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 Suffern, NY – The Suffern Chamber of Commerce’s 1st Annual Music and Arts Festival mission is to revitalize the local and regional economy by being THE destination for Labor Day, 2009: September 5 and 6.
With an aggressive and viral marketing strategy, this community event has enticed local, regional, and national musicians and artists who embrace the mission. It has also engaged the attention of key local and regional government officials as well as regional business leaders, who believe that culture drives commerce. A team of exceptional volunteers is building an experience that brings community together in a way that demonstrates the spirit of “thriving, not just surviving” this economy.
One fundamental Suffern Music and Arts Festival (SMAF) goal is to ‘give back’. Ticket and participation fees are being kept low through the generosity of sponsors and revenue dollars from ticket sales will be redirected to school music and arts programs hit by budget cuts.
And the latest ‘give back’ - - - extra-ordinary benefits for volunteers.
“Too often, volunteerism zaps the last bit of personal time”, says Tara Agen, Co-Chair of the Festival. “You won’t find that with the Suffern Music and Arts Festival. The festival community is not just about ‘outreach’; it’s also about ‘in reach’ – what can be done to give ‘thanks’ for the talent and energy it takes to drive that sacrificial spirit.
One of the most unique benefits of being a festival volunteer plays on the popularity of NBC’s “Biggest Loser” show. It’s called “Give Back/Get Back SMAF Seismic Slimdown’. From now until July 5th, any woman wishing to volunteer for the Suffern Music and Arts Festival will be eligible to participate in this FREE 8-week contest.
Not only will the winner have a fitness transformation, but she will also receive a full makeover inclusive of hair, makeup, nails, and wardrobe courtesy of Suffern Chamber of Commerce merchants. The winner will be a part of the headline performance at Suffern’s historic Lafayette Theater entitled “Girls’ Night Out”, featuring an array of female vocal performers on Sunday, September 6th. The winner will introduce the lead acts on stage in her newly transformed state.
The “Give Back/Get Back SMAF Seismic Slimdown” is being delivered in conjunction with the Village of Suffern Recreation Department. Montebello resident and certified personal trainer, Richard DiSanto (owner of www.TrainwithRich.com), was tapped to lead the contest. Train with Rich, a Rockland-based business, is a sponsor of the Suffern Music and Arts Festival. Salon owner and Suffern Chamber member, Gina Bertolino, is thrilled to provide all the beauty services. Her business, Mystic Images, will be the exclusive salon sponsor for the contest. Kim Profita will do nails. Stephanie Mayo is the makeup artist. Fellow Chamber member, Anne Kilduff of High Style, will supply the wardrobe.
This exclusive volunteer fitness program kicks off on June 24th at Festival Headquarters, located at 34 Lafayette Avenue in Suffern, NY. There will be a one-hour orientation and measurement session (7-8PM). “This is not a weight contest”, stresses trainer Rich DiSanto. “Instead, contestants will be rewarded based on loss of inches and percentage body fat”. Classes will be held twice a week at The George J. Parness Suffern Community Center (41 Washington Avenue). The times are Wednesday 7:00-7:45PM and Saturday 11:00-11:45AM. Again, everything is free. It’s only for female volunteers. And it all leads to one of the best experiences inside the 2-day Suffern Music and Arts Festival event: “Girls’ Night Out”!
Other volunteer benefits are tremendous and extend to anyone (not just the women). The festival is calling out for a variety of volunteers to contribute to a welcoming, fun and engaging series of activities that showcase talent and skill within an overall experience. Whether it is EMS skill to event marketing to web design to talent management, Suffern Music and Arts is attracting people to either bring that talent to our event or capture a new skill that can help them evolve in their own career development.
To leverage the intangible benefit of networking, the festival offers prominent thanks and online features of its sponsors through both traditional and social media. (http://suffernmusicandartsfestival.com/). Businesses benefit, too, from a transformation of their own as Suffern’s Chamber is encouraging its sponsors to participate in a new way to market and sell their brand and their experiences live and online.
To volunteer, go to the website and “Get Involved”. There is even a list of ‘hot jobs’ to choose from.
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