Volunteer Service
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2008 Volunteer Positions
Join the Best of Our Fest by Volunteering
The Dublin Irish Festival would not be possible without the help of 1,200 award-winning volunteers who make it happen. Whether it is welcoming the crowds at the gates, corner marshaling the OhioHealth 5K Run, or helping with set up, each and every volunteer makes the difference when we say, “Slainte!”
4-Mile Run Corner Marshal
Great for a family or volunteers over the age of 16. Be assigned at a key location along the run route to cheer on runners and direct them on course.
4-Mile Run Registration
Welcome the hundreds of runners as they register just before the run.
Admission Gates
Scan admission tickets, hand stamp for re-entry, and offer general information to Festival guests.
Beverage Golf Cart Driver
Deliver ice and products to beverage locations throughout Festival grounds. Must be at least age 18 and have a valid driver’s license.
Beverage Set Up & Support
Before the festival begins (Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1) volunteers are needed to help set up beverage stations; which includes driving a golf cart and delivering product. Must be at least 18 years or older with a valid driver's license and be physically capable of lifting up to 25 lbs.
Beverage Token Sales
This fast-paced assignment involves selling beverage tokens at one of many key locations throughout Festival grounds. Must be at least age 18.
Entertainer and Exhibitor Golf Cart Driver
Transport entertainers and exhibitors in need of assistance in golf carts. Must be at least age 18 and have a valid driver’s license.
Entertainer and Exhibitors Hospitality
Make entertainers feel welcome as they take a break. Requires welcoming entertainers, checking in musical instruments and helping with refreshments. Age 18 and up.
Floater
Floaters are needed to help in various areas of the Festival to cover busy times or step in when someone needs a break. Must be at least age 18, and flexible to handle almost any volunteer assignment.
Golf Cart Crossing Guard
A key position that oversees pedestrian and golf cart crossing safety on Festival grounds.
Information Tents
Greet visitors, help with directions, answer general festival questions and distribute maps and general information. This assignment partners with the Dublin Convention and Visitors Bureau. Age 16 and up.
Merchandise Tents
Looking for energetic, outgoing sales people to sell Irish Festival T-shirts, pub glasses, hats and more in the Merchandise Tents during the Festival. Fast-paced atmosphere. Age 18 and up.
Set Up-Pre-Festival
The week of the Festival, help is needed to set up tables, chairs, cover tables and place signage.
Set Up and Signage Crew
Each morning before the Festival opens, volunteers are needed to help get the day’s activities set up.
Ticket Sales
This is a fast-paced assignment that requires the ability to handle money and computers. Volunteers must be at least age 18.
Volunteer Headquarters
The function of this operation is to register volunteers, answer general questions and troubleshoot, help refill and maintain refreshments, keep area clean and maintained. Indoor assignment. Age 16 and up.
Wee Folk Area
Volunteers help and encourage children and monitor games and crafts. Volunteers check wristbands for entry, but no money handling is involved.
Need to contact Volunteer Services?
Contact Christine Nardecchia, Volunteer Services Administrator at
614-410-4406 or cnardecchia@dublin.oh.us.
2007 Volunteer Statistics
Total Volunteers: 1,200
Total Hours Served: 12,000
Total Areas Served: 58 areas of the Festival
Quotes from Volunteers:
“I enjoyed my experience and will keep volunteering as long as I can. The Festival and volunteers are so well organized; it is a wonderful time.”
“Thank you, Dublin, for treating volunteers so well. You are awesome! Keep up the good work!”
“The hospitality and respect shown to the volunteers is exceptional and you are to be commended. The employees I worked with were pleasant and enthusiastic about the Festival. First class all the way. The planning and preparation certainly pays off.”
“I was impressed with every aspect of this Festival. Thank you!”
“This was my first year volunteering. I was impressed by how organized and well run it was. I can’t wait to be a part of it next year!”
2007 Best of the Fest!
Adult Event Award:
Jeff Noble
Jeff has been a Dublin Irish Festival volunteer since the year 2000, starting out selling beverage tokens, then admission tickets, and finally becoming a valued member of the Volunteer Committee.
He is described as “having a calm demeanor and the ability to recognize problem situations or ways to improve assignments and operations.” His natural leadership abilities make him an outstanding representative of the Festival on the grounds as he covers zone duties, checks in on volunteers, ensures compliance and troubleshoots issues. He offers useful feedback throughout the year as the community plans for the event, and listens to and participates in discussions in a thoughtful and productive way.
