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• Republican Convention to impact region
• 'Kickin' Cancer' overnighter yields $146,000-plus for ACS

By Debbie Griffin, RiverTown Staff

"It's 159 days and counting," laughed Cyndi Lesher about the Republican National Convention taking place in Minneapolis and St. Paul Sept. 1-4.

She spoke before 80 people at Tuesday morning's River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast at Kilkarney Hills Golf Course. The theme: How the 2008 Republican Convention will affect this area.

Lesher, president and CEO of Northern States Power Company-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company, also leads the 16-person Host Committee preparing for the RNC.

The Host Committee has two main functions according to Lesher: Promote the convention and its events, and raise $58 million.

"The good news is: People are still returning my phone calls," Lesher said.

Lesher emphasized the convention's magnitude and said the Twin Cities has never seen anything like this. She said the only thing bigger would be hosting the Olympic games.

"We're expecting 40,000-50,000 people," she said, not including many volunteers and guests.

Organizers expect the event to inject $150- to $200-million worth of money for the region.

Lesher said about 14,000 credentialed media members will descend on the area, fresh from covering the Democratic National Convention in Colorado.

"It's priceless media exposure ," Lesher points out. "There are great stories to tell."

She said that exposure tends to keep the economic goodness coming years after the convention. Part of her goal is to have people who've never visited the area leave the area saying to themselves, "Who knew?"

"We went after this because it's a huge opportunity," said Lesher.

The Twin Cities aggressively bid on both the Republican and Democratic national conventions. She said the Republicans beat the Democrats to the "punch" by four days.

Otherwise, Lesher says, the Twin Cities would instead be hosting the Democratic National Convention.

Lesher's talked to convention hosts from other cities. Many say their only regret is having underestimated the magnitude of the convention opportunity.

"This is clearly about business, not about politics," she said.

She said, so far regional businesses are really stepping up to their community responsibility. The committee has reached all of its fundraising benchmarks.

"I am so impressed by the Minnesota and Wisconsin business communities," said Lesher.

She said the convention will affect the hospitality industry hardest: Hotels, restaurants, theaters, entertainment venues, even liquor stores. Lesher said an average convention delegate spends a total of $1,600 during a six-day visit.

Lesher said people have asked what the security perimeter on the Twin Cities will be. She said she doesn't know because the Secret Service doesn't disclose that information.

She assured: "Minneapolis-St. Paul will be open for business."

Lesher encourages people to participate since not many people get the chance to be a part of a national convention. People can fill out the volunteer form online at: www.msp2008.com.

The Web site also gives information on how to get a business listed in the Come Early, Stay Late section of RNC's Web site, which lists the venues and vendors people can choose while visiting.

Another opportunity for people to get involved, participate and expose their businesses is a parallel event happening Aug. 29-Sept. 4. Lesher said the exhibit-type event named "Civic Fest: An American Celebration" will probably host about 150,000 visitors.

Although the Host Committee has not yet launched official details, Lesher describes the concept as "amazing" and a chance for people to take in part of the convention experience. She called it a celebration of democracy.

A Host Committee representative expects a media launch about the event to happen in late April.

Get more on this story in this week's print edition of the River Falls Journal.

University Honorary Survivor Kris Allen told the crowd gathered as the 2008 Relay for Life began that just as "it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to support a cancer victim", and she offered her thanks to the many who assisted her this past year as she battled ovarian cancer.

Fellow survivor and Community honoree Dale Jorgenson advised those present to "listen to your body" and be alert for changes that might signal something amiss. Early detection helped Jorgenson beat bladder cancer nearly three years ago.

Cancer survivors joined 57 teams -- student and company groups, local businesses, 4-H clubs, groups of friends -- in raising money and having fun throughout the night at the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

For complete results and more details, see the April 3rd print edition of the River Falls Journal.