by Jen Lobley
The Machias Blueberry Festival takes place each year on the third weekend of August. The event has taken place for 35 years! There are a variety of activities that happen throughout the weekend. There’s the children’s parade, the road race, the pie-eating contest, the musical, and the craft show. There’s the quilt raffle, the selling of t-shirts, the banner contest and the cooking contest. There’s the pancake breakfast, the fish fry, a dessert café, the food court and the blueberry pie sale. Don’t forget the shuttle service, art show, and flea market. Whew! And it all gets accomplished with the donated time, talents and wisdom of over 200 volunteers from the community!
I love this event because it allows me the opportunity to BE a volunteer. I oversee the organization of the crafters and vendors. My work begins in January when we send out the invitations. Throughout the spring, as applications come in, I assign spaces and have various phone and email “festival conversations” with both new and returning vendors. On Saturday morning of the festival, I arrive on site at 4:30AM to prepare a wagon of hot coffee and blueberry muffins that will be distributed to the vendors as they arrive and set up. I run around with my clipboard checking in vendors, helping them find their space, and making sure their cars are moved by 7:00AM (so as not to interfere with the road race). I answer a myriad of questions, occasionally stop to help someone erect their tent, and most importantly, smile, be friendly and welcoming.
As a professional who works in the realm of volunteer development, I find my personal volunteer experiences to be critical to my work. Being a volunteer helps keep me grounded and prompts me to remember what it’s like to be on the “other side.” I have the chance to examine the following questions: What is it that I want and need as an actual volunteer? Did I enjoy the experience? Do I want to return? Were my efforts recognized in a way that was meaningful to me?
Through my volunteer experience, I take time to look through my professional lens and I am reminded of the importance of role descriptions, and how important it is to take the time to match the volunteer to the position that is right for them. I am reminded of how good orientation, training, and support can strengthen the ability of the volunteer, and how lack of these components can really hinder a volunteer’s work. I am reminded of how critical good communication is. Most importantly, I am reminded that a key piece of volunteer development is in the ability to empower a volunteer to do the work.
If you are a volunteer manager, I encourage you to immerse yourself in a volunteer experience. Having the perspective as a current, engaged volunteer provides you with insights that can strengthen the work you do with your own program volunteers.
Jen Lobley is the Extension Educator for Volunteer Development for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. She is a featured blogger.
