I am home from the Bernie event training. And I would really love some idears. [See, this is why we need a Bernie Blog!]
PART ONE: I set out for the training determined to take a back seat. I had only been asked to set up, after all.
We gathered, walked over to the site, and Nick Carter, Bernie's Campaign manager impressed upon the group that the cameras will be on tomorrow, that reporters might stick a microphone in our face, that we are not only representing ourselves, but the Campaign. I later heard him suggesting to a couple of young college students that they not wear controversial buttons and whatnot. I think the staff is sufficiently nervous.
As he described each of the five functions we needed volunteers for, Nick had the related team leaders raise their hands. The first was the donations table. I thought maybe I could help with that, having recently opened mailed donations at HQ. The others included taking care of the Press (no thanks!!), helping disabled folks find their seating, I can't remember one of them, and the other was being on the Sign-up Team, getting people to give their contact information, and walking around with clipboards. I really didn't want to be part of that group. It's going to be almost 90F and I don't do well above 80F. So then Nick read the list of volunteers for the Sign-Up Team (item: none of the other lists had a list, it was all let-us-know-today which you want to help with). And he read my name! Argh!
When Nick went to introduce the team leaders of the Sign-Up Group, however, he looked for them and neither of them were there. Then he turned to me and said, "June, would you be team leader and organize the group?"
What were the odds of THAT!?! Ha! So of course I said yes, even though I had no real idear what he meant by that! :-D
PART TWO: So I took a look at the printed Sign-Up sheets they had all ready, and it asks Name, Cell Phone Number and Email Address. I asked him if folks don't want to give out that information is it okay to take the street address instead? He said Yes, but that's the most expensive way to do a mailing. Maybe, but there are a LOT of older folks who don't have cell phones and don't use email. I know this from the Library having switched last year to mostly using emails. What a push back we got! So I am going to instruct the group that street address (and land line number) is okay too. Nick also mentioned offhandedly that it would be good to know if anyone wants to Volunteer. So I am going to tell the group that if anyone is eager to Volunteer have the person put a V at the end of their contact line. [I mean: DUH!]
So here's my question and what I need idears about: We are expecting between 500 and 20,000 people. (Does anyone recall how many were at Dean's announcement?) With 19 volunteers making the rounds with clipboards, wouldn't it make sense to assign each a segment of the space, to decrease the chances of people being asked for their contact information multiple times, and missing others completely. Does that make sense? Has anyone done this before? It's hard to plan it, though, since they were just beginning to set up, and so far only had the scaffolding Bernie will speak from and part of the Press area, done. I guess we'll see the setup better tomorrow. I don't even know if there will be chairs (I think only for those with disabilities), and how on Earth to canvass everyone in an hour.
What wisdom have you to share? Thanks!!
We volunteers arrive at 3pm, and Bernie speaks at 5:-05pm on the dot (NBC and others will be live streaming it).
Please say a prayer for me and send huge Vibes, especially that I don't wilt being out in the heat for four hours or more without shade!! This is really bad for my body! I am going to bring a cooler to keep under the table, wear sunscreen and big stuff, wear a hat. Etc. We got white tee shirts that say "BERNIE for President" in blue with a red line under "Bernie", so if you're watching, look for the Volunteers wearing white! The back reads Join the POLITICAL REVOLUTION Today" in blue. I may be sitting at Table 3 which is where folks can walk over and Sign up. I'll most likely be wearing a thing white button down top over my shirt, to keep the sun off my arms. And I'm trying to decide about what hat to wear. I was thinking a cute straw hat would serve well, but it could be too breezy at the Waterfront. So maybe I should wear my plaid cap, since I wore it today and my Team will recognise me…?
