Thoughts for our Solo Future

[jbyrd]

Here's my thought (Well...I borrowed it from Nick Hallman at SCR):

Between 14 and 21 days before a CCR event, someone (Shane, Me or whoever) creates a post in the Solo Forum titled "Volunteers for CCR #X, Month XX, 2006."

The lead post will look like this:

Event Chair: [1] To be assinged or solicited by Steven

Course Design: [1] To be assigned or solicited by Event Chair

SSS (need 2): This will default to Bill & Joey or their assigns

Course Setup (need 3): [1] [2] [3]

Registration (need 2-3): [1], [2], [(3)]

Tech Inspection (need 3): [1],[2],[3]

Timing and Scoring (need 3-4): [1],[2],[3],[(4)]

Waivers (7:30-9:00 am) (need 1 or 2): [1], [(2)]

Waivers (9:00-10:30 am): [1]

Workers: [1] Defaults to Shane or Colin or their assigns


As workers volunteer within the thread, the original poster will update (edit/modify) the top post to "fill in" the blanks. That way potential volunteers can open the post and see what positions are needed.

Event Chair- if Steven wants to be chair of assign someone to be chair, he posts it here. If someone wants to volunteer for the event chair postion, you let Steven know here.

Course Design- Again, if you want to volunteer, and if Steven or his designated Event Chair will approve, this will be the place you will do so and be assigned the postion. Note: Novices or inexperienced autocrossers need not apply for this postion.

SSS- Bill and Joey are our most senior SSSs, and have the right to assign the postions to SSS license holders.

Course Setup- With Shane’s approval, these positions (like all others) will count as the volunteer’s work assignment for the day. Of course, we should all help out with the setup of the course for whatever amount of time we can spend on it, but these 3 positions will show up at a designated time and work until the course is completely set up and approved by the SSS(s).

Registration- Normally, we will need 2, but for “special events” (24 hrs; Novice School Sunday, etc.) we may need a 3rd.

Tech Inspection- If we have 3 inspectors, 2 can work while the third takes turns in walking the course.

Timing and Scoring- At the very least we should designate a Chief of T&S for each event who can chose the T&S person for each run group.

Waivers- By having at least 2 pre-assignments in the am hours, this will give the waiver volunteers time to walk the course while keeping the waiver tables open. I thought the way we handled it this past weekend (thanks Soloracer & MrsVlad) was one of the prime keys in the efficiency of the weekend. However, they went way above the call of duty by spending the entire morning at the job by themselves.

Workers- We are gifted to have this position covered so well. Enough said.


I believe if we have certain key positions covered when we arrive at a sight, the rest of the day will fall right behind it.

I further believe if we have it organized, that it will take a lot of “the load” off of Steven. As Martin mentioned in the last Solo meeting in Huntersville, we don’t want to see Steven suffer from “burn-out.” We have a brilliant Solo Director in CCR, and I for one do not want to see him “burned out.” As I said earlier, he should be our brain, eyes, and ears. The rest of us should provide the backbone.

I also believe we have people willing to “carry the load.” It’s time for us to organize and step forward. This is my suggested vehicle for implementing that organization. This means from 12-16 voluteers will need to step forward before each event, and I believe they will be willing to do so. I further believe before we know it, we will have twice that many people willing to work, which will lessen the load. Once we prove this can work, others can be solicited or will want to join in.

It's better than shagging cones, and nice to start the day with your work assingment behind you.

Thoughts? Discussion?

I hope Steven and Martin will “chime” into this thread.

[lagunamiata]

JB - I think that this is something that must happen if we are to make CCRs autocross program truely great. Thanks for starting the thread.

For the first 2 or 3 events we REALLY need 5 or 6 people working tech... possibly a few more than that. There would no possible way for 3 people to tech 160 cars at the first event and get a single course walk.

[jbyrd]

lagunamiata said:

JB - I think that this is something that must happen if we are to make CCRs autocross program truely great. Thanks for starting the thread.

For the first 2 or 3 events we REALLY need 5 or 6 people working tech... possibly a few more than that. There would no possible way for 3 people to tech 160 cars at the first event and get a single course walk.

Thanks for the agreement, but I think CCR Solo is great. I simply want to see more people get involved and lessen the load of Steven, Mark, Mike, and all of those whom seem to take so much of the burden on themselves.

I would hope something like this could be used as a tool to provide a venue for others to step up to the bat.

Of couse, the voluteer list would not be static. There would be special event specific needs - like more tech at the first 2 events.

As an example, when Steven got there yesterday, I was expecting someone else to have been there for course design - i didn't know, and I think Mike was waiting for someone else.

If we had known, we could'a already had the course ready.

[jbyrd]

I guess my point is this: I have seen CCR Solo in "Boom Times," and I have seen it in "Bust Times." I've seen it cycle between the two, and it seems like the fortunes of our program are dependent on the enthusiasm (or misery as the case may be) of our leadership.

Right now, CCR Solo is probably in its greatest "Boom Time" ever, and has its greatest leadership ever. It's time for that leadership to have the support it needs to continue. I don't want to see the "misery" factor drag down CCR Solo again.

We have the power within our own ability to support it, and that ability is in all of our hands.....not just a few hands.

It's time we lend our hands (in a stated and organized way) to those hands whom have been too busy - too long.

[damnyankee]

Unrelated to the solo event.......
Cassino brought up a good point as he was training me on tech. He thought that we should also solicit membership to this forum of the participants. Maybe a sheet at registration for sign up or direction to the forum?

