Minstrel Staffing

I believe the decision to divide Head Staff into two different positions has had some positive results. We have had a couple of people train for Bookkeeper who seem to really like it. Alicia Weimer in particular has shown a real liking for the job, and I am thrilled that she has now been signing up for it on a regular basis. Alicia recently trained newcomer to the FP, John Niec for Bookkeeper, and he seemed enthusiastic about it following the training. Hopefully, he will be interested in signing up for it on an ongoing basis. With 4 or 5 people signing up for it consistently, it will not be the problem child it has been in the past. Alicia worked it last night with the newly designed Tally sheet, and she said it was great.

Now Head Staff still seems to be a little hard to fill. I would work it more often if it wasn't for Kitchen that no one wants to work.

In fact I would crown Bill Dodds and me the King and Queen of Kitchen working it week after week. This is a title I would happily give up...BTW! We had the conversation at the Board meeting a few months ago about Kitchen and Bakers and the ongoing Kitchen problem. I am convinced that if we did away with Kitchen for the night because no one signed up, cookies would still magically show up on the bare table. We have lots of people happy to bake, but literally NO ONE who is consistently willing to do Kitchen. I would be thrilled to train ANYONE willing to do this position that the Board deemed necessary for the successful operation of the Minstrel, and yet no one on the Board has offered to help. I will be making an announcement at the next regular Minstrel I am able to attend which may be in November. I consider this a serious issue, and if I do nothing else in the time I have left as Volunteer Staffing Chair, it will be finding more people to take on Kitchen...either that or close down or limit what we offer! It's THAT serious. I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how to make this position more attractive. Maybe you, or you, or you would need to try it to be able to come up with working suggestions...and don't tell me you don't know how to make coffee. We're all adults here and hopefully trainable. I'm sorry if this sounds a bit strong, but "being nice" on this issue hasn't worked!

Deborah Graham