Boulder Creek Festival - 2004

See photos of the event!

Note: our booth is located south of the bandshell and just south of the train.

OK fellow Libertarians, it's almost Memorial day, and I know that everyone's minds are turning to... The Boulder Creek Festival!!! That's right, the Libertarian Party of Boulder County will once again host a booth at the Boulder Creek Festival May 29, 30, & 31, and it's not too late for you to be part of the fun. Come out and have fun in the sun, and help some lost souls find their way to liberty in the process. Then, before or after your shift (depending when you are working) walk around and enjoy what has always proven to be a great event. there is always great food, drink and music. You'll be glad you did.

I'd like to have at least two volunteers for the following time slots:

DayDate Time 2 Volunteers
Saturday 5/29 10-2:30 Mike McKinzie Rand Fanshier
2:30-7 Paul Tiger [need a volunteer]
Sunday 5/30 10-2:30 Bo Shaffer [need a volunteer]
2:30-7 Eva Kosinski Greg Woods
Monday
(Memorial Day) 		5/31 10-2:30 Eva Kosinski Greg Woods
2:30-7 Isaac Davenport [need a volunteer]

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. Can I count on you? Please contact me today to help. E-mail if possible with your preference of time slot/s.

Bo Shaffer
303-579-2979
delta@deltatech.com

P.S.: Here's a picture of our booth from the '01 festival. And below is an updated version of Joe's guide to the BCF.

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.

  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. If he is from Boulder County, explain to him that for $15, he can join the county party and receive the county newsletter. Explain however that he is not really paying $15 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 328, which is is in central park commons between the bandshell and the Creek on the corner of two main intersecting paths. Here's the general festival web site.

    • 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.


Last updated 5/23/04 by Webmaster