Lamplighters
History
Lamplighters started at Apogaea in 2009 with 8 lamps and 4 lamp posts. Rraine was the first lead. The Board decided that LED lamps were to be used instead of flame because of Colorado's fire safety concerns. Black Rock City Lamplighters are solemn, based in tradition and ceremony. If flame was not to be used, Rraine decided that Apogaea lamps should be colorful, fun and more whimsical. Each year, 8 new lamps and 4 new lamp posts were created. The ultimate vision is to be able to have enough lamp posts to line all the main streets of Apogaea. From 2009-2012, this has been a one person department with some volunteer input from the community. It is anticipated that in the future, this department would need a team to make it operate efficiently.
Pre Event Budget
The Treasurer or the Board Liaison will contact the Lead early in the year to get budget information. A list of expenditures and receipts is kept and turned in later to the Treasurer for payment.
Fabrication and Material Purchasing
In the months leading up to the event new lamps, posts and poles need to be made. This process should be started at least 3 months before the event or earlier. Each year 8 new lamps, 4 new lamp posts, fabric socks for the lamp posts, 2 new carry poles and 1 or 2 new lifter poles have been made. Typically this is done through work nights where the Apogaea public is invited to come volunteer and help. In past years it has taken 2-3 work nights to make all the new items (excluding the lamp posts). New lights for the lamps, all tools and hardware to make the new items, batteries, string lights, battery chargers, etc also need to be ordered on line or bought in a store. Contact the Quartermaster if the lamp bins or posts need to be taken out of storage to be used as a guide for making the new items.
Volunteers
The lead should evaluate the number of event volunteer slots and the volunteer times from the year before and coordinate with the person doing the online volunteer signup sheet to make sure the times and number of volunteer positions will meet the needs of lamplighters during the event. A good idea of how to do this is one person can carry 8 lamps and one person can lift for two carriers. Do the math. For take down during the event, two or three should be good. For take down at the end of the event, at least three people and add more as the number of lamp posts goes up. Coordinate with the Schwag lead to let them know how many volunteers you have. Remember to include your pre-event volunteers. The lead will be notified when the on line volunteer list is up. Keep an eye on it and email the volunteers ahead of time to let thank them for volunteering, to give them a way to ask the Lead any questions and to do any other coordination necessary. Print a list of volunteers for the event so you can track who showed up and who didn't. Coordinate with the DPW lead for volunteers needed for work weekend.
Right before the Event
It takes at least a week, maybe two to charge all the batteries. Do not put this off too late.
Work Weekend
The items that are in storage will be brought to work weekend on the truck and unloaded next to the truck. Locate the lamp post parts, carry poles, lifter poles and lamp bins. Coordinate with Center Camp lead for the best location to store the poles and bins. Set up lamp posts along the streets. The bases should have at least three rebar stakes to hold them down. Place the tops on the poles, string the lights on the poles and put on the fabric sock. Then the pole can be put in the base. Go through the lamp bins to make sure everything that is needed is there. At night, check that the string lights on the poles are working and repair those that are not.
During Event
Lamplighters have typically occupied a small space in Center Camp. Only a space to hold the plastic bins, the lifter poles and the carry poles is necessary. The lamplighters typically meet just outside Center Camp to assemble the lamps and head out for the night. When lamplighters meet, put batteries in the lights and make sure all lamps are in good condition and ready to go out. Any ceremony, parade, or shenanigans is up to the Lead to determine. The day time shift is to take the lamps down and either take the batteries out or flip one battery if they are to be used a second night so they aren't lit all day. One set of batteries should last two nights. Place lamps back in the bins so they are ready for the night shift. The tear down shift on Sunday is to take the batteries out the lamps, organize the supplies and lamps in the bins, and disassemble the lamp posts. Place all items out of the way near the Apogaea truck and the Quartermaster will load the truck.
Post Event
Provide the Volunteer lead with a list of volunteers that didn't show up for their shifts. Each member of Ignition does an Ember Report - a report of what worked and what didn't. Check your Ignition inbox for information on when these are due and what information to include. Update this document if needed.