By Caitlin McDiarmid, APP Administrator
Once again the Volunteers did what they needed to in order to provide excellent customer service to our attendees, and perform the tasks so that we could have a successful Conference. Our Al D.’s came in to the Conference pretty nervous, maybe more nervous than any other year, but the volunteer group worked it’s magic and soon they were having fun and relaxing along with their fellow volunteers. They worked hard this week and gained new insights and made new friends in the process.
Our Al D. Scholars this year were:
- Alicia Lowe (Canada)
- Cas Willems (Netherlands)
- Erica Martin (Florida)
- Jess Farrar (England)
- Michelle Rose (Tennessee)
- Nina Rennie (Canada)
- Renee McKeith (Michigan)
- Saku Penttilä (Finland)
The APP thanks LeRoi and Intrinsic Body, Inc. for contributing to the Al D. Scholarship fund; and PunkMedics for sponsoring three full scholarships.*
Once again Piercers in our community joined together and contributed to the No Excuses scholarship fund and sent Vicente Aguilar-Ferrell, Misty Alford, Garrett Craven, Kirsten Janusewski, Rachel Hawley, and Rogan Watral to the Conference.
This year we invited back a few of the scholars from previous years who had received outstanding reviews: Dae Jedic, Jose Carlos Salgado, Logan Wright, Hika K, Zach Fitzgerald, Charlie LeBeau, Jane Absinth, Hannah Bough, Jamie Biggers, Jason Heeney, Maree Fowler, Loreia Bürgen.
Our AV crew was in the classrooms all week: Brian Moeller, Allen Falkner, Aiden Johnson, Paul Rainer, and Shana Gyure. The shifts might be short, but these folks handle one of the most pressure filled roles of the Conference and we thank them for their hard work.
Our community should thank Julie Taylor who heads up our Welcoming and Line Wrangling group – having her smiling face and her team greet the incoming attendees really sets the tone for the week.
The Super Volunteers are our most experienced volunteers. They continue to sacrifice time and energy to this event and the Association, not just at Conference, but largely year round. We try to find the best place to use their set of skills and promote the very best of them.
Our Classroom Supers:
- Seven Wolfe
- Ryan Clark
- Mike Mc
Our Booth Supers:
- Casey Hosch
- Danny Greenwood
- Monica Sabin
- Mark Montgomery
- Ken Seyler
- Dianna Brown
- Andru Rogge
- John Robberson
- Marita Wikström
- Andre Berg
- Jezebel Voulé
Our Registration Supers:
- Kendra Berndt
- Theo Sheffler
- Anna York
- Badur Ramji
- Tiana McGuire
- David Kelso
- Marina Pecorino
- Stephanie Hill
- Ismael Vargas
This was our third year utilizing an onsite app—Shorty assisted this year with the development of the app, launched the Game, took Attendees’ emails, messages, and calls. Cale Belford not only managed the Mentors, but this year set up the Click game on the app. Thanks to both of these volunteers for helping our Conference transition from paper to tech and for helping the Attendees to get the most out of the app.
Our Conference Managers: Will Spencer, Sarah Wooten, and Gus Diamond help me manage the Conference onsite. They are members of the Conference Committee who participate in the planning and implementation of Conference and then work in the trenches along side all the volunteers who help make Conference what it is today.
We thank Megan Naito and Sydney Harbaugh for managing the Volunteer Underground this year – whether they are line wrangling or taking a moment to relieve a volunteer these unofficial volunteers are a critical part of Conference.
It seems like Ed Chavarria and Luis Garcia have always been by my side working in some capacity since I started with the APP. As Vendor Liaisons they take on a huge task, but as volunteers – whether a Board Member or not – they’ve always helped me and stepped in when I and the Conference needed them. Special thanks to a volunteer who often gets missed. Darren Walters has been helping out in a wide variety of roles over the years and this year wasn’t any different. Thank you Darren for bringing us our final handouts and Ronald’s Donuts daily; for always, every year— pitching in whenever and wherever asked.
Our Mentor Team worked hard this year to improve contact with their mentees and the APP wants to make sure we recognize both the organizers and those being Mentors –
- Adam Aman
- Alan Dumond
- Andre Nalin
- Becky Dill
- Bethrah Szumski
- Billy Wood Jr.
