Mention Ribfest, and Jen’s eyes light up. She’s passionate about this annual fundraising event hosted by Rotary.
Originally from Woodstock, Jen and her husband, Mark moved to Guelph in 2006 and would attend Ribfest on a regular basis, so she knew all about it, even before she joined Rotary.
What she hadn’t realized or appreciated at the time was just how much work was involved in pulling off the event. It’s an all-member commitment each year, with everyone showing up to play their part.
A senior manager at BDO and an accountant by profession, Jen first joined at the suggestion of her boss, and it is the organization that has a corporate membership, covering Jen’s membership fees, as they see value in the leadership opportunities afforded Jen.
Now in the past Jen had been involved in the community serving on boards, but nothing fired up her passion until she joined Rotary. She saw first hand the commitment of other members and the depth of work done to support the community.
At 38, she is the youngest member of the Rotary-Trillium Club, and as a mother with a six-year-old and a three-year-old, life is busy as she juggles all her roles. With her accounting background she was quickly scooped up to take on the role of Treasurer for Ribfest, a role she has played for several years now.
“Apart from the fact I am passionate about the event and the team effort it takes to make it a success, the timing works well for me in terms of my workload.” she shares.
And she is quick to tell you that it feels good. “There’s a sense of pride everyone feels and all the money raised goes back into the community.” It was that team spirit that Jen first noticed when she joined. “I was overwhelmed by how friendly everyone was.”
While at first she found the rules a little restrictive, she’s noticed that the club has become more flexible and less rigid in its meetings. In fact, she’d like to see the club continue to evolve and keep things fresh. Having interesting speakers draws her in and the ability to work around her busy schedule makes a difference too.
What’s surprised her most? “The dedication of some members. Because they are retired, they are able to dedicate hundreds of hours to the club.” With her young family and blossoming career, Jen can’t make that sort of commitment, but you get the sense she is someone waiting in the wings for the right time.