Re: Managing Voluteers at a Ride

["Julie Herrera" <julielh@lasercom.net>]

Hi Maureen,

I have been Lynne Glazer's volunteer coordinator for the Norco Riverdance
ride the last 3 years.  This year ran really smoothly, I think we are
finally getting the hang of the organizational stuff.  Here is what I have
learned works best for us.
Recruiting:  Lynne puts in nice bold letters on her entry forms "IF YOU
CAN'T RIDE PLEASE VOLUNTEER".  Most of the volunteers are people that
usually ride and can't for some reason that day.  Also family and friends of
riders.  We have picked up a few people on fri.  whose horses don't pass the
VC.  If you have any local horse clubs, 4-H etc.  they can be a big help.

Plan Ahead:  This year Lynne and I got together on Thurs. before the ride
and had all  the VC materials organized in boxes.  We have three VC's in
different locations so each box contained  a clipboard with in/out timer
sheets, pens, stethoscopes, rider timer slips, clocks, trash bags, cups.  I
like to make up a sheet that has all the jobs each VC requires and then I
fill in the sheet as I get volunteers.  That way I know ahead of time where
there may be gaps.  Confirm with people a couple of days ahead that they
will be there.

Know your Volunteers Capabilities:  I have found the hardest spot to fill
are the P/R spots.  One very nice lady came up to volunteer at our last
ride.  I asked her if she could do P/R and she said sure , no problem.
About 15 min. later she came back and said that her husband ( who was
riding)  told her what P/R was and that no she did not know how to do that.
She worked all morning as an in timer!  Stress to your in/out timers how
important it is to write down the numbers accurately.  We wasted a lot of
time this year trying to figure out if all our riders had passed through the
checks because of mistakes on the in/out sheets.

Educate your Volunteers: It is amazing how brain dead even the most
experienced riders can get.  Make sure the volunteers know the lay out of
the v/c so they can answer stupid questions like how long is this hold,
where are the vets, which way does the trail go, what is the official time,
what is criteria, saddles on or off, you know - all those things that were
covered in the ride meeting that no one paid attention to :)

Thank your Volunteers:  You can never say thank-you too many times. Food
works good too!  We provide lunch for all our help and a choice of ride
shirt or dinner ticket.

It helps if you have one experienced person at each check to run things.  To
be the trouble shooter.

Have a great ride!
Julie Herrera
PS
----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 7:27 AM
Subject: RC: Managing Voluteers at a Ride


> Maureen A. Fager trottin27@hotmail.com
> Hello All,
> I am interested in finding out
> how different ride managers,
> clubs and other groups handle
> their voluteers at rides.  I
> would like suggestions on how
> you recuit, assign jobs, know
> who is there and reward your vounteers
> All suggestions welcome!
> Thanks for your time and ideas,
> Maureen A. Fager
>
>
>
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