- Blake Williams
- Boge Gonzalez
- Cale Belford
- Cozmo Whitest
- Dorian McCarron
- Fernando Chavez
- Gigi Gits
- Gus Diamond
- Harley Plamandon
- Hika Keirkenupp
- Jake Hardman
- Jane Marie Ravelo
- Jeremiah Goodlife
- Johnny Segreto
- Johnny Velez
- Johnross Switz
- Josh Harmon
- Josh Parkhurst
- Julie Taylor
- Kelly Carvara
- Kris Hemming
- Mark Montgomery
- Matte Erickson
- Megan Naito
- Melinda Hupy
- Mick Swan
- Mike Mc
- Nathaniel Tinker
- Pablo Perelmuter
- Pat Pierce
- Perry Doig
- Rich Hartwick
- Rivka McCormick
- Rob Gold
- Rob Hill
- Ryan Archuletta
- Ryan Clark
- Tanner Bennett
- Tee Miller
- Tobias Vallone
- Tyler McClure
- Whitney Thompson
- Will VonDoome
Special thanks go to Marina Pecorino and Kendra Jane. They’ve both taken on part of my former responsibilities. Not only does this benefit the Association, but for me personally their contribution has allowed me to continue working for the Association, continue working on the Conference, and continue to work with the industry that I love.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Josh Prentice’s death. Badur from PunkMedics commented to me that to many attendees Josh was more than just a memory or an award—he was a young kid, lost before his time. This year we memorialized Josh’s passing with a special pin and a toast at the Banquet dinner.
People say that I always give the volunteer award to not just a volunteer, but to a person who has affected me personally. In that context—Seven Wolfe has shown to me that being cheerful—a happy person—can still be cool and even a little sexy.
Seven has been taking care of us all ever since he’s been coming to Conference. Whether it is the contagious smiles and good cheer that trails after him like rainbows and moonbeams or the spiritual grounding of meditation, or the energizing and physical well being of Yoga he’s been there supporting anyone and everyone.
Having him smile and wave, provide that hug, or offer you some fresh veggies instead of that greasy pizza, it’s all part of an unsaid mission—provide support, love, care, change the negative into the positive. Provide energy instead of drain
He’s become an integral part of our team and seems to have an unending supply of energy, happiness, and laughter.
Right now in our industry, we could ALL use more people like him. Right now in this industry we should be aspiring to be more like him. Right now we in this community of Conference Attendees need to be our own form of a very special unicorn. I was deeply honored to present the 2017 Josh Prentice Volunteer Award to Seven Wolfe.
JOSH PRENTICE AWARD WINNER – SHANE SEVEN WOLFE
Surrounded by 90s themed attire at this year’s Banquet Dinner, I received the Josh A. Prentice Award. Winning an award named after someone that is so loved and revered by so many is a true honor. It has inspired me to dive deeper into this work. I am elated and humbled.
I have volunteered since the first year I attended Conference. I quickly learned that volunteering was an important part of my experience. I wanted to offer my service to such an important event for professional body piercers. Being a part of the volunteer family has taught me the importance of working together, how fulfilling it is to work as a team (as cliche as it sounds), and the love I have for our volunteers. My volunteer work for the APP ranges from helping edit teachr handouts before Conference, helping pack in, managing the classroom door volunteers, offering meditation, teaching yoga, and packing up Conference.
I offer meditation and yoga as a reminder to our community to look within. I believe part of being the best piercer you can be is knowing yourself and the Magick you hold within yourself. That Magick passes from us, to the needle, into the jewelry, and finally to the person receiving the piercing. Both the piercer and the client are forever changed by the ritual.
I hold this award, though for me, many people are deserving of this award: Caitlin, the Super Volunteers, the Al D. Volunteers, all the volunteers who help make the Conference. We work together to create this awesome environment every year. We create a safe, uplifting, inspiring, educational space for all to feel welcome. Every year the APP Conference continues to grow. As we grow may we continue to learn, create, inspire, and find balance. We can count on Conference to bring us all together, from all corners of the Earth, to learn, pass on knowledge, and even share hugs. Thank you to all the ducklings and Mama Duck for all the hard work, effort, and love. I feel grateful and I am honored to be a part of this family.