Llama Tales
300 Thank yous at volunteer dinner
Vol. 12, Issue 4 October/November/December 2011
“It was an extension of thoughtfulness,” said Barbara about the preparation that went into the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. The Folklorama volunteers honoured that night came in many forms including pavilion coordinators, event volunteers, tour guides, president’s tour drivers, committee members, ambassadors and many more.
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t was a big surprise,” said Barbara Sampson, who won two of nine door prizes at the Folklorama Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held on Tuesday, September 13, 2011. “I didn’t think I’d win anything after the first one,” said the assistant pavilion coordinator at the Caribbean Pavilion. The Folklorama Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Canad Inns Club Regent Casino Hotel was held to honour the hard work, dedication and tireless efforts of Folklorama volunteers who helped make the festival possible. Barbara, a retiree, was one of approximately 300 guests that were appreciated for their contributions to the Folklorama festival in 2011. She especially liked the mini donuts that were served outside of the hotel lobby that all guests were treated to. Goodies from a candy bar and a free silent auction also started the evening’s festivities before the buffet table opened at 7:00pm. The evening’s program was hosted by the 2012 Adult Ambassador Generals Maria Rondinone-Costantino and Rogerio Garrido Fenez.
Of course, Folklorama also relies on thousands of other volunteers including pavilion admissions chairs, bar chairs, cultural display attendants, pavilion set up/ tear down teams, guest services attendants, kitchen staff and many others that due to the sheer number, cannot be hosted at one dinner event. Every year, out of those thousands, Folklorama recognizes outstanding volunteers with the Al Malbranck Memorial Volunteer Award – an award given to individuals whose names were submitted by their pavilions who far exceed the expectations as a pavilion volunteer. A draw was held to determine the award recipients from the names submitted. This year, five volunteers were honoured with the award. Seen in the photo below (left to right): Katherine Francis, Caribbean Pavilion; Lena Takatsu, Japan Pavilion; Joanne Malbranck, Honourary Member and award presentor; Julia Martin, Pabellón de España – Spain Pavilion; Brittany Asha Young Tenn, Indo Caribbean Paradise Pavilion and India Pavilion and Mohamed Ismath, President, Folklorama. Missing: Irina Fradkov, Russian Pavilion – Back to the Past.