The 2016 California Democratic Convention in San Jose takes place on Feb. 26 – 28 - just six weeks away. There will be over 3,000 delegates and another 1,000 elected officials and activists of all stripes and persuasions.

With a MJ legalization initiative on the ballot and the prospect that has for bringing out a lot of younger voters, the Brownie Mary Democrats are going to get a lot of attention. It truly is a chance to make an impression on all elected officials as they will be wondering just how much having this marijuana initiative on the ballot will effect turn out and what influence BMDC will have on these younger voters in voting for things besides marijuana.

This is a matchless position to be in and with AB 266 undergoing modifications at the very time of the convention, we will be in a unique position to speak with state legislators - at least those who are Democrats.

BMDC has reserved exhibit hall space, a meeting room for our semi-annual BMDC club meeting and a hospitality suite. We are going to wow them all with the number one exhibit booth, the number one meeting and the number one hospitality suite.

Invitations have been sent to people who we hope to have as speakers and honored guests. We now embark on the putting it all together stage and one of the main components of putting it all together is to round up volunteers to staff the exhibit booth, meeting room, hospitality suite and dog candidates and elected officials.

We are going to need about 30 volunteers over Friday, Feb 26 and Sat. Feb. 27. With the convention in your neck of the woods, we are counting on you to come on down and help us out.

It’s going to be incredibly exciting. All three presidential candidates are expected to be there, US Senate candidates Harris and Sanchez will be there, your state assembly member and senator along with state office holders and activists from a multitude of interest groups will all be there. It’s incredible for networking and developing coalitions.

Being Democrats I am sure we are interested and supportive of other groups – environmental, civil rights, reproductive rights, criminal justice reform and more. Visiting all the exhibit booths, going to caucus and organizational meetings, the late evening hospitality suites, the sheer excitement of being there is incredible, but the very best part is being there with BMDC and meeting and interacting with the thousands of people - most of them wanting to know more about marijuana and you will be the one telling them all about it.

The California Democratic Convention is the largest state convention in the country. Since this a presidential year, it is the biggest ever! If you have never attended a state convention before, then you surely do not want to miss this opportunity. It should be on your bucket list!!

We need volunteers for the following:

Exhibit booth – Friday, Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

                         Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

BMDC meeting – Friday, time to arranged – most likely late afternoon or early evening

Hospitality Suite – Saturday, Feb 27 – 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Elected official and candidate doggers – Friday and Saturday all day

The exhibit booth needs at least two staffer at all times. You will chat with delegates and other convention attendees. Answer questions about medical marijuana, marijuana legalization, BMDC, provide handouts and ask them to sign up. Thousands of people will stop by the booth over the two days including many elected officials and candidates. It is very empowering and FUN!!!

The BMDC meeting is where all of us from all six BMDC chapters get together and invite all the delegates and other convention attendees to join us. There will be speakers and a panel discussion. With the subject of marijuana legalization ever present, our meeting will be very well attended giving us the opportunity to sign up new members. We need about six volunteers for the meeting.

Hospitality Suites are the big social events of the convention and last year’s BMDC Hospitality Suite was the talk-of-the-convention. We served “Brownie Mary” Ice Cream Sundaes which were a sensational hit with each CDP delegate receiving two complimentary drinks.

Over 500 people attended including local elected officials, state assembly members, state senators plus a surprise visit from former Rep. Barney Frank who spent over an hour with us making a presentation, posing for a gazillion pictures and chatting up a storm with everyone present.

At the 2015 State Convention we had a DJ for entertainment but this year we are really pulling out all the stops with live performances by members of the cast of “Mary Jane, The Musical” to be released in theatres nationwide in the fall of 2016 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-YbtyYEnew&feature=youtu.be).

“Doggers” will roam the convention looking for elected officials and candidates and invite them to attend our meeting and hospitality suite.

Whether it’s just for a couple hours or the entire day, we need your help and are counting on it.

Lanny from Brownie Mary Democrats of California is coordinating the volunteer sign-ups. Please contact me at [email protected] and let me know the day and times you are available. BTW – you don’t have to be a BMDC member to participate so if you or a friend or a family member wants to join you and help us out that would be wonderful.

Please contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

Thanks,

Lanny