Practice Task 29 · Parts 1–4

From: Priya Achterberg, Volunteer

To: Desmond Okafor, Volunteer Coordinator, Maple Ridge Harvest Festival

Subject: A few questions before my Saturday shift

Hi Desmond,

Thanks for confirming my spot on the volunteer roster. I am signed up for the information booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, but I noticed the confirmation email also lists a second shift at the children's craft table from 2 to 4 p.m. the same day. I only signed up for one shift when I filled out the form in August, so I want to check whether the second one was added by mistake or whether the festival now expects volunteers to cover two shifts.

I am also wondering about parking. The email mentions that volunteers should not use the main festival parking area because it fills up with visitors by 9 a.m., but it does not say where we should park instead. My shift starts at 10, so I am not sure if I still need to arrive before the lot closes to volunteers.

Finally, I have a friend, Renata, who wanted to volunteer but missed the August sign-up deadline. Is there still room for a same-day volunteer, or has the roster been finalized?

Thanks for your help sorting this out,

Priya

— REPLY —

From: Desmond Okafor

To: Priya Achterberg

Subject: RE: A few questions before my Saturday shift

Hi Priya,

Good catch on the schedule. Starting this year, we did move to two shorter shifts per volunteer instead of one long one, since last year several people told us four hours at a single table was tiring. The change was announced in an update email in September, which may have gone to your spam folder, so I understand the confusion. If two shifts genuinely will not work for you, let me know and I can release the craft table slot to someone else.

On parking: volunteers should use the gravel lot behind the community centre on Birch Street, which is reserved for us all day, not just before 9 a.m. You do not need to arrive early to claim a spot there, so arriving closer to your 10 a.m. start time is fine.

As for Renata, we do still have a few open slots, mostly at the recycling and clean-up stations in the afternoon. Same-day sign-ups are accepted at the volunteer tent near the main gate, but she should come before 11 a.m. if possible, since those slots tend to fill once the festival opens.

Let me know about the two shifts when you can.

Desmond