LP convention - Day 1
By Saturday morning the party was over - sort of. Time to get to some work. Outside the banquet hall the early risers gathered around the registration desk and some vendor tables.
Lots of groups had a table - the Libertarian Reform Caucus, the LP pledge club, and Students for Saving Social Security, just to name a few. Here's Matt running our table.
Breakfast was early, starting at 6:30, but tasted delicious. Michael Dixon, our former chairman, opened things up by welcoming us and rubbing it in that he's from the east coast so the early hour didn't bother him. (He can get away with things like that because he's charming and friendly.) We were then treated to two delightful breakfast speakers, Gregory Nojeim of the ACLU and Rep. Bob Barr.
Starchild made his appearance, demure as ever.
Michael and Allen joined the rest of the waking world, all suited up and ready to go to work.
And then it was time for the convention to begin.
In case you're wondering, yes, one of those state sign thingies did end up falling over. And yes, it did land on my head. However, I'm not holding a grudge against Kansas over it because that's just the kind of nice girl that I am. (Besides, it's only light cardboard)
As former Presidential candidate, Michael was asked to deliver the keynote opening speech before session began. Squint and you can see his image on the giant screens. Michael's message was one of unity and teamwork, and I'm happy to say that the convention by and large followed through on his suggestions. Though I am an inexperienced judge, others more knowledgable than I commented they'd never seen such an amiable convention.
Here's Michael next to the new LP logo. Count the stars around the edge and you can see there are 12, honoring the birth month of the LP in 1971. The two large stars on each side of Liberty's head represent 11, the birthday. And so December 11th, 1971 is illustrated.
Saturday night was another party in Michael's hotel suite, of course.
But there were other parties too, like the Open House party the Oregon LP threw for us in their famously well-organized headquarters.
So, like I said, the party was 'sort of' over. Actually, not really at all. Libertarians being libertarians, the fact that breakfast was at 6:30 the following day didn't prevent anyone from popping open another beer and enjoying life.