S.C. inaugural party planner having a ball
Woman juggles law school, organization of D.C. fete
Imagine being responsible for all the logistics associated with throwing South Carolina's biggest presidential inaugural bash in Washington.
Then imagine doing all this long distance while beginning your first year at the Charleston School of Law.
This is the life of Laurin Groover, a Florence native who volunteered to chair the South Carolina State Society's inaugural ball committee.
She committed to this job a year ago, while she was working in Washington. Last September, she decided to move here and return to school — and it's been a very busy fall.
Groover has juggled torts and law books while constantly checking her Blackberry to learn the latest news about corporate sponsorships, ticket sales, caterers and the band.
After last month's exams, she got in her car and drove north to check on the many details.
This is no mere oyster roast: It's a black-tie gala for 2,500 people inside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum the evening before
Barack Obama is sworn in as president of the United States.
Groover, who also chaired the society's inaugural ball committee in 2000 and 2004, said she was most nervous in October, as the committee struggled to find corporate sponsors. Their dollars help defray the cost of the ball and keep ticket prices to $125 per person —the same as the society charged for its ball four years ago. Now that $80,000 in sponsorships has trickled in, she isn't tossing and turning as much at night.
But there are still other concerns, such as security. Eight years ago, Groover was shocked by how many people, including some Palmetto State elected officials, tried to crash the party with bogus tickets. "It was outrageous," she said. "They weren't even good fakes."
The inaugural ball's 27 committee members had to make many decisions long before they knew who would be elected the nation's 44th president. A year ago, they settled on the Air and Space Museum — a handsome hangar that's home to the world's largest collection of historic airplanes and spacecraft.
Groover previously worked for Congressmen Floyd Spence and Joe Wilson, and while the society is nonpartisan, she knows how Republican South Carolina leans. About 1,800 attended the ball for President George Bush's second inauguration, and she had feared not as many would attend if a Democrat won.
"I was wrong," she said. "We sold out (all 2,500 tickets) before we even agreed on the invitation design."
BE A PART OF THE COVERAGE
The inauguration of Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, will be a defining moment in American history.
The Post and Courier and Charleston.net will provide exhaustive coverage of both the inauguration and the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. It continues all week with stories about the events. The coverage shifts into high gear next Sunday, when our reporters in Washington and here at home describe the sights and sounds through the eyes and ears of Lowcountry residents. We'd also like to hear from you about the little moments that make such things memorable through a blog at Charleston.net/inauguration/. Whether you are traveling to D.C. or attending festivities here, we want to hear about security measures, traffic, touching speeches, celebrity sightings and other news.
Share your photos, send us links to your videos, or tell us what your cousin who lives in D.C. saw the Secret Service doing.
E-mail us at obama@postandcourier.com. Or post a comment on the blog or a Charleston.net story. You can also Twitter with the tag #inaug09. You can even Tweet via your text-capable cell phone.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 32 comment(s)
Posted by postman01 on January 12, 2009 at 4:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Groover is obviously a highly intelligent and motivated woman. What I want to hear is the paper's explanation of the relevance this has to the daily lives of 99%+ of its readers.
Posted by 3olivesmike on January 12, 2009 at 5:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Postman
Answer: Post and Courier knows that any mention of the Obama presidency will bring out the usual gang of racist nitwits who will provide a very high hit count upon which sponsors will pay ad fees.
Posted by theronce on January 12, 2009 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, what did I learn from this.
Posted by yird on January 12, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Postman
Answer: Post and Courier knows that any mention of the Obama presidency will bring out the usual gang of racist worshipers who will provide a very high hit count upon which sponsors will pay ad fees.
Posted by 3olivesmike on January 12, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way, Robert Behre, what's your username?
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 12, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I don't know 3olives and yird, it's 0912 and there's only 7 posts.
Perhaps a miracle will occur and there will be ONE article referencing Mr. Obama that WON'T devolve into a pissing contest between bigoted/racists posters who ALL want to seem 'enlightened' and 'intelligent'.
Regardless of your political affiliations, this story is about a local woman chairing an inaugural committee while living her life and going to law school. If she pulls this off without a hitch it speaks volumes to her talent for multi-tasking.
Kudos to Ms. Groover and Good Luck!
