June Volunteer Spotlight

Each month, our volunteer committee decides on volunteers to spotlight. For June 2024, the volunteer committee selected Bonnie Zsilavec and Kim Edwards! Bonnie and Kim are two of our 40 year volunteers! They have both worked with our green team and Kim has volunteered in our Festplatz in our various positions. We applaud them for their dedication to ArtsQuest and thank them for their continued presence here. We are looking forward to seeing them on their 41^st year at Musikfest!  

Bonnie Zsilavec:

Q: What inspired you to begin volunteering?  
A: In 1984 when Musikfest began, I was working at the First National Bank of Allentown who was the Major Sponsor of Musikfest. My Manager, Regis Sopko, who was the Bank’s Assistant Audit Manager, was asked to be in charge of the Green Team. He knew that I had cash handling experience working as a Bank Teller in my previous position. Regis asked me if I would be a Volunteer and help count the cash in the trailer at Festplatz and assist with preparing the Bank Deposits. Then the next year since I was already trained and was familiar with the process he asked me again …….and the rest is History. I have been a Volunteer on the Green Team and worked at all of the Platzes for all 40 years.

Q: What is something your fellow volunteers would be surprised to learn about you?
A: In my cedar closet I have every Volunteer tee shirt that I have worn since 1984. For some of the years I have 2 different colors of the shirt because I was also a Supervisor for the Cash Counters for some of the shifts and Supervisors wore a different color.

Q: Do you volunteer anywhere else besides ArtsQuest? 
A: Yes, The Boutique at the Rink, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and Monocacy Farm.
I am an active Member at my Church, Incarnation of Our Lord, where I participate in many Church activities and Parish functions.

Kim Edwards:

Q: What is your favorite part of volunteering at ArtsQuest?    
A: Meeting new people and forming friendships! I’ve made lifelong friendships and I never know what familiar face I’ll bump into every time I volunteer.

Q: If you could pick any act to play on the main stage at Musikfest, who would you pick and why?    
A: Dukes of September.

Q: What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?    
A: Just do it! It’s a great experience and you never know who you’re going to see/meet.