When you want something done right, call on the Marines of the Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) 53 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Nine Marines were up before dawn last Friday to help set up for the Island County Business Expo, which was held last weekend at the Coupeville Middle and High School Gymnasium. The group helped move 19 rolls of carpeting from an Oak Harbor storage unit to the gym.
“The most cumbersome part of the set-up is the carpet, so these guys are an invaluable part of the process,” said Anne Hallam, WorkSource Whidbey center coordinator and Expo show coordinator.
The move was completed in two phases; first, Marines pulled the rolls off the forklift and loaded the truck at the storage unit. The truck was then unloaded at the gym, where the long strips of carpeting were like puzzle pieces that needed to be put together a certain way to fit the room.
The work was heavy, but the Marines made short work of it — hauling the huge rolls one at a time from the truck to the gym, calling out directions to one another. As soon as a roll of carpet hit the floor it was unwrapped and spread out. When the work was done, the entire gym floor was carpeted and Marines got to work with the pipe and drape, sectioning off the room for Expo participants.
One Marine said it’s good to help out with events like this because it helps keep them in touch with the community.
“Sometimes people think the military is aloof,” said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Robinson. “But we don’t just fight in wars — we serve our community as well. And helping benefits our community and it benefits us, because we live here. Who knows? Someone’s kid may even go to school here.”
According to Hallam, there were scholarships available for the group recruited to help with the set-up. The Marines plan to use the money for the Marine Ball, which will be held at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Officers’ Club on Nov. 10.
“I really wanted to pay a group that needs the money and is motivated,” said Hallam, who was pleased with her helpers. “I’m thrilled. I just have to move out of the way and I don’t have to do anything.”
This year’s business expo boasted 67 booths, which was down from last year’s 100. Island County Economic Development Council executive director, Ron Nelson, said that probably has more to do with people’s perception of the economy, rather than the reality.
“If people perceive the economy as bad, it sort of becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he said. “It is true that building is way down — it’s probably half what it once was. But taxable retail sales have remained steady.”
Nelson said the economy, at least here on Whidbey Island, is not all gloom and doom.
“It’s not as bad as people think,” he said. “Yes, building is down, but there are still a lot of businesses out there doing very well.”
All in all, organizers said the 19th annual event was a success.
“As the show coordinator, I would have to say that the operation ran very smoothly, in large part because we had excellent volunteers from the Central Whidbey Lion’s Club, Coupeville Boys and Girls Club and the Marine Aviation Training Support Group,” said Hallam. “They were all amazing.”
