By JoAnn Biren
Staffwriter
Defeat is difficult for the Vikings this year; to get as far as they did, to play hard fought games throughout the season and then get defeated by the Eagles on Sunday took the wind out of Minnesotan’s sails. They’ll get over it, they always do, and with the Super Bowl right around the corner, kicking off the month of February, and in in Minnesota at that, all can be proud of the season. Like any true Viking fan, there is always next year!
Ask Kate Harmsen about the upcoming Super Bowl and she begins to talk, fast! And, in exclamation points! This gal, who grew up in Slayton, has always been a proud supporter of Slayton and Minnesota and is on hyper alert as the days toward Super Bowl LII count down. The big event in case you may have missed the hype in the last month or more, will take place on Sunday, February 4 in the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Wow.
That wow also describes Kate’s enthusiasm. To top it off, she is a part of Crew 52, one of over 10,000 volunteers who will be helping visitors to Minnesota feel welcome. For sure!
This is a natural for Kate. “That’s the crazy thing!” Kate said when asked about her applying to be a member of the volunteer group to help those arriving in Minnesota, maybe for the first time, feel at home. “This is me!” should be typed in all caps because Kate’s voice was massive; it was difficult for her to curb her excitement.
Those who filled out an application were to be friendly, outgoing, and knowledgeable about Minnesota, guest service oriented, willing to be available to help in all areas and at least 18 years old. Kate felt for sure she fit the bill. “I’m definitely a Minnesota lover, a real Rah! Rah!”
Kate applied for a spot as soon as she read they were looking for volunteers. “Back in the beginning,” she said. After she applied, she ran into Janelle Van Meverern one day who told her she was thinking about applying. I said, “Do it!” Kate said.
“Everyone said to me, ‘You’re crazy, why do you want to do it’?” Janelle explained. After talking to Kate she decided, “I’ll go finish my application! We were on the same wave length!”
Janelle finished filling it out and now the two of them will be traveling together, working the same venue during the same time frame and staying together. Rooms are at a premium. You almost have to know someone who will give you a bed. It is all working out so well, both are very excited. An understatement to be sure.
“I’m so excited,” Janelle said recently. “It’s an undertaking, but, I have my nails done, in Northern Lights, heavily chromed!” A must! The nails will go with the Crew 52 swag, winter apparel in the colors of the Northern Lights. Another wow! What is more Minnesotan than Northern Lights?
Once the two knew they had been selected, reality set in. Former Viking linebacker Chad Greenway was selected as the Captain of Crew 52. Oh, and volunteers were told they would not be in the stadium on game day. What they would do though consisted of three shifts, between four and six hours each, take part in an orientation in November; this consisted of a pep rally (as if they weren’t pumped enough!) and the volunteers were told exactly what was expected of them.
Janelle, of the two, is the one who easily navigates the city traffic. “I kind of mapped out a route,” Janelle said, and the two tried it out when they attended the training session for volunteers.
“This is so cool, you can feel the vibe, the energy,” Janelle said of the experience.
Both women are glad they applied. “It’s probably a once in a lifetime experience,” Kate said.
Both, by the way, applied for the Super Bowl Live venue. Super Bowl LIVE is the ‘free and open to the public festival’ in downtown Minneapolis. It is the hub of Super Bowl activity during the 10-day festival.
Super Bowl LIVE volunteers, which Kate and Janelle are a part of, will be stationed throughout Nicollet Mall, guiding visitors to a number of attractions and helping answer any questions for the one million fans expected to visit Minnesota during the 10-day festival. It looks like they have their work cut out for them!
Kate was interviewed on August 26 and she shares, with laughter in her voice, what her final statement was to the person who interviewed her. “I’m a Vikings diehard and I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if the Vikings got in the Super Bowl’!”
“She looked at me kind of funny. I think she was a Packer fan!”
What an experience. What fun! Make us Minnesota proud!
