at pam@annesepr.com.

Slow Money Movement May Have Answers

2009-03-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

This just in from the desk of Courtney Given of the Fresh Ideas Group (okay, I admit it, her name did influence my desire to publish her news release), but I'm also very big into definitive ways to truly get this economy working...so let's take a look at this question of the moment:

Can the Slow Money movement fix a fast-failing economy?

Hot off the presses this January, author Tasch wants farms and fertility to matter

A vision for sustainable investment may just be the answer to bringing money down to earth. Author and venture capitalist WoodyTasch raises the provocative question: can new capital markets be built around preservation and restoration, rather than extraction and consumption?

Tasch, a seasoned venture capitalist, foundation treasurer, and entrepreneur, presents a fresh vision for the twenty-first century in his book “Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money. Investing as if food, farms and fertility mattered”, (published Jan. 09, 2009 by Chelsea Green Publishing Company).

Mapping out a path to bring money back down to earth, Tasch has issued a call to action for fiduciary responsibility and sustainability at one of the most critical junctures in economic history. It is a path towards a financial system that serves people and places as much at it serves industry sectors and markets. Unlike books proposing micro- and macro-economic fixes to the financial crises of the day, Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money brings a different vision—a meta-economic vision, that looks above the top line and below the bottom line and offers a new way of seeing what is going on in the soil of the economy.

"Once in a while, a book comes along that has the potential to change things,” said Steve Costa, owner of Point Reyes Books. “This is one such book. It has the potential to unleash a major movement in this country.”

As illuminating as he is thought provoking, Tasch poses serious questions such as:

* Could there ever be an alternative stock exchange dedicated to slow, small, and local?

* Could a million American families get their food from CSAs?

* What if you had to invest 50 percent of your assets within 50 miles of where you live?

Editors Note: A tour schedule can be found at www.chelseagreen.com. To request an interview with Woody Tasch, contact Sylvia R. Tawse at the Fresh Ideas Group, Tel: (303) 449 2108 x 11.

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About Woody Tasch

Woody Tasch is chairman of Investors’ Circle, a nonprofit network of investors that has facilitated the flow of $130 million to 200 sustainability minded, early stage companies and venture funds. He is Chairman and President of Slow Money. An experienced venture-capital investor and entrepreneur, he has served on numerous for-profit and non-profit boards, and was founding chairman of the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, which supports venture investing in economically disadvantaged regions. He lives in northern New Mexico.

About Chelsea Green Publishing Company

For 25 years, Chelsea Green has been the publishing leader for books on the politics and practice of sustainable living. It is a founding member of the Green Press Initiative and has been printing books on recycled paper since 1985, when its first list of books appeared.

Definitively beautiful: Maira Kalman, NYT art blogger

2009-03-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

In case you missed this on January 29 in the NYT Times:
http://kalman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/the-inauguration-at-last/

Just one word: Stunning.

Definitively Fingerlakes on Good Morning America

2009-03-18T14:19:00.001-07:00

Go here to see the corresponding vid: http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6095530

Weekend Window: The Finger Lakes
Waterfalls and Fall Foliage of Ithaca, N.Y.
By MICHAEL MILBERGER
Oct. 26, 2008 —

Since the 1970s, Ithaca, N.Y., has been known for its clever slogan, "Ithaca is Gorges."
"These gorges are really characteristic of the region," said Andrew Zepp, executive director of The Finger Lakes Trust. "In fact, there are over 150 waterfalls within 10 miles of Ithaca."
Ithaca is part of the Finger Lakes region, an area approximately the size of Vermont located in central New York State.
"They are called Finger Lakes because the last time the glaciers receded from this area they gouged out these long, linear [lakes], the longest of which is 40 miles long. There are 11 lakes that are extended like the fingers on one's hands," Zepp said.
In addition to the lakes' natural beauty, they allow for an added bonus -- wineries. The lakes are blessed with a moderate climate, allowing for a longer growing season and making the region home to more than 100 wineries.
"It reminds you of Tuscany. It's a beautiful landscape, and it's a great, lush area," said Michelle Courtney Berry, poet laureate emeritus of Tompkins County. "The wineries are diverse. There's a variety of grapes you find this time of year, and this is really the heart of the season in the fall."
For many residents of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region, autumn is the most beautiful and inspiring time of year.
"From burnished gold to rusted red and all the colors of the foliage, you certainly get a sense of hopefulness about what you can do," said Berry. "I feel inspired, and many people who live here feel creative based on the colors."
Ithaca is also a college town, home to Ithaca College and Cornell University, which gives this rural area a rich cultural tradition and a diversity of experiences found in few places.
"What I appreciate is that on a given day, I can start out with a hike through these wonderful gorges, spend time sailing on a beautiful lake, visit a winery in the afternoon, and through one of the institutions of higher learning, hear a world leader speak at night, " said Zepp.
Copyright © 2009 ABC News Internet Ventures

Definitive Bloggers on Berry, Horticulture

2009-03-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, cool beans. Thanks fellow bloggers!

Note to readers: I'll post the poem when it's available on line at Horticulture.

http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/Horticulture+Accepting+Gardening+Poems.aspx

http://themarkonthewall.blogspot.com/2009/01/submit-horticulture.html

http://newpagesblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/horticulture-seeks-poetry.html

http://community.livejournal.com/youmustsubmit

http://www.californiaauthors.com/2009/01/30/perfect-mix-poets-and-gardens/

http://www.dragonsmeow.blogspot.com/

Berry definitively first poet in Horticulture

2009-03-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

From Horticulture's Press Release:

Horticulture Adds Poetry to Editorial Features
Source: forum.hortmag.com

Horticulture, the oldest and most respected magazine for avid gardeners in North America, is pleased to announce the addition of poetry to its editorial features. Cave Canem fellow (and fellow gardener) Michelle Courtney Berry's "What I Learned in the Garden" has been chosen as the debut poem, to appear in the April 2009 issue and online at Hortmag.com.

For over 100 years, Horticulture has been dedicated to celebrating the passion of avid, influential gardeners, and there is an even longer history of poetry inspired by flowers and gardens -- from William Blake to Louise Glück, and so many great poets between them. Adding garden verse to our editorial mix is simply another way to celebrate and encourage a real passion for gardening.

Horticulture is accepting submissions on a rolling basis, and is seeking poetry about, related to, or in honor of gardeners and gardening: traditional forms and free verse, the meditative lyric and the "light" or comic poem, the work of the famous and the work of the unknown. Our one limitation is length; we are unable to publish very long poems, and our limit is 42 lines. Submissions should be sent as an email attachment (.DOC or .RTF only) per the guidelines posted at http://www.hortmag.com/submissions/ informative ...

The definitive reporters WCHU and Obama Delegate Berry in Washington

2009-03-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

Geoff Dunn and Michelle Berry at the Inauguration (see excerpt of Lansing Star's coverage) and WHCU's blog:
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=46687578861&h=IDmkJ&u=z8dwC&ref=mf

http://www.lansingstar.com/content/view/4474/294/

When I first pasted this story to my Facebook, here's two lovely responses:

John P. Sullivan at 11:53am January 21
Two of my favorite Ithacans!

Terry Burns at 9:43am January 22
Great interview!

Excerpt from the Lansing Star is below

LS: Geoff, yours was just getting places and finding people. What I'm keying off of is when you ended your interview with Michelle Berry she said, 'Thanks for finding me.' How the heck did you find her?!

