The Superior Express -

During my many travels across the country, I attended several Mother Earth News Fairs. The first one I went to was in Wisconsin. While there, I decided I might be able to work for the fairs and offset my travel expenses. I was told...thanks but most of the work is done by volunteers at each venue. I left my name and number in case there was a job opening.

The next fair I planned on attending was in Pennsylvania. A few weeks ahead of the fair, I called the Mother Earth News magazine office to check on a job. After some checking they said that although no actual job was available, they could use a volunteer in exchange for free admission to all three days of the fair. As I planned to attend, this worked for me. I was scheduled to help take down the bookstore stand at the end of the fair.

I located a state park near the fair venue and booked a spot for my camper. Arriving a day early, I went to check out the fairgrounds and was asked to help set up the bookstore.

When I returned to the state park, there was a notice on the bulletin board. Volunteers were wanted to help build a park trail. In exchange for the volunteers’ work, there was a free lunch. As the date was the second day of the fair and I am always open for a free lunch, I volunteered. The trail was being moved off a road into a parallel wooded area. It was used mostly by cross-country skiers. They used the trails in the park for training. It was an informative and interesting day.

The last day of the fair, I helped take down the bookstore. Having helped set it up, I had a good idea of the volume of the books and magazines sold. It was an impressive amount. Although it is being said people are using the internet and not purchasing printed material, I saw the exact opposite at the bookstore.

While I do not consider myself much of a volunteer, it is mostly because I am not interested in a leadership position. Instead, I prefer to step in and help when needed. Similar to people bemoaning a lack of interest in the printed word, there is a thought that volunteering is posse. This might not be as true as first appears. If you see something that interests you, try volunteering. It might open un-thought of doors. An extra set of hands is normally welcomed.