You may be surprised who you see while attending the games at the NJCAA Division II Men’s National Basketball Tournament in Danville this week. As of Wednesday, more than 120 coaches from four year colleges across the nation had stopped by to watch the action.
And some of the volunteers working the tournament might surprise you, too. Such as Dori Stone who was doing double-duty to help the tournament. She explained what she normally does….
{AUDIO: ‘’I’m the general manager of Sleep Inn & Suites, and we are full of very tall men right now – and I’m loving it. It’s my favorite week in Danville, really, it is. We have so much fun at the hotel and here at the games – it’s just so good for Danville and the whole area.’’}
(Volunteers work a number of jobs, including serving food in the hospitality area.)
Stone was busy checking passes of people heading into a hospitality room at the tournament – working as a volunteer. She says it’s great having the normal crowds back…
{AUDIO: ‘’A lot of these teams keep coming back. And they were here that year when they actually had a tournament but nobody in the stands. The school kids didn’t come. That was a real bummer for them because athletes thrive on the noise and people cheering them on – and they didn’t have that. So I’m here to yell and scream with everybody else. It will be fun!}
And Stone says volunteering for the spot just outside the hospitality room is the perfect spot…
{‘’I discovered this spot a few years ago. I used to work in the hospitality room feeding people. Well, Rhonda needed me, or somebody, out here at the table and I discovered – hey, I can stand at my post and see the game. Perfect job, right? So, that’s why I’m here.’’}
Jeanie Cooke, Executive Director of the Danville Area Visitors Bureau, says the support the volunteers give the tournament is amazing….
{AUDIO: ‘’Without the volunteers there is no tournament. And, you know, Danville is a wonderful place to live and work. And when you make a call and say ‘we need help – we need volunteers’ – you’ve got ‘em. It’s over 400 volunteers to run the tournament.’’}
Thursday’s games are scheduled to tip-off at 11:00 a.m., and 1:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. in the Mary Miller Complex at Danville Area Community College.