Posted by blah_blah_blah on January 12, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eyfigueroa,
thanks so much for that!
good luck Ms. Groover!
Posted by theronce on January 12, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eyf and blah, you know so much about everybody. I am impressed with your lack of knowledge...and so well said.
Posted by abitskeptical on January 12, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why eyfig--I'll ditto your post.
As you know I am not an Obama fan. But America's presidential inaugurations speak to the world about this country's ability to get behind our elected President & unite. The freedom to disagree, sometimes vehemently, & then unite is one of the few strengths this country has left.
Best wishes to the coordinator.
Posted by yird on January 12, 2009 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A less then flowery point of view from a cynical, extreme right wing, redneck nutcake. That's just seed. I'm sure the creativity of those with opposing views will add some demonstrative adjectives to my description.
I see a young lady that is networking big time. When she finishes law school and gets her license to stea--oops! practice law she will be a in good position to enjoy a very fruitful future.
I'm not criticizing her hard work ethic,just an observation based on past observations.
Good Luck Laurin, your going to need it as you mingle with the wolves.
Posted by guidedbystewart on January 12, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of the posters on this board sound to me like a bunch sorer losers. Would you guys like a little cheese with your "whine"?
Posted by abitskeptical on January 12, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good grief, what is the matter with most of you?
There are many articles in the paper that do not have relevance to most of us. Heck, there is a whole section that has no relevance nor even a tiny point of interest to some-like the sports section...talk about a ridiculous national obsession!
Posted by yird on January 12, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by abitskeptical on January 12, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good grief, what is the matter with most of you?
======================================================
You haven't figured it out yet?
"Inquiring minds want to know," including you or you wouldn't be here now, would you?
Isn't this the best thing going until Jerry Springer comes on?
Posted by abitskeptical on January 12, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeh, come to think of it, I have figured it out.
But, still, I never cease to be amazed. Guess it is my basic optimistic nature.
I am no Obama fan. I continue to follow the stories which the mainstream media will not cover, such as the following:
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.co...
However, calling the man names & being a sour puss about the inaugural festivities is accomplishing what? It certainly isn't doing anything to bring out real & legitimate concerns one might have about him & his policies. i.e. Obama isn't the one ending up "looking bad".
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 12, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hola abitskep!
Apparently I've hit a nerve with Theronce today. Ah, I guess everyone isn't a fan of La Reina! LOLOLOL
Anyhoo, yird, you brought up some valuable points. I had to chuckle about this quote "When she finishes law school and gets her license to stea--oops! practice law she will be a in good position to enjoy a very fruitful future."
Also, Lil’ Johnny has decided to break ranks and begin the de-evolution of this article. Apparently he didn’t read how she is part of a non-partisan group (http://www.scstatesociety.com/about.html...) and she also worked on the inaugural balls of 2000 and 2004 (a Republican winning the elections). Instead he decided to use this article to infuse race and insults at Mr. Obama.
*sigh*
Well at least it was 0939 when “it” began.
But take heart everyone, it 1215 and there are only 17 comments.
Who knows? Perhaps my wish will be partially answered.
Posted by postman01 on January 12, 2009 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My thanks to 3olivesmike and Yird for answering my rhetorical question. Of course, the correct answer is that this article and Ms. Groover have NO RELEVANCE whatsoever to 99%+ of the Post and Courier's readers.
What we are dealing with here is called a "closed loop". What this means is that the editorial staff and reporters at the P & C live in their own tiny little world while engaging in the Obsessive Disordered and Compulsive process of perpetually insisting that their mission in life is to breathlessly inform us about something they understand very poorly--the REAL WORLD.
The P & C has become yet another example of the sick left wing process that is a cancer upon our nation and our lives. Its decline mimics the decline of the New York Times, though it is not that clearly crazy. Since they don't know any better, we have to assume they mean well. Yird's and 3olivemike's characterization is correct.
Posted by theronce on January 12, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, no nerve was touched. I did find it amusing that from a simple (perhaps badly worded) rhetorical thought that supposedly my character could be called into question (if it were directed at me at all). I'm guessing that the object of the story is 1-the industrious lady or 2-to make a buck for the paper or 3-both or 4-even more. I think that it was very poorly written, rambling, so to speak. I do admit to that bigotry against stories written by someone who should be able to do much better than I. You see, I am a victim of the SC public schools, deserving of compassion and cash rather than taunts. My self-esteem is slipping.
