Damian Sedney, the organizer of the Obama delegate forums, has this report from last night’s get together…

(And don’t forget to look over the growing national delegate candidates list here.)

The Sun Shines on the Obama Delegate’s Forum in Burlington!

As I left my home on Monday afternoon in the pouring rain, I pondered the wisdom of holding Monday’s delegate forum in a Burlington city park! Even though the forum was to be held under the cover of a picnic shelter that could shield 100 people from the rain, I wondered how many people would have the faith, drive and conviction to leave their homes and drive to Oakledge Park on a rainy Monday evening!

As I drove through the heavy rain on I-89, I was almost overwhelmed with worry! However, as my aging Subaru and I crested the hill near Williston, I saw a large and growing sun-filled opening in the skies to the west! It appeared that the heavens had parted for Senator Obama’s supporters! Yes We Can!!

There was rain in every cardinal direction, except over the area surrounding Oakledge Park!

As the delegates arrived the sun began to warm the large shelter and the enthusiasm and hopes of the determined Obama-pledged, District-level delegate candidates! This was obviously meant to be – another Obama event in the sun! This was just in time for me, as I’ve been shedding my Pennsylvania Primary tan the last week!

All the delegate candidates demonstrated they are well-qualified to represent Vermont at the Democratic National Convention! Everyone certainly offers a unique and special set of experiences and knowledge to the delegate “race”! The delegate candidates were able to promote themselves and got an opportunity polish their short convention address.

A question and answer session followed the candidate presentations, with the candidates again impressing everyone with their strength of conviction to the ideals of Senator Obama’s campaign.

As a courtesy to the Delegate candidates that showed Obama-like conviction and took time from their busy schedules last night to attend the sun-drenched Vermont Obama-pledged Delegate’s Forum, I will list their names in alphabetical order!

Philip Baruth, from Burlington 

Taylor Bates, from Williston

Tom Brown, from Colchester

Beth Diamond, from Middlebury

Thomas J. Donovan, from Burlington

Sean Gresh, from Bennington

Rindi Gordon, from Underhill

Jamieson L. Hess, from Norwich

David Mickenberg, from Burlington

Cirri Nottage, from Hartford

William Robb, from Burlington

Frederick Sharp, from Colchester

Yaacov Jacob Snyder, from Randolph

Mary Sullivan, from Burlington

Bob Williamson, from Woodstock

We hope to have a large contingent of Delegate candidates and Town delegate “voters” at the last Delegate forum in Manchester at Skinner Library, 48 West Road, Manchester, VT 05254 Tuesday, May 20th, 6:30-8:00pm.