FCD at the FDP 2011 Jefferson Jackson Dinner

By Jad Khazem, Chief Financial Officer

June 13th, 2011

A night to remember. Those are the words that come to mind when thinking about the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner hosted by the Florida Democratic Party (FDP). The event, held at the Westin Diplomat Resort in South Florida’s Hollywood, provided an exceptional opportunity for the Florida College Democrats (FCD) to engage and show their support for the Party.

In the run up to the Dinner, the officers of the FCD had the chance to attend and learn from a number of intriguing FDP sessions at the Westin Diplomat. The morning kicked off with sessions focusing on voter registration and vote building, topics of special significance at a time when Tallahassee is writing new rules governing voter registration. Later in the day, caucuses of the FDP began to host their sessions, and in doing so the diversity of the Democratic Party was highlighted. The Business Caucus appealed to the entrepreneurial spirit, as the Women’s Club drew attention to the strong values of the FDP and their capacity to advance female candidates in the state. The sessions conducted by the Veterans, GLBT, Black, and Labor Caucuses all solidified the attributes of diversity, respect, and tolerance that define the Party.

Then right before the Dinner, the FCD, under the distinguished title of the Democratic Student Caucus, had the privilege to conduct their session. Prominent speakers – including former Mayor Lois Frankel, State Representative Scott Randolph, and the FCD’s own Dominique Gelin – all carried forth a message of successful youth activism, progress, and organization. Additionally a list of FCD initiatives was touched upon, and of course the new Board was also presented. From President to Secretary, to the various FCD Caucus Chairs, each and every officer received a warm welcome. A sense of pride and promise was clear.

Finally at 6:30 PM, the doors swung open for the event everyone had been waiting for, the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Party officials, businessmen, congressmen, senators and representatives flocked through the crowds, shaking hands and taking photos as they made their way to their seats. As dining room tables filled with these high profile figures, in addition to a number of FCD officers, the speakers made their way to the stage. Host and FDP Chairman Rod Smith offered a cordial welcome and a compelling speech to get things started. Then one by one, he summoned to the podium speakers of genuine clout and eloquence. Former Florida CFO Alex Sink, US Senator Bill Nelson, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Steve Israel and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz are just a few names that immediately come to mind. After all the officials finished their speeches, electrifying the crowd each and every time, the keynote speaker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, took to the stage. After receiving a thunderous applause, Gov. Patrick captivated the crowd in a speech that truly exceeded expectations. Among other things, the Governor spoke of the challenges of his youth, and the privilege he has had, like so many other Americans, to provide for his children a better upbringing. This message of progress from one generation to the next touched so many hearts, and he made clear that it was the responsibility for the Democratic Party to keep it alive.

If nothing else, that night, the FCD agreed.