Last night a handful of D.C. Democratic delegates came together with organizers and volunteers from DC Vote for a pre-Democratic National Convention party at the Bohemian Caverns Mahogany Room. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton rallied the troops with a few remarks, urging delegates and voting rights volunteers not to forget that the District's delegation is "very different from other delegations." District residents can't attend the DNC for fun and games, she said, because they need to be out in full force spreading the word to other delegates from around the country that they need to support voting rights for the District.

Among the events and activities D.C.'s delegates and other voting rights volunteers can look forward to in Denver is a big protest planned at the U.S. Mint. Organizers will hand out "wooden nickels" (they're actually quite a lot larger than nickels, but they get the point across) emblazoned with the "Taxation Without Representation" slogan to make the point that the Mint's rejection of D.C.'s original state quarter design added further insult to D.C.'s ongoing second-class status.

D.C.'s delegates will meet every morning for breakfast together Monday through Thursday of the convention before heading off on their various lobbying efforts and convention duties. Stay tuned to DCist all next week for constant updates on what the D.C. delegates are up to, as we'll be there as part of the DNC's new state blogger corps. As soon as I arrive in Denver I'll also begin updating via Twitter about what's happening at the Pepsi Center: click here to follow DCist at the DNC.