Boulder Creek Festival - 2001

I am looking for volunteers for the following time slots:

• Friday night (5/25) set-up :
  • 5:00 - til finished
• Saturday (5/26):
  • 10:00 - 2:30
  • 2:30 - 7:00
• Sunday (5/27):
  • 10:00 - 2:30
  • 2:30 - 7:00
• Monday (Memorial day, 5/28)
  • 11:00 - 3:00
  • 3:00 - 7:00

I am also looking for volunteers to escort Lady Liberty along the course of the 'Bolder Boulder' and hand out 1 million dollar bills. that's right, this year for the first time in LPBC history, we will be 'do'n the Bolder Boulder'!! A seven foot tall Lady Liberty will walk the course where an expected 100,000 people will be on hand to catch a glimpse of her (not to mention a ton of press coverage), and she needs four volunteers to walk along with her, and hand out literature to the curious masses (as well as help prevent her from falling down - under the weight of oppression of course). lady Liberty will walk the full race course (10 kilometers) and then lead (hopefully) a group of curious pedestrians along the creek to the LP tent at the Boulder Creek Festival (just a short distance away - less than a mile), where she will wave to attendees of the festival.

Lady Liberty at the Tax Protest

So, PLEASE sign up for as many shifts as you possibly can. We need to be at the Boulder Creek Festival for those who will be out and about looking for us, but we also need to assist Lady Liberty on her historic march through Boulder - in front of hundreds of cameras. Can you imagine the press NOT noticing a seven foot tall statue of Liberty marching along the race course?!?! This is the kind of press coverage that we have dreamed about, please help me make it a reality. If I cannot fully staff the LPBC tent at the Creek Festival, we'll be forced to cancel Lady Liberty's historic journey, and I know that you don't want that to happen. Can I count on you? Please contact me today to help. E-mail if possible with your preference of time slot/s.

Joe Johnson
Liberty in my lifetime!

elizabeth.bennett3@gte.net
(303)-604-9153

P.S.: Here's a picture of our booth from last year's festival.

Joe Johnson's "Guide to the Boulder Creek Festival"

1. Weather

   As you know, you live in Colorado. As such, anything goes on Memorial day weekend. As you will be outside under a tent, I would suggest wearing something light short sleeve shirts and shorts are OK, but please remember that you represent the LP. If you have summer weight suits, or slacks, that would be ideal, but there is no dress code for such an event, just remember as I already noted, you will be representing the LP, and your impression may be the first for many of these people, so make it a good one. As the weather is so unpredictable at this time of year (see Sunday's snow storm), I suggest that you bring along a jacket. Also, sunscreen, sunglasses and water are a must. If anyone is interested, we are making t-shirts for those walking the Bolder Boulder with lady Liberty. If you are interested in having one for the festival so that we all look similar (thus drawing more attention) let me know and I will give you more details.

2. Instructions
   1. The main purpose of attending this event is to introduce ourselves, and the Libertarian ideals to the public. The "World's Smallest Political Quiz" is the best way to do this. As people walk by, ask them if they have ever taken it before. Most people will be at least curious. If you assure them that it only takes a couple of minutes, and that there is no charge, most will take it. Once they have filled out their quiz, "score" it on the poster sized chart. When doing so, explain the chart, and I like to give examples of famous people who would land in the different "quadrants". When placing their "dot" on the chart, explain that this is how much liberty that they are willing to grant to their neighbors. For example, a man scoring a 40 economic, and a 90 personal, would be explained like this: "On personal issues, you are willing to grant your neighbors quite a lot of personal liberty, and on economic issues, you are not willing to grant as much economic liberty, and based on the answers on this chart, you would land in the Liberal quadrant." (Thank you Chuck Wright for teaching me this). This helps, because most people have never thought about themselves giving or not giving liberty, but that is exactly the case when they vote on laws that effect their neighbors.

   2. After taking the quiz, encourage the person to fill out the back of the quiz. This is a request for more information, and we will get a packet of information out to them within a few weeks. If the person wants to talk about the issues after taking the quiz, do so, but PLEASE do not argue with them if they disagree. Simply give them an example of why the Libertarians feel differently, and why, and then leave the person to think over what you have said. No one has ever been persuaded to join us by being argued with. We win them over by being polite, and giving them facts to think about. With time many eventually see it our way, and come to join the party. Remember, for some, this will be their first experience with thinking like a free man. That takes some time to sink in.

