Organizers are happy with the rally’s day one but they are still looking for a handful of volunteers to fill in a few little holes in their schedule. Richard Gaudet, the rally’s volunteer coordinator, says he could use another 50 helpers.
“If I get another 50 volunteers then everyone could just help out for two or three hours,” said Gaudet early Wednesday evening. “None of it is hard work. We just need to have people in certain places at certain times.
Gaudent says he needs people to take registration (on the main road through Conway near Frenchies and at the big Tims’); to sell tickets (at headquarters and another downtown booth); and to direct traffic in the downtown area.
Gaudet has been looking and calling around practically 24/7 for the last week he says. He’s been so intent on that job he made a mistake today and answered the phone while driving his car.
“I was so happy to have a guy call me and volunteer I forgot I shouldn’t be on the phone.”
THE RCMP were on the job and wrote Gaudet a ticket for $163 for driving while on the phone.
“I had so much on my mind, I just wasn’t thinking straight.”
Gaudet says anyone who’s interested in helping can drop into the headquarters and sign up for the time slot they’d prefer. It is really best not to call him, at least not if there is a chance he might be driving.
Glenn Dunn, the rally chair, says, besides that, everything is going to plan so far.
“It’s going so good it’s making me nervous,” says Dunn. “We’ve got a real good group of people working here and it’s all getting real well organized.”
Dunn says it has been a pleasure talking to all the new vendors and builders as they arrive.
“They’re finding everyone so helpful – all that normal Atlantic Canadian stuff we do, it’s quite a treat for people who aren’t used to it.”
Dunn says he was a little surprised by all the bikes around town today.
“Wednesday is usually get set up, get settled in, get ready, but today already you can feel it in the atmosphere, it’s like static electricity out there.”
The organizers have arranged a shuttle for this year’s bigger numbers, especially considering the crowd, which could show up just for the boat races.
The shuttle was planned too late for it to appear in the Rally programme. It will run from the shopping mall to Digby Town Hall and back.
Dunn says the most up-to-date information will be available on the rally’s electronic kiosks. Those are set up in the window fronts of four downtown merchants: Crazy J’s across from the entrance to the marina, the Shoe Shoppe, Marshalls and the Fundy Complex.
The Courier too will be trying to keep on-line readers up to date on www.digbycourier.ca, on our Facebook page (The Digby County Courier) and on Jonathan Riley’s twitter feed @jonathan_riley .
I think you need to look a little more closely at the benefits such a show brings to the town. Putting Digby back on the Maritime map, offsetting loss of tourism dollars and serious financial support for all the local businesses who in turn put their money back into the town as just a few examples. I would suggest renting your place for the week and seeing more of a personal benefit through cash and your absence during the amazing Wharf Rat Rally.