GD: Well, we had already made contact, obviously, before leaving Ithaca and making sure that we were going to meet up at a certain spot. Our original plan was to meet in Congressman Hinchey's office. She was the Obama delegate representing the 22nd district, Hinchey's district.I had my interview set up with (Congressman) Michael Arcuri, and then I was going to meet her at Hinchey's office to do the interview. That all changed when I got up to the Cannon Office Building to see Michael Arcuri and realized that the line was all around the building. Each office building -- Longworth, Cannon, and Rayburn, all had long lines of people who were standing in line to see their congressman or congresswoman to get their passes, because they weren't sending their tickets out by mail.

At that point I called her and said, 'We're going to have to bag it because you're going to have to stand in line for an hour to get in there.LS: You had already stood in line for an hour?GD: After I stupidly stood in line myself for an hour to get in, and then realized I could have just gone up to the guard and said, 'I've got an interview, I'm not here to get tickets.' And they would have let me in. But I didn't know that at the time,because when I called the office the staffers told me we had to stand in line, too.We just made contact by phone and we actually ended up doing the interview outside Federal Center Southwest Metro Station. They had a few eateries -- there's a Starbucks and a couple of outer spots there. There were some open tables and chairs outside, so we ended up doing the interview there.

LS: You couldn't have done that at the Kennedy inauguration becaue they didn't have cell phones then.

DV: Absolutely! Cell phones made a world of difference. At the very same location where Geoff intervied Michelle Berry on Monday, there we were Tuesday afternoon. The trains had been shut down temporarily, because of the overload of people. They wouldn't let people on the platform because one woman had fallen down on the tracks earlier in the day. So they were being extra cautious.But that created a mass sea of people trying to go home. They couldn't go home because there were no busses, the roads were closed, and the subways were temporarily closed. So at that very same intersection we discovered we were stuck in the cold of Washington, D.C. The wind was blowing even more then.

Berry reflects on definitive history, Inauguration 2009

2009-03-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

On January 20, 2009, my spouse Robert Lofthouse and I woke at dawn so we could walk from our rented apartment below Adams Morgan and near Dupont Circle all the way down to the Capitol. Because we intuitively sensed that we might get trapped on the Metro or in the tunnels (as we learned later that many thousands did!) we walked for miles, holding hands and waving to the gallant and quite happy (for dawn!) passersby on the dimly-lit Washington streets. Several times, women in my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., either nodded, hugged and waved at me as we made our way through the throngs of walkers. Almost everyone you passed was either smiling, waving or chatting about this historic day. It was amazing to be out among strangers that instantly felt like friends.

I was glad we were walking, as it gave me a chance to clear my head before we stood for long hours in line that we just knew were ahead. As we'd walked, I clutched my Blue Ticket feeling a bit like Charlie Bucket (yea, I know he had THE ticket and I had one of hundreds, but just humor me...) and thought deeply about all that had shaped this American, and that what was black and African and immigrant has shaped and built this country. As we strode along, I thought about all that had shaped and built America--particularly blacks, Africans, immigrants and the poor.

By the time we were close to the "line-up" for blue ticket holders (and we noted with sadness some two thousand people behind us, who would clearly NOT get in), I began to think deeply about all that was possible, even through the numbing cold below the steps of the Capitol, with throngs of thousands a around. Suffice it to say, I began believe in a new dream.

The world had changed around me. As a writer and speaker, I found myself without oddly at a loss for words or an ability to move beyond the crush of people against me. They were all on all sides and it gave the day a profound intimacy. I fretted over my husband, who was now chattering with cold.

Here in Washington, against the harsh wind and the biting cold, there was a fire in the belly, as if that was the warmth to draw upon, that was the warmth to fuel oneself with, as we stood gazing in the face of history.

While standing and shivering, I flashed back to my work on the Obama Campaign early last year, my successful run as delegate in the 22nd Congressional district of New York, the electrifying, history-altering primary season to my time in August as one of the thirty or more Vice-Chairs (still not sure what my duties were but it looks good, right?) of the New York State Delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Partly to keep us warm and also to share my joy, I hugged my spouse Robert, with robust enthusiasm.

Now staring at our national leaders (on the big Jumbo tron screens in our reserved ticketed "standing" area (note, I did not say seated) , I felt a flood of memories wash through me. I remembered the flush of joy when traveling to battleground states for the grassroots Obama campaign effort. I remember witnessing with pride the 1,000 area residents pouring themselves into our Historic State Theatre in Ithaca on a cold and blustery night prior to the February Democratic primary. I held tightly to the pride to the memory of when our very own Tompkins County Obama effort (led so nobly by Brian Hunt) took the one and only County-win for Obama in New York State.

Then I took many long moments to ponder deeply our country's past and its role in shaping and naming. I thought about what we have claimed and what we have hidden. I thought about Barack Obama being called our "first black president."

To borrow a line from my former teacher at Cave Canem and Inaugural Poet Elizabeth Alexander, I want to say it plainly:

That there were at least five other U.S. presidents with black ancestors (http://www.diversityinc.com/public/1461.cfm)—they just didn’t necessarily embrace their African heritage, for they lived during a time when blacks were either viewed as chattel, slaves and/or sub-human.

I also want to say plainly that I agree with Elizabeth Alexander. That typically, as Americans, we are as she described in her poem that day: noise and bramble, thorn and din, each of our ancestors on our tongue.”

But something about the Inaugural Day, made us still, contemplative and hushed. But I felt the ancestors speaking, I felt them rushing on the wind, as if they, too, were heralding this new day.

I felt a quiet music swell inside myself. I thought with gratitude of my in-laws staying home with our daughter Nina so that Robert and I could brave the cold and the lines without worry over our four year-old. I thought of our dear friends Ellen Grady and Peter DeMott who would take Nina the next day when we'd be on the road back home. I thought with deep gratitude of Ithaca, the place I love, with its complex history and peoples.

Everywhere I looked—down the Mall, along the streets, under branches slung with cold and beneath the mammoth Jumbo-trons, all I could see were people and faces and bodies and outstretched hands and booming hearts. That thousands with tickets weren’t admitted and that tensions could have risen over, but did not, was testament to the people of this country who respect and long for peace.

I knew Ithaca’s current Mayor and former Mayor were here, that delegates and elected officials and teens and leaders and unsung heroes and artists from my community were in the throngs of witnesses to this new day. I knew somewhere in the crowds were family I couldn't find, poets that I loved, my best friend Ben Jobes and so many others from around the country and world.

All around me, I could feel a spirited anticipation and I witnessed the disbelief and joy on the tender faces of the elderly black men and women (some with canes and walkers), who had ascended that steep hill to the foot of the Capitol, so very determined to see the history that they’d been fighting for since they first began their work in our struggle.

I saw them here, in 1963 at that famous March on Washington with Dr. King, four years before my tumultuous birth. I saw the lunchrooms, dogs, hoses, whips and chains and the Four Little Girls in Birmingham. I saw, too, faces creased with pride and a mighty fortitude. I saw lines of worry across the brows of several around me, including my spouse’s. They are worried about Barack Obama’s safety, I thought to myself.

Yet I heard on the wind, the ancestors trumpeting, We Shall Overcome and I heard Bob Marley singing, everything's gonna be alright. I longed to see my father alive again. I ached to see him here, not in the Veteran’s Hospital morgue where he lay in New Jersey, some 17 years ago when I had just graduated from Cornell University, the world at my feet, my heart aching.

I saw again, the photos of my father so tall and proud in all his many uniforms—Tuskegee Football, Army, suited up on his wedding day. I remember him saying that when he grew up in Weedsport, NY, he was a stand out on almost every varsity team, yet he and his brothers Victor and Norris had to fight every day because they didn’t want to be called the n-word by their peers.