   3. The next most important thing that we can do at the booth is register voters as "Libertarian". Whenever a person lands in the Libertarian quadrant, I try to get them to register as a Libertarian. I stress to him that this is important because until our registered numbers grow large enough for us to have the LP listed on the Colorado registration form, we will continue to be viewed as a "minor" party. Explain that while the number of registered Libertarians in the state of Colorado has grown by 30% in the past year, we are still far from having a strong foothold in our state's politics. By registering as a Libertarian today, he will be helping to move our system toward HIS beliefs, and best of all IT'S FREE! There will be registration forms at the booth, and to register as a Libertarian, simply check the "Other" box, and write in Libertarian, fill out the rest and hand it to you – it's that simple. Please check over the forms to make sure that it's filled out completely, because the county clerk will simply throw it out if it is not. Make sure that it is signed! Also, many people think that when they fill it out that they are supposed to check the party that they are currently affiliated with – this is NOT what they should do. Again, have them check "Other", and write in "Libertarian".

   4. Lastly, we want new dues paying members. After registering as a Libertarian, do not forget to ask him to join the party. We will have membership applications at the booth. Explain to him that for $25, he will receive a newsletter from national as well as one from the state party (copies will be at the booth for you to demonstrate). If he is from Boulder County, for an additional $15 he can join the county party. With this membership, he will also receive a county newsletter. These newsletters will keep him up to date with what is happening around the country, as well as in his home town. Explain however that he is not really paying $25 (or $40) for newsletters. Explain that because the LP will not take the stolen tax money, we must fund all of our operations from memberships. Everything that we do is from money that was given voluntarily. If that is, to him, an important trait in a political party, than he should join us.

   5. Most of you have either worked these type of events before, or you are new and are working with an experienced person, so no one should have any problems. One last word of advice. Without fail, at every show, we get a person who comes up and wants to talk all day. This can take your time away from more productively introducing many more people to the LP. When this happens, I have found that if I can't get rid of him by simply ignoring him, becoming a high pressure salesman, insisting that he join the party, will usually run him off.

3. Directions
   • Our booth number is: 103np We are located in the section called: NONPROFITS By looking at the map, it appears that we are located just west of Broadway, and just north of the creek itself, between Canyon and Arapahoe. The web site for the festival is: http://www.bouldercreekfestival.com

   • From Denver and US Highway 36:

     Take I-25 North to US 36; stay on 36 into Boulder. Exit on to Baseline, at the light turn left (west) on to Baseline. Go apx. 1/2 mile to Broadway. Turn right (north) on to Broadway to festival. Look for parking.

   • From Golden and US Highway 93:

     Take Highway 93 North to Boulder. When you get into Boulder, Highway 93 becomes Broadway. Take Broadway approximately 3 miles to festival. Look for parking.

   • From Longmont:

     Take Highway 119, the Boulder Diagonal, into Boulder. Stay to the right and don't get on to the Foothills Parkway, the Diagonal becomes Iris Ave. heading west. Continue on Iris until you come to Broadway. Turn left (south) on Broadway continue on Broadway to the festival. Look for parking.

   • From Lyons and US Highway 36 South:

     Take Highway 66 to Highway 36. Take US 36 south, into Boulder. In Boulder Hwy 36 becomes 28th street, stay on 28th until you get to Canyon. Turn right (west) on Canyon. Look for parking. Our booth is off of Broadway between Canyon and Arapahoe, just north of the creek.

   • I'm sorry that I can't tell you more about parking, but this is after all, Boulder. So try to be early to give yourself enough time to hitch your horse.

   • Parking tip (from Lori VanBuren):

     Regarding parking for the Boulder Creek Festival, I learned a neat trick last year. City parking garages and lots are open with no fee on holidays. There is a large parking garage on the corner of Walnut and 14th Street, entered from Walnut which is one-way eastbound. Bonus: if the weather is hot during the weekend like it was last year, there was a nice breeze being pulled through the garage and it was the coolest place I found out of the water. It was Saturday, first day of the event, that I used the garage and it did not get filled.