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Augusta native playing important role in WEG
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By WENDY MITCHELL
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LEXINGTON -- With hundreds of horses and hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to converge on Kentucky for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the task of coordinating volunteers to help things run smoothly Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010 has fallen on the shoulders of an Augusta native.
Monica Barber, formerly Monica Habermehl, has joined the event staff as manager of Human Resources for the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.
"We are very fortunate to have her on board," said Terry Johnson, WG2010 spokesman.
Barber has a history of human resources experience to bring to the games staff; she has been a human resources consultant for Toyota Manufacturing in Kentucky, Illinois and California as well as Nike, Subaru, Isuzu and Opel in Belgium. She was also the volunteer coordinator for the Lexington Humane Society for two years, said Johnson.
After leaving Augusta for college in 1985, Barber has had a varied career that has taken her to many places. She now lives in Lexington with her husband, Randy and daughter, Ashley. The freedom afforded the home town and family atmosphere of Augusta is what she misses most.
"When I visit I know my daughter can roam down the road to the park, because I have family on every corner. It is a safe feeling knowing I can go for a walk along the Ohio River at 2 a.m. and really not have to worry," said Barber.
Becoming a part of the 2010 World Equestrian Games came by way of volunteering.
"It was serendipitous; consulting with the companies I had worked for over the years had slowed down and I had been a volunteer at the Lexington Humane Society, where I met so many people with such big hearts, and I have a love of animals. One of the volunteers there started working with the (WG2010) foundation and mentioned to me that they needed someone to coordinate the volunteers. I started as a volunteer and the rest is history," said Barber.
With more than 8,000 people from all over the world already expressing interest in volunteering for the games, Barbers job is not one of finding, but of sorting and fitting the right people into the right job, she said.
"Volunteers, most of them, have big hearts. I meet the most caring people in this job. The majority of them just want to be a part of this historic event. It is not about a payment for them; the feeling they get in knowing they have done something good is the currency they are seeking. I love these people," said Barber.
The large quantity of Kentuckians who have been registering to volunteer has to be divided by distance from the event, said Barber.
"There are so many wonderful people who want to help in any way they can I have had to divide them by distance, one hour away, two hours and so on.," said Barber.
No category is being left unfilled, yet Barber is keeping her options open for specialty help.
"Those who speak more than one language are also needed. It is not so much working with horses; it is often giving directions or traffic control; EMT's and people available to direct visitors to day trip locations or dining areas. There is so much to experience in Kentucky and many of the visitors are planning to spend the entire 16 days here," said Barber.
Bringing Kentucky hospitality to the world is Barber's goal.
"We may need people who are knowledgeable about Kentucky to just sit there and tell people about it. The people of Kentucky are warm and friendly and I know they will pass that on to the visitors," said Barber.
In the 16 days of the event, more than 500,000 people are expected to attend the showcase of eight equestrian sports. More than 900 horses and their riders are expected to attend. More than 1,000 volunteers will be needed for the event, said officials.
According to the WG2010 Web site, the event was first held in 1990; events are held every four years, two years prior to the Olympic Games. The 2010 events, the world championship for each event, include dressage, endurance, eventing and show jumping, familiar sights to area horse enthusiasts. The world of the 2010 events also includes a western style favorite of reining, plus driving, para-equestrian, and vaulting. More than 130 member countries of the Federation Equestre Internationale are represented and more than 60 are expected to attend the games in Kentucky. FEI is the international governing body of equestrian sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
When the games are over, Barber is looking toward a career she has put on hold for now.
"I am going to finish law school when this is all over," said Barber.
And when she someday retires?
"I will be retiring in Augusta, of course," said Barber.
For WG2010 information go to www.feigames2010.org
For more area news, go to www.bracken-online.com
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276. |
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