343: Volunteers are the Engine of the Event | CiderDays 2.0 Part 3

Volunteering for CiderDays, Since 1994

On the first ever CiderDays, which was a one day event held on November 5, 1994, volunteers were stationed at local cider mills to encourage people to learn how to make cider. When the event became a 2-day experience, volunteers helped to make this annual event which is held on the first weekend of November a success. And so it continued.

Why Do People Volunteer CiderDays?

Community projects are part of the fabric of the local community where CiderDays takes place. These projects can be big like helping to build the New England Peace Pagoda in Leverett, Massachusetts in the late 1980's or more intimate like a wood stacking party to celebrate a friends birthday.

Getting something done with friends is fun.

It is a way to hang out with people with a common goal.

Volunteers are the Engine of the Event

Without volunteers for CiderDays and now CiderDays 2.0 events would come to a stand still. We need engaged people who know that cider=fun. Yes, there is a lot of preliminary work that takes place beforehand to set up an event, but on the day of it is all about the Volunteers.

How CiderDays 2.0 is Setting UP Volunteers to Succeed

• Reach out to Volunteers early on
  • Don't wait till the month of the event to secure your volunteers
• Provide a script of tasks
  • Keep volunteers in the loop by providing
    • provide a mission of what the event is offering
    • send a list of expected tasks so that they know the full script of what you expect
    • Call them and don't just rely on text messages
    • Feed the Volunteers
      • if you have evening events where Volunteers are serving, make sure they have had a chance to taste the same food or cider that will be served. We expect wait staff at a restaurant to give us tips on what is best on the menu or if the meal is gluten free, vegetarian options, or a general sense of the event. With this in mind, approach your event the same way and make sure your volunteers know the whole script including how delicious the food or cider that you are serving is and what the guests can expect.

Thank Volunteers after the event - for a Job well done!

You will likely want to bring them back next year!

Interested in Volunteering and getting involved for CiderDays 2.1 in 2023? Send an email to mailto:[email protected] Schedule of Events

Download CiderDays 2.0 Latest Events Schedule 

• CiderDays 2.0 Events all take place in downtown Greenfield Massachusetts at Hawks and Reed
• Go to Events page to find a description of the CiderDays 2.0 events
• Got to Tickets page to purchase CiderDays 2.0 Tickets
• Sign up for eCiderNews to receive updates and ticket info

Mentions in this Chat

• Episodes
  • Fermentis by Lesaffre - 4 SafCider yeast cultures
    • 336 Cider Yeast Choices with Fermentis
• CiderDays 2.0 - Tickets on sale and updates

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