Feathered Dog: More than 600 volunteers and professionals on deck

Creating and maintaining decorative elements, helping to welcome the public, ensuring the site is clean, and quenching the thirst of young and old alike... More than 400 volunteers are mobilized throughout the festival. Women and men from different backgrounds are mobilized alongside 200 professionals.

With one edition over, it's already time to think about the next one, as has been the case for nearly three decades. The employees and volunteers at the heart of the Chien à Plumes association's activities have been mobilized for the past twelve months, so to speak. The first concerns programming, negotiations with numerous professionals, availability, and fees. This long and meticulous work is essential to the success of each edition.

"The programming keeps us busy for several months, but at the same time, different teams are involved. Beyond the activities related to the smooth running of the Niche, volunteers are mobilized throughout the year, for example, to maintain and create decorative elements," emphasizes Eric Meunevelle, director of the association.

This citizen mobilization has reached its full measure for a fortnight. “The installation of the site requires a lot of time and energy, we got there on July 19, there were around fifty, we were 80 Wednesday, 250 Thursday, from Friday, more than 400 volunteers will be mobilized day and night. »»

Who are these 400 volunteers forming 25 teams? "Their profiles are very varied, these people are from 16 to over 80 years old, there are as many men as women, 50% live in the area, others come from neighboring departments or from much further afield. We receive many applications throughout the year. Newcomers are welcomed by the veterans, they quickly integrate into different specialized teams, everyone's tasks are defined, everyone has their place, their importance. The festival brings together volunteers with very different profiles, we welcome students, employees, doctors, farmers, job seekers... Once on the ground, you forget what the other is doing! We remember the concerts, the pleasure of the festival-goers, this festival is also a time for meeting and sharing for many volunteers. » Some are mobilized to welcome festival-goers or artists, the others, 130, are mobilized in the three bars present on the site, still others ensure the smooth running of the Relaxation area open to young and old. In short, these 400 volunteers are on deck. Some of them have been there for 27 years, since the first edition, some, even fewer, since the creation, 30 years ago, of the Chien à plumes association.

Volunteers… And professionals. Setting up the various stages, in particular, requires around thirty technicians. "Volunteers are called upon to work alongside them, and we also welcome many students in the entertainment industry, including future technicians," explains Eric Meunevelle.

Not even counting the number of police and customs officers deployed around the site, another role, security, also involves numerous professionals. "Around forty security agents are deployed across 30 posts during the festival; again, these professionals can work alongside volunteers. Adding in the technicians, security agents, and external service providers, 200 professionals are present."

T. Bo.