ESTEVAN - It's become known as the ECS Takeover at the United Way Estevan Telethon.
From midnight to 6 a.m. on the Saturday portion of the fundraising broadcast, members of the student representative council at the Estevan Comprehensive School take the helm of the show. They serve as hosts, operate cameras and phones, provide entertainment, help out behind the scenes and tend to other duties. It's an important part of the broadcast, as it helps the telethon run for 33 consecutive hours.
The ECS Takeover will be part of this year's broadcast on Oct. 18 and 19. Madison Holtz, a Grade 12 student who is the secretary of the SRC, was part of the six-hour block last year and is looking forward to it again this year.
"It was a really fun experience and it brought me a lot closer to the community," said Holtz. "I got to make a lot of friends there, and I just got to enjoy myself."
During last year's telethon, she volunteered on a camera and with other duties.
"I enjoyed that I was doing something that actually impacted the community and was helpful to people. I also enjoyed getting to be with friends and just doing something collectively as a community."
She is looking forward to trying something new this year, such as providing entertainment or volunteering as a floor director.
Holtz has learned about some of the different causes the United Way supports, such as the Estevan Public Youth Centre, which she is involved with, and how the United Way raises funds for the member agencies and community partners, thanks to the support it receives from the community. She has also attended the United Way board meetings as a student representative.
Teacher Tammy Podovinnikoff, who works with the SRC, will be at the telethon for part of the SRC Takeover; vice-principal Kevin Perkins and teacher Allicia Hood will also be present. Podovinnikoff has been on hand for the takeover for several years, and said she loves watching the kids perform for the cameras.
"It always gets a little bit goofy because they're tired and it's the middle of the night, but they have a lot of fun, and it's great to see them having fun and also helping out with the community."
She tries to stay off camera as much as possible, but she has appeared on screen from time to time.
Podovinnikoff said it's good for the students to volunteer with an organization where they can see tangible ways of giving back to the community. They try to plan a lot of content each year so they are prepared as much as possible.
"They've always been good, but as kids come back – a kid comes in Grade 9, and they might be a little bit nervous, but they get a little bit more confident and they try different things," said Podovinnikoff. "Some, like Madison, for example, who wants to take the lead on floor directing this year because she's seen what that role entails, and she gets to come back and do it this year. They definitely get more confident as the years go on."
ECS will have a pass-the-cup fundraiser in the week prior to the telethon so they can make a donation to the United Way as well.
The telethon runs from 8 a.m. on Oct. 18 to 5 p.m. the next day at the Royal Canadian Legion's Estevan branch. The goal is $348,000. Proceeds will be directed to the member agencies and community partners.