I remembered once exalting my Irish and Native American heritage over my African one in my high school history class. I recalled a teacher comparing blacks to monkeys and my mother’s successful petition drive to remove him from his teaching post. I remembered hearing the n-word uttered and shouted (not every day, thankfully), but most often on the school buses at day's end. And I remembered that this is why the Ithaca City School District's lack of appropriate and compassionate responses to the distress of Epiphany Kearney as she was attacked on its school buses, had so rocked my soul.

As I closed my eyes on that day, I saw again the faces of some upperclassmen in my high school in Narrowsburg, NY, that I had once admired, laughing as they ran through the halls dressed as members of the KKK for Halloween. Say it plainly: They probably didn’t know that members of my family had been terrorized and attacked in the South by Klansmen. They probably did not know that the sight of their mock display rendered me to my small knees.

But I wondered, on that day that Barack Obama was to be America's President, did those boys in my school remember that small brown girl, new to class, the one from the black neighborhood three miles from town, the one with the father who drove the school bus, the one who played clarinet and tried not to cry, the one who was the only other black in their class and the one who graduated first in her class?

I gripped my white husband’s hand. He squeezed it gently, instinctively understanding the power of this day for me, for all of us. As I held his hand, I remembered then the blacks and whites who married against form, against law, against custom. I thought of Alice Walker, who married the white Jewish Civil Rights activist Mel Leventhal, in 1967, the year I was born.

Say it plainly: that many have died for this day.

On the wind, I felt the call of the ancestors, J. Diann Sams, Rere Hassett, Phyllis Wheatley, Frederick Douglas, Harvey Milk, Fannie Lou Hamer, Sojourner Truth, Gwendolyn Brooks, Harriet Tubman, Martin and Coretta, Malcolm and all of our ancestors of every color and hue who toiled so that we could be here. I felt them all surrounding the newly-elected President.

My heart hummed.

I watched the Congressman who opposed the Iraq War from the start, New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey from my district (CD-22) bopping a little beside civil rights stalwart and icon Congressman John Lewis.

I witnessed the eye-dropping flood of celebrities (many that I’d gaped at in Denver) and the cheers for the likes of Cory Booker, Newark's up and coming star Mayor, Oprah, Jay-Z, Magic, Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, Beyonce, ...and I joined the cheers for the Carters and Clinton's and the Biden's.

I heard the swelling joy in the applause for the Tuskegee Airmen and a surprisingly warm greeting for the first Bush family in the White House. A black woman standing next to me turned to her husband and said “who know he’d be the good one?”

I felt the boos in my bones as the crowd reverberated their dislike most particularly for the likes of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Senator Joe Lieberman and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Then the gaffes. For instance, one I recall most distinctly was when there was leap between the introduction of the 39 and 41st president, several next to me called out, “hey, what happened to the 40th President?” Um, how to answer?

Say it plainly: Americans need to really study history more intently.

And of course there was, Aretha in her grand hat tearing up America the Beautiful, Yo Yo Ma and Itzak Pearlman and the stately grace of Michelle Obama, Malia and Sasha (whom my daughter tells me on the phone she has to meet) and of course, Barack Obama, the statesman who is helping a nation heal and forward in one of the most challenging times in world history, be it the economy, the environment and discord among nations, to just name a few.

By the time the luminous and witty Dr. John Lowery delivered the Benediction, I felt too numb to move. I was frozen, no longer from cold, but from the supreme force of destiny that brought us together, not only in this one place but in TV screens around the globe.

Suddenly, there was a jolt as the helicopter overhead took the now former President Bush away. This was president who lied and plunged our nation and our military men and women into an unbelievable quagmire of untenable losses. Instead of cheering, as many did, I was somber. I also felt a twinge of compassion for the man. What is it like to be so unpopular, to have such low approval ratings? Though well-deserved as his ratings were, I felt sorry for his limitations and the pall they cast over Americ, and by extension, the world.

I called my mother who still lives in the Catskills, where I was raised. She wasn’t entirely overcome, but she was happy. She talked about her life in South before she moved to Manhattan where I was born.

She talked about being beaten or pushed or shoved and not being able to fight back. Or having to pick cotton and work all day in fields as a child my daughter’s age until she was a teenager. She recounted ten years of hard labor AND schooling AND poverty. She shared how she was spat on and had to run home in the fields to avoid whites in cars who tried to run she and her sisters over with their cars. She railed against the indignities of separate restaurants, drinking photos and constant racial slurs.

A truth like a volcano spilled over me as I saw our new President, Barack Obama and the towering force that is Michelle Obama, rise from their seats with their two beautiful girls alongside them. I thought of Dr. King’s dream: all around us were the sons of daughters of slaves and slaveholders shoulder to shoulder. The moment, so long in coming, had arrived.

Everything I had achieved had been on the backs of ancestors at carried me and my dear friends who breathed life into me and held my hands when I despaired. My husband and I cried together as Barack Obama was named President.

My mother is 76. She ended her phone conversation with me like this:
“Well, Michelle, I have a black Mayor, a black Governor and a black President. Wow. Who would have imagined?”

Who would have imagined indeed.

Amen Momma for your struggle to bring me here when you did not at first want any children.

Amen Momma to your praise song.

Amen to your early lessons in politics that served me well in my own life in politics and the arts.

Amen to this great country.

Amen to the Obamas.

May we go forward in the light of this new day.

To view the inaugural message from President Barack Obama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4

Definitive NYT transcript of Obama's inaugural address

2009-03-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

January 20, 2009
Transcript
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
Following is the transcript of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions:
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you.
CROWD: Obama! Obama! Obama! Obama!
My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation...
(APPLAUSE)
... as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.
Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met.
(APPLAUSE)
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
(APPLAUSE)
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.
It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.
Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died in places Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
(APPLAUSE)
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.
The state of our economy calls for action: bold and swift. And we will act not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.
We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.
We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality...
(APPLAUSE)
... and lower its costs.
We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.
All this we can do. All this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long, no longer apply.
MR. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.
Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end.
And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched.
But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.
The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
(APPLAUSE)
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
Our founding fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.
Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.
And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.
(APPLAUSE)
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.
They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause; the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy, guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We'll begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard- earned peace in Afghanistan.
With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet.
We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.
And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."
(APPLAUSE)
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.
And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those...
(APPLAUSE)
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
(APPLAUSE)
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.
We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service: a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.
And yet, at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.
It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.
It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.
These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.
What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence: the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall. And why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
(APPLAUSE)
So let us mark this day in remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled.
In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river.
The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.
At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you.
(APPLAUSE)
And God bless the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)

Definitive reader comment on Berry's blog

2009-03-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

As some of you may note, I re-posted my Obama blog (from my campaign days last year and my trip to Denver) to this blog.

Below are comments from readers at that time. The first, is a good friend of mine, the "other" Michelle Berry who lives in the Binghamton area. And the next, is from Ed Kieta, who was working with the Democratics and saved my life by letting me hop on his Triumph so I could get to the Convention Center on time. Whew. Thanks, Michelle, thanks, Ed. Keep reading!

