Delicious Leadership Volunteers with Multicultural Fair

April 1, 2017 - UMW Fredericksburg Campus

On Saturday, April 1, 2017 (April Fools Day), Delicious Leadership had the opportunity to participate and volunteer with the set-up for the Multicultural Fair. While I remember the event distinctly, there was something in particular that made me reminisce today, Tuesday, as I passed Ball Circle. I was walking back across campus from a late afternoon meeting, when I noticed what a distinct transformation Ball Circle had made from Saturday to Tuesday. On Saturday, the perimeter of Ball Circle was full of food, tents, slow cookers and inflatable rentals all preparing for the fair goers. Whereas today (Tuesday), Ball Circle was chock full of students in Adirondack chairs, reading and talking while laying in the sun. On Saturday, we got to play the unsung heroes which helped contribute to the success of the 27th Annual Multicultural Fair.

On Saturday, our group met at the University Center before 6:00am to meet with the rest of the volunteers and be given our assignments for the morning. The fair was expecting between 5,000 and 6,000 fair-goers to be on campus on this day, and there were plenty of volunteers ready to help. All volunteers were given assignments at 6:30am and by daybreak, we were on our way to our first assignment. Our first assignment consisted of setting up the tables, chairs and the stage in front of Monroe. Each group of volunteers was partnered with a student employee who had carried out the assignment in a previous year. Our student coordinator, Miriam, was helpful, encouraging and appreciative of our help. Once we were finished setting up the Monroe stage, we met back at the information tent to be given new assignments.

Once at the information tent, we did not find a coordinator there who was able to tell us where we were needed, so we began to look around for a project that could benefit from our help. Across from Lee Hall, the large tent was being assembled and raised. We agreed it looked like they needed help, so we made our way across Ball Circle to help with the big tent. Like much of the tables, chairs and equipment at the fair, the tent was rented and delivered by and set up by the company, but the employees were more than happy to teach us how to set up and secure the tent posts. Once the tent was set up, our group and another group in our class assembled the tables and chairs which were placed under the tent, so as to protect lunchers from the heat or elements. There was a good deal of disorganization and confusion with regard to the tables and chairs, first as to how the tables should be set up, and secondly once the tables were set up how many chairs should be seated at each table. I felt as though a) we were not given enough information b) we were not familiar with how to best organize the tables and chairs and c) as though this was a test of our leadership and participation skills. Among the two groups, several people were clearly outspoken leaders who differed on their opinion as to how to best organize the tables and chairs, whereas others were just happy to help. In this situation, it would have been more favorable to have a diagram of how to best organize the tables and chairs as well as specifications as to how many tables and chairs were expected. After two reorganization attempts, the two groups were able to come organize the tables and chairs which proved satisfactory and mindful of space.

The great thing about volunteering as a group is that your efforts are twofold, you are contributing to and are a part of something larger, but it also gives you an opportunity to bond as a unit. I find this to be evident in all groups, whether it be young children, college-age students or working adults; there is something about working together that makes people get along. Delicious Leadership was able to discuss Carnegie, the beginnings of Lincoln as well as things that make us laugh and the things that are important to us while volunteering our efforts to set up for the 27th Annual Multicultural Fair.