Engaging community in the work of any organization requires a culture that believes talent, from whatever source, is critical to its success. Volunteer involvement is vital for strong, inclusive and resilient communities. The Starbelly Jam Music Festival, preparing for its 15th season July 18-20, has held true to its commitment to develop a larger than life entertainment event in the Kootenay region.
“Starbelly Jam has something for everyone in the family,” said operations manager Farley Cursons. “From stilt walkers and clowns to kids’ craft zones and the now legendary ‘festival parade’ with the East Shore’s own samba band. The festival features a truly inspired line up of food vendors, gourmet coffee and desserts, cold refreshments and a variety of craft vendors. All that beside a world class stage entertainment line-up that tops attendance records year after year.”
The festival’s true success, however, is achieved through the commitment Starbelly Jam volunteers provide that make the festival a perennial success. Starbelly Jam Music Festival requires over 300 volunteers to accomplish its annual event. Many of these volunteers sign up with family members.
“In fact,” said Cursons, “what makes Starbelly Jam such a magical event is that at its organizational foundation is a legacy of families working together in a harmonic and collaborative forum.”
For a generation, the Starbelly family has been welcoming volunteers from around the world to be part of this event. The festival’s volunteer co-ordination team excels at recruitment, screening and orientation to ensure maximum volunteer satisfaction and investment. Starbelly Jam Music Festival welcomes families to sign up together and works to accommodate schedule needs.
A healthy organization empowers volunteers and strengthens volunteer engagement. Because Starbelly Jam believes that involved and informed volunteers who feel part of the organization are the ones who continue contributing their valuable time and skills, volunteers are treated as equal members of the team.
Throughout the Starbelly Jam weekend, visitors will see the “magic and delight” as families work together to once again bring the region’s cultural event of the year to fruition. Throughout the hospitality, stage management, production, site and services departments are mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, grandparents and grandchildren working in harmony to celebrate the area’s vibrant eclectic community. The Starbelly Jam family has a successful collaboration of community members with a common goal to create a safe and fun event for all.
Families attending the festival feel the support of the caring family who are always ready to point out quieter zones, shade/shelter, lost and found or other services. The festival has many levels of security and first-aid personal, all of which are trained in festival policy, procedure and risk management. Uniformed event staff and professional security are always available for assistance with any issues that may arise.
“The Starbelly Jam family’s enduring legacy is to create many more years of festival magic,” said Cursons.
The festival continues to welcome volunteers who believe they have something to offer. Families, teams, friends or individuals are welcome to apply on the festival website’s volunteer section at www.starbellyjam.org or email volunteer.starbelly@gmail.com.
—STARBELLY JAM