OK, here's an idea. Set up, or identify markers along the street or around the square to use as reference points for signer-uppers. Then assign areas to cover to each worker according to the size of the crowd. Example: you cover in front of the shoe store and the coffee shop; you take the hardware store. Also, have the signer-uppers identified so folks can recognize them in a crowd (or when they pass by) and seek them out. Signs might be hard to handle--how about flags, aided by an announcement from the speakers' stand telling folks they can sign up with the folks with flags (indicate color and shape). Say, color X triangular flags. And wave a sample. --Alan
Can't offer any advice from personal experience, not even as a member of the crowd. I don't recall anyone circulating for volunteers when Howard spoke at Navy Pier. And when Barak started his trip to the nominating convention in Denver (from the same steps that Abraham Lincoln started his journey) everyone had to line up to go through security, so that made things easy.
Thanks for the idears! There will be no landmarks at all, because the event is taking place on a stretch of grass down at the Waterfront! I think the only area markers will be the scaffolding Bernie will speak from and the raised Press area. I suppose we can do a division based on a clock, with the Press area as the center of the clock. We're talking 100 press people!! I don't have authority to set up flags and they'd have to be on really tall posts to be seen with all the people standing around. Hmmm. Thinking cap on.
Speaking of which. I've decided to wear the little straw hat instead of the plaid cap. I think.
No microphone for you, listener (grin!). But whoever is master of ceremonies can do that job. I was thinking along the lines of a little flag stuck into a hatband, or backpack--it need only be tall enough to stick out above the crowd. Better yet, a shiny pinwheel! One ought to be able to find those in the toy section at a modern "drugstore."
Wow. 8:18pm and no one has mentioned that DEAN is FIRST!!!?!!
ReplyDeleteI am home from the Bernie event training. And I would really love some idears. [See, this is why we need a Bernie Blog!]
ReplyDeletePART ONE:
I set out for the training determined to take a back seat. I had only been asked to set up, after all.
We gathered, walked over to the site, and Nick Carter, Bernie's Campaign manager impressed upon the group that the cameras will be on tomorrow, that reporters might stick a microphone in our face, that we are not only representing ourselves, but the Campaign. I later heard him suggesting to a couple of young college students that they not wear controversial buttons and whatnot. I think the staff is sufficiently nervous.
As he described each of the five functions we needed volunteers for, Nick had the related team leaders raise their hands. The first was the donations table. I thought maybe I could help with that, having recently opened mailed donations at HQ. The others included taking care of the Press (no thanks!!), helping disabled folks find their seating, I can't remember one of them, and the other was being on the Sign-up Team, getting people to give their contact information, and walking around with clipboards. I really didn't want to be part of that group. It's going to be almost 90F and I don't do well above 80F. So then Nick read the list of volunteers for the Sign-Up Team (item: none of the other lists had a list, it was all let-us-know-today which you want to help with). And he read my name! Argh!
When Nick went to introduce the team leaders of the Sign-Up Group, however, he looked for them and neither of them were there. Then he turned to me and said, "June, would you be team leader and organize the group?"
What were the odds of THAT!?! Ha! So of course I said yes, even though I had no real idear what he meant by that! :-D
Sound like I'm not the only one who can't say NO to a request for volunteer help.
DeleteGood Luck!!
PART TWO:
ReplyDeleteSo I took a look at the printed Sign-Up sheets they had all ready, and it asks Name, Cell Phone Number and Email Address. I asked him if folks don't want to give out that information is it okay to take the street address instead? He said Yes, but that's the most expensive way to do a mailing. Maybe, but there are a LOT of older folks who don't have cell phones and don't use email. I know this from the Library having switched last year to mostly using emails. What a push back we got! So I am going to instruct the group that street address (and land line number) is okay too. Nick also mentioned offhandedly that it would be good to know if anyone wants to Volunteer. So I am going to tell the group that if anyone is eager to Volunteer have the person put a V at the end of their contact line. [I mean: DUH!]
