February 2003

Dear California Leagues, Delegates, and non-voting League attendees,

WELCOME! You have a very special experience awaiting you in Oakland on the sunny side of San Francisco Bay. The seven LWVs of Alameda County have been working with our state board to plan a convention that we think you will find meaningful, inclusive, educational, inspirational, refreshing, future-oriented, friendly, and lots of fun. The plenary sessions, workshops, caucuses, debates, and speakers will all focus on the theme NEW CHALLENGES à NEW SOLUTIONS and will be relevant not only to the future of the League, but also to the future of California.

Plan to come early and stay late, Thursday through Sunday, to take advantage of the special tours we have planned for you. Tours available on Thursday are: Livermore Valley wineries and lunch; high tea and historical museum tour at the Victorian Camron-Stanford House on Lake Merritt; gondola ride on Lake Merritt; jazz and dinner at Yoshi's on Jack London Square; birding at East Bay Regional Park's Diamond Slough; dinner at Chez Panisse; and even more. The traditional "Dine Around" on Friday evening will offer our best ethnic and California cuisine restaurants. Be sure to sign up at the Hospitality Area as soon as you arrive. A few of the Thursday tours will be repeated on Sunday if there's enough interest.

The convenient location of the Marriott City Center Hotel in downtown Oakland, easily allows delegates and accompanying visitors to spend free time at the Oakland Museum of California, Jack London Square, the nearby restored Old Oakland Area, and other attractions that you'll find listed when you pick up your Registration Packet at the Convention.

On Friday evening prior to the "Dine Around", the seven LWVs of Alameda County and corporate sponsors welcome you as their guests at a Gala Reception on the Terraces of the Oakland Museum of California. While being entertained by a Dixieland Band and enjoying delicious hors d'oeuvres and wine, you'll be able to network with some of our California representatives in Washington, California state constitutional officers, key officials of the California Legislature, and local elected officials.

In the midst of Friday's official Convention activity, you have the option of lunch on your own or attending luncheon at the hotel with a well﷓known speaker on a very important topic. Because of great local interest, we are welcoming attendance by the community.

On Saturday, following the workshops, a no-host reception will precede the Banquet. Our nationally﷓known speaker, the M.C., and the entertainment combine to make this a great League evening you won't want to miss. Because of the significance of the speaker, we are promoting Banquet attendance to compatible organizations in the Bay Area .

On behalf of our county, the seven LWVs of Alameda County are delighted to host your visit to Oakland. We hope that you will enjoy this Convention and your stay as much as we enjoyed making it happen. We look forward to seeing you here in May and to adopting League program and budget that will spearhead a bright future not only for the League, but for our state. Cheers!

The LWVC Convention 2003 Committee