Dorchester

Polly and I spent a very exciting weekend at The Dorchester Conference in Seaside, Oregon.As you can see, it was sunny and very cold when we arrived on Friday. It changed quickly...

 ...and snowed on us, Saturday and Sunday -  but we didn't let that stop us from having a great time.
The conference is a policy discussion event, which includes US congress members, state legislators, Republican officials, and volunteers from around the state. Each day different topics are discussed in small groups, votes are taken and results are announced. It is a great way for voters to influence law makers and party officials.

 Here is Polly with Congressman Greg Walden

 We ran the State of Oregon Republican Party booth in the exhibit hall. We had a few volunteer helpers to spell us, but we were at the booth most of the time. We sold mementos, and signed up people to be precinct committee persons. We also sold tickets to the Michael Steele event, on Thursday.

 

Polly explains it all to the crowd.

 Two ladies sign up on line.

One of the interesting speakers was Michael Zak, who spoke on the history of the Republican Party.  He had a booth close to ours and spent lots of time chatting with us.

Sunday, we began to pack up around 11:00 and prepared to head back to Portland. It had snowed overnight and the highway that goes straight through the costal mountains was "chains required". So, lacking chains, we had to drive up to Astoria and head up the Columbia all the way to where we could cross the not so high West Hills to get home. It was snowing pretty heavily at the top, but the road was not slick. We drop right down on our street, that way. The "Sunset Highway" is a straight road to the coast through the mountains, and takes about an hour and a half. The river route is longer and takes about 2 and a half hours, but is necessary sometimes in the winter. Better safe than sorry.
After we got home, we had to freshen up and head out immediately for a friend's little boy's 3rd birthday party.
Long week in preparation, long weekend, long day long sleep!