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 12, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ahhhhh. you made the assumption that my comment was directed at you.
Speaking for myself, I don't generally respond directly to comments unless I believe the comment was directed to me or if I feel guilty about what was said.
Speaking for myself that is.
Your sarcasm notwithstanding, unless you feel that you are one of those that helped or would have helped to "devolve {the comments section} into a pissing contest between bigoted/racists posters who ALL want to seem 'enlightened' and 'intelligent'." then your comments "eyf and blah, you know so much about everybody. I am impressed with your lack of knowledge...and so well said." was unwarranted.
As was your sarcasm and personal attack against me.
Posted by notafan on January 12, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was just curious will every attendee be issued his/hers very own hammer, sickle, and bottle of vodka??
Also will the first round of mort and gas payments be distributed at this party? During the elction I heard that Obama would have the gov't pay these items for me from now on.
Posted by theronce on January 12, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyf, no guilt, no attack, just a nudge...taking up for free speech, as it were, your assumptions seemed a little broad to me, profiling so to speak. It sounded pretentious, overbearing, and assuming casting a net that COULD possibly catch anyone who disagrees with you (for any number of reasons other than bigotry or racism) in it. I do not, like you, enjoy those contests that you refer to most of the time. Sometimes, they do make me laugh at the ignorance and futility of it, and sometimes someone is witty as all get-out.
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 12, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
attack or nudge, it's semantics.
If there is ignorance and futility, it your attempt to put me in my place.
unfortunately it didn't work.
however, i thoroughly enjoyed the attempt and look forward to further entertainment from you.
And by the way Elvis absolutely belongs on velour.
Posted by B_Fwank on January 12, 2009 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
blue_eyes - I will say it, Bush tossed out free market ideals and capitalism. I was against the bailouts and still am.
BUT - remember republicans and some democrats defeated the first vote on the $700bln. The bottom line though is Bush could not have passed the bailouts with out congress, a democrat congress.
I didnt want to comment on this article, because it is simply about this lady and not politics.
Bush will be gone in a week, and we will see what a democrat house, senate and president will do. I have called Obama a Marxist, based on his own comments and ideas, but in the end, he will be the US President, and I will give him that respect, thats more than the demented Bush haters have ever done.
I bet even money that Obama will not do everything the democrats want him to, and the American people will support him when he is right. You will not hear the vile hate being spewed at Obama that Bush has had to endure from the main stream media to Hollywood leftist, despite that anger and hate, Bush has kept this nation safe from another 9-11.
Posted by yird on January 12, 2009 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by blue_eyes
A recession bordering on a depression and billions upon billions given away to the very same people who got us into this mess.
==========================================================
You are correct. Billions turned over to be under the control of the same crooks who created this mess. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, along with Raines at Feddie Mac and Obama with ACORN, were the ones who fought regulation of Freddie and Fannie time and again when Republicans tried to get some control over these out of control institutions.
If you are not aware of that then you need to get informed so you can be taken seriously .
I wish Bush had not signed off on a damned thing but he did so he's complicit but the major blame lies with the crud in congress.
The (for the past two years) Democrat congress.
Posted by B_Fwank on January 12, 2009 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EVIDENCE FOUND!!! Clinton administration's "BANK AFFIRMATIVE ACTION" They forced banks to make BAD LOANS and ACORN and Obama's tie to all of it!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivmL-lXNy...
"The Justice Department is making very serious inquiry into any possible wrongdoing that may involve (former Countrywide CEO) Anthony Mozilo, other Countrywide employees, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Kent Conrad, (former Fannie Mae CEO) Franklin Raines or other public officials," said Feinberg's lawyer, Anthony Salvano. "Robert has always cooperated thoroughly with authorities and is strictly a witness in their investigation."
Shocking Video Unearthed Democrats in their own words Covering up the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Scam that caused our Economic Crisis
Shocking Video Unearthed Democrats in their own words Covering up the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Scam that caused our Economic Crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7...
