Re: RC: Managing Voluteers at a Ride

[CForsyt@aol.com]

Getting volunteers the first time may not be all that difficult - having them 
volunteer again for more rides depends on how well the whole event is 
managed.  A lot of riders appreciate the volunteers - many take volunteers 
for granted.  Yes, actually some riders treat volunteers like poor hired 
help.  I'd just like to remind riders that their rides may not be quite the 
fun they are without good hearted volunteers.  A little appreciation can go a 
long way.
  Hint to ride managers:  you can help volunteers to have a good experience 
in many ways. Make sure, for example, you order enough food to not only feed 
the riders but also your volunteers.  The helpers work their butts off, and 
get hungry, too.
  At a recent ride, the volunteers were told (by a rider) to get to the end 
of the chow line.  There wasn't going to be enough for everyone, and the 
riders did pay, after all, this rider told me.  I understand the logic of 
this, but as hungry volunteers who work hard at rides,  the group of us 
nearly went of strike.