HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-14, Page 31THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011. PAGE 31.Festival ‘wouldn’t exist’ without volunteers
As National Volunteer Week rolls
around once again, the time has
come to thank those who donate
their time to causes or organizations
for simply the pleasure of a job well
done.
And there are few community
organizations who can boast a
volunteer base like that of the Blyth
Festival. A community theatre born
out of humble beginnings simply
“couldn’t operate” without
volunteers according to Festival
General Manager Deb Sholdice.
The Festival has a volunteer base
of approximately 200 and the
foundation of the volunteer spirit
that has kept the Festival going all
these years was on full display late
last month when the year’s Festival
Guide arrived at the office.
Sholdice said that for two days the
Festival office was buzzing with
activity while a dozen volunteers
worked through stuffing envelopes
and distributing the guides
throughout Huron County and
beyond.
Over 13,000 brochures were
packaged and readied for
distribution and those yet to be
mailed out will be distributed by
volunteer drivers who will make
their way around the area spreading
the word of the Blyth Festival.
Chipping in with the brochure
distribution were Wendy and Barry
Hutton, Doreen Watt, Diety Bos,
Enid MacDonald, Vaughn Hunking,
Joann MacDonald, June Armstong,
Mava Holland, Helen Hummel, Pat
Hunking, Jean Nethery, Diane Palm,
Jason Hulzebos, Bonnie McMillan,
and Marg and Dan Webster.
But that’s really just the beginning
of the volunteer season, Sholdice
said, adding that it’s an interesting
coincidence that the week of the
annual brochure distribution always
falls very close to National Volunteer
Week.
“We have a database of about 200
dedicated volunteers,” Sholdice said.
“They put in about 7,500 volunteer
hours every year.”
Sholdice says that it’s not a job
that those involved with the Festival
take lightly, as they all know that the
volunteers represent the permanent
staff throughout the summer.
Sholdice says that while a large
portion of the Festival’s volunteers
come from the Blyth area, there are
plenty of regular volunteers who
drive from as far away as Teeswater
and even London when plays are on
the Memorial Hall stage.
“We have a lot of retired folk here.
They tend to be the most
recognizable because they have the
most time to donate, but we have a
really good mix here,” she said. “We
have a family that comes up from
Clinton in the summer and
volunteers once a week together as a
family.”
Sholdice used the example of Jon
Hakkers, a Blyth resident who is
currently in Grade 11 and is
participating in a co-operative
education class at the Festival, but
last year he received his five-year
service pin for his work there.
Sholdice says that in addition to a
dedicated core of young volunteers
like Hakkers, there is a steady
stream of volunteers who spend
plenty of time helping the Festival,
but she says she often wonders
where they find the time.
“We have a lot of dedicated long-
term volunteers, but these are people
who are volunteering with every
other group in the community as
well,” she said. “People like Jean
Nethery and Joann MacDonald are
just invaluable to the Festival.”
When it comes down to it, she
says, physical work at the Festival
isn’t even the biggest thing that the
theatre’s volunteers do. She said it’s
the word of mouth that they produce
and how they represent the theatre
that makes people think that
something special is happening in
Blyth.
“Ambassadoring for us, talking to
people about the Festival, that’s
really what these volunteers do for
us,” Sholdice said. “We probably
have some of the best volunteers
around here and we’re very mindful
of that.”
Sholdice said that the Festival
wouldn’t exist in the way that it
currently exists if it wasn’t for their
core of volunteers.
“We would exist, but in a different
context. We couldn’t do everything
we do now,” she said. “We’re a non-
profit, charitable organization. We
couldn’t afford to do all that we do if
it wasn’t for all the support we
receive.
“The community should be very
proud of its volunteers, they really
help Blyth to stand out.”
Old Tyme
Country Breakfast
Sunday, April 17
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
at Londesborough Hall
• Eggs • Bacon • Sausage
• Pancakes and Homefries
Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.00
Children Under 12 . . . . . . . . . $3.00
Sponsored by Londesboro Lions Club
Proceeds for Community Betterment
Family and Friends
are invited
Buck & Doe
for
Michael Albers
&
Mary Lou
Van Meeteren
Saturday,
April 16
9 pm - 1 am
Brussels Arena
Tickets $5 at the door
or call
519-887-6887 or
519-887-9585
Age of majority.
Lunch provided.
Come Celebrate
With Us
Mary Bryans
90th Birthday
Saturday, April 30
Come and Go
2~4 pm
Huronlea, Brussels
Best Wishes Only
Buck & Doe
Family & Friends
are invited to a
for
Adam Broome &
Lindsey Shannon
Saturday, April 16
8 pm - 1 am
Seaforth & District
Community Centres
Lunch provided
Tickets $5.00 in advance
$7.00 at the door
Age of majority
For tickets please call
Matt 519-527-1718 (afternoons)
Jill 226-420-2072 (evenings)
Happy 60th
Birthday
GREG
April 17th
Love family and friends
Family & Friends
are invited to a
Buck & Doe
for
Mandy Workman
& Wes Wilson
Saturday, April 23
9 pm - 1 am
Blyth Arena
Music by DJ
Lunch provided
Tickets: $5.00
For tickets call:
Becky at 519-523-4936
Friends & Family Are Invited!
Buck & Doe
for
ALEC GULUTZEN &
ASHLEY GIESBRECHT
Saturday, April 16
9 pm to 1 am
Blyth Arena Hall
Age of majority.
Lunch provided.
Tickets $5.
available at the door
or call 519-528-5533
Happy 65th
Birthday
Tom
From your friends
Entertainment Leisure&
Tickling the ivories
Floyd Herman, the musical director of the Blyth United
Church Choir was hard at work on Saturday playing the
piano and conducting the choir at the same time. The Choir
was the first act at Saturday’s Women’s Day Out, which is
put on by the church. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen