N. Idaho Fair seeks volunteers for new Green building

If you know a lot about sustainability — or even a little – you’re perfect to help with a new project at the North Idaho Fair. Fair organizers are now seeking volunteers interested in staffing the new “Green” building. The building will house more than 20 businesses and community organizations dedicated to making life better, at least from Green perspective, including promoting recycling options, solar power, local building organizations, farmers markets, master gardeners and electric cars. Volunteers don’t have to necessarily know a whole lot about all these topics, but should be familiar enough with the various booths to point visitors in the right direction. “If you can’t answer a question, you’ll have all the contact information right there,” said Merle Van Houten, chair of the fair’s Green committee. “We’d like people to have general Green knowledge, but you don’t have to anything real complex.” The North Idaho Fair runs Aug. 26-30 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d’Alene. The building will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Van Houten said ideally there will be three or four volunteers in the building the entire time. He suggests people sign up for four-hour shifts, but can be pretty flexible if someone can only work a few hours or has the time to work extra hours. The volunteers will provide a good service, and also help the exhibitors. A volunteer can help answer questions if a particular merchant has stepped out, or is busy helping other visitors. “Some of the exhibitors will be busy and won’t be able to be at their booths the entire 12 hours every day,” he said. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, contact Van Houten at (208) 755-8512.