Buffalo Rising Online

May 28th 2008, 12:26pm By Carolyn Batt

...at one of the hottest places in the city. With the summer fast approaching, there’s no better place in Buffalo to spend your afternoons than the Erie Basin Marina. From beautiful scenery to tasty treats to history coming alive, thousands flock to the edge of the city to enjoy all that there is to offer. With the significant amount of activity and people, the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau is looking for some volunteers to help out this summer along the waterfront, passing out information and helping visitors learn about all the city has to offer.

From June 21 through Labor Day weekend, volunteers are needed to staff a kiosk with information on Buffalo at the marina. Volunteers will be at the center of the activity at the waterfront, passing out maps and brochures and offering a friendly face to visitors. Shifts come in three hour increments and are Thursdays 11AM – 2PM and Fridays and Saturdays 11AM – 2PM and 4PM – 7PM. The shifts are flexible and based on your availability—sign up for as many as you would like.

“Last year was the first year of this program and it was an overwhelming success,” said Denise Drews, the CVB’s Visitors Center Manager. “It’s a great opportunity for us to educate all the locals about what is going on in the area and to assist visitors to our region.”

Set up near the Hatch Restaurant, this program was created with the help of Mike Wolasz, Director of Operations for the Erie Basin Marina and the operator of the Hatch Restaurant.

There will be a brief training session before the season begins to familiarize you with the materials. This is a perfect opportunity for those who want to share their passion about the city, be at the center of summer activity and help out others in a beautiful setting.

If you are interested in volunteering or have further questions, contact Denise Drews, Manager of the CVB’s Visitors Center at 852.2356 or at drews@buffalocvb.org. All shifts are weather permitting.

If you’re interested in additional volunteer opportunities year-round at the convention center, sports facilities, hotels and other welcome desks, contact Karen Cox at cox@buffalocvb.org to become a Buffalo Diplomat Volunteer. This is a great way to help out the community, earn volunteer hours and make visitors feel welcome when they arrive to the region. Past events include the NCAA Frozen Four, Empire State Games and Youth Soccer events.