MerleFest RSSfeedhttp://www.merlefest.org/MerleFest RSS Feeds0September 2010 Group News - Architectural Technology Clubhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=6386<p class="text">Most people who come to MerleFest have no idea how much good the money they spend on food helps the community of Wilkes County and beyond. One example is the work of Wilkes Community College’s Architectural Technology Club. Through a contract with MerleFest, the club receives funds for assisting the Brushy Mountain Smokehouse. That money is used to purchase gifts for children whose names are on the Angel Tree at Christmas and to assist club members who are struggling financially. They also use the funds to take students on trips to nationally recognized monuments and buildings.</p> <p class="text">Club faculty advisor, Tim Lackey, comments that his students gain a great sense of pride from volunteering at such a large event. "They really enjoy the experience and the community involvement. They get to meet a wide range of people and get to experience the music and food. It is always a fun event that keeps them talking for months!"</p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:24:08 GMTAugust 2010 Group News - WCC Early Children Education Departmenthttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=6289<p class="text">One of the liveliest places at MerleFest is the Little Pickers area. On a walk-through you will see kids burning off some of that extra energy on the climbing wall, being creative by making craft items, and learning about traditional music at a stage programmed just for them. The Early Childhood Education Department at Wilkes Community College is one of the volunteer groups that makes all of this possible. They work in the Activity Tent where all of those cute items we see kids wearing and carrying during MerleFest are made. </p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=6289">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:04:03 GMTJuly 2010 Group Volunteer News - Group Team Leadershttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=6288<p class="text">Every year Merlefest contracts with over 60 different non-profit community, civic, and college organizations to help make the festival happen. The groups represent a vast array of worthwhile causes in Wilkes County and this partnership represents the strong community that exists in the area. These organizations benefit by receiving funding for their specific needs and in turn they are a vital part of MerleFest which is the major fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. The groups tell us that their volunteers are eager to sign up for the festival – they work hard, but they recognize the importance of their service for their organization and for the community, and they get to experience a fabulous festival of music, moments and memories!</p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:12:13 GMTMay 2010 Group News - WCC Medical Assisting Clubhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=6186<p class="text">Volunteer groups who provide many hours of work to MerleFest receive funds for their efforts that reach far into the community. One of those groups is the Medical Assisting Club of Wilkes Community College. Most of the money they receive is earmarked for scholarships that cover the expense of the Certified Medical Assistant exam application fees for some of the program's graduates. They also use their funds for other worthy endeavors in the community, which are usually associated with some medical necessity or human service need. </p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=6186">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:17:24 GMTApril 2010 Group Volunteer News - Wilkes Acoustic Folk Societyhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=6174<p class="text">The MerleFest Pickin’ Place is a popular gathering spot for musicians.  Young, old, experienced, or beginners—all are welcome to join in the fun at these sites.  The Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society (WAFS) hosts the Jammin’ tents at the Pickin’ Place.  The Jammin’ tents include the Old Time Tent, the Bluegrass Tent, the Anything Goes Tent, dance floors, and the Hands-On Tent.  Co-founder of the group, Keith Watts, explains, "We provide two volunteer musicians at each tent to encourage and lead jam sessions in the area.  Our dancing members perform dance demos on portable dance floors near the Old Time Jammin’ tent.   Visitors are encouraged to participate in the dancing as well as the music.  Our non-musician volunteers manage the area, keep records, provide information to visitors, and assist with the hands-on workshops."</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=6174">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:00:40 GMTMarch 2010 Group News - Speedway Road Ruritan Clubhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=5951<p class="text">When you step onto the grounds of Wilkes Community College during MerleFest, the first people with whom you come into contact are the volunteers from Wilkes County's Speedway Road Ruritan Club. They are the smiling faces who take your ticket and put on your wristband as you enter through the main entrance tent. If you arrive without a ticket, they will sell you one at the gate.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=5951">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:15:24 GMTFebruary 2010 - Group News - WCC Human Services Clubhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=5752<p class="text">The MerleFest Convenience Store is staffed by the students of Wilkes Community College's Human Services Club each year. At the store, festival-goers can purchase small convenience items without traveling off-campus. At a very warm MerleFest 2009, sunscreen was a big seller at the store. A few of the other items they sell are insect repellant, aspirin, band- aids, hand sanitizer, MerleFest posters, and magnets. Club advisor Erica Sales-Walker says the club's thirty-five members not only serve MerleFest customers, but also perfect skills like multitasking and communication, which will enhance their future employment status.