April Volunteer Spotlight

This month we are very excited to spotlight Janet Soos! Prior to retiring, Janet was the director of Volunteers for Meals on Wheels of Northampton County. If there’s anyone who can appreciate the efforts and tremendous value of volunteer work, it would be her! Since retiring Janet and her husband Andy have continued to give back to the community by volunteering at various events here at ArtsQuest! She’s been a fixture at the Musikfest Café for years, and FestPlatz during Musikfest!  

Q: You and your husband Andy are both very involved with volunteering at various events here at ArtsQuest, how did you both get started volunteering with us?
A: Andy and I have been supporters of Musikfest since its inception. In the beginning, mostly as patrons. Who doesn’t enjoy a cold, freshly tapped beer, outside, on a warm summer night, in August! Dancing the polka with our first grandchild in the big tent, who was just 6 months old will be etched in my heart forever. He is 18 now and hasn’t missed a “fest”. When we retired, we decided that we would become volunteers. Not only did this allow us to give back to the community and the organization that had provided so much to us, but it also allowed us to do it together, which is important to us.  

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering with us here at ArtsQuest?
A: I think my most memorable experience was the first time I tapped beer. It was working at FestPlatz in the ArtsQuest Members Lounge. They were short staffed at the beer tent where Andy was working and Ronda asked if I would mind going over to give people breaks. I said I would, but she needed to know I had never done this before. She told me to stand by Andy and he would help me… Well, at my first tap, the keg “kicked”. Beer sprayed everywhere. Even my shoes were filled with beer. We all just laughed and laughed! By the end of my shift, I had the skill. Later, while enjoying a show in the big tent, one of my customers from earlier called me over to his table and told all that I gave “the best pour ever”. I’m sure that wasn’t true, but… It made my day.   

Q: What was your all-time favorite performance you’ve seen here while volunteering? 
A: We both enjoy ANY kind of music and would take vacation in the early days so we could be there every day. I think my most memorable night was seeing Ray Charles while standing in trash bags because it was raining so hard. His performance was wonderful, despite the downpour. He passed away about a year later, so I was so glad to have seen this show. It will be one I will always remember. 

I think the best performance I have seen since volunteering in the Cafe has been Marrakesh Express, a Crosby, Stills and Nash tribute band from Chicago. Although we always find something we like about almost everyone, I am still waiting for Pitbull… then I know that will really be my favorite.