Festival Construction Crews Welcome New Volunteers

April 7, 2007

“It’s fun, we always have a bucket of cookies and hot coffee, and everyone is welcome,” says Tulip Festival volunteer Gene Haverdink. One of the approximately 1,000 who contribute to this annual Orange City celebration, he invites anyone interested in helping to join him.

Haverdink helped construct the Queen’s Birthday Float in 2006, building the gazebo and bridge. This year, he’s working on two floats, including the De Polder Float, which features a windmill, bridge, and traveling boats carrying children along a canal. “In the past, a child managed the draw bridge…” Haverdink hesitates, lest he suggest criticism, “but sometimes children got distracted and forgot to raise the bridge, and a boat rammed the bridge. That messed up the gears. Then they’d call me for repairs.” He has created an automated mechanism to raise the bridge at just the right time. “Now all the children riding this favorite float can relax and just wave to visitors.”

Festival Coordinator Rachel Meekma notes that “people like Gene Haverdink work countless days, every week, behind the scenes, so people may not be aware of their contributions, but Festival truly depends on faithful workers like Gene. The Steering Committee appreciates every single volunteer who helps make Tulip Festival such a super fun event and we’d love to welcome many new volunteers in 2007.” Construction skills are welcome but there is work for everyone, even those who simply want to contribute creative ideas. Tasks on the agenda in Gene Haverdink’s shed in the coming weeks include carpentry, carpet installation, electrical and mechanical work, welding, and painting – from priming surfaces to artistic renderings of 3-D windows.

Volunteers are welcome to join Haverdink on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings at “Gene’s Shed” at 714 Ohio Avenue West (Highway 10 East to Ohio, Left on Ohio. It’s a grey building on the left.) For information on evening work parties, call Tulip Festival Float Building Coordinator Bill Van Marel (707-4212).

Ron DeJong and Gene Haverdink test Haverdink's design on the automated boat drawbridge
on a festival float for the Orange City Tulip Festival. They invite all community members
to join the volunteer team, including people with abilities or aptitudes as carpenters, welders,
plumbers, painters (from priming to creative 3-D artistic talent), carpet layers... plus all people with ideas
or a creative imagination. Haverdink is in the shop on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. (See story for details)

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Copyright © 2009 Tulip Festival Steering Committee