When the Woodstock Fire Department started an August fireworks show around 30 years ago, the town government didn’t do anything to accompany it.
Ten years later, recalled Sam Magarelli, a group of citizens “went to them and said, Would you mind if in the afternoon before the fireworks we had this volunteer recognition?”
The town government didn’t mind.
Since then, there’s been an annual gathering in Woodstock with food, music and a play area for children. The event has become a way to honor the volunteers to the town for their dedication. This year’s Woodstock Appreciates Its Volunteers (WAIV) is August 17 from 12:30 until 9 p.m. at Andy Lee Field, Rock City Road.
At 8:30 p.m., the Alf Evers award will be given to a person who has exemplified the volunteer spirit in his or her community. Fireworks by the Woodstock Fire Department will follow at 9 p.m.
“The volunteers, because of the kind of people they are, they don’t do what they do because they want to get thanked, or get lunch, or whatever. They do it because they’re just good, decent people,” said Magarelli, treasurer and former president of the Volunteers’ Day Committee. “Even though they aren’t asking to have an event like this, it’s important for the community not to take them for granted, and to celebrate them.”
Selfless efforts
The was the contribution the volunteers make that inspired Woodstock School of Art executive director Nina Doyle to join the Volunteers’ Day board of directors.
“There are many small organizations in this town,” Doyle said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our volunteers. And what better way to publicly honor their selfless efforts and their time by doing it in the community? So that’s one reason I joined the board: to really have a day to celebrate them.”
Doyle, who came to Woodstock seven years ago, first connected with the chamber of commerce. Then she started coming to the event that thanked the volunteers.
Doyle was thrilled when she won a raffle prize.
“I was like, wow, this town really appreciates its volunteers. I get a lunch, I get music, I get fireworks, I get a prize. This is great. I obviously didn’t do the volunteering for that purpose, but it felt extra-special. And as a result, I promoted it in our organization for our volunteers, and then joined the board this year because I believe in it. I believe in this mission.”
Among the raffle prizes are gift certificates to Houst’s, Mudd Club, Early Terrible, Woodstock Hardware, classes at the Woodstock School of Art, and a Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild membership.
Magarelli thought Woodstock was probably the only town in America to put on such an annual event.
Heather Robertson, then executive director of the United Way of Pekin, Illinois came to Woodstock because a family member was in hospice. Inspired by the Woodstock event, she set up a similar street fair back home. The Pekin buttons said PAIV, for “Pekin Appreciates Its Volunteers,” instead of WAIV for “Woodstock Appreciates Its Volunteers,” Magarelli said. “We were happy that they were copying us.”
Pekin isn’t doing the event this year.
Food and no politics
“When we first started doing the Volunteers’ Day food thing, we went to all the restaurants and asked them to donate, and they were pretty good. And then after a few years, we learned that other organizations were also asking for free food from all the restaurants,” Magarelli said. “So we thought, you know what, let’s purchase some. This way we can buy some protein or whatever, and then still ask them to donate. So we started off with $50. We buy something for $50 and ask for a donation. Now I think we’re up to $100.”
When the organizers go to pay for the food, most places say the whole thing was a donation. “That’s such an indicative sense that they get it, that they want to be a part of doing something good for the volunteers,” said Magarelli. “I’m proud of that.”
Over the years, changes have been made to the raffle. Volunteers now get a free raffle ticket.
The event will include a short dedication, with speeches by county executive Jen Metzger and state senator Michelle Hinchey, who will then pose with a large group of volunteers. “Instead of just taking a photo of dignitaries up on the stage, they’re going to go in front of the crowd, with the crowd behind them,” explained Magarelli. “And then we’ll have a photographer up on the ladder, and take a large group photo — and that’s the ceremony.”
No politics are allowed.
“We don’t want all the candidates coming in and laying out all their their stuff, buttons and brochures. So we said no, please come and thank the volunteers, but don’t bring your political stuff,” Magarelli said.
The next generation
“It’s free for volunteers, but the public can also join in the festivities, and they will pay a small fee,” Doyle said. “There’s activities for children. And everyone can help celebrate volunteers whether they volunteer or not. We’d like to say, show up for the volunteers. They always show up for us.”
Volunteers, their children and their grandchildren get a free meal. Others will pay $10 for the buffet.
The children’s bounce house and obstacle course will cost $5. Those who just want to enjoy the music can come for free.
Magarelli noted the important role volunteers played in strengthening the small-town sense of community that so many Woodstockers are fearful of losing.
“It’s a fact that when people do volunteering, they’ll end up standing side by side with someone that they are diametrically opposed to about something,” he said. “But here they are saving someone’s house, someone’s life, feeding the hungry. And they do it in spite of the fact that they have differences with each other, which I think is a very healthy thing. And I’m happy to be a part of an effort to get people to do more of that.”
Scholarships to high-school seniors are another community element that doesn’t seem to get the same attention it used to.
The organization gives nine $100 scholarships to Onteora, Kingston and Saugerties high-school seniors. Another $400 a year is given to the Woodstock Fire Department Scholarship Fund.
Any student who volunteers or has a family member who volunteers can apply for a $100 scholarship. For the fire-department scholarship, the applicant must be a high-school senior living in Woodstock who is involved in a service organization or community service, is a child of a member of the Woodstock Fire Department, or is a student accepted or enrolled in a college program in fire or emergency medical services.
“Our mission is to model for our kids. It’s part of the reason why we do this stuff for the kids at the event,” Magarelli said.
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