By Michelle from Johnson City, NY Aug 26th 2008 at 10:01 am EDT (Updated Aug 26th 2008 at 10:01 am EDT)
Reading your blog about trying to get to the convention floor to hear Michelle Obama sounded like one of those dreams you have where you are trying to get somewhere to take a test or have a job interview, but no matter how hard you try you can't get there! (And usually my dreams of trying to get somewhere include me being naked in public.) So while that represents a bad dream, what Michelle O did last night was take one step closer to making a dream come true for all African Americans, a Black President of the USA! That dream has also been one of seemingly never going to get there. The road has been long and hard. So of course you HAD to be in the convention center. I'm so glad you made it. I too was happy to see all the MICHELLE signs with the proper two LL spelling! I watched her speech and was blown away. She did a terrific job. I was not pleased with the talking heads afterwards who were critical. So I was happy to read about the reaction of those at the convention center. I shared their feelings watching from the comfort of my own home. IF the Obama's do not represent the American dream I don't who does. The Ying to your Yang, the other Michelle Berry
Re: So many dreams Report to Admin
Reply
By Michelle Berry Aug 26th 2008 at 2:11 pm EDT (Updated Aug 26th 2008 at 2:11 pm EDT)
Hello to the Other Michelle Berry! How's Johnson City treating you? Well, it's a season of Michelle's with 2L's...you, me, Michelle Paterson, Michelle Obama! Go Michelle's. Thanks for writing. It was so heartwarming to hear from you my friend. I hope all is well back home. Let's seriously pitch the Press & Sun to do a story on us, it's an interesting one...sharing a name, originally supporting different candidates, husbands with the same name...etc. I sat with Barbara Fiala and Mike Najarian at breakfast today. Take good care of you and love to the family, the Other Michelle Berry live from Denver

Motorcycle Guy Report to Admin
Reply
By Ed from Denver, CO Sep 10th 2008 at 3:33 pm EDT (Updated Sep 10th 2008 at 3:33 pm EDT)
Hi, Michelle! Ed Kieta here ... I just had one of my buddies from Chicago email me your blog! I'm glad that I bumped into you in Denver and was able to help out. I now have a great story to tell - I gave a delegate a ride on the back of my Triumph! It was a pleasure meeting you and thanks for the fun memory!!

Re-Cap: Invesco Stadium and Early a.m. Flight with Dick

2009-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Off to Invesco...with thoughts of you
By Michelle Berry - Aug 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pm EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
Hey Everyone,
Brian and I are departing with his mother-in-law Eileen Thomas (also a NY Delegate!) for Invesco/Mile High Stadium within minutes. Can't wait to tell you all about it.
I also spent time today for about an hour...touring Red Rocks. Thanks to my host and dear friend and former colleague at the City of Binghamton, Keith Reester, who is now the Director of Public Works for the City of Loveland, Colorado.

The night at Invesco was like a dream...and for many of us, it was a dream come true. Not only was Obama's election symbolic, but his focus on the issues that touch the lives of so many, and Michelle's down-to-earthness, are a cause of great celebration.

I think Obama said it best, so I'm just including the text of his speech below. After the speech, I hung with a few folks, then retired to bed. I had a 6:00 a.m. phone interview with WHCU870 AM, then a flight home. I had the pleasure of being on the same flight as Dick Gregory of MSNBC fame and we had a brief chat of what it was like for me to be an Obama Delegate in Hillary's home state (complicated, but rewarding).

Text of Presidential Nominee Barack Obama's Speech Live from Invesco Stadium,
Thursday August 28, 2008

(APPLAUSE)
Thank you very much.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you, everybody.

