Dems still looking for toilet vendors for Charlotte convention
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 4:42PM 
If outdoor activities are planned, bring the bug repellent. (Photo: USDA)September is just around the corner, and the Democrats are finalizing plans for their big convention in Charlotte (N.C.) over Labor Day week. Top of the list of businesses the convention planners are looking for: providers of toilets.
WFAE, Charlotte’s public radio station, said planners are actually finding “less than anticipated” interest among local businesses. The station said (boldface added):
“Kimberlin Love is hoping to hear from Charlotte companies that can provide golf carts, trailers, portable toilets and tents, among other things, for the convention. Love is the DNCC's Director of Hall Operations.”
Friday is the deadline for some vendors to submit “pre-qualification” documents. If Dems write qualifications like they write legislation, we might imagine those pre-qualifiers will be a bit lengthy. Love said there’s a 3-step process and businesses might be “confused” by it. Or“intimidated.”
Love said there’s a “preference for local and minority-led firms, as well as union shops.”
Vendors using the convention Web site are encouraged to carefully read the Terms of Service. I plucked one tidbit from the agreements:
“SupplierGATEWAY shall exclusively own all now known or hereafter existing rights to the User Information of every kind and nature throughout the world, and shall be entitled to unrestricted use of the User Information for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to the provider of the User Information.”
Meanwhile, as a Republican, I’d like to reach across the aisle and offer convention-goers some tips about this part of the South in September.
Most important: keep the heat in mind. September is still big summer in this area. Select your fabrics with care—humidity is also an issue—wear silk and your pits are going to feel super-glued to your sleeves.
Take insect repellent. You can count on mosquitoes—we had a warm winter down here and after a good rain, we have mosquitoes big enough to fell an army platoon with arbovirus. If you’re planning to be outdoors, bring the bug repellent.
Not meaning to scare anyone—September is tornado season here and all I can say about that is if you see a funnel cloud or you hear a train where you know there’re no tracks, take cover. Quickly.
Otherwise, enjoy your stay.
And local and minority led firms should make a note—Dems still need those toilets. Lots of them.
(Filed by Kay B. Day/April 11, 2012)