There’s an age-old saying in theater: “the show must go on.” At Walton Arts Center, we say something similar about our volunteer team: the show can’t go on without them! Our dedicated corps of volunteers are involved in every aspect of what we do—helping in the administrative office, box office, the Friends lounge, ushering in the hall and more.  

Our volunteers make a difference not only to the success of our organization and visiting artists, but to our community. Volunteers help create unique experiences for the first-time visitor or the patron that has been with us for our 30-year history (some of our volunteers have been here that long too).  

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month here at Walton Arts Center and over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some of the amazing people who help make up our outstanding team of volunteers.  

Jerry Retallick started volunteering in 2017, following a lifetime of volunteering at arts centers across the world. MariAnne, his wife, started two months after, “because I saw he had such a good time volunteering here!”  

They met in Wisconsin while Jerry was in the Navy. Having previously been on a few double dates together – but, with other people – MariAnne heard where Jerry was stationed, “went to bother him and the rest is history!” The Retallicks have lived in China, Korea, Germany, Canada and throughout the U.S. While living in Europe, Marianne volunteered at the USO.  

“We’ve lived in a number of places, and I would do volunteer work for the local community theaters there,” Jerry said. “So we moved here, I retired, and looked around for something to do in the community. That’s ultimately what led me to Walton Arts Center.”  

Jerry and MariAnne enjoy spending time together though they “don’t very often work on the same side of the hall.” They look forward to catching up in the car afterwards, laughing about all of the things that happened at the shows. Most of all, the Retallicks love to volunteer at Walton Arts Center because of the socialization. “It really is about the group of volunteers and staff that you work with–this is a positive place,” MariAnne continued, “with the patrons too, they leave laughing, having had a great experience.”  

“Volunteering gives you purpose and a way to spend your free time,” MariAnne said.” They also volunteer to pick up trash on highway 127 and help with the annual community spring cleanup. 

Outside of volunteering at Walton Arts Center, the Retallicks live on Beaver Lake, and love to fish, boat, swim and hiking. Their grandkids in Kansas often come to visit.   

If you are looking to make new friends in a fun, creative environment and to support the arts in your local community, volunteering at Walton Arts Center is a great way to get involved. For more information about volunteering, please visit waltonartscenter.org/volunteer.