ALA Council: The Drinking Game

Forgive what is certainly an inside joke, but I had committed to posting this when I returned from the American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Boston.  I am guessing that anyone who has been involved with organizational governance might be able to adapt it to their own group.  Additions welcomed!

xo, the Council Brats

Council: The Drinking Game 

Some of us ALA newbies get occasional tidbits about what a wild group ALA used to be. We've heard whispered tales of hip flasks and cocktail shakers wielded by Councilors in days past, and other things not to mentioned in polite company.  In order to re-lubricate the machinations of Council, we offer this game, to be launched at Annual 2005.  Contributors include Councilors KR Roberto, Jessamyn West, and Jenna Freedman, one of whom isn't even a drinker!  Any personal references should be viewed as terms of endearment.   

Game begins with one drink for each member present who intends to actively knit, cross-stitch, crochet, tat or otherwise engage in handcraftiness at some point during session. Bags will be checked for needles, hooks, looms, and hoops as members enter Council chambers.

One drink for each of the following:

• Quilting metaphor pressed into service, or speaker is wearing a handsome hand-quilted item 
• Someone taps the microphone (two drinks if followed by “is this on?")
• Jim Casey chortles
• Humorous comment about the “Michael Caucus” (one drink for each Michael present)
• Speaker neglects to introduce self
•  “Salinas” mispronounced
•  Eli Mina scolds speaker for using Roberts, rather than Sturgis
•  Speaker begins with “I’m in favor of this resolution,” then proceeds to rip it to unrecognizable shreds    
  
•  Sandy Berman’s name invoked
• Term “grammar caucus” is used (see “wordsmithing” under Chug)
•  Recursive acronym used, e.g., IRC Committee
• Speaker apologizes for being “difficult” or “a pain” (This action turns into chugging if more than two sentences uttered)
•  Someone uses the word “filter,” and is jokingly chided that “we don’t like filtering,”
• Speaker says, “I’d just like to remind everyone,” or alternatively, “I’d like you all to understand....”      
  
•  Speaker cries or sings
•  Speaker recites ALA pedigree—one drink for each decade referred to (usually begins with “I remember back in the dark ages,” or “Back before Gutenberg.”)
•  John N. Berry provides color commentary from the peanut gallery
• Resolution successfully referred back to originating committee or unit
• Standing ovation for Lois Ann Wood
• Comment made about how dysfunctional Council is. (e.g., “This is why the nominating committee has such a hard time getting anyone.”)
• Cell phone rings (Three drinks if ringtone is particularly jaunty tune.  Chug if rings during a discussion about the banning of cell phones.)
• Speaker begins with “I have just one brief comment,” and proceeds to speak for more than two minutes (see also “Being difficult”)
• Someone calls the question and is applauded
• Speaker deems “the resolution as written is adequate”
• Transcriptionist mistypes (just kidding). 
  

 Chug whenever:

• Speaker apologizes for “wordsmithing,” then does so
• It is suggested that we are headed down a “slippery slope”
• Speaker at podium reads out loud what everyone has before them in print, and likely is on the screen. Continue to chug throughout recitation

Comments

[Michael Golrick]

Somehow I missed this when it was first posted, but it is a real hoot, I love it Rochelle!

How did I find it? I am Curious, George or
http://ct.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=445

P.S. I'm definitely NOT wearing the fishnets!

[krr]

Rocky Horror is long behind me, and I refuse to go back. I'll quit Council if anybody starts throwing rice at those captioning screens, I swear it.

[rochelle]

Who gets to wear the fishnets? Any EB volunteers?

[nanette]

I think a drinking game is only the beginning. I'm envisioning a full-on Rocky Horror-style participatory experience!

Maybe that'll be my platform when I run for Council someday.

[Lady G]

This DEFINITELY applies to more groups than Council...I can think of several smaller meetings during Midwinter where this could've come in handy!