Page 109 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2016

IT’S A
GREAT
TIME OF YEAR
As chief of neurology at Keelser Medical Center, Sumner is the Keesler AFB liaison with the Chamber. He is able to recruit about 25 airmen to help at the festival. “Last year, they were greeters at the entrance on Government Street,” he said.
Sumner is at the festival at 4:30 a.m. on the Saturday it opens. “Being behind the scenes as a volunteer is an eye-opener,” he said. “I never realized all the work it takes to put on the festival.”
Anna Marie Curtis came to the Chamber of Commerce volunteer team two years ago so she could become involved in the community. She assists the team in numerous areas of planning to on-site coordination. Last year, she took on the overwhelming role as on-site volunteer coordinator where she helped more than 100 volunteers report to their stations and oversaw the vendor welcome.
Robert Faulk also came to the Chamber of Commerce two years ago to offer his services. From working closely with the set-up team
to assisting vendors and attendees throughout the festival weekend, Faulk has become a man of service winning him the 2015 Volunteer
of the Year award. “I’ll be down there by 4 a.m. Saturday to make sure the vendors are where they are supposed to be. I’m retired military and am used to herding folks around,” he said. Working closely with some many vendors, it is a monumental task. Earl Darphin, a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual, is a longtime volunteer
at the Chamber. At the Peter Anderson Festival, he said he does whatever they need him to do — from delivering bottles of water to vendors to moving street barriers.“I have family who comes to visit during the festival, so I arrange my volunteer time around family,” he said.“It’s a great time of year.”
“We are honored to have a great team of volunteers,” said Sutton. “Our volunteers come out to help with everything from one hour
of smiling and welcoming attendees, to eight or so hours of sorting festival guides, passing out vendor welcome bags, solving vendor and logistical concerns, displaying festival signage, making information packets, directing traffic, cleaning and directing.
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October 2016 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 109
DESIGN FINDS
STOP BY THESE SPECIAL OCEAN SPRINGS RETAILERS
The Italian glass maker Vietri fashioned works of art with the Regalia wine and sherbet glasses that will be a pleasure to use.
On the Menu
1209 Government St., Ocean Springs
228.875.6979
Artist Thomas Stade captures the charm and colors of the Ocean Springs Harbor in an acrylic painting on canvas.
The Pink Rooster
622 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs
228.875.1218