From The Desk of Convention CEO William D. Harris
Dear Friend,
As the Christmas season draws to an end and the new year approaches, the convention staff continue to be as ‘busy as elves’ getting things squared away for next summer’s convention.
I am happy to report we passed yet another major milestone in our planning for the 2012 Republican National Convention when we hosted our Fall Media Walk-Through on December 6th.
This event gave hundreds of members of the press – from grassroots bloggers to producers from the major television networks – a chance to get acquainted with our convention venues and the beautiful Tampa Bay area, and learn about our preparations to welcome 15,000 of their colleagues in August.
During the holidays, my staff and I are especially grateful for the hospitality and warmth that has been shown to us while we live and work in the Tampa Bay area.
On behalf of my team, thank you for your continued support in our planning for the upcoming convention. We wish you the happiest of holidays.
Sincerely,
William D. Harris
Chief Executive Officer
2012 Republican National Convention
Fall Media Walk-Through Deemed a ‘Success’
On December 6, the convention team, in partnership with the 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee, welcomed over 450 accredited members of the media to the Fall Media Walk-Through. The event served to kick-off the convention season leading up to the 2012 Republican National Convention next August.
The goal of the walk-through was to give interested media the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the convention complex, as well as provide them with information regarding credentialing, work space and housing. Members of the press from as far away as Japan arrived in the Tampa Bay area to explore the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa Convention Center and surrounding area to start planning their coverage of the nomination of the next President of the United States on August 30, 2012.
Attendees took part in a question and answer session with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and convention leaders. They then toured the Forum – site of the 2012 Republican National Convention – and the expansive media work areas of the Convention Center. The Tampa Bay Host Committee ended the informative day with a welcome reception on the terrace of the Convention Center.
On December 7, convention chairman Alec Poitevint and members of the COA News/Media Subcommittee listened to testimony from eleven groups, including the Congressional Galleries and representatives from all five major television networks. Each organization’s presentation outlined their specific logistical wants and needs, information on the various types of coverage they would be providing, as well as the importance of the news coverage each provides during the week of the convention. The convention’s Director of Media Operations, Julie Shugar, credited the convention team, the hospitable Tampa Bay Host Committee and the staffs of the St. Pete Times Forum and Tampa Convention Center for the walk-through’s seamless execution.
Shugar said, “It is a fabulous thing when people come from all over the world for the sole purpose of planning how they’ll cover our convention. To be a part of something so important really is an honor—I was pleased everything went as planned.”
Next summer some 15,000 members of the media are expected to attend and cover the 2012 Republican National Convention—a press corps rivaled in size only by that of the Olympics. A date has not yet been determined for the second media walk-through, scheduled to take place in the spring of 2012.
What They’re Saying: Fall Media Walk-Through
The convention staff was proud to welcome members of the media to our Fall Media Walk-Through at the St. Pete Times Forum and the Tampa Convention Center.
Here is what some of those who attended had to say:
“Next year’s Republican National Convention will put Tampa Bay on the biggest of media stages, and on Tuesday journalists representing news organizations from as far away as Japan got their first look at where the event will play out.”
— St. Petersburg Times
“For a Tampa Bay area reporter covering local efforts to prepare for the Republican National Convention, attending the Dec. 6 Fall Media Walk-Through with media from outside the region was an instructive experience.”
— Margaret Cashill, Tampa Bay Business Journal
“I had a blast, and I really hope I get to go back for the actual convention.”
— Blogger Michael C. McGreevy
“Officials expressed confidence in the security plan coordinated by the U.S. Secret Service.”
— Associated Press
“On Tuesday, the city got a taste of the media scrutiny expected during next year’s Republican National Convention, as news representatives from across the state, country and world landed in town for a walk-through of the event’s two main venues.”
— The Tampa Tribune
Our Partners: PR Newswire Returns to Convention Team
After successful partnerships with the 2004 and 2008 conventions, the convention announced earlier this month that PR Newswire will again serve as the Official Newswire for the 2012 Republican National Convention.
PR Newswire is “a strong partner in our strategic communications efforts,” said CEO William D. Harris, adding that the partnership will “strengthen our ability to engage the news media and online audiences like never before.”
PR Newswire will distribute news and information released by the 2012 Republican National Convention to its worldwide network of over 27,000 news outlets and 6,000 websites, increasing the visibility of the convention in online media. Additionally, PR Newswire will provide simultaneous, electronic distribution of materials during the convention to the estimated 15,000-member press corps that will be on site covering the event.
“We welcome the opportunity to again work with the Republican National Convention,” said Brian Taylor, Vice President of PR Newswire’s Public Interest Markets.
