Next Up: Volunteers

Now that St.Patrick's Day is damp history (did I mention our float won first prize?) it time to start planning for the next big event here at Irish Fest HQ: the start of volunteer sign ups. In just under two weeks on April 1st we'll begin gratefully accepting volunteer applications through our website. With our expansion this year our volunteer needs will grow too. So this time around when you sign up, why not bring a friend? You know how much fun we have. Share that with the neighbor, the sibling, the co-worker. Tell them that this is the best job they'll never get paid for. Tell them about the free T-shirt, the free ticket, the free refreshments during your shifts. Tell them what a great group of people we are to work alongside. Sign up to work together.

Why sign up so early, a full 150 days before we swing open the big green gates on Irish Fest 2008? Because jobs and shifts will fill fast and if you want your pick of the times and duties that best serve you, you need to be first in line. You think that position as Personal Assistant To Uncle Bloggy, 6:00AM- 10:00AM on Sunday will last long? I think not.

So listen, especially you first-timers: you need to do this. We need you to do this. In fact we need over a thousand of you to do this. As a public service to you, I'll be introducing you to some of our committee chairpeople in the coming days and asking them to tell you why their area is where you should work. In the meantime, a few basics. Kansas City Irish Fest volunteers should be at least 15 years old, and no older than 115. Most shifts are 4 hours long, a very few may require some lifting or physically strenuous work. Many but not all require extended periods of standing and/or walking. If you have physical limitations we'll do our best to accommodate you. Some positions may put you in close proximity to Irish Fest president Ed Scanlon and swooning may ensue. Some positions may put you in close proximity to musicians who, having just finished playing longs sets on warm stages, may smell funny. Some positions may put you in close proximity to laughing, smiling, goofy children, who also smell funny. At least mine do. All positions will put you in close proximity to the the staff, performers, vendors and patrons of Kansas City's best festival. And you'll have a ball, I promise.

So mark the calendar: April 1 is the day, no foolin'. Thanks in advance.