Exercise Lightning Block a success
THURSDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2010 Singapore
Democrats
Jeffrey George (black shirt) conducting
the debriefing with members
Behind Saturday's pre-election
rally which caught much attention, something else was
going on behind the scenes. Exercise Lightning Block, which
we announced two
weeks ago, was simultaneously taking place.
The Exercise, a simulation of the activities during general
elections, was held over the same weekend as the rally at Hong Lim
Park was held. This arrangement of organising the two activities
together was to put the party machinery under pressure.
The objective was to gauge our capability in response to the
stresses and strains of the GE, and identify the weak spots so that
we can rectify them in time for the real campaign.
Getting on the bus for Speakers' Corner
A debriefing was held at the end of the exercise where all
involved critiqued the operation. Our evaluators submitted a
preliminary report which pointed out several critical areas that we
had to take note of and strengthen. A detailed written evaluation
will be provided.
All in all, we had reason to feel encouraged because Team SDP came
through with a good grade.
Director of the operations, Mr Jeffrey George, said: “On the whole
I was quite happy with the major functions and sub-teams in their
performances although there were areas that we needed to beef
up.”
“I think it was a job well done and I want to thank everyone,
members and volunteers, for their hardwork and dedication.”
SDP doing all the heavy lifting
...as well as putting in the finer
touches
Simulated activities were planned in considerable detail right
down to the hiring of transportation to ferry our supporters to
filling up nomination forms.
The Exercise commenced on Friday 24 Sep 10 and ended on 26 Sep 10.
The first task of the operation was to test the operational
readiness of our GE website.
The various teams and sections conducted their own drills which had
to come together to ensure that the Exercise flowed smoothly, and
that the party functioned as an effective whole.
Below is a brief chronology of the three-day Exercise:
24 September, Friday:
Elections are called and members and volunteers were activated to
the Party office. Candidates, election agents, proposers, seconders
and assentors were summoned to the office to fill up nomination
forms.
Proof-readers were on hand to go through the forms to make sure
that all were correctly filled in. Even our commissioner for oaths
was on standby to check that everything was in order.
Taking a short break for lunch
25 September, Saturday: Members and
volunteers assembled at the Party office in the morning. Shortly
after 9 am, they boarded the bus that took them to the “nomination
centre” at the Speakers' Corner. There we simulated the nomination
of the candidates.
Lunch was provided at around noon following
which the logistics team remained behind to continue with the set
up for the rally. The operations team took the coach bus to Bukit
Panjang where we visited several blocks of residents, an activity
we will be conducting during the GE.
Our camera crew were on hand to record the proceedings.
Then getting back on the bus...
Following the house visits, the operations team assembled back
at Speakers' Corner for the rally.
At the conclusion of the rally when the last goodbye was said and
the last hand shaken, the crew, with bones aching and muscles
fatigued, dragged themselves to “tear down” the stage and and
tents, cleaned up the vicinity, and hauled the equipment back to
HQ. It was past midnight when things were finally put away.
That was when the video team went to work to produce the video for
the following day. It was 5 am before the last video operation was
completed.
...to meet residents at Bukit Panjang.
26 September, Sunday: Members
assembled at Bukit Panjang at 7 am to prepare for deployment to the
various “polling stations”. We also used the opportiunity to do a
walkabout in the estate.
Following the visit to the hawker centres, we went on house visits
to meet the residents.
The team did not stop until past noon whereupon we proceeded to our
next venue for the final activity of the Exercise – the
debriefing.
It was not a session for back-slapping and congratulations but
rather to make a sober assessment of the entire operation.
Exercise Lightning Block stood down at 5 pm.
Now for the real thing...
http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4178-exercise-lightning-block-a-success