Behind the Scenes: News/Media Subcommittee Chairman Jennifer Saul Rich
New York National Committeewoman Jennifer Saul Rich (New York City) chairs the News/Media Subcommittee, which played an important role in the Fall Media Walk-Through.
The subcommittee participated in a meeting in which representatives of what is expected to be a 15,000-strong global press corps shared their coverage requests as they prepare to cover the nomination of the next President of the United States on August 30, 2011.
Rich is an elementary and nursery school teacher currently working on her doctorate in special education from the Columbia University Teachers College in New York City. She also serves an Overseer of the Graduate School of Education for the University of Pennsylvania.
Active in many charitable organizations, Rich is a member of the Contemporary Council of the Museum of Modern Art, Chair of the Apollo Circle and a member of the Steiglitz Society of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a Board Member of the Mount Sinai Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, a trustee of the Washington Institute, a member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee/New Leadership (AIPAC), and former Chair of the Young Collectors Council of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
In addition to Rich, the following members comprise the News/Media Subcommittee: Paul Reynolds (National Committeeman – AL), Ruth Ulrich (National Committeewoman – LA), Bill Palatucci (National Committeeman – NJ), Heidi Smith (National Committeewoman – NV), Bob Asher (National Committeeman – PA), Zori Fonalledas (National Committeewoman – PR), Herb Schoenbohm (National Committeeman – VI), Mike Stuart (National Committeeman – WV).
The Committee on Arrangements: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
In just a matter of days, the Republican Party of Iowa will host its “First in the Nation” caucuses that will kick off the 2012 nominating process. New Hampshire will follow on January 10 with the nation’s first primary. South Carolina will then host its “First in the South” primary on January 21, moving the nomination calendar forward until it culminates on the floor of the Tampa Bay Times Forum at the 2012 Republican National Convention on August 30, 2012.
Here is a look at members of the Committee on Arrangements representing those states:
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National Committeewoman Kim Lehman (Iowa)A former president of Iowa Right to Life, Kim Lehman of Des Moines is a widely respected and well-known conservative leader in Iowa. In addition to serving as Iowa’s Republican National Committeewoman, Lehman is the Development Director for the John Paul II Stem Cell Institute, a bio-ethically driven stem cell research organization. She serves as the Chairman of the COA Subcommittee on Facilities. |
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National Committeeman Steve Duprey (New Hampshire)A New Hampshire Republican Party activist since the 1970s, Steve Duprey is a real estate developer that once held the distinction of being the country’s youngest state legislator when he was elected to the New Hampshire Legislature at age 19.
A former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, Duprey also started an annual fundraising race to benefit a Concord cancer care center. Duprey also feeds hundreds every year through the free annual Christmas dinner he organizes. He sits on the COA’s Subcommittee on Housing. |
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National Committeeman Glenn McCall (South Carolina)A former Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force, Glenn McCall was elected as South Carolina’s National Committeeman in 2008. He is a retired financial executive and former board member for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. McCall now serves as an ‘ex-officio’ member of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees. He is the Chairman of the COA’s Subcommittee on Delegate Experience. |
Our Host Location: Introducing Beautiful Tampa Bay
As the second most populated metropolitan region in the Sunshine State, the Tampa Bay area has much to offer, from rich history and pristine natural beauty, to a favorable business climate and more. The convention team is delighted to work with the 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee to prepare for the convention.
Here are some things you might not have known about the Tampa Bay area:
- The region collectively referred to as “Tampa Bay” is made up of a number of surrounding cities, municipalities and communities in addition to the city of Tampa. Some of these include: Temple Terrace, Plant City, Seminole Heights, Lake Thonotosassa, Brandon, Riverview, Lithia, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs.
- Nearly three million people call Tampa Bay home – that is one-sixth of the entire population of Florida!
- The Port of Tampa is the seventh largest in the U.S. – and serves not only as a base for imports and exports, but also as a docking point for large cruise lines.
- Tampa Bay is a strong military community. It is home to MacDill Air Force Base, the base of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), the 6th Air Mobility Wing and over 40 other tenant units.
- Tampa Bay boasts some of the nicest weather in the country. The average temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer is around 82, while winter temperatures usually hover in the mid-60s.
- On average, Tampa Bay receives some amount of sunshine 361 of the 365 days in a year.
Our Team: Celebrating Holiday Birthdays
Though December typically garners more attention for the holidays it brings, many convention staffers also came into this world during the “merry” month of December.
On December 8, the staff held a little celebration in honor of several December birthdays, including that of Chief Operating Officer Mike Miller.
Christmas and a birthday in the same month?—who says some people can’t have their cake and eat it, too! Join us in wishing a “Happy Birthday” to these staff members:
December 1: Mike Miller (Knoxville, Tenn.)
