"Professional Volunteer" is an apparent oxymoron, kind of like 'giant shrimp.' But that's the term being applied this week to Republican convention operatives like Andrew House, a graduate of Galt High School in California's Sacramento Valley.

Usually, the 32-year-old House can be found on Capitol Hill, working as press secretary for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. Right now, though, House has joined press secretaries for California Republicans Ed Royce and John Campbell, among many others, in St. Paul's Excel Center. The congressional staffers receive room, board and transportation costs, but no salary, in exchange for handling press liaison during the week.

House is handling what's termed "surrogate scheduling," which means he helps get Republican lawmakers in front of cameras and people with pens so they can spread the GOP gospel.

"It's stuff we do every day," House said, "but on a much larger scale."