Chance Earle:  Organizational Wizard

When we moved back to the Northwest in 2000 (we’d lived in the Bellingham area since 1981 and had most recently been on a four-year intercoastal waterway cruise from Texas to Maine), my good friend Jude Hennan--who was volunteering in the box office--said she thought I should volunteer there too.

Then one Saturday when I was working there, Merritt [Olsen] came down to introduce himself and to let me know that his administrative assistant had just resigned.  He wondered if I knew anything about computers.  I told him, “Enough to be dangerous.”

I agreed to take a temporary job as his secretary.  The three months or so that I expected to work turned into three years! 

When I did retire, I never left.  I continue to volunteer as House Manager; sell tickets in the box office; assist with data input; help paint sets (my husband, Frank, is a frequent set builder volunteer); and I’ve been responsible for coordinating the ticket sales and reservations for the Holiday Festival (formerly Festival of Trees) since the time in 2001 when I couldn’t get a ticket to the event and decided they needed someone to manage it.

I’ve met so many people through the Theatre.  And have gotten so much gratification from being able to work with guests, staff, other volunteers and visiting artists.  It’s like you’re inviting them into “your” Theatre and they come in happy and go out happy.

I’d suggest if you’re new to the community and you want to meet a broad range of very talented people, then the Theatre is a great place to start.