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   Thank you, thank you, thank you. Words cannot express. I have been grateful in previous articles to all the volunteers who help put on the Turtle races... the unsung heroes. But, in thinking about the memory “mystique” that revolves around the races... the memory quotionate goes both ways!

   Our volunteers get great satisfaction from the shiny little faces that look up to them while trying to get a frog on a lily pad, a ring around a bottle neck or get a bean bag in a hole...or catch a little brown bag filled with goodies while fishing! Then there is the intermediate crowd who are earnestly trying out their skills to get a coin to bring to the prize table. Then the older crowd who are a little too cool to be playing games... so they want to be chided about their skills as a way of acknowledging their “coolness”. You know what I mean... they want to be chided and called out. It’s how they have fun with the games. 

Slow Poke champion

This week’s Grand Slowpoke Winner was 12 year old Aliya Schuman from River Falls, WI. 

Turtle race champion

This week’s Grand Champion was Jill Ring from Grimes, IA. 

Resort race winner...

6 year old Archer Heidemann from Cedar Falls, IA walked away with the big W this week representing Timber Trails Resort. Photos submitted.

   And our volunteers know just how to give everyone what they are looking for! Those are our volunteers’ memories. To sit with them after the races when they are all “winding down”, I hear the stories of who came to their game that day and the fun they had with them.Honestly, no one is grumpy or too tired to share a story or two about who played “their” game... (because they are possessive about their game).

   I have mentioned before that there are a number of volunteers who have “adopted” a particular game. We can count on them each week to come in and take over that spot. That is huge for anyone trying to fill all those holes each week in everybody’s busiest time! What a gift. 

   Then there are those who say they can “work” some certain days during the 10 week season. But, when I come calling because I have some holes to fill...they always acquiesce to my request. They have almost adopted a game because they say “yes”. Then there are the hubby’s who wind up volunteering because the Mrs. is there. We like that. Like yesterday, we had a husband come along to help at his wife’s game, and did he have a big smile on his face when I stopped by to say thank you. I think he may be hooked for next year. 

   I cannot mention folks by their names because I will forget someone and I would feel terrible about that, because I adore them all. And, let’s not forget the two at registration, they have owned that role for two years, a critical role, and the two at the company “store”, selling game tickets and chachkies. Probably all these friends will be back next year. 

   We will close this season out with a pizza party, September 3, at the Anchorage from 4-6. This party is for all of our volunteer family, including the pancake breakfast team, watering team and all others who volunteer throughout the season. We love you guys!! Hugs...

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