So here's my question and what I need idears about:
We are expecting between 500 and 20,000 people. (Does anyone recall how many were at Dean's announcement?) With 19 volunteers making the rounds with clipboards, wouldn't it make sense to assign each a segment of the space, to decrease the chances of people being asked for their contact information multiple times, and missing others completely. Does that make sense? Has anyone done this before? It's hard to plan it, though, since they were just beginning to set up, and so far only had the scaffolding Bernie will speak from and part of the Press area, done. I guess we'll see the setup better tomorrow. I don't even know if there will be chairs (I think only for those with disabilities), and how on Earth to canvass everyone in an hour.
What wisdom have you to share? Thanks!!
We volunteers arrive at 3pm, and Bernie speaks at 5:-05pm on the dot (NBC and others will be live streaming it).
Please say a prayer for me and send huge Vibes, especially that I don't wilt being out in the heat for four hours or more without shade!! This is really bad for my body! I am going to bring a cooler to keep under the table, wear sunscreen and big stuff, wear a hat. Etc. We got white tee shirts that say "BERNIE for President" in blue with a red line under "Bernie", so if you're watching, look for the Volunteers wearing white! The back reads Join the POLITICAL REVOLUTION Today" in blue. I may be sitting at Table 3 which is where folks can walk over and Sign up. I'll most likely be wearing a thing white button down top over my shirt, to keep the sun off my arms. And I'm trying to decide about what hat to wear. I was thinking a cute straw hat would serve well, but it could be too breezy at the Waterfront. So maybe I should wear my plaid cap, since I wore it today and my Team will recognise me…?
And, oh hey! I found out today where the new HQ Office is!! It's on Church Street by RiRa's, the Irish Pub! You can see the office space here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.477099,-73.212539,3a,75y,227.93h,95.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1souu6dANxgbuOnneVoM3jag!2e0 It's the second floor of the white building, where the awnings are. See the tower with little gold dome, behind it? That's Burlington City Hall where Bernie served as Mayor, years ago! :-)
OK, here's an idea. Set up, or identify markers along the street or around the square to use as reference points for signer-uppers. Then assign areas to cover to each worker according to the size of the crowd. Example: you cover in front of the shoe store and the coffee shop; you take the hardware store. Also, have the signer-uppers identified so folks can recognize them in a crowd (or when they pass by) and seek them out. Signs might be hard to handle--how about flags, aided by an announcement from the speakers' stand telling folks they can sign up with the folks with flags (indicate color and shape). Say, color X triangular flags. And wave a sample.
Delete--Alan
There is no way I am getting near a microphone tomorrow, Alan. LOL! But your idears are good.
DeleteCan't offer any advice from personal experience, not even as a member of the crowd. I don't recall anyone circulating for volunteers when Howard spoke at Navy Pier. And when Barak started his trip to the nominating convention in Denver (from the same steps that Abraham Lincoln started his journey) everyone had to line up to go through security, so that made things easy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idears!
ReplyDeleteThere will be no landmarks at all, because the event is taking place on a stretch of grass down at the Waterfront! I think the only area markers will be the scaffolding Bernie will speak from and the raised Press area. I suppose we can do a division based on a clock, with the Press area as the center of the clock. We're talking 100 press people!! I don't have authority to set up flags and they'd have to be on really tall posts to be seen with all the people standing around. Hmmm. Thinking cap on.
Speaking of which. I've decided to wear the little straw hat instead of the plaid cap. I think.
No microphone for you, listener (grin!). But whoever is master of ceremonies can do that job. I was thinking along the lines of a little flag stuck into a hatband, or backpack--it need only be tall enough to stick out above the crowd. Better yet, a shiny pinwheel! One ought to be able to find those in the toy section at a modern "drugstore."
Delete--Alan
Better get a roll of duct tape too.
Delete--Alan
P.S.: I'm good for the cost of pinwheels and duct tape for the signer-uppers. But not hats. And only once.
Well, Bill, I was asked in front of the whole group by Bernie's Campaign Director! LOL!
ReplyDelete