2009 Legislature: Social calendar filling up, pomp and circumstance to come

January 5, 2009

With two days before kickoff, the Webmasters in charge of announcing the upcoming pomp and circumstance on Colorado’s official legislative session will hopefully soon update the page of events so we’re not still stuck back in 2008. But in the meantime, the deadline schedule for this year’s 120-day schedule for bill filing and such is ready to review. And, the legislative social calendar is filling up — though not so briskly as in the past.

Though the formal schedule has yet to be announced, the session usually kicks off with plenty of pomp and circumstance, with the excitement of new members being sworn in, leaders taking their places, and the governor being invited into the hallowed chambers of the House of Representatives to give a morning speech. The 120-day legislative session ends on Wednesday, May 6.

Bets haven’t been brisk this year that any media professionals will be kicked by any lawmakers on opening day — unless of course Douglas Bruce decides to show up for nudges and grins.

While we’re waiting for the big day to begin, let’s now move onto January’s social calendar so far, which is posted on the legislative Web site. Since these are public events involving public officials, anyone can show up to see and be seen — though it would be hard to imagine many of the hoi polloi appearing at, say, the Brown Palace or the University Club to chat with their representatives about the horrors of just losing their jobs and the complexities of home foreclosure.

Anyway, here’s the social calendar for January so far:

Thursday, Jan. 8
Colorado Counties, Inc.
CCI
5:00-7:00 p.m.
800 Grant Street, Suite 500, Denver

Friday, Jan. 16
University of Colorado
CU Advocacy Day at the Capitol
7:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 21
Lunch
Colorado Cattleman’s Association
Colorado Cattleman’s Legislative Lunch
12 noon
Scottish Rite Masonic Building
13th and Grant St.

Thursday Jan. 22
Reception
Colorado Hospital Association
CHA Legislative Reception
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
University Club
1673 Sherman Street

Monday Jan. 26

Senator Kopp and Representative Gerou
Lockheed Martin Tour
2:00 PM

Reception
Tourism Industry Association of Colorado
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Denver Athletic Club
1325 Glenarm Place

Tuesday, Jan 27
Reception
Colorado Women’s Bar, the Alliance of Professional Women and The Women’s Lobby of Colorado
An Evening With Our New Colorado Legislators
5:30 PM – 7:30 pm
Wynkoop Brewery, Mercantile Room
18th and Wynkoop St.

Wednesday, Jan. 28
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Legislative Day
9:00 AM – 12 noon
First Baptist Church, Basement, 14th and Grant, Denver

Thursday, Jan. 29
Colorado Airport Operators Association (CAOA)
CAOA Legislative Reception
5:30PM-8:00PM
Brown Palace Hotel, Onyx Room
321 17th St., Denver