SBF Presents: Conversation with SBF Board Member & Volunteer Coordinator Bev Dalrymple

Savannah Book Festival Board Member and Volunteer Coordinator Bev Dalrymple reflects on the impact volunteers have on SBF. Bev holds a doctorate in education from Florida International University and is an alumna of The College of New Rochelle.

SBF: When and why did you begin volunteering with SBF?

Bev: I moved to Savannah in 2015 and was first introduced to the Savannah Book Festival through my book club. We volunteered as a group several times and I was hooked. After a few years, a friend asked if I would be interested in helping with the Volunteer Committee, which I did for five years. Now, I am so excited to serve on the Board of Directors as liaison to the Volunteer Committee continuing to support the amazing work of our volunteers.

SBF: How many volunteers do you recruit for the Festival and what roles do volunteers play?

Bev: More than 200 volunteers are needed to support the events over the four-day Festival. Volunteers serve as ushers who greet the public and manage the flow of traffic at each venue. They provide information and directions. Some introduce authors and moderate question and answer sessions. A small group of volunteers arrive early and help with set-up logistics while others assist in the authors’ lounge and author book signing tents. Volunteers are behind the scenes and right on the front line. Volunteers are truly the face of the Festival.

SBF: What kind of training do volunteers receive?

Bev: Volunteers receive written instructions which include details about the event as well as how to prepare for and perform during each shift. Recently, virtual training sessions have been added to expand accessibility and convenience to volunteers. Also, during the Festival, each venue is staffed with a venue captain who oversees the area and provides coaching to each team of ushers.

SBF: What are some other perks volunteers receive during Festival weekend?

Bev: Volunteers receive a food voucher which can be redeemed at the food trucks present during Festival Saturday. But the real perks are intangible ones. Many volunteers come back every year to serve. I think it is because they value SBF and want to support this important community event. Volunteering at the Festival is fun. There have been family members volunteering together as well as school and work groups. There is a waiting list of book clubs wanting to volunteer as a group because the experience enhances their reading and discussions. It is a reciprocal process. Volunteers get back as much as they give.

SBF: What do SBF volunteers mean to you?

Bev: The SBF staff work year-round to plan and organize the Festival, including a million details we never see as participants. The Board of Directors provides the governance and guidance to ensure the Festival can continue year after year. But an event like SBF can’t happen with the work of a handful of people. Thousands of participants are expected to enjoy Festival week each year. Managing a crowd that size in multiple locations over four days requires an army of helpers. That’s where volunteers make a difference. They set-up, greet, direct, introduce, collect, distribute, count and clean-up. Volunteers make it happen!