In a short time, late Mayor Bob O'Connor built a legacy all about improving Pittsburgh. Though "redding up" was its catch-phrase, it was about not just tending the city, but spreading the word about it.

Tom Waseleski is editorial page editor of the Post-Gazette (twaseleski@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1669).

His brand of hometown evangelism was perfectly timed. Under his predecessor, Tom Murphy, Pittsburgh saw a strong era of construction and renewal. Two new sports stadiums. A dynamic convention center. Reclaimed riverfronts. A downtown that is the envy of other cities.

You know what it's like at home, after you've just finished cleaning or painting. You admire how it looks and you think, too bad I didn't invite someone over to enjoy it. Pittsburgh is finally at that stage, and it's time to show off the city.

The Post-Gazette and I did that two months ago by hosting a conference for a national group in which I'm a member. It wasn't a large convention by city standards -- 175 attendees. But the National Conference of Editorial Writers was a formidable bunch of visitors. They are people who, like me, are paid to be critics. They question, they challenge, they write. As a hometown boy I was determined to give them a taste of Pittsburgh, in hopes that they would go back home -- to Seattle, Atlanta, Little Rock and Sacramento -- and dispel the outdated notions of our erstwhile Steel City.

It's something you need to do, too, whether you're an accountant, an insurance agent, a nurse or a union officer. If you belong to an association or a profession that holds conventions, there's no reason that event shouldn't be held here. In fact, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development is urging businesses, governments, labor groups and others through its Imagine Pittsburgh campaign to imagine bringing your associates to town.

I know what you're thinking. Who'd want to hold a three- or five-day meeting in Pittsburgh? You'd be surprised. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, with 2,000 attendees, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling, with 4,000, were among the groups that met this fall at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Chances are your organization, like NCEW, won't need that kind of acreage; a nice hotel with good meeting space and a ballroom will do.

NCEW lets its members vote on where upcoming conventions should be held. Every year editorial writers from at least two different cities submit a proposal to be a future host city. When the Post-Gazette made its bid, one of our competitors was Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. End of story, we thought. Who would give up the beach for a convention near the banks of the Mon?

In the end, NCEW chose Pittsburgh for several surprising reasons. Members had heard about the city's transformation and they wanted to see if it was true. They knew it was a center of history and culture. They were impressed by the enthusiasm of our bid. Plus, have you ever seen an editorial writer in a swimsuit?

The great thing about hosting a convention in this city is you're never alone. The folks at VisitPittsburgh, the convention and visitors bureau, will help you decide beforehand if you're up to the task. Its "Bring It Home Campaign" helps hundreds of Pittsburghers a year attract their associations to town. In fact, Lisa Ashbaugh, director of convention host development (412-325-0272, lisa.ashbaugh@visitpittsburgh.com), can give you a starter kit.

If you do take the leap and lock in a future meeting date, the bureau will provide guidance and support for choosing hotels, tours, off-site venues and transportation. Though all decisions and contracts will be yours, VisitPittsburgh can instill confidence in the most novice meeting planner.

You'll start by choosing the home base for your event. From the stately and historic Omni William Penn Hotel to the sleek and modern Marriott City Center, the Golden Triangle has enough hotel options to make the choosing difficult.

NCEW's four-day meeting was held at the Sheraton Station Square. We liked the riverfront site, the spectacular skyline view, the adjacent nightlife and proximity to the Gateway Clipper dock. Other hotels offered other advantages, like a central Downtown location and different shopping or dining options. In a different year, we could very well have booked some other hotel.

Any savvy convention planner tries to see Pittsburgh through the eyes of a first-time visitor. Imagine your mother-in-law or your college roommate coming in from out of state. You know what you want them to see and what you don't. So, while your meeting sessions will be held indoors in a fine space no matter which hotel you choose, you have the ability to steer your group's members based on the special events you schedule.

For instance, the editorial writers had an opening reception during a two-hour, evening river cruise. It showed off the Pittsburgh skyline, which looks better than ever. But we could just as easily have opened at the Andy Warhol Museum or Phipps Conservatory. It all depends on your group's personality and budget.

The typical NCEW convention involves days of meetings when editorial writers discuss what editorial writers do. It also has its own traditions year after year. One afternoon there's an off-site event to give members a break from speakers and panels. Thursday features an optional daylong tour, mainly for spouses and retirees. And Friday night means dinner-on-your-own.

In Pittsburgh, NCEW's off-site event was a tour of the Nationality Classrooms in Pitt's Cathedral of Learning. The Thursday optional tour was a whirlwind day at Fallingwater, then the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville. On Friday night, while most members fanned out to various restaurants, 55 others took the Gateway Clipper shuttle to PNC Park and watched the Pirates keep the New York Mets from clinching the division title.

In between critiquing each other's newspapers and hearing from speakers like Sen. Arlen Specter, Gov. Ed Rendell and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, editorial writers found time on their own to ride an incline, explore the Strip District, tip a glass at Penn Brewery, hang out on Carson Street and walk around the Point.

As a Pittsburgher who also knows the city's warts, I heard no complaints about lousy food, lack of something to do or shabbiness on Fifth and Forbes. In fact, here is some of their feedback.

"Those of us who didn't know much about Pittsburgh beyond steel, Steelers, Pirates and Penguins were shown one of America's really outstanding and interesting cities."

"Pittsburgh is a striking place ... The first-night waterborne reception was about as spectacular as any we've had ..."

"I was surprised at how pretty Pittsburgh is."

"The baseball game was a stroke of genius -- and a lot of fun, too. The riverboat was a great exercise."

"This was my first time here, but I'm definitely bringing my family back."

We've all heard these reactions from visitors before -- part relief, part amazement. So why are we still surprised when newcomers are impressed, and why are we reluctant to show off our town?

Anyone who is bullish on Pittsburgh should host a convention here. Any company, like the Post-Gazette, that is committed to the city should support the effort and make resources available.

It's not enough to polish and tidy Pittsburgh. Redding up, after all, is not just for us. Real Pittsburghers will bring 'em home and show 'em where you live.