HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-09-06, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2000.
Co-ordinator knows the heart of Festival
Friendly face behind the scenes
Joan van der Meer busily recruits volunteers and co-ordi
nates their efforts in her role at the Blyth Festival adminis
tration office. After a successful season she is now prepar
ing for the annual volunteer appreciation night, to be held
this year on Sept. 13 in The Garage.
a mailout of the newsletter.
Volunteers work as ushers, sell 50/50
tickets and act as greeters for the
receptions.
“We have an auxiliary that helps
with the receptions, planning them,
decorating, preparing the food and
hosting the event.”
Also this spring a team of women
made vests for the ushers.
“From dishwashers to board mem-.
bers the people who volunteer here
are invaluable to us,” says van der
Meer.
Locating that commodity is done
through various methods. To recruit
people last year, van der Meer went
to the Wingham and Clinton high
schools for the volunteer recruitment
days. “I have had two high school
students over the summer who were
specifically looking to get credit for
Grade 9,” she says.
Volunteers are also sought through
advertising on cable, with flyers and
by word of mouth.
Once someone signs on, van der
Meer says the trick is to find out
their interests and try to match them
to a job that’s available. “There’s no
point putting someone dead shy to
host a reception. You have to listen
to what they say and place them
accordingly.”
Volunteers need never fear that the
work will become more than they
had expected. "We have volunteers
who commit for just one specific
project. They are as valuable as the
ones who help out consistently. “It is
really important to match the peo
ple's skills, desires and time, to find
something rewarding for them or
you will lose their interest.”
With over 220 volunteers present
ly helping out at the Festival, van der
Meer says that turn- over is not large.
“This is a pretty dedicated bunch of
people. Some have been here for the
whole 26 years.
Continued contact is crucial too,
she says. For example, if someone
volunteers to usher for the summer,
staying in touch with that person
when the season ends is very impor
tant. “I like to call them, say thanks
and tell them what we are doing in
the off-season, then ask if anything
is of interest. I have gotten more
commitment by keeping them
informed.”
To this end and also as a perc, vol
unteers receive a copy of the mem
bership newsletter.
Another way of saying thanks are
the appreciation nights van der Meer
organizes.
“We try to do a couple over the
year. They are simply relaxed gath
erings with entertainment that give
the volunteers a chance to chat and
so the staff can let them know how
much we appreciate their hard work.
Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m.,
the volunteers are being feted at The
Garage. “It’s earlier this year
because I wanted to catch the people
who have been so helpful, but go
away for the winter.”
There is also a volunteer tea at
Christmas. •
Anyone interested in becoming a
volunteer is invited to call Joan at
523-4345.
FALL PROGRAM
starts Sept. 11
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
Tuesday pm, Thursday pm,
or Saturday morning
AQUA AEROBICS
Monday-Wednesday-Friday am
Monday-Thursday pm
NEW All evening swims
have lane ropes for length
swimming
CALL FOR MORE
INFORMATION OR TO
REGISTER
482-3544
“Be more active with us”
Bluewater Kennel
Club
OBEDIENCE
CLASSES
Trainer: Ruth Oesch
Starts
Wednesday, Sept. 20
at the
Seaforth Agricultural
Building
7- 8 PM BASIC LEVEL
8- 9 PM ADVANCED LEVEL
Preparation for
novice trials.
$80.00 for 8 week course
Bring toys and treats &
Rabies cert.
To register early
or more info call:
Florence Pullen
@ 233-7896
or
Kelly Carter
@ 482-5543
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
If the volunteers are the heart of
Blyth Festival, then Joan van der
Meer would be the soul.
While there’s little doubt that it
takes the hard work of over 200 vol
unteers to help keep the Festival
ticking along, it is van der Meer as
co-ordinator who is the vital
force behind every aspect of their
efforts.
Christine Kemp, director of com
munications for the Festival says, “I
don't think anyone fully realizes the
work that Joan does and how impor
tant it is to the theatre.”
From recruiting to scheduling and
training, as well as arranging hous
ing for the cast and crew each sea
son, the Wingham woman works
quietly behind the scenes. “I’m usu
ally busiest in the off-season,” she
says. In March a massive mailing of
brochures is done and volunteers
distribute these and posters.
van der Meer and her team also
look after the book sale, a huge
fundraiser held in late spring and do
Blyth Festival meets
its box office target
The statistics are in and the news is
great. Blyth Festival reached its box
office goal two weeks before the sea
son ends.
Over 34,000 seats were filled over
the course of the summer. Attendance
for this season reflects a 17 per cent
increase over last year. Added to last
year’s 20 per cent increase over the
year before, a strong upward trend is
evident.
Administrative Director Karen
Stewart sees the increase as the result
of various factors. “The community
has pulled together to make Blyth a
welcoming place to visit,” she said.
“It is very rewarding to see our audi
ences responding to the excellent
quality of the Canadian work we pro
duce.” *
The Blyth Festival season contin
ues with When the Reaper Calls, a
comic mystery, until Sept. 9. Plans
for next year are underway and
vouchers for the 2001 season are now
on sale.
For more information contact the
Blyth Festival Box Office at 523-
9300 or toll free at I-877-862-5984.
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