I’m a volunteer usher at Tampa’s Straz Center for the Performing Arts, home to Opera Tampa, the Patel Conservatory, and six theaters/rehearsal halls that present art in all its forms. It is one of the largest performing arts complexes in the Southeastern United States.
Cherryl, an usher friend has written a heartfelt statement on why she volunteers there. Among the reasons she cites, “…equally meaningful are the relationships I’ve built with my fellow ushers. There’s a unique camaraderie that forms when people come together with a shared spirit of service.” I found that statement hit home.
Since retiring several years ago, as many of my contemporaries have, I’ve taken up volunteering. In 2015 I spoke of the various “jobs” I’ve had in the post Why I Volunteer. All of those positions, and most I’ve taken since, were done for altruistic reasons. But not the Straz! That one was for ME to experience artful things, stuff I would never have experienced otherwise!
Cherryl’s statement about why she loves the Straz doesn’t even mention getting to see all the shows. What energizes her is what she’s able to give to the patrons and the camaraderie she shares with her fellow ushers. I’ve come to realize the social side of this volunteer gig is way bigger than I thought when I started. And honestly, it’s probably why I’ve stuck with it all these years! OK, it’s still for some semi-selfish reasons, too!
Speaking of friendship…
Several months ago another usher friend, Chris, told me about a literary magazine, The Sun, for which she’s been a long-time subscriber. The Sun describes itself as an “independent, ad-free magazine that for more than fifty years has used words and photographs to evoke the splendor and heartache of being human. Each monthly issue celebrates life, but not in a way that ignores its complexity. The personal essays, short stories, interviews, poetry, and photographs that appear in The Sun’s pages explore the challenges we face and the moments when we rise to meet them.”
Chris gave me a few back-issues to read. Before I finished the first issue I was hooked! The stunning photography (all black and white) is matched up with the prose/poetry as if they belong together. One of my favorite sections is the Readers Write. A couple months before an issue prints, readers are given the topic (e.g. “Uniforms” or “All Night”) to describe a personal experience. The Sun is an overall great read. Of my three magazine subscriptions, this is by far my favorite. Check it out using the link above.
Cherryl and Chris are only two of the hundreds of ushers that I’ve come to know, and yes even love, in my eight seasons at the Straz. As Cherryl wrote, with each performance “…there’s a quiet bond of teamwork. We laugh together, reconnect with old friends, and welcome new ones into the fold. Each performance brings shared experiences and a sense of unity that I cherish.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!