Volunteers...we love you!

We had yet another storm here in Moncton on Wednesday night, but it didn’t seem to impact the kind, generous and fun-loving Frye Festival volunteers! More than 60 people attended our volunteer orientation session to pick-up their passes, t-shirts and to meet some of their fellow community builders, despite the freezing rain (on April 20!).

I am just constantly impressed by the goodwill and generous spirit of people in our community. The hundreds of people over the years who have driven authors to schools, who have taken tickets at the door, hosted book clubs, moderated discussions, picked up authors at the airport, accompanied authors to events, stuffed envelopes and run errands…it is all just so impressive.

Yesterday I met with the guys who will be participating in the “Hockey and Hops” event and they all were so well prepared, reading the book, pondering their questions, and taking their volunteer roles so seriously.

Just this morning at “Imagination at Work” the first official event of the 2011 Festival, volunteers of all ages gave out t-shirts and certificates to creative kids, got photo releases from parents, completed surveys, lugged stuff and inspired so many kids.

This afternoon I spoke with Suzanne Cyr our French Program Chair (Frye Festival volunteer for 11 years!) and she told me about the wonderful synchronicities that are already underway…local booklovers who have made arrangements to take authors out for special dinners (or host them in their homes!), scenic tours that have been planned for authors, and just generally, local people going out of their way to welcome authors and provide them with opportunities to really experience our unique community. This is why authors come to Moncton and love the Frye Festival. Thank you volunteers!