Boston volunteers listen to lots of whoop-de-do ('Deep Vote' introduced)

Boston Herald ^ | 7/11/04 | Jules Crittenden

[Libloather]

Volunteers listen to lots of whoop-de-do
By Jules Crittenden
Sunday, July 11, 2004

Memo to Dale Carnegie reps - When instructing the Democratic National Convention hospitality volunteers; ixnay on the Arzenegger-schway.

``No one ever got muscles by watching me work out,'' quoted an instructor in the feel-good arts, citing the wisdom of Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Dale Carnegie guru was urging the DNC volunteers to take a little affirmative action to make sure the out-of-town delegates will all feel at home.

Among those volunteers was one we'll call ``Deep Vote.'' Volunteers are instructed not to speak to the dreaded media. They are even warned, while redirecting the media to the appropriate spokespersons, to ``remain polite regardless of the behavior of the media representative'' who may ``be demanding.'' Ouch!

But Deep Vote felt a duty in this democratic society to ensure a free flow of information to the Boston Sunday Herald, and offered us a glimpse into the inner workings of the hospitality operation, as thousands of them gathered yesterday at the Hynes Convention Center to learn how to be helpful.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino took the stage.

``Y'know, it's only 16 days to the convention, 20 days till it's over,'' Menino said.``This is a team effort. It takes a city to make this happen.''Menino had some helpful advice for the Dale Carnegie guy, who was dourly dressed in a conservative suit and tie.

``Take your tie off, relax, will you?'' Menino said. The Dale Carnegie guy kept his smile and the tie on.

The volunteers, whose numbers have been placed in DNC documents between 8,000 and 14,000, are 56 percent female, 44 percent male, only 25 percent from Boston, and range in age from 12 to 86, Menino said.

The good news, is they clearly understand their mission, as evidenced by this earnest exchange between two volunteers. Let's listen in!

Volunteer No. 1: ``...The whole idea is to meet people from around the country!''

Volunteer No. 2: ``And participate!''

Vol. 1: ``And help the city of Boston!''

Vol. 2: ``And the Democrats!''

But after an hour of motivational speaking and exercises on how to smile, greet and listen attentively to others, a little confusion set in.

``That was fun. But what are we supposed to do?'' one woman said.

[Libloather]

"That was fun. But what are we supposed to do?"

Reminds me of the *Crinton years...

[GregB]

Vote for Bush!!!!!

[Little Bill]

Tell me where you want to FReep, I will pull the permit.

[mikrofon]

Wasn't the Whoopi do-do at Radio City Music Hall in NYC last week??

[AmericanMade1776]

But after an hour of motivational speaking and exercises on how to smile, greet and listen attentively to others, a little confusion set in. ``That was fun. But what are we supposed to do?'' one woman said.

I will tell you what to do, do not come into work that day, because there is going to be such a mass traffic jam, and you will not be able to make it into the city anyway, and secondly, you can not be sure the Democrats have enough money to pay you anyway, Thirdly, WHEN IN DANGER FEAR OR DOUBT, RUN IN CIRCLES , SCREAM AND SHOUT.

[Libloather]

From the Herald -

DNCecrets?
Thursday, July 8, 2004

Last week, organizers of the Democratic National Convention (mess) took the FleetCenter into what they called "press lockdown." Sounds alarming, no?

Not really. It was another very transparent attempt by the DNC to bring some small level of surprise to the opening of the convention.

See, their problem is, conventions aren't news. They are hyper-staged non-news that somehow still sneaks into primetime television as "news." But the networks have finally caught on to the ruse and have made threats to curtail TV time yet again.

So as the stage began to take shape in the Fleet, organizers shut the doors and are keeping extra mum on the stage design. "We really want that to be a surprise so we're keeping it close to the vest," construction manager Alan Rose told me a few weeks ago.

Yet again, somebody forgot to get the memo to national DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe. You remember Terry - the one who told Herald reporter Noelle Straub there would be no traffic in Boston around the convention!

Well now he's gone and blabbed to Newsweek about the "secret" stage.

McAuliffe described it as a visual town hall writ large, according to the magazine. Reporter Howard Fineman writes, "For the first time, risers with seats will be incorporated into the stage so several hundred 'real' voters - not fat cats - can form a human backdrop and also interact with speakers and guests.

He continues, "Below and around the podium, windows will show party officials at work - a beehive of activity.

Said McAuliffe: "The idea is not to have some dictatorial podium alone on the stage but people everywhere."

So there it is, the big secret, revealed early - again.

My take: Sounds like "Saturday Night Live" melded with "The Muppets" and "Rent," all staged on the CNN news set.

posted by David R. Guarino at 09:19:37

[SunkenCiv]

The volunteers... only 25 percent from Boston

Well, pull my finger (bean reference).

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George W. Bush will win reelection by a margin of at least ten per cent.

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[Liz]

(Sniffle) Gosh, the Dims are so "tolerant and compassionate" (sob).

[albertp]

My take: Sounds like "Saturday Night Live" melded with "The Muppets" and "Rent," all staged on the CNN news set.

I would add Agents Mulder and Scully ("I want to believe!") from "The X-Files" and Howard Beale, Mad Prophet of the Airwaves ("I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!) from "Network" and The Borg ("Resistance is futile!") from "Star Trek: The Next Generation". They all sound like registered DHIMMICRATS and DUMMYRATS, too! The CNN (Certified Nutcase Network) is fine with me!

[ExSoldier]

"The volunteers... only 25 percent from Boston"

~SIGH~ And my nephew is one of 'em! I love my sisters, but the one living in Boston is a screaming liberal who is also an emmy award winning producer for public tv. She's butt-knocking buddies with Dukakis and her son (my nephew) looks like he's going to continue the family RAT tradition. You can pick your friends and you can pick your enemies...but you're stuck with family! LOL

[thegreatbeast]

"Ha ha!"
Drudge is reporting that requests by bars and restaurants to extend hours during the convention are being routinely denied. Hooray.

[Libloather]

Drudge is reporting that requests by bars and restaurants to extend hours during the convention are being routinely denied. Hooray.

Unca Teddy gets to hit the hay a bit early...

[SunkenCiv]

I grok that. ;')

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George W. Bush will win reelection by a margin of at least ten per cent.

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[NYCVirago]

But after an hour of motivational speaking and exercises on how to smile, greet and listen attentively to others, a little confusion set in. ``That was fun. But what are we supposed to do?'' one woman said.

Maybe they can chant "Yankees suck" or something -- it seems like Bostonians are really good at doing that! ;)

[Liz]

No liquor? No problem. The Dim conventioneers all-time fave drink is purple Kool-sid.......available at any supermarket or convenience store. However, there's a shortage of the product looming after those no-bounce from Edward reports started appearing (snicker).

[ValerieUSA]

Hey Toots, you're such a musical fruit.

Thanks for all the pings. I will catch up on them sometime later today.