Back from the AFSCME conference in DC - Lots of photos. Dial-up Warning!!

[Ava]

We got back in from DC today. Here are some of the photos from the AFSCME conference I spoke at. There were professional photographers there that took our photos through out the conference. Hopefully those photos will be better and more flattering than these, lol. Also, I didn't get any photos of Kucinich while he was speaking, but I did get a lot of video(of all the candidates). I should have video or audio up sometime within the next week or so. I'm too worn out to work on that right now, lol. I did not get the meet with all of the Presidential Candidates as previously planned due to most of them leaving before I got a chance, lol, but I did get to meet with Barack Obama and a photographer there snapped some photos of that. Like the other photos I should have them also within the next week or so.


AFSCME's logo on one of the big tv screens.




2,000 attendees




The forum I was on. Donna Brazil moderated. I spoke at the other podium and showed clips from two of my videos before sitting down and answering questions on the forum. I should have video or audio up sometime soon






Donna Brazil and I with another one of the speakers. I was able to speak one on one with Donna Brazil for a little while and she was very nice. She told me to call her when I'm ready to start interning in DC, lol. ;)




Myself and Ed Shultz




After a long day and night. The speech and forum went well and it was a blast.




Later that night we were headed to grab some late dinner when the fire alarm went off. It seems that someone pulled it even though there wasn't a fire.




Getting my camera ready the second day for the Presidential forum. I got lots of footage and photos. I didn't get any good photos of Dennis Kucinich but I got a lot of video.




Getting myself ready for the Presidential forum.




MSNBC's Chris Matthews moderated the Presidential forum.




Chris Matthews and Presidential candidate Gov. Bill Richardson






Chris Matthews and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton








Chris Matthews and Presidential candidate John Edwards










Chris Matthews and Presidential candidate Barack Obama










Chris Matthews and Me




And of course no DC trip can be complete without first stopping in front of the white house to flash some peace signs! (excuse the horrible photograph of me. after walking for hours in DC a person tends to look bad, lol)

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Fantastic!! Looks like you did well and had a great time! What does AFSCME mean?

:thumbsup:

Seriously, I don't know what it stands for.

[Ava]

2. thanks.

AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, is the largest union for workers in the public service with 1.4 million members nationwide.

[matcom]

4. I was just wondering the same thing

:shrug:

GOOD ON YOU AVA!

[Ava]

6. see above

;) thanks :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

3. awesome!!! what did you think of the candidates?

I'll look forward to the new videos :bounce:

[Ava]

5. they all did great - obama, edwards, and kucinich all really stood out

all candidates have an equal amount of time to speak so it was a very level playing field. obama definitely stood out and just judging by the crowd's reactions he won hands down. edwards also got the crowd really going.

[SeattleGirl]

7. Wow, Ava, those are great pics! Thank you for posting them!

Looks like you had a great time.

BTW, just out of curiosity, what was Ed Schultz like? I listen to him on occasion, if I'm in the car during his time slot, because our local AAR station doesn't air Randi Rhodes until 5:00 my time. I prefer Randi, but don't have the kind of animosity toward Ed that some folks seem to, so just wondered what he was like in person.

[Ava]

8. he was nice and had the crowd fired up

:hi:

[Ava]

9. oh, i forgot to add

he was doing his show live from the conference either one or two of the days.

[SeattleGirl]

15. That's great!

I know a lot of way-to-the-left-of-center folks don't care for him, but I think he's the kind of talk show host who would appeal to people who are just beginning to turn to the left. Some other hosts, like Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy, would blow those folks' minds, but I think Ed would really speak to them.

[seemunkee]

10. Wow. what a great experience.

Considering the weather hear the last few days I'm surprised you didn't melt. Looks like you had a great time.

[Ava]

11. you must not visit bama often

it's much much hotter here, lol. the weather wasn't too horrible except for when we walked for hours around DC - it was nice though to walk around the city and monuments. this is my 4th trip to DC but in the past the trips have been for ralleys and i haven't been able to spend much time at the monuments.

[Midlodemocrat]

12. Awesome pics, Ava! You done good, girl!

:thumbsup:

[Ava]

13. thanks Midlodemocrat

:hi:

[SPKrazy]

14. Ahhhhh! Tweety Touched You! :D

very nice pics Ava my hero!

:woohoo:

I'm excited!


:yourock:

:hug:

[Ava]

17. Chris Matthews is very nice - and i actually like his show

I don't see why so many people here dislike him.

and thanks :D :pals:

[BarenakedLady]

16. Wonderful Ava!

You are such an amazing young woman! Love you!

:loveya:

:yourock:

[Ava]

21. aww shucks, thanks BarenakedLady

:hug: you're pretty awesome too :P

[Capn Sunshine]

18. I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS

your union is what it's all about, and I really appreciate how time, after time, you guys step up with help- whether $ or infrastructure -Thanks Big time from the CDP

[Ava]

19. i'm not part of the union - although i very much respect them

i was just a speaker there - after all since i'm only 16 i'm not part of any union. ;)

they definitely rock! :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

20. Cool pix!

What an experience!

Chris Matthews looks a lot more gaunt in your pictures than I imagined him.

[Ava]

22. he's much much thinner in person

i was shocked - he's tall and very thin. he also looks a bit older in person. he was really nice :hi:

[KitchenWitch]

23. I always pictured him as stocky!

I am glad he is nice in real life.

[Ava]

24. he does look much more stocky on TV

and yeah, he really was a nice guy and did a really good job moderating in my opinion.

[RebelOne]

25. The TV camera tends to add pounds. n/t

[Ava]

26. yeah i know that all too well

:scared:

[bridgit]

27. cool pics, Hon...

:hi: :kick: