by Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 04/98) - When the six days worth of Arctic Winter Games take place in March, volunteer Angela Masongsong will likely go unrecognized.

But she is expecting to play an integral role in helping the Games proceed smoothly. Masongsong has been helping out since July when she put in full days at the Arctic Winter Games office on 50th Street.

"It was just something I was really interested in. I knew how big it was," she said, adding that it would be a good opportunity to acquire some general office skills.

It can be said that the commitment of the Grade 11 student at St. Patrick high school has influenced those around her -- her parents and some friends have now also applied to join the ranks of volunteers.

"They see how much time I spend here and now they're giving me their (application) slips," she said.

Masongsong volunteers an hour and a half each day from Monday through Thursday.

"I like the atmosphere ... it's really relaxed. And I get to meet so many people," said Masongsong, who is a member of the Youth Volunteer Corps and has lent a hand with the Folk on the Rocks music festival. "There's so many things I've gained just by being here besides the skills, like new friends."

She does deliveries, inputs sports schedules and maintains the volunteer database.

"That's huge," said Deb Lougheed, sport manager.

"She's extremely reliable and dependable. She never questions anything. She just does whatever we need her to do. She recognizes that of all the jobs, one's just as important as the other. And she's always got that smile on her face."

That smile may be put to the test over the next month.

"It's obviously getting busier around here," Masongsong said. "Those stacks (of paperwork) are really piling up."