Ridecamp: [RC] Charles - volunteering

  Unless your a friend of management it is like to 
> impossible to get the job of scribe or timekeeper.  That's because 
> these jobs are where the action is (read fun and educational)

Actually, there's more to it than "giving it to your friends".  Our ride
had planning meetings for about 9 months leading up to a ride.  What you
find when managing a ride is that lots of people will say, "sure I'd love
to help" and then suddenly have something else to do that day.  Then
there are a few people who you have come to know during the years will
show up *no matter what*.  When you start writing down the jobs, you fill
the most essential ones first with the people you have total confidence
will show up.  Also, chances are those people have been driving around
picking up awards, making deserts, getting T-shirts printed and a lot of
other not fun jobs to earn your trust.

I know that vet secretary is a very desirable position, but there's one
more point you didn't consider...we want these vets to come back! 
Spending an entire day with a secretary who is irritating can sure ruin a
vet's weekend.  There are simply some people I would not force a vet to
have to deal with. Not saying that you're one of them...but some people
are.  Some vets bring their own recorder, some have a person from
management that has filled that roll at that ride for years and they want
them back.  It's not all just "who do *I* like?".

My husband likes to be a spotter.  He used to ride his horse in, tie it
to a tree and sit around just thinking about how many errands I'm not
able to send him on since he's unavailable.  He said that's the only time
he really gets to see riders "riding" not just easing into a vet check.
That was back when I was really slow and I remember him trying to explain
to me the difference in *my* trot and the front runners.  I didn't really
get it until he took video one day.  It was an eye opener.  

It's not all boring out there.  One time his job was to make sure riders
did a little 1 mile loop that went right by him, then right back to him
and on past.  He said he heard some women approaching on their way back
around by him who apparently didn't realize how the trail lay.  He heard
one say, "Oh no...we've messed up...there's that guy again!"  So, Bill,
being a nice guy, looked up startled and said, "What are YA'LL doing back
HERE?" Almost gave them a stroke. >g<

ALWAYS taking water and food with you is a skill you'll need as an
endurance rider.  Never count on anyone else to feed you...just in case a
pot bellied pig gets into the workers meals (it's happened) :-)Also,
don't allow yourself to be dropped off anywhere.  Take your own vehicle
at all costs.  If you leave it there it's liable to be pulling the
ambulance when you get back. >g<

I've worked practically every volunteer position there is.  The hardest
was hauling water.  Now there's a way to run through $30 in gas, work
your butt off and never get to visit anybody...or, try driving the horse
ambulance when it's a 2 hour round trip back to camp.  Bill drove 8 hours
pulling a trailer on some rough dirt roads at our last ride and don't
know if it was because of that or not but I had a $300 bent tie rod fixed
soon after.  

However, we do this willingly because at all the other rides this year
someone else will do it for us.  You may not be riding now...but soon you
will, and you'll have learned something from every position you ever
held.  And when others are sitting out there for you you'll get plenty of
payback for your trouble.

Angie 

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