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=5752">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:07:12 GMTJanuary 2010 Group News – Women&#39;s Service League of Wilkeshttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=5662<p class="text">Regular MerleFest attendees look forward every year to visiting the official merchandise tent and seeing the new t-shirts, hats, jackets, etc. that are available for purchase. These items provide a little bit of MerleFest to take home as a reminder throughout the year of good times at the festival. The members of the Women's Service League of Wilkes are there to offer assistance and friendly faces to their customers. Cathy Kolstad, MerleFest coordinator for the group, comments on the group's participation in the festival. "We have a lot of camaraderie during those four days in the tent. We enjoy interacting with the people who shop at the tent, and we know the money we make goes to good causes in the community."</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=5662">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:09:38 GMTDecember 2009 Group News - Herbert Bell Shaw Lodge #842http://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=5526<p class="text">The Herbert Bell Shaw Lodge #842 has helped out at MerleFest for the past nine years parking cars at Festival Check-in and working with site clean up. Nelson Martin, Worshipful Master for the lodge, comments that the group's volunteer services at MerleFest allows them to raise money for community efforts as well as creating a time of fellowship for the group.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=5526">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:05:23 GMTNovember 2009 Group News– North Wilkesboro Rotary Clubhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=5424<p class="text">The MerleFest Mall is year-after-year one of the most popular gathering spots during the festival. Sure, it's a great meeting place that is always obvious ("Meet me in front of the MerleFest Mall at noon"), and is most packed during afternoon thunderstorms; but at all hours of the day or night people are purchasing CD's, t-shirts, videos, and other items provided by the entertainers/artists. The North Wilkesboro Rotary Club has managed the mall since 1998 led by David Bauguess and Skipper Soloman, co-managers.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=5424">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:20:08 GMTOctober 2009 Group News - Pastoral Care and Counseling Centerhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=5384<p class="text">Chances are most people who attend MerleFest have at some point during the festival misplaced something—keys, cell phone, camera, musical instrument. Chances are also excellent that those items ended up at the MerleFest Lost and Found tent where the Pastoral Care and Counseling volunteers assisted the rightful owners in retrieving their items. Believe it or not, they even had a set of false teeth turned in one year! The owner even claimed them!</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=5384">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:22:06 GMTSeptember 2009 Group News - Celebration Churchhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=4902<p class="text">As you entered the MerleFest grounds in 2009 the friendly faces of members of the Celebration Church greeted you. Not only did they warmly welcome festivalgoers, they also performed the all-important job of checking bags and coolers. Chris Roberts, Missions Pastor at the church, says that as part of their missions outreach the church wants to show the love of Jesus with more than words. "We are to do that locally, regionally, cross-culturally, and with a world-wide audience. We figured that the MerleFest crowd was really all those things rolled into one audience." </p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=4902">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:23:26 GMTAugust 2009 Group Spotlight - Wilkes Vocational Serviceshttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=4720<p class="text">Wilkes Vocational Services provides daily services/employment to disabled individuals in Wilkes County. The funds they receive for managing the Handicapped Parking Lot and for manning the pickup/drop-off area for handicapped individuals at MerleFest help make these daily services possible for their clients. </p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=4720">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:03:29 GMTJuly 2009 Group News-- Southern Culture Organizationhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=4596<p class="text">It seems very appropriate that Wilkes Community College's Southern Culture Organization participates at MerleFest. The club's members have staffed a beverage booth at the festival for the last four years. Club advisor Julie Mullis says that attending and volunteering at the festival gives students a chance to witness first-hand some important aspects of southern culture. "The music and storytelling fit so well with the objectives of our class."</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=4596">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:11:38 GMTJune 2009 Group News - Communities In Schoolshttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=4540<p class="text">Communities in Schools (CIS) directly serves over 1000 students in Wilkes County and indirectly serves over 3000. The monies they receive from working two areas at MerleFest help fund the many programs they provide. Among those programs are Friends of Youth one-on-one mentoring; Lunch Buddies; New Century Scholarships; dance lessons; after school clubs for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders; peer helpers; and peer mediators.