To -- to Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin, and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation, with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States.
(APPLAUSE)
Let me -- let me express -- let me express my thanks to the historic slate of candidates who accompanied me on this journey, and especially the one who traveled the farthest, a champion for working Americans and an inspiration to my daughters and to yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
(APPLAUSE)
To President Clinton, to President Bill Clinton, who made last night the case for change as only he can make it...
(APPLAUSE)
... to Ted Kennedy, who embodies the spirit of service...
(APPLAUSE)
... and to the next vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, I thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
I am grateful to finish this journey with one of the finest statesmen of our time, a man at ease with everyone from world leaders to the conductors on the Amtrak train he still takes home every night.
To the love of my life, our next first lady, Michelle Obama...
(APPLAUSE)
... and to Malia and Sasha, I love you so much, and I am so proud of you.
(APPLAUSE)
Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.
It is that promise that's always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well. That's why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.
We meet at one of those defining moments, a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.
Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach.
These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.
(APPLAUSE)
America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.
(APPLAUSE)
This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work.
We're a better country than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment that he's worked on for 20 years and watch as it's shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.
We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty...
(APPLAUSE)
... that sits...
(APPLAUSE)
... that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.
(APPLAUSE)
Tonight, tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land: Enough. This moment...
(APPLAUSE)
This moment, this moment, this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive.
Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third.
(AUDIENCE BOOS)
And we are here -- we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight.
(APPLAUSE)
On November 4th, on November 4th, we must stand up and say: Eight is enough.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, now, let me -- let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and our respect.
(APPLAUSE)
And next week, we'll also hear about those occasions when he's broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need.
But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time.
Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but, really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time?
(APPLAUSE)
I don't know about you, but I am not ready to take a 10 percent chance on change.
(APPLAUSE)
The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives -- on health care, and education, and the economy -- Senator McCain has been anything but independent.
He said that our economy has made great progress under this president. He said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong.
And when one of his chief advisers, the man who wrote his economic plan, was talking about the anxieties that Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a mental recession and that we've become, and I quote, "a nation of whiners."
(AUDIENCE BOOS) A nation of whiners? Tell that to the proud auto workers at a Michigan plant who, after they found out it was closing, kept showing up every day and working as hard as ever, because they knew there were people who counted on the brakes that they made.
Tell that to the military families who shoulder their burdens silently as they watch their loved ones leave for their third, or fourth, or fifth tour of duty.
These are not whiners. They work hard, and they give back, and they keep going without complaint. These are the Americans I know.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans; I just think he doesn't know.
(LAUGHTER)
Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under $5 million a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies, but not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million Americans?
OBAMA: How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?
(AUDIENCE BOOS)
It's not because John McCain doesn't care; it's because John McCain doesn't get it.
(APPLAUSE)
For over two decades -- for over two decades, he's subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy: Give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.
In Washington, they call this the "Ownership Society," but what it really means is that you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck, you're on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You're on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don't have boots. You are on your own.
(APPLAUSE)
Well, it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States.
(APPLAUSE)
You see, you see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.
We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage, whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma.
We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president...
(APPLAUSE)
... when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of go down $2,000, like it has under George Bush. (APPLAUSE)
We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off and look after a sick kid without losing her job, an economy that honors the dignity of work.
The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great, a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight.
Because, in the faces of those young veterans who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, I see my grandfather, who signed up after Pearl Harbor, marched in Patton's army, and was rewarded by a grateful nation with the chance to go to college on the G.I. Bill.
In the face of that young student, who sleeps just three hours before working the night shift, I think about my mom, who raised my sister and me on her own while she worked and earned her degree, who once turned to food stamps, but was still able to send us to the best schools in the country with the help of student loans and scholarships.
(APPLAUSE)
When I -- when I listen to another worker tell me that his factory has shut down, I remember all those men and women on the South Side of Chicago who I stood by and fought for two decades ago after the local steel plant closed.
And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business or making her way in the world, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman.
She's the one who taught me about hard work. She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight and that tonight is her night, as well.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, I don't know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine.
(APPLAUSE)
These are my heroes; theirs are the stories that shaped my life. And it is on behalf of them that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as president of the United States.
(APPLAUSE)
What -- what is that American promise? It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have obligations to treat each other with dignity and respect.
It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, to look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.
Ours -- ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves: protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools, and new roads, and science, and technology.
Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.
That's the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation, the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper.
That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now.
(APPLAUSE)
So -- so let me -- let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am president.
(APPLAUSE)
Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.
(APPLAUSE)
You know, unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.
(APPLAUSE)
I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
(APPLAUSE)
I will -- listen now -- I will cut taxes -- cut taxes -- for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.
(APPLAUSE)
And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president: In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.
(APPLAUSE)
We will do this. Washington -- Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last 30 years. And, by the way, John McCain has been there for 26 of them.
(LAUGHTER)
And in that time, he has said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil than we had on the day that Senator McCain took office.
Now is the time to end this addiction and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution, not even close.
(APPLAUSE)
As president, as president, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.
(APPLAUSE)
I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.
OBAMA: And I'll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy -- wind power, and solar power, and the next generation of biofuels -- an investment that will lead to new industries and 5 million new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced.
(APPLAUSE)
America, now is not the time for small plans. Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy.
You know, Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance.
(APPLAUSE)
I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries, and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability.
And we will keep our promise to every young American: If you commit to serving your community or our country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.
(APPLAUSE)
Now -- now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American.
(APPLAUSE)
If you have health care -- if you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves.
(APPLAUSE)
And -- and as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.
(APPLAUSE)
Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for a sick child or an ailing parent.
Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses, and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.
And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime: by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow.
But I will also go through the federal budget line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less, because we cannot meet 21st-century challenges with a 20th-century bureaucracy.
(APPLAUSE)
And, Democrats, Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America's promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our intellectual and moral strength.
Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient.
(APPLAUSE)
Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents, that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework, that fathers must take more responsibility to provide love and guidance to their children.
Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility, that's the essence of America's promise. And just as we keep our promise to the next generation here at home, so must we keep America's promise abroad.
If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander-in-chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have.
(APPLAUSE)
For -- for while -- while Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats that we face.
When John McCain said we could just muddle through in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights.
You know, John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but he won't even follow him to the cave where he lives.
(APPLAUSE)
And today, today, as my call for a timeframe to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush administration, even after we learned that Iraq has $79 billion in surplus while we are wallowing in deficit, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.
That's not the judgment we need; that won't keep America safe. We need a president who can face the threats of the future, not keep grasping at the ideas of the past.
(APPLAUSE)
You don't defeat -- you don't defeat a terrorist network that operates in 80 countries by occupying Iraq. You don't protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances.
If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice, but that is not the change that America needs.
(APPLAUSE)
We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country. Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe.
The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans, Democrats and Republicans, have built, and we are here to restore that legacy.
(APPLAUSE)
As commander-in-chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.
(APPLAUSE)
I will end this war in Iraq responsibly and finish the fight against Al Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts, but I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression.
I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation, poverty and genocide, climate change and disease.
And I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.
(APPLAUSE)
These -- these are the policies I will pursue. And in the weeks ahead, I look forward to debating them with John McCain.
But what I will not do is suggest that the senator takes his positions for political purposes, because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and each other's patriotism.
(APPLAUSE)
The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain.
The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and independents, but they have fought together, and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America; they have served the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
So I've got news for you, John McCain: We all put our country first.
(APPLAUSE)
America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices. And Democrats, as well as Republicans, will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past, for part of what has been lost these past eight years can't just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose, and that's what we have to restore.
We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country.
(APPLAUSE)
The -- the reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.
(APPLAUSE)
I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in a hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.
(APPLAUSE)
You know, passions may fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.
But this, too, is part of America's promise, the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.
I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer, and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values.
And that's to be expected, because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare voters.
(APPLAUSE)
If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from. You make a big election about small things.
And you know what? It's worked before, because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it's best to stop hoping and settle for what you already know.
I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.
But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the naysayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me; it's about you.
(APPLAUSE)
It's about you.
(APPLAUSE)
For 18 long months, you have stood up, one by one, and said, "Enough," to the politics of the past. You understand that, in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same, old politics with the same, old players and expect a different result.
You have shown what history teaches us, that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington.
(APPLAUSE)
Change happens -- change happens because the American people demand it, because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.
America, this is one of those moments.
I believe that, as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming, because I've seen it, because I've lived it.
Because I've seen it in Illinois, when we provided health care to more children and moved more families from welfare to work.
I've seen it in Washington, where we worked across party lines to open up government and hold lobbyists more accountable, to give better care for our veterans, and keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.
And I've seen it in this campaign, in the young people who voted for the first time and the young at heart, those who got involved again after a very long time; in the Republicans who never thought they'd pick up a Democratic ballot, but did.
(APPLAUSE)
I've seen it -- I've seen it in the workers who would rather cut their hours back a day, even though they can't afford it, than see their friends lose their jobs; in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb; in the good neighbors who take a stranger in when a hurricane strikes and the floodwaters rise.
You know, this country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
Instead, it is that American spirit, that American promise, that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.
That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night and a promise that you make to yours, a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west, a promise that led workers to picket lines and women to reach for the ballot.
(APPLAUSE) And it is that promise that, 45 years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.
(APPLAUSE)
The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustrations of so many dreams deferred.
But what the people heard instead -- people of every creed and color, from every walk of life -- is that, in America, our destiny is inextricably linked, that together our dreams can be one.
"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."
America, we cannot turn back...
(APPLAUSE)
... not with so much work to be done; not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for; not with an economy to fix, and cities to rebuild, and farms to save; not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend.
America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone.
At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise, that American promise, and in the words of scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.
END

Re-Cap: DNC Highlights, Michelle is interviewed by BBC, Gannett and in the NY Times

2009-03-18T10:31:00.001-07:00

Wonderfully striking art by Andrew Muiru at www.andrewmuir.net/

Wednesday was a Wonder! Thursday will be too...
By Michelle Berry - Aug 28th, 2008 at 11:11 am EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
Hello Friends,
There are so many things to tell you. First, we're in the middle of such much history, it's just palpable. In addition to this week being the celebration of the 88th anniversary of women's suffrage, today is the 45th anniversary of Dr. MLK Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech. It's fitting that this evening in Invesco Field, we will hear the dreams and plans from our Democratic nominee for President, Barack Obama. It is also fitting to share the touching tribute Tuesday from the Congressional Black Caucus and other elected officials for the late, great Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, who died unexpectedly at age 58, shortly before the Convention.
On Wednesday (yesterday), so many amazing things happened, that my head is still spinning (which happens here a lot due to elevation and thirst!). However, let me try to give a broad sketch. Yesterday a.m., Brian and I attended African American caucus and heard moving and fiery deliveries from Michelle Obama and the Rev Al Sharpton and a number of other luminaries active in the nation and world. Mark Warner, Governor of Virginia stopped in, post his keynote the previous evening at Pepsi...and it was clear that he was still riding high in the position that Barack Obama had held as keynote to the Convention in 2004. What a difference four years can make!
After attending caucuses on a variety of important issues, we prepared for the trip by bus to Pepsi. At Pepsi last night we heard from an impressive array of veterans from Vietnam and the Iraq War, young leaders and senior voices from around the nation. Last night's star-studded line up included: Jack Reed, Tom Daschle, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Chet Edwards, Lt. Gen Claudia Kennedy, Chet Edwards and Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinois Dept of Veteran Affairs and Asian American female helicopter pilot who lost both her legs in Iraq.
Of course, as you most likely saw and now, President Clinton delivered an amazing speech in support of the Obama/Biden ticket....and the infamous Roll Call vote led to stunning vote of Barack Obama by acclamation of the body. This link has a photo of the NY Delegation when Senator Clinton made the motion: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/27/us/08272008CONVENTION2_6.html
And naturally, the grace and power of Beau Biden the AG for Delaware brought tears and the distinct impression of the huge future that lies at his grasp. Biden Sr was tough and poignant, touching and resonant. The surprise turn (not for you at home watching, but for us delegates who didn't have previous notice), was Barack Obama taking the stage with the VP nominee. Watching history is an amazing thing.
It was also fun to give interviews with Gannett News Service and BBC Radio with Jaime from the U.K.
What more can I say? The night delivered for Dems who needed these messages and signals as we move toward the culmination of what the entire Convention has been leading up to: THE address from Senator Barack Obama this evening at Invesco/Mile High Stadium.
I leave on a very early a.m. flight on Friday, so I may not get to blog about this until I get back to Ithaca. However, please know that I've been truly blessed and humbled to be a delegate at this precise moment in history.
Yours truly,
Michelle Berry