December 5: Jason Osborne (Anchorage, Alaska)
December 8: Erica Carson (Cincinnati, Ohio)
December 9: Shawn Cahill (New Orleans, La.)
December 12: Rob Evans (Edina, Minn.)
December 16: Holly Barber (Tampa, Fla.)
December 19: Anne Stewart (Clinton, N.C.)
In the Community: Convention Staffers Team Up to Help the Hungry
Shortly before Thanksgiving, staff members took an afternoon to visit Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa and give back to those in need.
The group spent a few hours sorting donated food items at the organization’s outreach and prevention center, and proved it is indeed more rewarding to give than to receive.
Metropolitan Ministries helps poor and homeless families in their time of need, and provides them food, clothing, shelter and other vital services.
Fulton Taylor, from Alexandria, Va., was one of the staffers who volunteered for the project and said, “It is so rewarding to know what you’re doing directly helps other people. No matter what time of the year it is – but especially during the holidays – we need to give back in some form or fashion. It’s part of our duty as good neighbors.”
Metropolitan Ministries has been making a difference in and around the Tampa Bay area since 1972. The convention staff plans to return in the coming months to volunteer again.
Convention Staff Spotlight Shines On…Shawn Cahill
Position: Deputy Director of Media Operations
Age: 48
New Orleans, LA
Q: What got you interested in politics?
A: When Reagan was running for President.
Q: What is your most memorable moment in politics?
A: The first time I was able to cast my vote in a presidential election.
Q: What is the best part about living in the Tampa Bay area?
A: The weather.
Q: Where did you move here from?
A: New Orleans.
Q: Tampa Bay area resident Hulk Hogan or Tampa Bay area resident John Cena?
A: Of course, the Hulkster!
Q: What’s something interesting others may not know about you?
A: I’m a HUGE Saints fan. Thankfully my wife is, too.
Q. What’s your Alma Mater?
A: Tulane University.
Working Together: Host Committee and Convention Staff Mingle at Pre-Christmas Dinner
The Host Committee invited convention staff to join them for an evening to celebrate the holidays together over dinner on December 7.
Half holiday party, half celebration of a successful Fall Media Walk-Through, the Tampa Bay Host Committee and convention staff mingled during dinner hosted by Malio’s Prime Steakhouse in downtown Tampa.
Everyone gathered to celebrate the countless hours that went into making the recent walk-through event – which, by all accounts was an incredible success. Also present for the meal were Host Committee Chairman Al Austin and his wife, Beverly, who were instrumental in bringing the 2012 Republican National Convention to Tampa Bay; Host Committee CEO and President Ken Jones; COA Chairman Alec Poitevint; COA CEO William D. Harris and many other individuals who are playing key roles in the planning and successful execution of the convention next summer.
The original Malio’s Steakhouse was opened in 1969. Over the past 40 years, it has earned a reputation for serving the finest quality food, with superior service and atmosphere. The Committee on Arrangements and Host Committee appreciate Malio’s hospitality.
Planning Ahead: A Closer Look at Tampa Bay Area Locations
It never hurts to plan ahead for your visit to the Tampa Bay area for the 2012 Republican National Convention. Here is a closer look at two area venues, including contact information, to help you in your planning:
Salvador Dali Museum
1st Ave. North and 2nd St. North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Known for his ever evolving work and resistance to using just one type of media, Salvador Dali inspired millions to rethink how they look at the world around them.
The Dali Museum, located in downtown St. Petersburg, showcases the work he left behind, including a wealth of oils, watercolors, drawings, graphics, sculptures, films, photographs, performance pieces, jewels and more.
The Dali Museum is the flagship of cultural tourism on the West Coast of Florida and welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year from around the world. Serving the Florida community, 10,000 students are admitted without charge annually.
For more information, call (727) 823-3767, or visit the museum online at www.thedali.org.
Mahaffey Theater
400 First Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Located in the heart of beautiful Downtown St. Petersburg, the newly-renovated Progress Energy Center for the Arts—Mahaffey Theater is a 2,031 seat cultural jewel featuring elegant ballroom space, spectacular waterfront views and European box-style seating.
Just steps away from the culturally vibrant Downtown and minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-famous museums, the Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and international artists and performances—Broadway, classical, pop, rock, comedy, dance, family and the renowned Florida Orchestra. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs.
For information, call (727) 892-5798, or visit the theater online at www.themahaffey.com.
On The Calendar
January 3: Iowa Caucus
January 10: New Hampshire Primary
January 21: South Carolina Primary
January 31: Florida Primary
February 4: Nevada Caucus
February 7: Colorado Caucus, Minnesota Caucus
Febraury 28: Arizona Primary, Michigan Primary
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