More than 1500 volunteers put their time and talents together to make the Waterfowl Festival a success each November. With so many people coordinating the event, there is a constant need for new volunteers to fill in the gaps that arise in personnel every year.
Whether an individual looking for a fun way to give some time to a nonprofit organization, or a husband-and-wife or best-friends team interested in volunteering together, the Waterfowl Festival has numerous opportunities for community involvement both at the Festival itself and year round.
While volunteers are welcome for all aspects of the event, there are five committees especially in need of chairmen, co-chairs or other volunteers this year.
For those who love dogs, the Waterfowl Festival’s DockDogs® Competition offers an opportunity for an individual or two to enjoy the event up close. The chairman coordinates the scheduling and recruitment of volunteers for the venue, along with working with staff and other committee chairs on logistical requirements. Setting up and running the actual competition is handled by the local Delmarva DockDogs® chapter.
The Kids Poster Contest is an opportunity for a volunteer to showcase the artistic talents of local students. The chairmen helps select the theme each year and coordinates the collection of entries from kids ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. He or she also gathers the judges who decide the winners, and works with volunteers during the Festival to man the poster exhibit.
Duck Stamps have moved into the Waterfowl Festival’s Buy Sell Swap venue, but still has its own chairman. This individual coordinates with staff to distribute pre-orders and helps to recruit and schedule volunteers for sales during the Festival. The chairman also assists the Duck Stamp exhibitors in any set-up or tear-down needs.
The Sportsman’s Pavilion on the Elks Club lawn is a growing venue in need of extra co-chairs to assist with operations of the weekend activities. This position is for someone with a real love for the outdoors, willing to work with exhibitors throughout the weekend and recruit and schedule volunteers.
The Waterfowl Festival’s Calling Contests have also grown significantly in recent years, attracting callers from all over North America. It can use volunteers to help out in many areas of the competition, from prize solicitation and distribution to caller registration and score keeping. Some volunteer positions have responsibilities throughout the year, while others involve working only at the event itself.
There are more openings available for volunteers at the Waterfowl Festival. Interested individuals may learn more about these and other opportunities by contacting the Festival office at 410-822-4567 or visiting its website, www.waterfowlfestival.org.
The 2009 Waterfowl Festival will be held in Easton November 13, 14 & 15.