by Dee Dunheim
Walk the poppy-laced Yellow Brick Road. Junior Volunteers are now being
recruited to help produce, direct and host the 24th Annual Wizard of Oz
Festival in Chesterton which runs from September 16-18.
Getting in on the Oz action during the planning stages gives teenagers the
opportunity to be creative. It also gives them the chance to be a little bit
wacky - just like all the adult fans of Oz.
Young artists can paint props and backdrops and talk with professional Oz
artists. Writers can meet with famous authors - including the Wizard of Oz
author’s great-grandson, Roger Baum.
Carpenters can help build booths and parade floats. And, this year, students
are invited to help coordinate some of the special events which include
Breakfast with the Munchkins; The Fun Fair and Munchkin autograph parties;
Others can sell raffle tickets and help man booths.
Still more teenagers can help organize the Salute to Judy Garland or the
Judy/Oz Exchange and assist in the planning of Lunch with the Costumed
Characters and the Oz Fantasy Parade.
What you do - and what you learn - as Junior Volunteers can positively
impact on your education as well. If you are history buffs, use the Oz
opportunity as a research assignment. They’ll be plenty of Oz historians and
Oz trivia experts around to talk with.
Photographers-in-training, can take advantage of incredible photo
opportunities - including celebrity shots - throughout the weekend. To get a
head-start on buying, selling and trading stuff, check out e-Bay for Oz
memorabilia and collectibles.
If you’re working on a journalism career, submit a pre-publicity Wizard of
Oz story to a newspaper. Or, write up a report for a school assignment for
next semester. You can even perform as a publicist-in-training by forwarding
our media releases and Oz web-site to newspaper editors across the country.
For a jump start into this year’s Festival, log onto the new website created
by Russ Harper at www.wizardofozfestival.org
The site will help you decide
what role you’d like to play this Summer in helping make the 24th annual
Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesterton the best and most exciting yet.
Brenda Maynard is president of Lakeshore Festival and Events, Inc. Dee
Spargur is Vice President and Booth Chairperson. Laurie Franke-Polz is
Chairperson of the Junior Committee.
So, leave a message with your ideas or questions, along with your name and
number. Brenda, Dee or Laurie will return your call. Dial 983-1691.
Posted 7/7/2005
