Presidential debates need volunteers

If you want to volunteer for next month's presidential debates, you've almost missed your chance.
The official deadline to sign up through Step Up, the organization coordinating volunteers for both the Jan. 10 Republican debate and the Jan 21 Democratic debate, has been moved to 9 a.m. today, but officials may offer some leniency because of the late notice.
Step Up officials were using a sign-up deadline of Dec. 17 as recently as last week.
The change relates to security screening through the State Law Enforcement Division, said Mary Henry, a volunteer who announced the change at a Tuesday night meeting of the Myrtle Beach Republican Club.
"It's going to have to be done if you're going to get anywhere near these people," Henry told club members of the background checks.
The change, however, has been so sudden that many people may not have heard about it, said Diane Klebanow, Step Up program director. Officials may give would-be volunteers a small grace period, but she urged anyone who has not contacted the organization to do so immediately - "no later than the end of this week," Klebanow said.
To volunteer for either debate, call Step Up at 349-6488 or visit the organization's Web site, www.stepup-grandstrand.org. Volunteers must attend a one-hour training session.
A major role of the volunteers, Henry told club members, will be promoting the Grand Strand to the many prominent out-of-towners in the area for the debates.
"The chamber wants Myrtle Beach pushed," Henry said.
Even with the passing of the Step Up deadline, there may be other ways to volunteer.
Rob Godfrey, spokesman for the state Republican Party, said anyone interested in the GOP debate should call the state party office at 803-988-8440.
"We are still excited that people are responding overwhelmingly," Godfrey said.
Officials with the Democratic Party and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, which is hosting the Democrats' debate, could not be reached late Tuesday.
Local Republicans will have a chance to learn more about tickets and logistics for the GOP debate at an information session this weekend, said John Bonsignor, president of the South Strand Republican Club. That meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Donut Man, 200 U.S. 17 South, Myrtle Beach. For information, call Bonsignor at 385-3963.
www.843Realtor.com