WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE
APIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
BUFFALO ~ AUGUST 1 – 8

By Mark D. Evans, APIC #995

Convention Co-Chairman

It’s not too late to sign up for what is shaping up to be the biggest, most affordable, action-packed, fun-filled, historic, and memorable APIC event in our 65-year history. We expect that your only regret will be that you did not allow enough time to see and do all the things there are to enjoy and experience.

HOTEL WILL SELL OUT SOON: The first item on your “To Do” list is to finalize your reservations at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo immediately. The Convention Committee booked a block of rooms for this event two years ago. Normal room prices at this elegant, newly-remodeled hotel are $169 per night. We have arranged for a special rate for APIC members: $108. Parking, (normally $12 per day) for us is $6, with in-and-out privileges. We worked hard to negotiate an affordable rate.

DEADLINE: APIC’s room block is guaranteed until Thursday, July 8. After that day, our remaining rooms will be returned to inventory and available to the general public. We expect the hotel to sell out quickly, since there are other events in the city at this time of year. Late reservations may still be available if requesting the APIC special rate, but availability is NOT guaranteed. Links can be found at the APIC website: www.APIC.us

AMENITIES: located in the heart of Downtown Buffalo, the Hyatt Regency is a renovated and expanded transformation of an office building by noted architect E. B. Greene. The lobby, ballrooms, meeting rooms and guest rooms were all newly renovated in 2009, including the 11 th floor swimming pool. Rooms include free Internet service and free access to the hotel’s new fitness center. It is within walking distance to dozens of fine and casual restaurants, Buffalo Bisons baseball [four nights during our convention], historic buildings and churches, and eclectic shopping in the Elmwood district.

SHOW ATTRACTIONS & EVENTS:

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ROOM-HOPPING: we expect very strong member-to-member traffic, starting Sunday August 1 and culminating Wednesday, the 4 th with well over 125 rooms. Anyone can set up to buy, sell and trade. As of June, we have members traveling from 31 states and Canada

Tuesday morning will see APIC’s first “CHALK & AWE” event. APIC will provide the chalk and members are encouraged to take part in a button-themed sidewalk art contest in front of the hotel. APIC members Mitch Kuhn and Dru Diedrich have been appointed to the convention Chalk Board to develop rules and prizes. Bring your own knee pads! By the way, Mitch and Dru will make it possible for members to have their photos on a button with their favorite political candidate.

Tuesday evening will feature QUIZ NIGHT, a political trivia competition at the Founding Fathers Pub. The tavern is heavily decorated with political memorabilia and APIC is fielding a team to compete against the locals.

PRESIDENTIAL RE-ENACTORS:

Visitors can meet, greet and be photographed with experienced presidential re-enactors.

• Dr. Peter Wolfe will be portraying our 13 th president, Millard Fillmore.
• George Cleveland, grandson of Grover and Frances Cleveland, will portray his grandfather, President Cleveland.
• Jerry Sandifer and his wife will be here, traveling from their home in Canton, Ohio, portraying President and Mrs. McKinley (even though they have been warned not to go to Buffalo!). The McKinley’s are sponsored by the Ohio Boys and the Ohio Chapter.
• Professional actor Joe Wiegand will portray Theodore Roosevelt and will appear in a variety of period TR outfits. You will be “Deee-Lighted” to meet him. Bully!

HISTORIC REPLICAS

Guests can sit behind and pose for photos at a full size replica of the presidential RESOLUTE DESK, presented by Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes for the American Centennial in 1876. Intricately carved from timbers of the historic HMS Resolute, it features a hinged door in the front, made famous by little John John Kennedy in JFK’s oval office. President Obama uses that desk today.

History buffs can stand behind a full size replica of the PRESIDENTIAL PODIUM, complete with the Presidential Seal. Both replicas are on loan from APIC member Jim Warlick of Washington, D.C., proprietor of the Political Americana stores and the American Presidential Experience traveling exhibits.

