Volunteering

[Oldman]

The print portal surely wouldn't be used for "impersonal, pre-printed notes of thanks" - rather (as I said before) for formalised recognition certificates for major events (preceded by the informal and sincere thank yous).

[Gross]

I have planned and controlled more big events than most.... A printed 'certificate' would mean nothing

[Oldman]

Yes, Gross, but the point is (as I said already) that for some people, it's a welcome formal recognition that they'd value.

[Glucosamine]

JK organising apart, grass roots volunteering can seem to be discouraged by BO(F) initiatives that have in the past mandated course attendance before tackling simple tasks (e.g. organising/planning simple evening events), where effective guidelines would seem less committing and often more motivating. I had the impression that the trajectory was still in that direction, so if it has gone into reverse then that seems like good news. Proforma thankyous seem like a relic from the blazers enthusiasm for certifying everything. For every one they please and motivate, there may be another for whom the reverse applies, especially if the volunteering experience did not go well and the issues were not picked up as they should have been.

[SeanC]

I haven't read the report yet, will do later. For those who have, are the views of those reluctant to volunteer analysed?

The answer to this is no. The report didn't directly question non-volunteers or non-orienteers. There are plans to do this to some extent, I'm told it comes under this statement:

"To further investigate the effectiveness of allocating newcomers to volunteer teams. This investigation should look at the process from the perspective of club effectiveness and individual contribution"

Ie do volunteer teams put people off the sport? Or is it not what we say but how we say it?

The same could be true of emails and newsletter articles. Does a constant stream of "your club needs you" broadcasts make people feel guilty/angry etc, and some respond by leaving the sport? Is it worth loosing a few to get more volunteering? Do some clubs manage to recruit volunteers without applying the guilt trip?

[Oldman]

If interested in the issues surrounding volunteering, see http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/i ... 9yZy51ay8=

[lucy]

On topic not sure? But I tell one thing that pisses volunteers off, being talked/written to by people in certain positions in the sport like you are an idiot. And I am military thats the way I talk doesn't wash, I am ex military I don't talk to people like that.

Also while I am ranting - people in positions who don't talk to you even though they have transferred £13,000+ into your regions bank account by mistake, cos they don't know who held the JK this year! It's good to talk so why didn't someone? Some support might have been nice. Confidence in people in the sport severely dented.

Get it together people.

[AndyC]

lucy - could you confirm that this is you trying to make an important point while angry and that a spambot hasn't stolen your account because I'm afraid that it reads like that
If it is real can I suggest you pm Spookster -he's got enough authority to find the right people and he is definitely approachable.

[lucy]

I hope it is a valid point.

And that point is.....

That everyone has to value and support volunteers, not just an event organiser valuing his club mates who rally around to make an event happen. That seems to happen pretty well.

That do we really need a working group or just need to take a little care how we interact with people and think about how are actions effect volunteers.

But yes I am angry and yes it was a rant........and it felt good

[AndyC]

Do you realise that volunteering is the subject of the Association and Club Conference next weekend and that there ae still places available? It seems you may have some input!

[andypat]

Ironically as someone who has put in far too many hours this year in various voluntary capacities (even if I do say so myself) there's no way I can justify another weekend away from the kids to talk about volunteering

[lucy]

And that is the great thing about volunteering Andypat, we do what we can. That's the main reason I volunteer with my region as treasurer, because it fits well with my home life and I can't (at the moment) comit to other things that I would like to do in the sport, like going to weekend conferences.

I would like to say at this point thank you to all those that volunteer to make our sport what it is. And I hope that I can continue to play a very small part I do to keep it going through the challenges that surely lie ahead.

[Gnitworp]

Lucy, I thought your planning on Day 2 of last year's Triple Tamar on my map, in a format I'd long advocated, was pretty good. Your volunteering on that occasion was at least not wasted on me. Thanks