Megahn's Journal

[Megahn McKervey]

So I have been posting on Prof Palombo's "Your Own Journal" and then saw that people have started their own...so here's what I have so far reposted here.

So after having a crappy internship as a few of you know my supervisor was layed off from the company I was with. Her supervisor told me that he simply didn't have anything for me any more. Big bummer! So for the past few weeks I have been searching for a new placement. Thankfully I found one with WaterFire. I'm pretty much going to be working in the event planning department, but was told I could be pulled into another department if they needed help there. I start this week, which means I have alot of time to catch up on and alot of work ahead, but at least it will be fun.


So I have now been in my new placement (WaterFire Providence) for two weeks. Overall I really have enjoyed what I have been doing. This year they are trying out some new stuff. One thing I have been working on is the vendor packet. Anyone who has ever been to WaterFire knows that down on Washington and College Street there are food vendors set up along with lil pushcarts through out the park to buy food at. The spaces belong to WaterFire and the business pay to use them. They have normally been set at a flat rate, but this year we are letting vendors bid on them. This is in hopes to obviously get more money from the vendor. So I have been working on figuring out how to arrange the bidding. It's been stressful cuz we have hit all kinds of issues but its coming along. This is one of the bigg pieces of event planning that alot of people do not realize goes on. Since event planning is one of the few things I have an interest in I'm actually enjoying it. Along with the bidding info we have been reworking the vendor policy from last year. The current director of events and ops came in last year in late April and just used all the old stuff that was established , which he did not like. So this year hes doing what he wants, and it's awsome to see the process of recreating the info. Overall I'm really enjoying my time with WaterFire.

[Megahn McKervey]

So the 2009 WaterFire season is rapidly approaching! Things have gotten a little nutty in the office. PK, the director of events and ops as well as my supervisor has been out. His absense makes for a completly different enviornment in the office. Today is actually the big meeting right before the season where everything gets ironed out. As well as that the company is also undergoing some changes. Barnaby Evans is the creator and director of WaterFire, he is extremely creative and a remarkable person. However from what staff has said the company is struggling. They have currently pulled in a non-profit professionals for hire company to help reorganize and ensure the survival of the wonder that is WaterFire. Although the company is well managed and organized they do need a little help. Barnaby Evans really breathed new life into Providence when he established WaterFire and it would be extremely sad to see such a remarkable living artwork disapear.

[Megahn McKervey]

So there is now a tentative schedule for the 2009 WaterFire season, first fires to be in early May. As a kick off for the season Barnaby and the WaterFire staff is trying something new. This year on April 25th there will be a fund raiser, since WaterFire is nonprofit. The fund raiser will be at WaterPlace Restraunt and is $50 a ticket. The price includes dinner, a complementary drink, a private basin fire, and entertainment provided by Brass Attack (very exciting)! There is more info on the webpage waterfire.org. The staff is really trying to get younger people involved in WaterFire and this is one of the ways they are trying. So most of my recent time in the office has been focused on this for the past few weeks. I have also been working with Allison, the volunteer cordinator alot, helping her to recruit volunteers. So if anyone is looking for some resume additions check out volunteering at WaterFire, expecially if you think you will be working in RI after grad, it great for networking and awsome community service!!!!!!!

[Megahn McKervey]

So this week has been crazy! Today was the weekly staff meeting. Most of the time was devoted to "Strike the Match" which is the April 25th fund raiser. As I said before it is $50 and is going to been an awsome time!!! At the event you are going to be able to purchase logs to feed the fires throughout the night as well as ribbons of light. There is also going to be a raffle with some awsome prizes, like golden logs, gift baskets, and signed/framed posters of WaterFire. I spent most of my time today developing a flyer to distrubute to get volunteers and interns in for the summer. So as I said before, if you are looking for some community service or know anyone who needs an internship for the summer or fall suggest WaterFire. So other than Strike the Match I have been helping with "Fire Flowers". They are potted flower arrangements done in bowls that look like none other than fire. This year PK suggested we try to do them in outdoor fire pits. So I spent a good deal of time on Monday looking at endless firepits online and flower bowls looking for the best deal. I'm honestly still loving WaterFire.

[Megahn McKervey]

Alright...this week at WaterFire was a ZOO! It was incredible! The entire office was buzzing about Strike the Match. I spent most of this week helping with last min details for Saturday. It's amazing to see how everything has simply fallen into place so quick. I will be helping out all day at the fund raiser which should be cool. So overall as I said my week was really devoted to Strike the Match. I will post another entry for the week detailing the event and how it went on Sunday. Everyone have a great weekend!

[Megahn McKervey]

Strike the Match was this past Saturday. Overall it went well. My supervisor wasn't super impressed with it, he simply thought it could have been planed using less time and could also have been planned better. He did say that since it was the first that it is a learning experience and now he knows what to do better next year. As man of you know Saturday was beautiful! We had alot of the public show up and hang out in the basin and purchase WaterFire merchandise. From a behind the sences point of view set up in the morning was a little crazy, the special events guy has problems delegating. He seems to want to do everything on his own and stretches himself very thin. This also happen at night when we began to break down...I found myself trying to focus him telling him to give me stuff to do. Overall I spent most of my night checking in on volunteers at stations and giving them breaks, working in merchandise stands outside and helping with the reception inside. It was definately crazy to see the amount of time and effort put into setting up and breaking down a simple basin fire. WaterFire will also be held next Saturday, with the Garden Club being the sponcor. It will only be a basin fire again, but should also be very nice to watch.

[Megahn McKervey]

So last week at WaterFire was slow compared to the week leading up tp Strike the Match. I spent most of my time helping to finalize the vendors. The bids have all come back and the vendors are being placed into their season long spaces. I spent most of Tuesday calling the accepted vendor to get all the proper licenses from the city, which was a real blast. Of course most of them swear we should have them and that they faxed them ages ago...I also spent a good deal of time helping the special events cordinator finalize the program to be handed out at the events. Overall it was a slow WaterFire week. I have decided to stay with them over the summer. As most of us know the economy isn't picking up much and jobs are limited, I'm not graduating at the best time. So if I can't find a job I will stay with WaterFire and see what else I can learn.