Volunteers undaunted by rules, hard work

By GRAEME SMITH, The Globe and Mail
Monday, June 24, 2002

On paper, it doesn't sound like much fun, and it seems improbable that almost 20,000 volunteers would spend the summer sweating to prepare Toronto for the massive Roman Catholic party next month, when their only compensation is an occasional bottle of water, sandwich or bag of low-fat potato chips.

But that didn't stop hundreds of devoted volunteers from swarming into an indoor soccer pitch in North York last week. About 9,000 volunteers have already signed up to help prepare for Pope John Paul II's visit, and organizers are hoping for more than twice that number.

After they register, the volunteers are given an assignment, training and a list of rules. These include:

No smoking at World Youth Day venues and events.

No alcohol or drugs.

No touching -- "A handshake is generally acceptable. Any other physical contact is unacceptable."

No inappropriate relationships -- "Avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with youth whenever possible."

Avoid the media -- "Volunteers must identify themselves as a volunteer and refer requests to the media department."

Keep cool.

Volunteer Steve Fairfield, 23, broke two of the rules in less than five minutes as his chat with a reporter was interrupted by friends mobbing him with hugs.

Mr. Fairfield, who had flown in from Edmonton the night before, said the work makes him feel like a part of something important.

"You work long hours," he said. "But this is something that represents the future of the church."