In June I was appointed as a pledged Bernie Sanders Pennsylvania Public Leader/Elected Official Delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The convention is being held in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (for the Caucuses) and at the Wells Fargo Arena for the main events.
The convention officially starts on Monday July 25. For delegates and their guests, travel to Philadelphia and welcoming parties started on Sunday.
I will be taking pictures and notes of what I see and hear at my very first convention and will share them with you. So here’s my first day.
I left home this morning for Philadelphia. But before I left I had Joe take this picture of me in our back yard in my Bernie regalia next to our very own “Liberty Bell.”
Instead of driving to Philadelphia and spending $47/day for parking, I took the Amtrak train from Lewistown, PA.
Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian #42 pulling into the train station at Lewistown.
My couch awaits me!
On Board Amtrak
The train was full. Many of the people on board were delegates, media personnel, and people generally interested in attending the events surrounding the convention. I met people from Wisconsin, New York, and of course Pennsylvania on board Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian #42, the once-daily eastbound train from Pittsburgh to New York City by way of Philadelphia.
The “Clintonettes” from Pittsburgh. These are people I know from the Pennsylvania Democratic State Party meetings I attend three times a year. Left to Right: Ruth Pastore, Jean Mllko, Angie Gialloreto, and Norma McCuen.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital, was our first stop where we changed engines.
A brief glimpse of Harrisburg looking down Chestnut Street from the train station.
The coach cars of the Pennsylvanian at the Harrisburg Amtrak station.
We sat at the Harrisburg Amtrak train for 30 minutes while the diesel engine was switched to an electric engine for the rest of the trip.
Then we were off again for the last leg of the train trip.
Chris Dietz and Alex Reber joined us in Harrisburg. Chris is Millersburg Borough Council President. I first met them when Chris ran for the state legislature several years ago.
Philadelphia – We’re Here!
The train arrived at the 30th Street Station and we took a shuttle over to the Doubletree Inn in downtown Philadelphia. What should have been a 10-minute ride turned into an hour’s excursion of narrow roads and circling blocks in an attempt to get to the hotel. Part of the reason for the long drive was a parade down Broad Street near City Hall in support of Bernie Sanders.
“Bernie Sanders” joins the parade in his honor. Feel the Bern. Photo courtesy of Linda Tosti-Lane; she took this picture from our corner room at the DoubleTree Inn.
We have a great view from our 19th floor room as you can see above. We are also set for staying here for 5 days. 12 sets of towels came with the room!
We’re ready for anything this week! LOL!
After settling in we went to our first party. It was a welcoming party to the DNC convention for several states including Pennsylvania, California, Colorado and several others. It was held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Food and a wonderful variety show wrapped up the day for us.
City Hall as seen from the balcony of the Kimmel Center
One of the live-action flower women at the Kimmel Center
#DNCinPHL Welcome Party Variety Show at the William Way hosted by Cheryl Lee Ralph. Her husband is PA State Senator Vincent Hughes.
Civil Rights Advocacy 
Reblogged this on Central Oregon Coast NOW and commented:
Joanne is a NOW leader from PA.
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