Re-Cap: Meeting (the definitive, of course!) Mark Barabak of the LA Times in a Cab and More

2009-03-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

My cab ride with Mark Barabak, Political Writer, LA Times and ....Tuesday Night at Pepsi
By Michelle Berry - Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:22 am EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
The evening started out just fine as I had the pleasure of taking a cab with LA Times political writer Mark Barabak and his daughter. Very nice people...and it was exciting to hear him talking to the LA Times about the lead story being Hillary, slug lines and the like.
But back to Pepsi: Like Mark, I agree that the surprise hit of the evening was a speech delivered by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. Another highlight is simply where the NY Delegation sits on the FLOOR of the Convention. Our location affords an up close and person viewing of the parade of famous stars in politics and Hollywood. Some folks that passed our way and waved: Senator Chuck Schumer, the "fired up and ready to have America wake up": Dennis Kucinich, Spike Lee, Matthew Modine and Angela Bassett. Modine announced to our delegation an event at the Southstreet Seaport in NYC on Sept 20 and kept repeating, 'this is HISTORY, this is HISTORICAL."
Another highlight is that I was able to shake hands with Dennis. I told him that many people in Ithaca loved him. "Well, I love Ithaca" he said with a huge smile. Brian received a text message from Trevor Dougherty from Ithaca. Trevor, our world-famous young videographer told us that he'd just done an interview with CNN! Wow.
Sitting as long as I had been sitting, made me remember wistfully what it was like watching the DNC from previous years (from the comfort of my home). Here at Pepsi, delegates sit for hours upon end, or walk up to the hall and get a bite to eat and drink. However, your seat is your new home and you dare not leave it long, lest someone else wants it. By the time Senator Clinton took the stage, most of the NY delegation had been in place for over SEVEN hours. That's a lot of listening and paying tribute! Highlights prior to Hillary, were a rousing address from our Governor, David Paterson and a tribute from the women of the Senate.
As you know doubt know already or saw for yourself, Hillary's speech was great. One particular quote: "I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal healthcare, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights at home and around the world . . . to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people," Clinton said. "No way. No how. No McCain."
At the close of the speech, NY, PA, FL and NJ delegates were treated to an all-star four-state reception at Invesco (Mile High Stadium). The surprise of the evening were appearances by all of those state's governors and Bill and Hillary Clinton. Former President Clinton gave a signal of how he would be rallying the troops tomorrow night, just as his wife had done that evening. He quipped that she had shown him how to give a great speech and he now needed to deliver. We expect that he will do just that tonight at Pepsi.
As we headed back to our hotels after midnight, Brian Hunt (Upstate Field Coordinator for Barack) and I were treated to Irene Stein, Super Delegate, sharing with us a moving story about her talking with Hillary Clinton after the speech. What Irene said is up to Irene to tell you herself, but suffice it to say, it was beautiful and touching and we were very happy she shared it with us.
All best to everyone back home,
Michelle Berry and Brian Hunt, Obama Delegates from CD-22

Re-Cap of DNC Highlights

2009-03-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

I write in memory of my idol, my sorority sister--the late and great Shirley Chisholm...

Tuesday is a Packed Day for Delegates!
By Michelle Berry - Aug 26th, 2008 at 2:13 pm EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
This morning, Brian Hunt and I met up with Ted from WENY (Elmira) for an interview regarding Senators Clinton and Obama, tonight's line-up and our experiences at the convention. It was a great way to start the morning.
The NY Delegation breakfast highlighted the great role of women in U.S. history, the early involvement on NY women in the suffrage movement, historic strides made by NY Senator Clinton, the legacy of Shirley Chisholm and more.

To read more, check out this sister's blog about the day:http://www.whataboutourdaughters.com/2008/08/waod-exclusivetribute-to-shirley-chisholm-at-the-democratic-national-convention/

We were greeted warmly by former New Yorker and current Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (D) and First Lady of New York, Michelle Paterson. There were other top elected national officials present and an announcement to arrive at Pepsi Center by 2:45 p.m. in anticipation of our state governor's address. It's going to be a full day of caucuses and a nearly seven hour-stint for many of us at Pepsi tonight, following Senator Clinton's Keynote Address, a four-state all-star reception with NY, NJ, PA and FL will take place at Mile High Stadium (Invesco).
I'll write late tonight about all the speeches at Pepsi! And to Robert and Nina, I miss and love you so very much. Robert, I hope your first week of teaching at Broome is going well. Kiss Nina and tell her that I'm looking for just the right souvenir to bring home for her. Many hugs to everyone, Michelle

Re-Cap of Michelle's Wild Ride on a Triumph to Pepsi Center

2009-03-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

A Motorcyle Ride to Pepsi to See Michelle Obama!!
By Michelle Berry - Aug 26th, 2008 at 1:59 am EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
Motorcyle Momma, yes, that's how I got to Pepsi Center (well, for the last few blocks)
Hi Everyone...
DENVER HOST COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER ED KIETA BRINGS DELEGATE BY MOTORCYCLE TO PEPSI!

The trip for delegates by bus to Pepsi Center was a long one...Brian text messaged that the bus was taking well over an hour. So, I hailed a cab. BUT the roads were mostly closed to vehicular traffic for a specific time period. SO--these feet were made for walkin'...about 10 blocks into it with the new loafers and I was KICKING myself for not bringing running shoes. ANYHOW...on the way there I made a detour to catch the outdoor live broadcast from some of the famous MSNBC talking heads. After a brief sojourn here, noting that the wonderful Rachel Maddow will indeed be returning to the Historic State Theatre in Ithaca later next month, I trotted to Pepsi.
I'd caught mostly everything on my BlackBerry and outside MSNBC's outdoor studio...crying through the Kennedy moments....but I HAD to see Michelle and her brother LIVE. I made my way across a lovely bridge that was INCHES from the Center, but ALAS...it was closed to pedestrians. Another man on the bridge, whom I must say was sent by God or Gods, named Ed Kieta, part of the Dem Host Committee here in Denver, was also walking near me. He telephoned over to Pepsi, found a route that we could come in on AND brought me to an entrance for delegates and others with such credentials and shiny passes that glow in the night...And how did I arrive? On the back of a motorcycle! Come on, that's just priceless. Ed saved me from a certain LOAFER DEATH as my feet were beginning to ache. Those last few blocks by bike? Priceless.

MICHELLE OBAMA'S SPEECH: Perfect Pitch...Beautiful.
First, will Michelle loan out her brother? I could use a big brother like that! Next, all the signs with MICHELLE made me feel so cozy. You haveta admit: it's a good name. But I digress. No false notes in Michelle's speech. An exposure to her warm and soft side, an intimate look at her family, her love of family, her love of her children and husband and a lovely entree to where she derives her strength. A perfect pitch speech in which I saw reporters tearing up and clapping for. BRAVO. What a great night.

Standing near the NY Delegation, the DNC staffers and new friends from around the nation made my heart swell. I also have some lovely shots of Brian with his mother-in-law, who is also a delegate. Lovely night indeed.

Read Mark Barabak's coverage here: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign26-2008aug26,0,6079981.story

Next up: Tomorrow evening: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton from our great state of NY will address the crowd.

After the event, I strolled along a lovely fairground and event in tribute to Democratic Governors in the U.S. Then it was time to make my way back to hotel. Shortly thereafter, I befriended a lovely woman named Sarah and her equally lovely daughter Avery (who was here as a high school student volunteering with the DNC). Having been unable to find the DNC shuttle back to our hotels, we road aboard the FINANCE buses. Hey, we like finance, right? Sarah cracked me up, because when they asked if we were with Finance she said, "no, we are just pretending to be so we don't have to walk back." I admire this truth-telling. We made fast friends, shared stories of being moms, chatted about the campaign and Michelle's great speech and enjoyed the trip back to downtown. We hugged good-bye and Sarah shuttled me off on the free MALL bus back to the Sheraton. While on that bus, a gentlemen was talking saying he was formerly from Tompkins County and said he saw Irene Stein earlier in the day. I waved at him with my larger MICHELLE sign that we waved at Pepsi and announced that I was from Tompkins. His name turned out to be Farrid and he said to tell Kathy Zahler and Irene he said 'hello.' He then dialed Nate Shinagawa, a mutual friend, and let me catch up ever so briefly with Nate.
As it is now 2:00 a.m. NY time and 12:00 a.m. here in Denver, I'm going to sign off until tomorrow. Best, Michelle

Re-Cap of My Very First Caucuses at the Democratic National Convention (DNC)

2009-03-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

Monday Caucuses & Michelle Obama to Speak Tonight!
By Michelle Berry - Aug 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pm EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
Update from Michelle Berry (pledged to Senator Obama) from CD-22(CD-22, the district led by Congressman Maurice Hinchey includes all of Sullivan and Ulster Counties and parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Tompkins and Tioga counties).

Hey friends, well, we went to our very first convention caucuses ever! I was particularly proud because I was also elected by the NYS delegation as one of 33, Vice-Chairs of the NY Delegation. Wow.

Here are some of the caucus updates I was able to scribble down while also being in rapt attention..and to read more, log on here, as it's about Michelle Obama's visit to the African American caucus the following day:

http://thedelegates.net/2008/08/michelle-obama-at-the-african-american-caucus/

African-American Issues:

African American Delegates at Historic Levels at DNC 2008

With a warm greeting from Denver's first African-American Mayor, Wellington Webb, the first caucus Brian and I attended was off to a great start. We listened intently to issues related to tax credits, the urban agenda, urban and rural needs for African Americans, education, incarceration, youth needs and more. The line-up included some of the best and brightest minds in America, like noted commentator and economist and President of Bennett College, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, up and coming Newark, NJ Mayor Cory A. Booker, Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO of the nationally and internationally-recognized Harlem Children's Zone (according to a TIME magazine, "the program covers 7,400 kids from birth through age 21 and plans to reach 10,000 by 2011.") Other inspiring panelists included Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Marc H. Morial CEO of the National Urban League.

Broad-based themes included dealing with adverse affects of the last 8 years of the Bush Presidency, interdependence, cooperation between systems and agencies, the power of education to transform the lives of black youth, the needs of seniors, the importance of valuing our kids and our communities and support for Senator Obama's initiative to "reclaim and redeem" our community's fathers.

The overall theme was that Senator Obama would bring the type of leadership, understanding of African American needs and a bi-partisan effort to problem-solving for our most pressing urban challenges. Morial, who remains non-partisan due to his post, stressed that whoever wins in November, must be deeply invested in understand the complexity of issues affecting the lives of working Americans and the poor.

Michelle Obama, will be at the Gavel at Pepsi this evening and also appearing at the 2nd phase of the African American caucus this coming Wednesday. On our way to the next caucus, we spotted Tom Brokaw at his own book signing!

LGBT Issues: 27% Increase in LGBT Delegates at DNC 2008

Our next foray into the dizzying array of convention caucus offerings, was to the LGBT caucus. There, we listened keenly to the need for equality, justice and diversity to prevail in our leadership. Of particular interest, was a discussion of the battle for social and economic justice. We heard from the first openly gay male who is also Latino, representing Southern California. A roll call of states with LGBT delegates was a highlight of the caucus, which also included a full range of advocacy for anti-gay legislation, a call for Democrats to not support anti-gay candidates running for office and a consideration of funding LGBT candidates outside your district or area. Rick Stafford and Mirian Saez, Chairs of the LGBT delegation announced that this was the largest LGBT delegation in DNC Convention history. Tim Gill and U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin stressed the value of building trust, personal relationships and grassroots efforts to ensure better representation of important issues for LGBT communities.

Native American and Rural Caucus
We plan to check these out tomorrow and the next day, so stay tuned!

Hispanic Caucus

Brian and I met up with another NY Delegate who went to Hispanic Caucus today. We'll post more information as we hear it, but from what we have heard, a special thank you to this delegation was issued by NY Senator Clinton.
Well, Brian has duties at the Pepsi Center this evening as part of a special assignment. He's gone on ahead and will call to let me know when speeches and proceedings will begin this evening, which features a much-anticipated address by Michelle Obama.

And did I mention how COOL our CREDENTIALS are???
Thanks for visiting us in Blog-Land. More later and many good wishes to everyone back at home.

Warm regards,
Michelle Courtney Berry
LIVE FROM DENVER :)

Denver-Bound (re-cap of trip to DNC) in 2008

2009-03-18T10:21:00.002-07:00

Sunday: On the Way to Denver and Arrival!
By Michelle Berry - Aug 25th, 2008 at 6:06 pm EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
Sunday and Monday in Denver from Michelle Berry (Delegate, CD-22)Posted 8/25/2008 5:06 PM EDT on theithacajournal.com
Message from CD-22* Obama Delegate Michelle Courtney Berry
(CD-22, the district led by Congressman Maurice Hinchey includes all of Sullivan and Ulster Counties and parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Tompkins and Tioga counties).

To see our names on the NY Delegation list, click here:

http://www.nydems.org/dncdelegation.php

For coverage of the NY Delegation in the NY Times, log on here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/nyregion/25delegation.html

Sunday Night
Last evening, my spouse Robert and daughter Nina saw me off for my flight to Denver. It was one of those heartsick moments where you tearfully say "farewell" at the gate. I imitated my nearly four year-olds "bye-bye" with her tiny fists opening and closing. My heart was in my mouth as I said "I love you" to my family. Then I was off to Denver for not only my first Democratic National Convention, but my first time in the "Mile High City." The plane was at capacity, so I was relieved to have purchased an upgrade to business class right behind first class. Ah, leg room. There was a lovely Denver-bound couple seated next to me. We told jokes and napped. I was concerned to hear these two young people didn't seem engaged about this year's election process. Neither was that intrigued, neither had voted or planned to. I gave my best sell for citizen engagement and then fell soundly asleep to the very boring "Thunderheads" movie.

