San Diego is "America's Finest City" and considered to be the birthplace of California. Portugese explorer Juan Cabrillo landed in Point Loma, in 1542, not far from where we propose to hold the 2013 Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention.
San Diego boasts a nearly-perfect, Mediterranean climate with average temperatures in February ranging from 51 to 71 degrees, and averaging 60 degrees. February rainfall averages 2 inches with an 80% chance of sunny weather, on any given February day.
The San Diego RLC delegation proposes to have the convention at Humphrey's Half-Moon Resort, on Shelter Island, in the village of Point Loma. Humphrey's is the chosen venue for the Libertopia festival with a unique outdoor stage and 5-6 meeting rooms (for 30-40 people) for breakout sessions. Indoor seating for as many as 300 people is available but the outdoor venue offers a unique "convention area" which could double as a concert venue for the public on one night of the convention, raising awareness to our organization. It is not unreasonable to expect a room rate under $125.00 at this venue.
Shelter Island is a secluded location which is near everything meaning, , you get the feeling of being in the tropics at the resort but can walk to the restaurants and nightlife of the village. Shelter Island is only a $10 cab ride from the nearby San Diego International Airport (3 miles away) and a $15-20 cab ride from the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, (7 miles away). Nearby attractions include Sea World (5 miles away), Balboa Park, home to the museums and theorld famous San Diego Zoo (9 miles away), Coronado Island (12 miles away), and La Jolla (11 miles away). Nearby beaches include Ocean Beach, Coronado, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla, making San Diego the perfect destination for RLC delegates who want to bring along their families.
Our San Diego chapter is young and small (under 20 members) but we have a lot of support from the local GOP organization and accompanying Republican groups. The San Diego Republican community understands that conventions, large or small, are an integral part of our local economy. Our chapter will commit to serving as a de facto, "on location" organizing committee and can expect support from other local Republicans as well.
Our endorsed mayoral candidate, Carl DeMaio is leading in the polls, has addressed our chapter before, and is one of the leading advocates of defined-benefit pension reform in the country. It is reasonable to expect a (hopefully) Mayor DeMaio to be a speaker for our convention. Other speakers might include Brian Doherty from the Reason Foundation, and author of Ron Paul Revolution, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Congressman Tom McClintock, Howard Kaloogian from Tea Party Express, and local radio-show host Mike Slater.
President's Day weekend (Feb 15-17) would be ideal for our convention because it makes it easier for families to plan a mini-vacation. An alternative weekend would be the next weekend (Feb 22-24).
Local sponsors for the convention might include a precious metals dealer, a national bank, a national insurance company, and various grassroots political advocacy organizations--we have contacts with all of them.