THE EXHIBIT:

54 showcases of Exhibits, drawn from the collections of members from all across America, will feature memorabilia for all New Yorkers who were candidates for president and vice president, including Aaron Burr, Martin VanBuren, DeWitt Clinton, Rufus King, Horatio Seymour, Samuel Tilden, Levi P. Morton, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, Alton B. Parker, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Al Smith, Thomas E. Dewey, William E. Miller, Geraldine Ferraro, Jack Kemp, Nelson Rockefeller and many more. Also on display will be Inaugural buttons from George Washington’s NYC Inauguration, and a special exhibit of Buffalo’s own First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland. A collection highlighting the career of William “Wild Bill” Donovan will be featured, as well as an exhibit on candidates for Buffalo Mayor. A special collection of memorabilia from the Pan American Exposition will also be displayed. The Exhibit is sponsored by Ted Hake.

Featured items are the actual Cleveland family Bible on which Grover Cleveland took the Presidential Oath of Office in 1885 and 1893, the Tiffany gift box that contained a slice of the Cleveland Wedding Cake in 1886; Frances Cleveland’s monogrammed alligator calling card case, and an engraved invitation to the 1849 Inaugural Ball, addressed to Mrs. Millard Fillmore.

WALK-IN ITEMS FOR POSSIBLE AUCTION

Buffalo was the 8 th largest city in the USA in 1900 and was a hotbed of political activity. There has never been an APIC meeting anyway near Buffalo. We are hopeful that wonderful political treasures will “come out of the woodwork” to be auctioned from area residents.

STRONG LOCAL ATTENDANCE EXPECTED

Luncheon meetings of the Buffalo Rotary Club and area historical societies will be taking place directly across the foyer from our Bourse. These folks will be given free admittance to the Bourse and Exhibits.

THE PRESIDENTIAL FORUM will take place on Saturday morning, free to the public. Our four re-enactors will take questions in a Town Hall setting, moderated by a local television anchorman. This event and all Saturday admissions will be free to the public.

THE APIC 65 TH ANNIVERSARY PRESIDENTS’ RECEPTION

Wednesday afternoon will feature a media event to kick off the public portion of the convention, with a wine and cheese reception hosted by the past and present APIC presidents. A historic marker commemorating the birthplace of First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland will be officially unveiled at this event and installed the following day.

THE BOURSE

APIC’s traditional show and sale will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with over 250 tables of authentic political memorabilia offered. On-the-spot auctions will be held of any walk-in material. The presidential re-enactors will be on hand for photos and autographs. Admission will be free on Saturday, which should bring in a good crowd. Badges & lanyards are sponsored by Old Politicals Auctions.

THE MEMBER AUCTION

An outstanding array of high quality political items from all eras will be offered Thursday evening. See center spread and back page of this section for details.

THE “TASTE OF BUFFALO” BUFFET will be served during the Auction Preview period, featuring sampler portions of traditional, regional and ethnic dishes that make Buffalo famous. Items include “Beef-on-Weck” sandwiches, Polish sausage, pirogues, cole slaw, Grandma Brown’s baked beans, Sahlen’s hot dogs served with Webber’s Horseradish Mustard, Anderson’s frozen custard and Loganberry, a locally-popular non-carbonated beverage. Since APIC membership is dominated by “full-bodied men”, this event will NOT be offered as an all-you-can-eat experience!

The Friday morning AWARDS BREAKFAST will feature an address by TR re-enactor Joe Wigand. It will be followed by informational seminars and meetings of several of APIC’s chapters.

THE HISTORIC BUS TOUR OF BUFFALO will take place Friday after the bourse, taking visitors past the McKinley Monument at Niagara Square and the statues of Fillmore and Cleveland; the Frances Folsom Cleveland Birthplace; Frank & Theresa’s Anchor Bar, birthplace of Buffalo Chicken Wings; the Frank Lloyd Wright /Darwin-Martin House; the Millard Fillmore gravesite; the site of the Pan American Exposition where McKinley was fatally shot; the site of the Milburn House where he died; and culminating at a wine/cheese reception and private tour the newly-renovated Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. This is a free event, with buses departing hourly. The reception is sponsored by The Texas Boys. Transportation for the tour is sponsored by Anderson Auctions.

88 members have signed up for the already sold-out bus excursion and dinner package, culminating with a trip on the MAID OF THE MIST to the foot of Niagara Falls. Members may meet the group at the dock to join us, but the bus and dinner portion are sold out.

The week culminates on Sunday afternoon at an OPEN HOUSE & BARBEQUE at the home of APIC member Shelby O’Neill, hosted by his parents Phil O’Neill and Mary Ann Wiater in nearby Corfu, NY, east of Buffalo.