In the Beer Brigade

One of the great things about working for Patch is the company's support of volunteerism.

Through what is called the Give 5 program, Buffalo Grove Patch — and all other Patches nationwide — offers 5 percent of advertisements free to nonprofit organizations. We also donate our own manpower by dedicating five days each year to volunteer projects right in the Buffalo Grove community.

So when I realized that Buffalo Grove Days relies on volunteers, and heard that the Chamber of Commerce (of which Patch is a member) needed help staffing the event's beer tent, I jumped at the chance participate. I figured it would be a chance to help out at the festival, network with other volunteers and promote Buffalo Grove Patch, which had not yet launched, all while having fun.

And all of those goals were achieved. Just not necessarily in ways I expected.

Armed with a fluorescent pink wristband and a nametag identifying me as a member of the "Beer Brigade," I followed 10 or so other volunteers into the confined quarters of the tent. We were given a crash course on available products and trained to ask every single customer to show a wristband as proof of legal age, and then were sent out to serve what I'm guessing was thousands of adult beverages to a steady line of customers.

That's when the pleasantries ended and the shouting began.

Common exchanges over the next three hours went like this:

Me: "I need three Lites!"

Other Volunteer:  "Mike's?" (as in Hard Lemonade)

Me: "LIIIITES!!!"

It was while receiving one of these cups of beer that I turned and smacked right into Deputy Village Manager Ghida Neukirch, who was also volunteering that night. I had met Neukirch just once before, and I can only hope that my first impression was better than my second, which occurred when I doused her hair and shoulder in cold beer on a 55-degree night.

Despite the chaos — or perhaps because they were entertained by it — our droves of customers seemed unfazed. Instead, most were friendly, patient and curious. (My favorite question of the night, "What drinks do you have for girls?" came from a woman who was happy to hear the beer tent was also stocked with wine and malt beverages.)

Was my shift hard work? Yes. Am I going to pursue a second career as a bartender? No way. Would I return as a beer tent volunteer?  You bet. Because my fellow Beer Brigadiers, who included Buffalo Grove bankers and lawyers, also were friendly, patient and curious. We were strangers, yet quickly learned to work together to get the job done.

And despite the shouting and spilling, we had fun.

Check out the many volunteer opportunities listed in our Announcements section to find a way you can help your community.