These two Theatre enthusiasts give back in so many ways…
Each month on the BLOG, we feature an interview with one of our incredible volunteers. We have dedicated volunteers who have been with us for more than 20 years and some who have given of their time for less than two months. All are deeply appreciated and deserve a moment in the spotlight!
This month’s Volunteer Spotlight features two volunteers! Tom and Linda Stuermer were awarded the Jessie Ray Spotlight Award for the 2017-2018 season and we thought we should tell you a little bit about them.
Lacey McNamara presents the 2017-2018 Jessie Ray Spotlight Award to the Stuermers.
You may have seen them volunteer in the lobby, but they go above and beyond bringing cookies for cast and crew every December and sharing scripts, cast recordings, and programs from shows they’ve seen.
Volunteer Director, Lacey McNamara, asked the two a few questions about volunteering at SLO REP:
LM: What volunteer jobs have you had here at the Theatre?
TLS: Bartender, concessions, front door…we’ve pretty much done it all except get on the stage.
LM: How long have you been volunteering here?
TLS: Almost 3 years
LM: What got you started in volunteering?
TLS: We’ve been season ticket holders for over 20 years and we always liked the people we were meeting. We also appreciated the quality of the shows we were singing. We’d been volunteering at other places and thought we’d give SLO REP a try.
LM: What is your favorite part about volunteering?
TLS: The people! The other volunteers you work with are amazing, it’s so good to interact with the actors behind the scenes a bit, and we love all the patrons we get to meet.
LM: Do you volunteer at any other non-profit organizations?
TLS: Linda crochets blankets and whatnot for various non-profits, but otherwise, no. We used to volunteer at the Food Bank and occasionally at the Out of the Box Theatre in Santa Barbara. We’re too busy seeing shows to volunteer anywhere else!
Always together!
LM: Do you have any words of wisdom or a bit of advice for someone thinking about volunteering at SLO REP or tips for someone who is coming in to volunteer for the first time?
TLS: Relax and enjoy it! This is the most positive experience volunteering. We don’t see ourselves stopping any time soon!
We would like to give a huge thank you to Tom and Linda for making our lobby feel like a warm, welcoming place for everyone who comes through our doors. Actors, patrons, and the staff love them! We look forward to having the Stuermers volunteer for many years to come.
Our volunteers are what keep SLO REP running smoothly. From painting sets to setting up the coffee bar, stuffing envelopes to organizing costumes, pouring wine and mixing martinis, the incredible volunteers who give their time to this theatre mean the world to us and to our patrons.
For more information about joining our volunteer crew, backstage or in the lobby, please visit our volunteer page, where you can find out more and sign up!
Look for Tom and Linda in the lobby this holiday season!
