Volunteers Steal the Show
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Every U2 show, 20-30 amazing volunteers arrive eight hours early to sign up thousands of fans to ONE. They spend that time walking the enormous parking lots and outside the stadiums with giant smiles and handy RED laptops — and they are the reason this U2 tour is bringing in so many new supporters to the fight against global poverty.
Yesterday afternoon, Morgana and I were able to head to the DC show a little early to spend time with the amazing crew of volunteers who had came out to work the DC show. In between their stints signing up members, I was able to learn a bit about some of them. Below are profiles of a few. I’ll post more later today.
Daisy lives in Northern Virginia and has been an active volunteer for ONE since the spring. She’s attended the ONE town hall in Williamstown in April with Virginia Representatives Nye and Wittman, helped deliver petitions for the Water for the World Act this summer and helped organize meetings between ONE volunteers and members of Congress this August.
Will said that he’s been a ONE supporter since 2004 (!) but that this was his first time volunteering for the organization. He said he had a really amazing time meeting so many people from across country and even world at the show – and reflected on the power of music to bring people together, and even better- to bring people together for a great cause like ONE.
Sara Edan Friar is from Silverspring Maryland and has been a ONE member since 2007. She helped show ONE visibility at the first Democrat candidate debate of the 2008 presidential election at Howard University and helped sign up new ONE members at Virgin Festival earlier this year.
Check back for more U2 show volunteer profiles later today.
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The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with frequent contributions from volunteers, members and partner organizations.
The ONE Blog updates readers daily with the latest in global development news and analysis and what ONE members and our partners are doing around the world to influence world leaders in the fight against global poverty.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
September 30, 2009 at 10:50 am
Go ONE Volunteers!!!! You Rock!
September 30, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I agree ONE Volunteers ROCK !
September 30, 2009 at 2:04 pm
hurray- that can be the title of the next post. Thanks Patricia!
September 30, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Awesome show last nite ! I actually sign up lol is nice that you guys give some space to the many volunteers !
October 10, 2009 at 2:04 pm
I was forunate enough to be chosen as a volunteer for the 10/09/09 U2 show in Tampa (last night). While I’ve been a ONE member since 2007, this was my first opportunity to volunteer at a live event. If you’re reading this, and if you’re not a member, you NEED to join ONE. It’s amazing to be part of something so powerful. And if you are a member, you;ve simply got to find an event in your area, and volunteer! This has been one of the single most meaningful experiences of my life. You’ll meet people from so many different places, each with their own ONE stories to tell. And, as I experienced yesterday, when we all came together (as ONE), the energy was absolutely infectious! We arrived at the stadium 5-6 hours before the concert, and were outfitted with ONE t-shirts and (RED) laptops to sign up new members. The plans were fully explained, and we knew what to expect the whole time. This was my first volunteer event, but it definitely NOT be my last. Many thanks to Matt and Sara, who help to prepare the volunteers to be successful. And thanks to Allison, the U2 Tour Manager, who walked us through, step-by-step, our “Walk On” bonus! I don’t know how my feet could have been tired, because I don’t think they touched the ground all day long!
October 12, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I too volunteered at the Tampa U2 show on 10/9 and had an amazing experience!! (Hi Carla!!) Sara (our Florida rep), OneMatt and Tour Manager Allison were all very welcoming, encouraging and enthusiastic!! So much so, I wish I had each of their jobs! And Carla is right – the energy was infectious!!
I’ve been a white band-wearing volunteer of Make Poverty History, One.org and Project (RED) since 2005 and I can honestly say this experience was the best!! Not only because we got to “Walk On” stage in support of Aung San Suu Kyi, but also because of the people with whom I met and spoke. Volunteers and fans alike were SO excited! I walked three laps around the stadium, walked the concourses and stadium field, canvased the parking lots (unsheltered for close to two hours) happily signing up folks for the One Campaign. In all of these places I saw the humanity, kindness and appreciation I hope one day EVERYONE will possess. “Thank you so much for what you’re doing. That’s really cool to spend your time volunteering for ONE,” is a compliment I received many times from tailgating folks, as well as a few waiting in line to get into the stadium.
During my time in the parking lot, I was offered water, food, sunblock, hair ties, hats and more for my efforts from people I had never met and I thought to myself, “What if everyone in the WORLD did this? Not just in America, Africa, Burma or Iraq – EVERYWHERE?!” This innate kindness is something that meant a lot to me personally during a hot day. Walking around in the blazing sun was not easy, considering I am fair skinned and burn in 10 minutes! I felt the first hour and I really felt the last hour, but the spirit of this event and its people fueled me more than any adrenaline I may have had left. Thank you guys SO MUCH for such a wonderful, life-affirming experience! I hope to do more for ONE in Orlando, and when time permits the rest of Florida!