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=4540">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:13:34 GMTMay 2009 Group News - Medical Assisting Club of Wilkes Community Collegehttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=4276<p class="text">Volunteer groups who provide many hours of work to MerleFest receive funds for their efforts that reach far into the community. One of those groups is the Medical Assisting Club of Wilkes Community College. Most of the money they receive is earmarked for scholarships that cover the expense of the Certified Medical Assistant exam application fees for some of the programs graduates. They also use their funds for other worthy endeavors in the community, which are usually associated with some medical necessity or human service need.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=4276">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:16:54 GMTApril 2009 Group Spotlight - WCC Dental Assisting Clubhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=4082<p class="text">Have you ever wondered what the students of Wilkes Community College are doing while MerleFest is going on? Many of them are right there on campus bussing tables, serving drinks and food, and helping out in numerous ways. The WCC clubs help by performing necessary tasks and, in return, receive funds that help support their programs throughout the year.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=4082">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 06:59:51 GMTMarch 2009 Group News - Wilkes County Recreationhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=3846<p class="text">If you visit Lowe's Park at River's Edge any time other than the last weekend in April, you will see people of all ages playing soccer and flag football, flying remote control airplanes, and skateboarding. The Wilkes County Recreation Department oversees the park all year and during MerleFest they manage the River's Edge Campground. The funds they receive for their work help to pay security and gate staff during the festival and help to maintain the park year-round.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=3846">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:14:47 GMTFebruary 2009 Group News - 4-Hhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=3506<p class="text">MerleFest enthusiasts often comment that they truly enjoy the family atmosphere of the festival. The Little Pickers have as much fun as the big pickers. One reason kids have so much fun at MerleFest is the presence of the Little Pickers tents and activities which are designed for the enjoyment of children. The 4-H Explorer Club of Wilkes helps children have fun and be creative. Dawn Ward, a volunteer club leader explains, "Club members help MerleFest visitors in the Little Pickers area make beaded bracelets and necklaces. All crafts and other activities in this area are free. The entire area is very family-friendly and is open to guests of all ages." Not only do the 4-H youth help out, but their parents also get involved. Their work at MerleFest is particularly appealing to the group because the 4-H program emphasizes community service.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=3506">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:06:44 GMTJanuary 2009 Group News - Camp E-Ma-E-Tuhttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=3262<p class="text">When you arrive at MerleFest early in the morning, have you ever noticed how neat the rows of green reserved seating chairs are? How all the garbage from the previous day's concerts seems to have magically disappeared? How garbage bags on the chairs have been replaced? It hasn't happened by magic. The staff and campers at Camp E-Ma-E-Tu start early every morning of the festival to make sure things are neat and tidy when the first festival-goers arrive. They also clean and organize the Creekside campsite before the festival begins.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=3262">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:08:55 GMTDecember 2008 Group News Delta Kappa Gammahttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=3184<p class="text">MerleFest 2009 will be Delta Kappa Gamma's fourth year to manage the Endowment Parking Lot (now referred to as Flattop's Lot). Delta Kappa Gamma is a society for female educators. They direct the parking and keep someone in the lot at all times to watch over the vehicles. Those who park in the lot appreciate having their cars watched and the careful placing of cars for easy exiting. The members also become helpful ambassadors by keeping a schedule of events on the site and answering any questions festival-goers might have. </p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=3184">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:04:40 GMTNovember 2008 Group News - Wilkes County Boy Scoutshttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=3124<p class="text">When you arrive at MerleFest each year, chances are the first faces you see are smiling Wilkes County Boy Scouts. For the past seventeen years, the Scouts have managed the shuttle busses that take festival-goers from parking lots to the festival site as well as managing the information booth. Linda and Gary Jordan, long-time Boy Scout leaders, said of the MerleFest volunteer experience, "Our most important role is that we serve as goodwill ambassadors as we greet and assist our visitors."</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=3124">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:19:10 GMTOctober 2008 Group News - Steel Magnolia&#39;shttp://www.merlefest.org/content.aspx?id=3048<p class="text">People who attend MerleFest are aware of the quality and diversity of the entertainment offered, but many would be surprised to know the economic impact the festival makes on non-profit civic and service organizations in Northwest North Carolina. In our newsletter, we would like to focus on some of those groups and tell about the good works that result from their hard work and dedication at MerleFest.</p> <p class="text"><a href="content.aspx?id=3048">[More]</a></p>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:21:30 GMT