How Are You Serving a Cause Greater Than Your Own Self-Interest?
GOP Convention Marks 100-Days Out with Call for YouTube Entries Winning video to be played, winners to attend Republican National Convention
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – With Saturday marking 100 days to the start of the 2008 Republican National Convention, and taking to heart the call of Sen. John McCain to serve a cause greater than one’s own self-interest, convention President and CEO Maria Cino today announced a national YouTube video contest with the winners attending the convention held at the Xcel Energy Center, Sept. 1-4.
“This contest is an exciting and interactive way for people to share stories of how they or others they know are giving something back in small towns and big cities across our great nation,” Cino said. “As our convention staff continues to participate in community service projects throughout Minneapolis-Saint Paul, we hope Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike will join us in answering Sen. McCain’s call to serve a greater cause “and that they will share their videos with us and the rest of the world.”
A video announcing the contest, featuring Sen. McCain’s Campaign Manager Rick Davis, can be viewed at www.youtube.com/GOPConvention2008.
The YouTube contest extends the convention’s American Neighbor Volunteer Program to a national level by asking people across America to submit videos profiling those whose efforts echo the American Neighbor mission: “I can help my neighbor. I can make a difference in my community.”
“Making your community a better place by helping your neighbors is truly a cause greater than our own self-interests, and it is a cause that is truly American,” Cino added.
From May 23 through June 26, 2008, users can submit a short video through the convention’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/GOPConvention2008. On June 27, the convention will announce five finalists, which will be voted on by YouTube users through the convention’s YouTube page. Voting runs through July 3, with the winner announced on Independence Day.
The winning video will be played during the official proceedings of the 2008 Republican National Convention. The producer and person profiled in the winning video will be invited to attend the convention.
The American Neighbor Volunteer Program was announced in September 2007 as a service initiative aimed at giving back to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and inspiring Republicans across the nation to take action in their own communities. Since the program’s inception, convention staff has accumulated more than 375 hours of volunteer service, ranging from feeding the homeless to cleaning up a local park. Convention staff will also be helping build a new home for a young soldier injured in Iraq.
About the Republican National Convention
The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center from Sept. 1-4, 2008. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, volunteers, members of the media and other guests are expected to attend the convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is expected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost from the four-day event. For more information about the 2008 Republican National Convention, please visit our website at www.GOPConvention2008.com.
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