The “Friendliest little fiber festival around” needs volunteers – we NEED you!
noun: vol·un·teer \ˌvä-lən-ˈtir\
1. A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task; a participant.
verb: 1. freely offer to do something
Half day, whole day ….we will take what we can get – this is a huge undertaking and volunteers are few…..please help.
Here are some guidelines as to how some of the duties roll out:
Starting Friday about 10am, volunteers are needed to ensure the common areas
are open and clean, to include the front office, the class areas, the kitchen,
the ‘buildings’, the bathrooms, and any outside garbage cans and picnic tables
are set up. These areas should already be clean but occasionally there
are areas overlooked from the previous renters. Volunteers also work with
the Vendor Coordinator to ensure the correct number of tables and chairs are in
the booth areas marked out. Once the vendors start setting up at 1pm,
volunteers may assist the vendors in unpacking their vehicles so the unloading
areas are available for as many vendors to get in as possible. Volunteers
may also assist vendors in setting up their booths. Many experienced
vendors do not need assistance, but some older or single vendors really appreciate
the help!
Saturday and Sunday, volunteers should meet at the office 30 minutes prior to
the festival opening. Festival hours are 9am to 5pm on Saturday, 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
1-2 volunteers will assist the Office manager in the front office each festival
day, handing out festival materials, directing visitors and answering
questions. Office personnel are also responsible for collecting paperwork
and payments from vendors, announcing door prize winners over the PA system,
taking door prize winner names back to hospitality, other
communications/coordination, and ensuring the best possible experience for both
vendors and shoppers.
We need 2-3 Floor volunteers both Saturday and Sunday to wander both buildings
of the festival and the outdoor areas. These people will check in on each
of the vendors, ensuring they have what they need, answering their questions,
taking suggestions, providing bio-breaks/lunch breaks if needed, promoting and
directing shoppers to various vendor’s booths if they are looking for something
particular, and generally ensuring the best possible experience for both
vendors and shoppers. Outdoor areas also need to be toured occasionally
to ensure there is no littering or unauthorized activities occurring.
Bathrooms in each barn need to be kept stocked and clean, checked hourly.
Office and Floor volunteers may switch out and give each other
(bio/lunch/shopping) breaks.
A volunteer each day is also appreciated to assist the Hospitality Manager,
helping organize various contests, handling the door prize selections,
assisting shoppers as needed, and keeping the all-important coffee pot full in
the morning!
Sunday starting at 4pm,
we need volunteers to ‘take down’ the festival. This includes assisting
any vendors needing help to pack up their booths and move their items back to
their vehicles. Often this is done by all the Sunday volunteers, but big
strong husbands are appreciated! Once the vendors are out of the area,
everyone pitches in to clean up the common areas for the next renters. We
are usually done by 7pm.
FOOD !!! Each day, volunteers are provided a lunch voucher, and are also invited to join
the vendor dinner on Saturday evening.
Being a volunteer at this festival is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Working with and getting to know vendors from all over the mid-west, you get to
spend more time with them than you would as a shopper, and they love to share
their knowledge. Can there be a better time than spending one or two days
immersed in fiber and texture and color, with enthusiastic and passionate
co-workers and vendors? Come get to know us at the “Friendliest
little fiber festival around”!
Even if you can only volunteer half a day, please consider it!
Email Monica Chandler: [email protected]