Volunteer Log 2014

For those curious to what organizations that I've volunteer for during the 2014 year, this is the listing of them.  I am a small cog in a very large machine.

I don't post this to brag, only to remember.  It is my own unique brand of insanity.  I do this stuff because I like helping out.  It gives me claim to being able to say that I've worked at: art shows, concerts, parades, cookoffs, beer festivals, fundraisers, STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), around robots, and at the circus.

Done

Art On The Square
Catsup Festival
Circus Flora
Twangfest
FIRST Robotics
KDHX
LouFest
Midwest Salute To The Arts
Midwest Wingfest
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon

Sheldon Concert Hall
St. Louis Earth Day
St. Louis Fringe Festival
St. Louis Heritage Festival
St. Louis International Film Fest

St. Louis Mardi Gras (Parade and Cajun cook off.)
St. Louis Micro Festival
St. Louis Track Club
Strange Folk Festival

Tap N' Run
The Graffiti RunTour de Belleville

Wine, Dine and Jazz

Volunteering and Community

June: so much to say about June.  There was Twangfest for KDHX, St. Louis Heritage Festival, St. Louis Fringe Festival, Wine Dine and Jazz and Circus Flora.  I've also been doing Improv classes at The Improv Shop.  There is a quote on The Improv Shop wall and website by Kurt Vonnegut that goes: "And I would really, over the long run, hope America would find some way to provide all of our citizens with extended families -- a large group of people they could call on for help."  A little girl (4 or 5 years old) giving me a big hug after Circus Flora was over.  The combination of the quote and hug got me thinking that my favorite parts about volunteering and improv and life is the communities.  Communities that in some cases only get to see once a year and others that I can goof around with and be funny with.  Somehow it all makes sense together.  Probably my favorite part of doing any and all of it.  It's one of those things that I want to help push forward and help it grow.  So many communities to try to tie together and I am merely one thread amongst them all.

Volunteer Organization Log for 2013

For those curious to what organizations that I've volunteer for during the 2013 year, this is the listing of them.  I am a small cog in a very large machine.

I don't post this to brag, only to remember.  It is my own unique brand of insanity.  I do this stuff because I like helping out.  It gives me claim to being able to say that I've worked at: art shows, concerts, parades, cookoffs, beer festivals, fundraisers, STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), around robots, and at the circus.

286.50 volunteer hours and current to August 27, 2013.
321.5 as of September 22, 2013

Art On The Square
Bluesweek
Catsup Festival
Cinema St. Louis International Film Festival
Circus Flora
KDHX and Twangfest
Kiwanis of O'Fallon
FIRST Robotics
LouFest
Midwest Wingfest
Midwest Salute To The Arts
Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 
Sheldon Concert Hall
Strange Folk Festival 
St. Louis Earth Day
St. Louis Fringe Festival
St. Louis Heritage Festival
St. Louis International Film Fest
St. Louis Mardi Gras (Parade and cajun cook off.)
St. Louis Micro Festival
St. Lous St. Patrick's Day 
SGI-USA of St. Louis
Toastmasters
Tour de Belleville

Volunteering Why's

I have done a lot of volunteering.  It's been something like 800 hours over the last 2 years or so.  As for the why, I'm still trying to nail that down.  Some things that I've come up with are:

1. Lots of new and interesting experiences
1. Got to hang out back stage at music concerts and load up and ship out bands
2. Hung out on the roof on main street
3. Creepy Basement
4. Check out hidden places at events that most don't get to see.  
2. Helps me become a better leader and communicator 
3. Free T-Shirts, Food, booze, beverages, and candy (cool perk but not a requirement)
1. So many T-shirts
4. Meet lots of cool folks
5. Led me into other interesting stuff
1. Started taking classes at The Improv Shop
2. Got into other volunteer opportunities
6. Can honestly say I've worked at a circus, radio station, festivals, at a bar, selling merch, and giving away loads of free stuff.

There's a saying in improv that you need to "Get out of your head" and "Yes, and..  In a weird sense those are the ideas that I'm looking for.  It's an Art meets life and life meets art thing that seems like I've been living over the last few years with all this volunteering.  For the most part I improvise at these events.  I keep an ear to the ground and do what needs to be done.  Improv class is starting to show me the way to do this but also show me how to be funny too in an honest sort of way.  I do highly recommend taking up improv class for reasons I won't describe in this post.  If there is any interest I will describe it in future posts.

Brief Volunteer Commentary

Just realizing that with all the volunteering that I do, I need to find a way to scout out other opportunities that happen to a rise on a yearly basis.  For instance, I just found out about the St. Louis Comic Con today.  If I would of known about it a month ago I would of signed up forever ago.  I've signed up but with a few days to the event, who knows if I'll get tagged up for it.   Not much to do except roll with it and be prepared next year.  Sometimes volunteering you hear about stuff way to late.  It's the hearing about it that matters the most.  

It's the hearing about stuff way to late that I need to fix.  I shouldn't be missing interesting stuff like Comic Con.  I blame myself for it.  I have been assuming that things like it only happen in California or something.  It's okay, I'll survive.  I'm gonna have to dig around a whole lot harder for some of these events.

If your interested in the event sign up for it.  May have to search around a bit on your own to find out where to sign up but it'll be worth it.   If you happen to know of anything interesting that happens to need volunteers, especially in the St. Louis area,  let me know down in the comments.  Otherwise Volunteer on and keep rocking.

I've also gotten a chance to cruse around St. Louis on a golf cart this past weekend for St. Patrick's Day parade festivities.  Pretty sweet event with one of the few events with a 5 MILE run prior to the parade.

April is shaping up to involve a KDHX phone drive (please show your support at KDHX.org), St. Louis  Earth Day, and FIRST Robotics World Championships.  Their is also the St. Louis MicroFest at the beginning of May.  Check them all out.  They are all interesting events in the St. Louis Area.