This weekend the Farm City Days celebration returns, if the rain holds off. The Iola Community Theatre and Allen County Community College have joined forces to bring a production of Mamma Mia to the Bowlus. Today brings the final two performances, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There is a lot going on in Iola this weekend. These two things might seem unrelated, aside from the dates. But they have one huge thing in common volunteerism.
Both of these events require an enormous amount of volunteer time. When you go to any part of the Farm City Days celebration, there has been nearly a years worth of planning that has made that small part happen. When you attend a theatre production, there also has been nearly a years worth of planning that goes into the process of bringing those plays to the stage.
If we disassemble these two different organizations, we can see how alike they are. Both have a board of directors. Both require votes. But a board of directors and some votes bring nothing to the table but ideas and decisions. Through volunteers, the action happens.
When a donation is made to the Farm City Days organization, that is an act of volunteerism. There would be no parade without groups of volunteers to make floats. There would be no car show without people who volunteer to organize the show or bring the cars that make the show. Most of the food booths that are set up are ran by organizations that have volunteers who are willing to work for their cause.
The ICT/ACC production is the same. Once the board decided on plays and dates and all of the other random business that makes up a theater season, without volunteers who show up to audition willing to give up six weeks of evenings, or who volunteer to work on wardrobe, set design, building sets, sound, directing, house managing, ushering, selling tickets, putting out table tents, and myriad other small but important tasks, those decisions made by the board would be worthless.
Humanity House also relies on volunteers. Georgia Masterson volunteers all of her time. I volunteer over 40 hours a week. Our poverty worker volunteers hours above what she is paid for. All of our teachers volunteer their time. The board volunteers hours of service to us. There are so many organizations in Allen County that give each one of us the chance to volunteer and show that we care about our community.
If you feel that something in an event that you attend isnt up to snuff or doesnt go the way that you like it, or you see ways that it could be better, free up your time and volunteer. Help make things happen. You gain an appreciation of what it takes to make big things happen when you become an active participant.
Take yourself and your family out and enjoy this weeknds activities. They were brought to you by many, many people who care about our community. And a big thank you to all of the organizers of both events who worked so hard to make these things happen.
Kindness matters!