I arrived at 11:20 p.m. and the "super shuttle," (which I quipped on the shuttle was called "super" for the caliber of people aboard, rather than for its speed). Delegates, first time convention folk, residents and one super delegate from Alabama where all in the van, which was stuffed to capacity. It took a full two hours to get here to my hotel, The Sheraton Downtown (where the Delegations from the Great States of NY and CA are residing temporarily through the close of the convention on Thursday." At 1:30 a.m., which was really 3:30 a.m. NY time, I was in my lovely room, unpacked and ready to face the day.

Monday NY Delegation Breakfast
At 8:00 a.m. a NY Delegation Breakfast is where I caught up with my counterpart in CD-22, Delegate Brian Hunt (who has nobly led our Tompkins County Obama effort as an Upstate NY Field Coordinator) a number of other familiar NY faces, like Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala, Syracuse Mayor Driscoll and more. We were treated to rousing speeches on unity, the progressive vision of our party with Barack Obama at its helm and numerous cheers and whistles of delight. A SRO crowd packed the Ballroom where we heard from Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, NY Governor David Paterson, Congressman Charles Rangel, NY Party Leader June O'Neill and other dignitaries. After this we moved to the larger outer foyer in which credentials where handed out for all delegates for the FLOOR of both the Colorado Convention and Pepsi Centers.

Lisa Daly from Syracuse had buttons for many of us in Upstate NY, so Brian and I were properly identified and handed by numerous lobbyists, delegates and other new friends a host of materials, buttons and more. Andrea Audi another Upstate Coordinator arranged for us to have FLIP video cameras. Brian and I are taking footage that will be sent back with Trevor Dougherty for the exciting SIMULCAST of Senator Obama's Acceptance Speech on Thursday at Ithaca's Historic State Theatre.

Monday's Caucuses Attended by Brian Hunt and Michelle Berry/ Sneak Peek: Michelle Obama to Speak Tonight!

We then walked to attend two caucuses at the Colorado Convention Center. I'm back in my room writing now, so I'll stop and post separately about the Caucuses attended today. Thanks everybody!

Re-Cap of Women for Obama Event Campaign 08

2009-03-18T10:21:00.001-07:00

Women for Obama Event was Amazing!
By Michelle Berry - Apr 14th, 2008 at 8:52 am EDT
Also listed in: 6 groups
Dear Friends,
I had an amazing time with Cynthia Henderson (my buddy and Ithaca College prof) this weekend in PA. She was a total hoot! We'll be blogging about the trip, travel, staying in PA and canvassing within the next few days. Until then, we wanted to share with you the information about the weekend from the National Women for Obama Campaign. We also had a blast meeting women from all around the nation (and some from around the world). And it was of course, wonderful to see Caroline Kennedy, Jessica Lange and other famous women who are supporting Barack, including several who served with President Clinton in the White House! And MANY New Yorkers were in PA helping out, so thank you so much! Go New York!
From the National Women for Obama Campaign: What an amazing weekend we had in Pennsylvania! More than 1,000 women from throughout the country traveled to PA this weekend to help get out the vote and recruit undecided voters. More than 800 of them rallied on behalf of Senator Obama during a pre-canvass rally and canvass training in the Philadelphia area, while others joined with hundreds more women throughout PA to canvass in Pittsburgh, Scranton, Allentown, Harrisburg, Erie and elsewhere. Saturday’s rally was filled with incredible energy and enthusiasm driven in part by amazing speakers who helped fire up the crowd before they went knocking on doors and making calls. The pre-rally program was set to start at 8:30 am – and women were already lined up down the street by 7:15 am! Women traveled by bus, minivan, carpools, train and plane. Margi Casey McGann, who’s brother is the junior U.S. Senator for PA and who’s father was Governor of the state, served as our emcee and introduced a fabulous and diverse cast of women including: Caroline Kennedy; actress and advocate, Jessica Lange; former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Kate Michelman; Glenda Hatchett of the Judge Hatchett Show; and former Philadelphia councilwoman Augusta Alexander Clark. They inspired everyone and brought the crowd to their feet many times over – the rally ended with everyone shouting in unison “Yes We Can!” Our women were so fired up afterwards that their canvassing efforts helped the PA field team far surpass their goals for the weekend! We want to give a special thanks to some Women for Obama state groups who took on many responsibilities in organizing women in their states to travel to PA this weekend. They include New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia and New Hampshire. In total, 21 states were represented from as far away from California, Texas, Minnesota and Colorado, and even the U.S. Virgin Islands was represented! Its First Lady, Cecile DeJongh, was on hand to canvass and meet with voters. Massachusetts brought a bus with more than 40 women, while women from Chappaqua, NY brought in two buses filled with 80 women!The campaign also hosted several events with undecided voters including house parties, meetings at senior centers, brunches, lunches and teas – one which was hosted by several women who served in the Clinton administration, but support Barack Obama for president! Our WFO low dollar fundraiser that night was a great success with more than 200 in attendance. Our fantastic host, Gail Connors, put on a great event complete with a choir, live band and a festive mood that was perfect after a long day of canvassing. Jessica Lange, Kate Michelman, and Judge Glenda Hatchett stopped by to speak to the crowd and thank them for their time and dedication to the campaign.Check out our WFO blog over the next day at women.barackobama.com and to read blogs and views photos from our exciting weekend.We have other activities in the works for next weekend in PA – which is the critical last weekend before the primary – as well as Indiana and North Carolina, so stay tuned!!

Older Posts on the Obama Campaign Trail

2009-03-18T10:19:00.001-07:00

Haven't left yet, but soon
By Michelle Berry - Apr 11th, 2008 at 11:51 am EDT
Also listed in: 6 groups
Hey there, Everybody,
We'll be leaving in a few hours for Philly. But I would be remiss if I didn't say that I went to the Barack Obama Rally at Tulane University in Louisiana this past February. It was an amazing, full house event. Senator Obama was very gracious as was the Katrina Survivor who introduced Barack. I caught this rally when I was in NOLA for Mardi Gras...and I felt very fortunate and blessed to be there. A lot of us stood in line for a few hours and it was COLD for LA that time of year. I ended up coming home with a pretty bad cold, but hey it was worth it. I hear Philly will be in the seventies tomorrow, but there are thunderstorms on the horizon...ah, well, coming from Ithaca Weather, I'm prepared for almost ANY kind of weather conditions.
Fired up, (almost) ready to go.
Sincerely yours,
Michelle
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Women for Obama
By Michelle Berry - Apr 11th, 2008 at 4:30 am EDT
Also listed in: 10 groups
Michelle Berry (CD-22 Delegate) and Cynthia Henderson (Ithaca College Theatre Arts Professor) are off on Friday! We'll be driving to Philly to join some 1,000 women from across the country planning to visit this weekend to unite with thousands of Pennsylvania women! Our goal: to blanket the state and close the gap as we near the April 22nd primary. Recent polls have shown that Senator Obama is closing the gap…that’s why your help is need more now than ever before.
On Saturday, April 12, exciting kick-off rally features Caroline Kennedy starting at 8:15 a.m.. Team coordinators and PA leaders will be assigning hundreds of attendees to canvass routes so we can talk on-on-one with PA voters about why all of us believe Senator Obama is the best person to lead our country.
The rally’s pre-program will include: Actress Jessica Lange, Glenda Hatchett of the Judge Hatchett Show and Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. After the rally, Obama staffers will host a canvass training and then assign you your canvassing itinerary for Saturday and Sunday (for those staying thru Sunday).
I'll blog at ya from PA. Namaste!

Yours in unity for Obama,
Michelle Berry, Obama Delegate
CD-22 NYS