When you become a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, an amazing amount of paper comes pouring through your mailbox. Invitations arrive by email as well. As people have noted, much of what goes on at the convention does not happen on the convention floor.

Everyone receives different invitations, depending on who you are and what your associations are. For example, I received at least 10 invitations to women’s events, but none for union events.

The events fall into roughly three categories: training events, speaker forums, and parties.

I finally went through the 3-inch thick file and put together a schedule of things I wanted to attend. I ended up ditching a lot of things that looked interesting, but not quite interesting enough.

Most of the events listed here are free (!) with the exception of one that I paid $10 for, and one for $25 that I’m considering. Given the other expenses of attending the convention, I opted out of the fundraisers. I think you can get through the entire convention without paying for meals.

So, what does a delegate do all day? Check out the schedule below.

24 Saturday
Arrive 5 pm

25 Sunday:
12-? Reenactment of the Battle of Lexington, Lexington Green
4-7 Oregon Welcome Party, Boston Latin School
9-12 NOW welcome reception, Liberty Ballroom A, Sheraton Boston

26 Monday:
8-10 Delegation breakfast and credentialing
10 am Blogger breakfast, Hilton Back Bay Hotel
10-4 GAIN Training, John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
11:15-3:00 Riverboat lunch cruise, sponsored by Democratic Party of Oregon
3:30-5:30-Boston Tea Party, National Women’s Political Caucus, Fairmont Copley Plaza ($25)
7-10 Convention
11-1 Cheers from Coast-to-Coast reception, at Cheers bar in honor of John Edwards and Oregon and North Carolina senators and representative (and candidate Erskine Bowles)

27 Tuesday:
8-10 Delegation breakfast and credentialing
10-11:50 Women’s Caucus, Sheraton Boston
10-4 GAIN Training, John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
1-5:30 Revolutionary Women, Boston Conference and Exhibition Center ($10pd); M. Albright, H. Clinton, N. Pelosi, C. Mosley Braun, J. Granholm
5-8 Oregon Delegation/Gov. Ted Kulongoski reception, Ned Devine’s, Faneuil Hall
7-10 Convention
10-1 Cocktails, Condoms, and Celebrities, Planned Parenthood reception, Via Matta, Park Plaza
10-2 NARAL Pro-choice Friends of Choice event, Sanctuary nightclub, 189 State Street

28 Wednesday:
8-10 Delegation breakfast and credentialing
10-4 GAIN Training, John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
10:15, NEW Grassroots, The Old West Church (Arianna Huffington, Zephyr Teachout of ACT and representatives of ActBlue, DemSwingers, Driving Votes, IndyVoter, The MMOB, ReDefeat Bush, Run Against Bush, Running in Heels, Billionaires for Bush, and 1000 Flowers.)
4:30-6:00 Let Justice Roll, Interfaith Service and Rally, The Old South Church, Copley Square
7-10 Convention
?? Blogger Bash

29 Thursday:
8-10 Delegation breakfast and credentialing
9:30 Health Issues 2004 (Kennedy, H. Clinton, Daschle, Dean, Obama, Pelosi), Faneuil Hall. Sponsored by Americans for Health Care.
10-11:50 Women’s Caucus, Sheraton Boston
10-4, GAIN Training, John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
2-4 Strategy Sessions, Sheaton Boston
7-10 Convention

30 Friday
9-12 DNC meeting

Convention speaker schedule