ABOUT 300 VOLUNTEERS HELP TO MAKE RIVERFEST POSSIBLE

As of Tuesday, volunteers chairwoman Joyce Rayfield said organizers were looking for approximately 100 more volunteers to work. But Rayfield expressed no anxiety over finding the needed help.

"It's not hard to find workers, really, because a lot of people like to get involved in it," she said. "We'll probably have more workers this year because of the beer gardens. It will just take more staff."

About 300 volunteers will work the two-day event, said Rayfield. Shifts run three hours each.

"We're going to have a total of 50 volunteers at all times down there," she said.

Volunteers will be used to staff four soda stands, two beer gardens, and beverage ticket booths. A few, Rayfield said, will sell soda on the paddlewheeler, The Spirit of St. Charles.

Rayfield said the paddlewheeler is being renamed temporarily the The Spirit of Riverfest in connection with the event.

Proceeds from the soda and beer sales will be put into the Riverfest Association. Outside of advance T-shirt sales, Rayfield said, the soda and beer sales provide the association its only income.

She said she had contacted 20 area businesses for the volunteer pool. The businesses, said Rayfield, have volunteers who work Riverfest every year. As well, she will contact two Boy Scout troops for volunteer help, she said.

People should want to volunteer their time toward Riverfest because "it's their festival," said Rayfield. "And its fun to work in a booth: It's like going to Riverfest in a way; It's not hard work."

Anyone who would like to be a Riverfest volunteer may reach Rayfield or volunteers co-chairman Cassi Stehr at 335-9099. Rayfield can also be reached at 334-4223 and Stehr at 335-8684.