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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 091-04
April 21, 2004

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES FORMER MAYOR EDWARD I. KOCH TO BE CHAIRMAN OF VOLUNTEER DRIVE FOR 2004 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that former Mayor Edward I. Koch will be the Chairman of a volunteer drive for the 2004 Republican National Convention.  The Convention will be held in New York City from Monday, August 30th to Thursday, September 2nd.  The volunteer drive is centered around an ad campaign which includes print ads with the tag line “Be a part of it” featuring former Mayor Koch and a Web site, www.nyc2004.org, where New Yorkers have to apply to volunteer.  Joining Mayor Bloomberg at the announcement were former Mayor Koch, Convention Manager and CEO Bill Harris, Monster.com Founder Jeff Taylor.

“Hosting the Republican National Convention is good for New York City,” Mayor Bloomberg said.  “In late August, 50,000 delegates, officials, convention participants, and members of the media will gather in New York City to be a part of history.  The economic benefit will give a tremendous shot in the arm, providing work to thousands of New Yorkers during what is often a summer slowdown.  We will also be the center of the nation's attention and New York will be able to show the world how far we have come in such a short period of time.”

The Host Committee expects 8,000 volunteers will be needed during the 16-day period from August 18th to September 3rd.  The volunteers will work at welcome desks at all three regional airports and around-the-clock at the hotels where delegates and convention visitors will be staying. They will also serve as guides and monitors at the city’s transportation hubs.  Even before today’s launch, the Host Committee has already signed up 2,500 volunteers from more than 400 political, educational, non-profit, corporate and civic organizations from around the region.  All volunteers will be invited to an orientation seminar and training sessions. 

“You don’t have to be a Democrat to love New York,” former Mayor Koch said.  “Hosting the Republican National Convention will reinforce for the world that among the many things New Yorkers do well is to pull together – New Yorkers have always banded together to lend a hand.  And we will do just that to make the Republican National Convention a resounding success.”  

“With the help of volunteers, the 2004 Convention will be a truly unique event - one like never before. Volunteer’s commitment and tireless hard work during the week of the Convention will prove to be a success for the City of New York,” said Convention CEO Bill Harris.

“The hard working men and women of the labor movement will greatly benefit by the many new jobs created by our city hosting this summer's Republican National Convention,” said Central Labor Council President McLaughlin.  “At the 1996 Democratic Convention in Chicago, 4,200 new jobs were created, and the 2000 Republican Convention in Philadelphia created 4,777 jobs.  It is our hope that we will beat those numbers with over five thousand new construction, building trades, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and transportation jobs.”

“Monster Worldwide is proud to call New York its home and delighted to join Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki in their efforts to recruit the more than 8,000 volunteers needed to make this convention a resounding success for the City of New York,” said Jeff Taylor, founder and chief Monster.  “As a company dedicated to bringing people together, we look forward to contributing all the technologies at our disposal to better inform and connect all the volunteers, and help make the convention one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of their lives.”

The donated print ads urging New Yorkers to volunteer during the convention will appear beginning on April 22nd in the New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Observer and Crain’s New York Business.  Clear Channel Communications will also display the ads on a number of billboards in the city.  The ads have been developed on a pro bono basis by Grey Advertising and placed with the help of Rubenstein Associates.  Street pole banners have also been donated by Titan Outdoor. 

The Host Committee’s strategic partner, Monster.com, developed the web application that allows volunteers to signup through the Web site.  Prospective volunteers will have to apply online through www.nyc2004.org using technology that is easy to navigate and compliant with the Federal privacy and accessibility standards.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Jennifer Falk   (212) 788-2958



GENERAL CONTACT:

Paul Elliott (Host Committee)   (212) 630-8081


More Resources
Ad campaign featuring Former Mayor Ed Koch (in pdf
Watch press conference in 56k or 300k