Today was an awesome day!!
3:30 pm: Attended the Coca-Cola reception for the Georgia Black Caucus members. Ingrid Saunders Jones and the Coca-Cola crew put on a fantastic reception. Lots of food, open bar, and good people. The line to get into the reception stretched on to the sidewalk and down the street. Lots of folks were trying to get in to this party.
Ingrid Saunders Jones, Coca-Cola
Congr. David Scott and his wife
(will post video and later)
4:30 pm: Headed over to the Convention center for the media check-in. Media check-in for the Phoenix Awards dinner was at 5 pm. President Obama and the First Lady were addressing the crowd. The Phoenix Awards dinner is the pinnacle event for the CBCF weekend. When I arrived there were lots of media folks – when I say lots I mean at least 150 people. Media folks who I haven’t seen covering any of the CBCF events this weekend. It was crazy.
They divided the group into four categories – four very traditional media categories – photographers, video, broadcast, and print. Ummm…that would be a big fat no for any social or new media folks. Since I was the only blogger, I stood in the photographer line (I had a fancy still camera and 2 flip cameras). Then the CBCF staffers stood in front of our line and said “if we call your name then please move to this new line”. We waited with anticipation for our names to be called without knowing if this was a good or bad thing. I heard them say “Bernita Dona Smith”, so I followed the directions, still unaware and anxious about this new line. I asked the young CBCF staffer if this was a good thing and he said “welcome to the promise land. I can’t tell you anymore than that.” Now my anxiety is starting to ratchet up…but at least my first thoughts were not true. I originally thought they were calling names of people who didn’t make the Secret Service approval list – whew, I made it. After they called about 18 names, we were moved away from the large crowd of media folks. And that’s when they dropped the bomb!
The 18 of us were now the official CBCF press pool who would have direct access to photograph the President. What!!! What!!! How the hell did this happen? Aw man, the sweat is pouring down my back now, I’m having crazy hot flashes, and I’m so nervous that I can’t even dial my momma on the phone. I did manage to text my brother, Jules, and Catherine about the news. Thank God for texting…those 3 helped me to contain my excitement and nerves.
What was really cool is that many in this crew actually covered CBCF events – we came to the sessions, went to the events, and reported on the happenings. We were not Johnny come lately. Now thinking about it maybe that’s how the CBCF decided who should comprise their official press pool. At every session, there was a CBCF staffer who had the media folks sign in.
They gave us the basic Secret Service instructions and moved us upstairs for our bags to be checked. We waited for the Secret Service canines to do their sniff test – woohoo we all passed. Standing in this line was very weird because I have always been on the other side – the side giving instructions on the do’s and don’ts of the Secret Service. I have been on the advance team for President Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and sat in many meetings with President Carter. Yeah, it was very different being on the other side. A good learning experience.
We were given our new press passes and then more instructions.
They moved us upstairs to the gala, led us to our seats, we left our bags, and they moved us again to the front of the room. More instructions and then they told us we would have 4 minutes to take pictures of the President. They divided us into 2 groups – somehow I was placed in the 1st group. Oh geesh, the nerves were at full steam now.
They moved the 1st group out about 45 seconds before the President appeared on the stage. Then the President and First Lady appeared. Wow Michelle is really pretty up close. And the President looks good too!
After greeting the hosts, Cong. Barbara Lee and Kendrick Meeks , the First Lady departed the stage and the President addressed the crowd.
And I started snapping photos. It was so surreal. Let me just say that 4 minutes goes by very, very quickly. I also managed to get some video. I was definitely multi-tasking.
These may not be the most professional pictures. But they are mine!!
After our 4 minutes were over, Secret Service rushed us out and the 2nd group was allowed to take pictures. We were all supposed to go another round but something got screwed up so we stood in the wings and watched the President.
(Will post video later)
After the President left the stage, the award ceremony began. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, Danny Glover, Cicley Tyson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Wyclef Jean, and Georgia’s very own Calvin Smyre received Phoenix awards. The Phoenix Award is
awarded for efforts and accomplishments that have made significant contributions to society, and symbolizing the immortality of the human spirit and an eternal desire to reach its full potential.
This clip is of Calvin Smyre accepting his award. Check out the video because it includes a video about Calvin’s lifelong work. I never knew he was the youngest (before Alisha Thomas Morgan was elected) legislator in Georgia’s history. Calvin was dressed mighty sharp and represented Georgia very well. Big props to Calvin.
10:30 pm: Finally the dinner is over and I can leave the building to get something to eat. Ended up going to Roland Martin’s party until 2:30 am and had a lot of fun.
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