This year, he offered extra help above and beyond his duties, working with the City of Dublin’s Risk Manager to do a walk-through of Festival grounds before the event opened in order to assess safety and access issues. During the weekend, his observations were put to good use, all because of his concern to put a few extra hours in before a single guest walked, rolled or strolled onto the grounds.
He is a pleasure to work with, year after year, and is most deserving of this honor.
Youth Event Award:
Ellie Asher
Starting in the fifth grade, Ellie Asher has been a welcome addition to the youth ranks of the Dublin Irish Festival volunteer team. Since 2004, she has been dedicated to the event through rain or shine. Said one nominator, “she hangs in there in the hot conditions and still has a great attitude.” He continues, “She loves helping out and sharing herself with the younger children.” Ellie is now a freshman at Dublin Coffman High School and still plans to continue her volunteer service to the Festival and the Dublin community.
This is exactly the kind of serve we look for in our youth volunteers at the Festival. She’s a shining example of a future leader who started out her service as a child and has blossomed into an active and involved teen. Hundreds of youth and teens volunteer at this event; it’s a remarkable testament to her energy and spirit that she stood out to be nominated for this award.
Leadership Award:
The Finns and The Morans
The Emerald Club Team is made up two dynamic leading couples: Jim & Leslie Finn and Mike & Robin Moran.
“It would be impossible to count the hours and describe the passion that these four leaders have put into the Festival over the last three years,” said one nominator. “They work year-round to generate the public enthusiasm which has made the Emerald Club the VIP area that others emulate.
They not only lead the efforts that raised nearly $40,000, but roll up their sleeves to do the detail work, do follow up calls, send packets and ensure that all members and guests receive a memorable experience. Surveys show that satisfaction and retention rates are high for the Emerald Club, which is a testament to Mike, Robin, Jim and Leslie’s leadership.
Further described as “class acts” by another nominator, “they exceeded membership goals and went above and beyond…they had a positive attitude through it all.” They have also successfully built lasting relationships with people and businesses who support the Emerald Club and the Festival in general.
Family Award:
The Mack Family
The Mack family, led by none other than Jack & Jackie Mack, have been an outstanding family of volunteers for the Dublin Irish Festival, having dedicated their time in the past to areas such as Sunday Services and Information Services. In the past three years, however, their efforts have made an extraordinary impact by coordinating beverage fundraising groups for the Festival.
“They truly share the spirit of the Dublin Irish Festival,” said one nominator. They volunteer time and energy throughout the year,” and then recruit scores of family members from all over the country to come in during the weekend to make it all happen.
“They serve the Festival with integrity and commitment, which is what makes them stand out as an outstanding team of family volunteers,” said another nominator. Together, they coordinated the efforts of 25 community groups so that they may raise funds to support their organizations, check in the members of these groups, help to monitor the groups during the weekend, and serve as a needed central point of contact for the many organizations participating.
Combined, the Mack family, with their children, cousins, in-laws and the friends of children, cousins, in-laws, it is estimated that the Mack Family Clan has given approximately 800 hours of their service to the Dublin Irish Festival since 2002. It is a dedicated family effort and more than worthy of this family award.
Group Award:
Cardinal Health
For the first time ever, the Dublin Irish Festival has a repeat winner of this category: Cardinal Health returns as the winner of the Dublin Irish Festival’s Best of the Fest! group award category. This year, their remarkable efforts were stepped up to their highest level of participation in their five years of volunteering: A total of 46 volunteers gave 240 hours to the event on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. From seasoned employees to interns, participating from all office locations in and around Dublin, Cardinal Health volunteers demonstrate their commitment to the Dublin community by returning year after year as volunteers. “It’s such a pleasure to have this team at the Festival,” said one nominator. “They are so capable, always willing to got he extra mile, and are attentive to the needs of our patrons, our staff, and the overall safety of the Festival.”
Employees take the time to learn what’s new year after year, taking time out of their work schedules to be trained and oriented to the process. Always reliable and always providing outstanding customer service, Cardinal Health volunteers continue to invite their family members to volunteer with them, and enjoy getting to know one another as they work for the good of this great event. They served in areas this year besides the Admission Gate, including Set Up, Admission Gates, Participant Gates and Merchandise Sales.
Past Best of the Fest Winners.
