All registered California Democrats may attend and participate in caucus meetings taking place at this weekend’s state Democratic Convention, being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The purpose of the California Democratic Party’s 19 caucus groups is to ensure that the unique issues confronting each of the caucuses are amply represented in the state party platform and by California Democratic Party leaders.
Caucus meetings are never dull, usually well-attended, and often colorfully confrontational and even exhilirating. Caucuses are where the lion’s share of convention coalition-building and informal networking takes place.
To become a voting member of a caucus, registered state Democrats must pay minimal dues for those caucuses. Trust me… prepay your dues rather than standing in the long, crazy lines at the convention. You can prepay your dues HERE at the Democratic Party website.
By reputation and my experience, the largest and liveliest gatherings tend to be the Labor, Progressive, and Women’s caucus meetings.
All caucus meetings will be held this Friday, April 16, and Saturday, April 17, at the JW Marriott hotel across the street from the convention center, according to this schedule (rooms noted where known):
Friday, April 16, 2010:
- 1:30 to 3:30 pm
- Business and Professional – Platinum H
- Children’s – Platinum G
- Native American – Platinum B
- 3:30 to 5:30 pm
- Environmental – Platinum H
- Computer and Internet
- Irish-American
- Federation of DCCC members
- 5:30 to 7:30 pm
- LGBT
- Women’s
- Filipino-American
- Arab-American
- Veterans
Saturday, April 17, 2010:
- 2 to 4 pm:
- Asian/Pacific Islander
- Disabilities
- Labor
- Rural
- Senior
- 4 to 6 pm:
- African-American
- Chicano/Latino
- Progressive
The California Young Democrats caucus will meet from 3 to 6 pm.
Tomorrow, I’ll blog here about the plethora of parties and hospitality suites, which are apparently less in number and less lavish than in recent years. But still look uber-fun…