Two Volunteer Coordinators, Out of Control
By: Nichole
Published On: 11/13/2005 2:00:00 AM
This past Tuesday, of course, was Election Day. That day, and the days leading up to it, were a time for frenetic activity by both Democrats and Republicans, trying as hard as they could to "get out the vote" (GOTV). Obviously, when under stress like that, some people are going to behave rudely, abrasively, etc. That's natural, to a degree. However, when people volunteer their valuable time to help a political party or a candidate, they deserve to be treated with respect and gratitude for their efforts. A "thank you" once in a while would be nice! Unfortunately, some people -- we'll call them the "Resume Padding Volunteer Coordinator Monkeys from Hell" -- are apparently unclear on the concept of People Skills 101. Either that, or they're just arrogant, egomaniacal, out-of-control jerks. What am I talking about?
OK, look, I'm not going to name their names, but they know exactly who they are. On the basis of multiple eyewitness accounts (including my own!), I can definitively say that the Democratic volunteer coordinators in Richmond and in Arlington County were abusive to volunteers and completely out of control in general. Also, how about we add "incompetent" to the list? The point here is that when people volunteer to help the Democrats, they should not be subjected to crap like in the following story from Richmond, where I live:
Two friends and I had been there for over 5 hours on Tuesday, and had been there the night before (Monday) too.
Everyone was very very very nice........ well except for the volunteer coordinator on Tuesday and a woman the night before (see below). So, the volunteer coordinator comes into the room and yells at the whole room "LESS TALKING MORE DIALING!! If you are just going to sit there, LEAVE!" Let me tell you, I had called about 400 people already that day. Without taking a break! I wasn't breathing for a second. I heard later that she was yelling at people after we left too!
The night before, I had asked one of the staff members if they needed help at my polling place on election day. She butted in (who asked her anyway?) and said, very snidely, "It's covered!" Needless to say when I went to vote THERE WAS NO ONE FROM THE KAINE CAMPAIGN PRESENT!
I raged for about 45 minutes last night after I left the HQ.
I am TIRED of these people who have no people skills, and are just trying to pad their precious resumes!!!! Get over yourselves.
Then there are the various accounts from Arlington County, including a particular volunteer coordinator who apparently was yelling at everyone in sight. That includes people who, in their regular jobs, are high-ranking and high-paid attorneys and other professionals. Giving up their precious time to help elect Democrats, just to get yelled at by little Resume Padding Volunteer Coordinator Monkeys from Hell? The question is this: who selects these people to be volunteer coordinators in the first place, who allows this behavior to go on, and what are the consequences? Inquiring minds want to know.
Comments
Doesn't ACDC head Ji (Jonathan Mark - 4/4/2006 11:29:25 PM)
Doesn't ACDC head Jim Turpin of the Eisenberg, Brink and Turpin Strategy Group governmental affairs firm approve of volunteer coordinators?
Is he going to do anything about this problem? I doubt it.
Let me just say that (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:29:25 PM)
Let me just say that I personally had EXCELLENT volunteer experiences all the way, with the David Englin campaign in Alexandria on Election Day, with Bruce Roemmelt's campaign on Election Day (thanks for the pizza, by the way!), with Christi Fanelli and Linda Hasman in Arlington. The point is, there are TONS of great people out there in the Democratic Party, so let's not let a few rotten apples spoil that!!! :)
Time to move on...we (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:29:25 PM)
Time to move on...well, yeah, but I do agree with Nichole that there needs to be consequences for really bad behavior. Certainly, people who acted like this towards volunteers should not be rewarded with political positions of any kind, IMHO. If they are, then what kind of signal does this send to potential future volunteers?
I think the stress w (RickyD - 4/4/2006 11:29:25 PM)
I think the stress was getting to everyone. I am glad the election is OVER and that Tim Kaine is elected. I am remembering the good times and people. The people who were unpleasant will have a hard time finding jobs and people to work with in the cycle.
Time to move on.
