Lotus seeks volunteers for annual music and arts festival

One of the many thrills of Bloomington life is surely the annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival which draws talented musicians from around the globe to the city each September. This event unites community members, students, and area residents in downtown Bloomington for several evenings packed with world music, culture, food, and various other forms of \nentertainment. \nThis year the festival is scheduled for Sept. 22 to 25, marking the 12th anniversary of the event in Bloomington. The official Lotus Web site deems the event, "An exciting weekend celebration of the beauty and diversity of world cultures, through music and the arts." \nBut a festival such as Lotus, run by the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, Inc., a non-profit agency, could never be produced without the generous help of volunteers from the community. \n"The smooth operation of the festival is dependent on volunteers," said Patrick Coad, festival volunteer coordinator for the Lotus Festival. "... They are an integral part of the process and help to make it fun for everyone involved while at the same giving back to the community."\nThe Lotus Festival welcomes anyone who has an interest in volunteering at the festival to come to a meeting for new volunteers that will be held on Aug. 27 at the Monroe County Library Auditorium from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting will address many frequently asked questions and will provide other information to volunteers. Additional information about volunteering can be found on the festival's Web site www.lotusfest.org. The Web site provides \nvolunteer and festival background information and provides a schedule of the entertainers set to perform. \nIn addition to its Web site, Lotus has a booth set up at the Farmer's Market, on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon in the Showers Building parking lot. \nThe deadline for the first round of applications is Aug. 15. Applications are available online via the Web site. Those interested should attempt to complete applications by that date because they will receive first priority for position assignments. The volunteer branch for Lotus has an e-mail for contact, volunteer@lotusfest.org, in addition to a volunteer hotline at 337-0417 for more detailed information. \nThose who choose to volunteer will be required to attend a training session on either Sept. 15 or 17 at the Monroe County Library.