Posted by B_Fwank on January 12, 2009 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bush was not always in favor of these bailouts CHECK THE DATE -
Bush administration opposes Democrats' mortgage relief bill
updated 11:09 a.m. EDT, Sat April 26, 2008
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Congressional Democrats and the White House are on a collision course over an ambitious proposal drafted to address the spreading mortgage crisis.
House Democrats and the Bush administration are at odds over a bill designed to help struggling homeowners.
The Bush administration calls the bill a "bailout," saying it "strongly opposes" the legislation sponsored by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, intended to make it easier for homeowners to refinance their loans and stay in their homes.
There are people who made loans that should not have been made; there are some people that were wrong to take the loans out, some wrong to make the loans. If nothing happens and all those loans go under foreclosure, the economy suffers," he said.
The bill would not authorize the government to loan taxpayers' money directly to homeowners. Instead, it would authorize the Federal Housing Administration to guarantee up to $300 billion in new mortgages offered by government-approved private lenders. The new mortgages could at most equal 90 percent of a home's current value.
Posted by B_Fwank on January 12, 2009 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"You're telling the guy who did it right that he has to help pay for the guy who did it wrong," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas. "When people are struggling to pay for their mortgages, they shouldn't be forced to pay for their neighbors' mortgage.
"I think about 95 percent of America is either renting a home, they own their home outright, or they're current on their mortgage," he said. "So 95 percent of America who's doing it right is asked to help bail out 5 percent of America who probably wasn't doing it right."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/26/h...
Posted by Funky_Winkerbean on January 12, 2009 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't see spending all that money on 10 Obmanation Balls
Why not just one at the White House and save the US a few billion dollars... Is this country in a Recession/ Depression or is it my imagination? That money could be so better spent and Obama would be The Man of Change ,He promised ....
Funky_Winkerbean
Posted by yird on January 12, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"That guy",Lee Water has been dead for some time.
Maybe such intense interest in him is fostered by necrophilia.
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 13, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
funky, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Bush 1 & 2, Reagan, Clinton, Carter and several other Presidents also had inaugural balls.
In 2005 President George and Mrs. Laura Bush attended nine (9) inaugural balls. Did you protest that?
While taxpayers foot the bill for security (which includes the background screening of participants/guests of the individual balls) and the actual swearing-in ceremony, private fundraising pays for the activities including the dozen or so "officially sanctioned" inaugural balls.
Specifically, these balls are funded by donations and ball ticket sales.
If you people want to discuss the very real issues of concern such as political ideology, economic and security policies of Mr. Obama let's do so.
But this incoherent rambling about issues y'all don't even take the time to research or the nasty insults regarding the Obama's physical attributes really only speaks to your ignorance and not real world issues that truly affects us all.
But as I'm occasionally reminded, this is a forum for opinions. Apparently if they are based on fact or not is irrelevant.
man you people wear me out.
Posted by eyfigueroa on January 13, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very Little Johnny: I just reread my posts. I did not call anyone specifically a racist. Not even you.
So for you to accuse me of calling you one only reflects the guilt you must feel over being one.
;-)
“Opposing obama may seem racist to you but to a conservative it is imperative.”
Once again Itty Bitty Johnny, you failed to employ reading comprehension. You pick and choose what words you on which to attack me. There has never been a time that I posted ANYONE was racists for opposing Mr. Obama. I’m no political fan of Mr. Obama. I did not vote for him and had no intention of supporting his candidacy. So opposing him phases me not. It’s the cracks like “Kunte Kinte or Kenyans” that makes me wonder why are you so intent on infusing race into an article that didn’t warrant it. You do it so often than when you don’t it becomes news.
Unlike many of you people who regularly post on this site, I find diverging opinions refreshing and on occasion enlightening. I’m open to new ideas and as a consequence of posting and reading the posts of others on this site, I’ve even changed my mind about a few articles/subject matters.
But to forewarn you Minute Johnny, I fear no one either online or in person and I can, will and do call a spade a spade.
Posted by walterrhett on January 14, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Several of us are going to the SC and NH ball.
Posted by Funky_Winkerbean on January 14, 2009 at 8:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$45,000,000.00 cost to Inauguration committee and $50,000,000.00 for the City of Washington itself...
What recession!
Funky_Winkerbean