The 2009 Orange County Fair is fast approaching and planning is underway for our annual, number one fundraising effort, The Courtyard. The Orange County Fair starts on Friday, July 10, and ends on Sunday, August 9. This includes four full weeks and five weekends; three days longer than last year. Income received at The Courtyard helps the OCWS defray the cost of conducting the two OCFEC wine competitions-the Commercial Competition and the Homewine Competition. Additionally, revenue generated also greatly assists in meeting our monthly office expenses and helps to fund our Scholarship Program.

The current Volunteer Sign-Up Form is available on the OCWS website. Please log on and visit our site as it contains the most current updates and available shifts which still need to be filled.

As a concessionaire at the fair, the OCWS must adhere to contractual requirements established by the Orange County Fair & Event Center Board of Directors and Staff. This year, the OCFEC continues its requirement that all OCWS volunteers be "professionally trained and certified in alcohol awareness techniques." Individuals who took TIPS training in 2007 and 2008 have fulfilled the requirement for this year's fair. If you have not attended a recertification or a new class this year, you are out of luck until next year. All of the scheduled TIPS training classes were completed by the end of May.

Please take this opportunity to sign up now as a Courtyard volunteer. Every effort will be made to assign you to shifts and duties that you select. You will be called if your requests cannot be honored. All shifts are noted on the signup form and all schedules are similar to last year. Members are requested to work at least three shifts during the Fair. Historically, certain shifts are hard to fill. These understaffed shifts tend to be weekday nights and Sunday nights (8:00 -11:30 p.m.). When submitting your sign-up form, please consider volunteering for one or more of these shifts.

New this year, we are going to have an "Express Bar" from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. daily. We will only be serving four wines: Chardonnay, another white wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. An 8 oz. glass will be served for $8. No tastes or drink tickets will be honored. The Express Bar is designed to speed up the serving process for fair customers who are headed for the concerts. Therefore, we will need six volunteers to staff this function including four servers, a cashier, and a steward. When you sign up, please consider this venue.

Assignments will be made on a first-come basis so return the sign-up form as soon as possible, but no later than June 26. The availability of shifts will be periodically posted on the website and emailed to the membership. Your assignment will be confirmed by the end of June along with a copy of the Volunteer Procedures, your picture badge, and parking passes and instructions. Please contact Larry Graham at 949.551.0155 for questions concerning assignments or special parking needs.

"Think Big" is the theme of the 2009 Orange County Fair. Whether you are a new volunteer or a veteran of The Courtyard, this is your opportunity to experience the Orange County Fair while helping staff The Courtyard.

Remember, when submitting your volunteer request, please (1) Fill out The Courtyard sign-up form completely, (2) sign the Server Responsibility Statement and send all of the above to the OCWS Office.

See you at the Fair!