God, I know what you (Timothy Seeley - 4/4/2006 11:29:25 PM)
God, I know what you mean as to incompetent young people running campaign offices with an eye towards getting elected someday since they have kissed the ass of various party hacks, people who in the bussiness world wouldn't make it into middle management. They are always the people to attack innovative ideas and other threats to their percived power.
Rant over now I need to get back to reading.
Ron, as someone who (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
Ron, as someone who volunteered countless hours in the past year for all three statewide candidates, I did get paid. On November 8th we elected Tim Kaine as our Governor, Leslie Byrne got more votes than Kilgore, and we shall see about the AG race.
I got paid way better than money can buy.
Lowell, I did not ma (Jonathan Mark - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
Lowell, I did not make that up. Yes, the EB&T Strategy Group is a real governmental affairs firm that bills real clients. E is Al Eisenberg, B is Bob Brink, and T is Jim Turpin.
If you don't believe me, read this article about it on page 3 of the the June 2004 Arlington County Democratic Newsletter.
Here is the link to the article: http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/docs/jun2004.pdf
And here is the article:
Chair Turpin gets a real job
State Delegates Al Eisenberg and Bob Brink and ACDC Chair Jim Turpin have formed a new government relations and association management firm known as EB&T Strategy Group. They combine eight decades of public policy experience at the Federal, state and local levels of government. The firm will provide government relations counseling and strategic planning in a range of issue areas including, but not limited to, health care, criminal justice, historic preservation, land use, housing, economic development, transportation, disability access, and national parks.
It will also work with clients to promote the effective implementation of public policy initiatives. One specialty area will be to work with trade and membership associations in advocacy, governance, and planning.
**Please note that, effective immediately, Jim Turpin?s only email address is turkop@worldnet.att.net.
My point was there i (RickyD - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
My point was there is a way to handle this without making it public. You would talk to their supervisor.
This would have keep it out of the public, unless that was your point in the first place.
Clif you so Rock - I (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
Clif you so Rock - I second!
Really, is it necess (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
Really, is it necessary to talk about how seriously one person took their job?
Is it fair?
Volunteer Coordinators have the most thankless job on the whole damn campaign! Now I don't know the VC in Arlington, but I know they work 20 hour days, and never sleep, no life outside of their offices, and they are always there for the volunteers. You give it all up, and let me know if you are snippy once or twice!
So please let it go.
Dammit we won! Is it that we must always have something to complain about? Not me!
Every one of those c (Clifton R. Hamilton - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
Every one of those campaign workers is very smart and almost all of them has a degree from an excellent school. They worked 12 hours a day 7 days a week for months. They earned HALF of what I make WITHOUT a degree, and I work half as many hours. Most had never run anything like this before, and could have easily gotten much better jobs outside of politics. They chose to make a difference and basically volunteer their services to help Virginia make the right choice. I volunteered with them and was impressed with their dedication and attitudes.
I heard many from the older generation insult us Gen. Xers and how we directed traffic, or organized events, or any number of things. None of them was willing to do the job themself, or had ideas of how to do it better. If you're not willing to do it yourself, and you don't have any constructive suggestions on how to improve for next time: SHUT UP AND STOP DEMORALIZING THE TROOPS.
They did an excellent job and I look forward to their help next election cycle.
I really miss them! (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
I will tell you that (Jen Little - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
I will tell you that I had nothing but super over the top fun, educational and funtional relationships with my volunteer coordinators. I personally had two as I was in a rural area, volunteered for urban, suburban and rural.
ALL members of the team were nothing but professional. I am sorry if you had over caffed and stressed vc's, but my experiences are not yours. MINE ROCKED!!! I miss them already!!!
I have NEVER seen hard work until I saw Victory 2005 and the Kaine campaign in action. These coordinators and staffers gave of themselves to elect us a governor - so - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Jonathan: Is that a (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:29:26 PM)
Jonathan: Is that a real Group? It's pretty funny if it's not! :)