Texas Border Business
Texas Onion Fest volunteer Alex Montenegro was awarded the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award at the Texas Festivals and Events Association (TFEA) annual conference held at the McAllen Convention Center in July. Alex was recognized for her dedication to volunteering as the Finance Sub-Committee Chair for Texas Onion Fest, which is held every March at Mayor Pablo G. Pena City Park in Weslaco.
As head of the finance committee, Alex is in charge of creating the volunteer schedule for various festival areas – ticket sales, drink distribution and the banking center. Once she has set the schedule in place, she then reaches out to not only her own bank, but local banks in the area to recruit volunteers who are experienced in money handling. In total, Alex manages 30-45 volunteers.
Alex was invited to the TFEA awards luncheon in McAllen, unaware that she was one of the honorees. Unbeknownst to Alex, her family and four of her Frost Bank co-workers were also present.
“Receiving this award was a very touching moment for me,” remarked Montenegro. “I was not expecting it!”
Weslaco Chamber marketing director Laura Espinoza recognizes the value of a self-sufficient volunteer and knew Alex deserved to be recognized at this statewide event.
“A volunteer who needs little guidance and direction, and who can be trusted to efficiently do everything that needs to be done is so valuable,” remarked Espinoza. “Alex was selected as Volunteer of the Year at our annual Chamber Luncheon last year, and I knew she would be a great candidate for this TFEA award. What makes this particular recognition special is that this is an organization filled with festival professionals that know first-hand what makes a volunteer stand out from the rest.”
“It was an honor for me to be recognized in this manner,” added Montenegro. “My beliefs and my upbringing taught me that there is more joy in giving than receiving. It truly brings me joy to give back to my family, friends and our community. As my time allows it, I will continue to do so.”
TFEA represents hundreds of festivals that celebrate the history, legends, culture, art, folklore and natural beauty of the Lone Star State. The Texas Festivals and Events Association (TFEA), an official affiliate of the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA), is a professional trade association for Texas-based festival and event planners, volunteers, and suppliers.
For more information on Texas Onion Fest, visit Weslaco.com/onionfest.
 annual conference held at the McAllen Convention Center in July){kind=link}