Volunteers make it happen

The local festival season shifted into high gear last week with 4th of July celebrations in every part of the county. There were parades, community picnics, live music, pulls and, of course, fireworks.

This coming weekend Grass on the Black will bring bluegrass music to the Medford area with 10 venues hosting 24 different bands over the span of three days. Area residents get a short rest and then it will be time for the Rumblefest Car Show and the Taylor County Fair at the end of the month, followed by Rib Lake Ice Age Days, Parkfest and the Chelsea Fall Festival, to name just some of the activities going on in the coming weeks.

Wisconsin’s short summer season is jam-packed with activities and events. They are opportunities to celebrate and cut loose while enjoying what our local communities have to offer.

They are also a lot of work. Celebrations and festivals don’t just happen on their own. They take planning, coordination and an army of volunteers.

The Lions members serving up burgers and strawberry sundaes in the food stand, the Kiwanis member pouring syrup over their 97th snow-cone of the day, the drivers on the tractors grading the pulling track between runs, parade marshals making sure floats are lined up and in order and announcing each entry are just a few of the volunteers who give up time with their families and their activities to give back to their communities.

Even before the first brat is grilled or the first can of beer is served, there are others who work behind the scenes throughout the year to make events happen.

These volunteers do things like book performers, solicit support from sponsors, line up vendors, work with local governments for needed permits, purchase supplies and help set things up. Even after the event, the volunteers are busy working into the night to get things cleaned up and put away and, if they are lucky, getting a few hours of rest before heading to work the next day.

Many of these volunteers would run away if you attempted to put a spotlight on them. They don’t volunteer in order to get recognition or praise. For many, it is a way to give back to their community and to help make their community a better place to live. They know that the money raised at these events goes to making community improvements throughout the year in a variety of ways from funding scholarships and paying for park improvements to helping children learn to read.

Next time you are at an event, take time to thank the volunteers who are hard at work. Take time to show your appreciation and support of what they are doing. Before you complain or say how something “should have” been done, step up and offer your help.

Volunteers make things happen and, for that, we thank them.