Page 108 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2016

Volunteers
ensure festival
runs smoothly
STORY BY SUSAN RUDDIMAN
No festival this size could ever be executed without its army of volunteers. Putting in hundreds of hours behind the scenes and on- site support, this team makes sure the world
is welcomed. From months of preparations to early morning set up, late night trash pick-up and distribution of community and festival information.
“We could not put on the festival each
year without our volunteers, staff and board
of directors,” said Cynthia Dobbs Sutton, executive director of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce-Main Street-Tourism Bureau.“They are the main reason the festival runs as smoothly as it does year after year.,” she said. The crew of around 100 who reports to the festival headquarters at the L&N Depot brings varied life experiences and backgrounds as well as willingness to be of service.
Nikki Skrmetti and Nathan Sumner, M.D., serve on the Chamber’s board of directors and help recruit volunteers though they are volunteers themselves.
“The basic requirement I look for is someone who joins our vision to improve the quality of life of those in our community and who are willing to donate their time and talents to help make the Festival a success,” Skrmetti said. Her position as business banker in Jackson County for Hancock Bank makes her volunteer time at the Chamber a good fit.
I NEVER REALIZED ALL OF THE WORK IT TAKES TO PUT ON THE FESTIVAL.
108 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2016 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net