[soloracer]

Hey how about this? At the waiver table we pass out the instruction card that soobstorie suggested. But at the bottom we include an invite to this site? A nice family , mom, dad, and two nice children were watching. Asked if we could help. Ended up writing our website link down for them, and inviting dad to bring his 'v ette out for the next one. Hope they check it out.
Da**, more vettes, nitro?
Where r tha fast fords?
James

[jbyrd]

I gues my ideas are chopped liver.

[kwh29]

What jbyrd suggested is what Tarheel does - it really leads to events that are easy to run and officers that aren't burned out. Having known roles and pride in that role has made day to day event operations almost automatic.

CCR is a much less bureaucratic club than Tarheel but I've felt for a long time that assigned roles, with a meaningful benefit to the people who step up to volunteer are something CCR really needs. A good benefit could be core volunteer only TNT days etc - little added cost there. Free event entries are a real budget killer.

I don't know how Steven avoids burnout. He is just crazier than all the rest of us I guess... :-)

--Kevin H.

[jbyrd]

Thanks, Kevin. As it does in Tarheel, this system works well in SCR. And like CCR, SCR is a low beuracracy organization.

I really agree with your statement "that assigned roles, with a meaningful benefit to the people who step up to volunteer are something CCR really needs."

However, from the looks of the responses to this thread, I'm not sure many people agree. We (CCR) are more wrapped up with things like time slips than we are with the more macro issues at hand.

Maybe I'm totally wrong. Time slips at the end of each run may be what makes our sport stay strong. It just seems to me that we need leadership to step forward (volunteer), and help out those whom are already so over-worked now.

And...maybe there's a better vehicle for organizing voluteers than what we are suggesting, but apparently there's not enough interest to either support or recommend new ideas.

[lagunamiata]

I don't think there's a lack of interest in the ideas... There's a lack of interest in the forum.

There is a core group of us (maybe 10 people) that are at all events and work those events. There are those that show up, work the course and that's it. I think that what you propose is somewhat being done, but not in an open, pulic forum like here. We know who is going to do waivers, tech, registration, SSS, worker steward... it's the same people at every event.

Having that posted in the open, before the event, is a good thing, IMO.

As for "We (CCR) are more wrapped up with things like time slips than we are with the more macro issues at hand" I agree with you. Many do not see things like a core group of workers that run the events benefiting them directly. They DO see a time slip at the end of a run or a leader board being a direct benefiit.

Another thought... We had 180+ partipants at AX #2. Of those 180+, how many are regular board visitors? Perhaps 20? The other 160 only know what happens at the event and are most likely oblivious to what it takes to put on an event. We need to find a way to get more people involved...

[damnyankee]

damnyankee38 said:

Unrelated to the solo event.......
Cassino brought up a good point as he was training me on tech. He thought that we should also solicit membership to this forum of the participants. Maybe a sheet at registration for sign up or direction to the forum?

Hmmmm....I think I thought this

[lagunamiata]

Yup... We'll have to get something for Mrs. Vlad for the sign-in booth!

[C4Shane]

well. first of all - I agree. Secondly - this is a good indicator of the problem >>>> We have just a few folks discussing this issue on the forum and - Surprise - it is the same folks!!!!

So - I think we need to ask that the MyAutoEvents site for our autocross events includes a link to the forum.

And, we need to mention it at each event - I will try as we make work announcements, but not sure anyone listens.

[lagunamiata]

I think that having a link on the registration to a planning thread here would be a good thing...

[ROADBOY]

jbyrd said:

However, from the looks of the responses to this thread, I'm not sure many people agree. We (CCR) are more wrapped up with things like time slips than we are with the more macro issues at hand.

Maybe I'm totally wrong. Time slips at the end of each run may be what makes our sport stay strong. It just seems to me that we need leadership to step forward (volunteer), and help out those whom are already so over-worked now.

I agree with ya here JB.

[ROADBOY]

saabstory said:

well. first of all - I agree. Secondly - this is a good indicator of the problem >>>> We have just a few folks discussing this issue on the forum and - Surprise - it is the same folks!!!!

So - I think we need to ask that the MyAutoEvents site for our autocross events includes a link to the forum.

And, we need to mention it at each event - I will try as we make work announcements, but not sure anyone listens.

Just keep doin it, people will hear it.

[ROADBOY]

I went to HSCC's 1st night event this past tuesday and Steve was there. I think he just likes to work. Everytime I saw him he was runnin around workin on somthing. Helpin with organization, fixin the time clock, fixin the computer in the time trailer, fixin MY times in the computer, cause they almost got lost. Whether he see's it or not, he can get burned out.

I remember at the last CCR event of last year Martin mentioned that Steve was ready to step down as chair. Not sure if it was 100% true but help for him would be good for him.

[ROADBOY]

BTW we both came in the top 10 fastest times for the day.

Steve 2nd

Me 6th

Representing CCR

[damnyankee]

roadboy said:

BTW we both came in the top 10 fastest times for the day.

Steve 2nd

Me 6th

Representing CCR

Nice job!!!

[MrsVlad]

jbyrd said:

I gues my ideas are chopped liver.

I like chopped kiver.

[damnyankee]

mrsvlad said:

jbyrd said:

I gues my ideas are chopped liver.

I like chopped kiver.

Hold the onions....

[MrsVlad]

damnyankee38 said:

mrsvlad said:

I like chopped kiver.

Hold the onions....

Make that, chopped Chicken liver, on pumpernickle.

[damnyankee]

Eeewwww!!

[ROADBOY]

Yea

Eeewww!!!

[soloracer]

bump

Yes, we now have volunteer posts.
yes we now try to pass out the region addy.
Let us carry on from here.
James

[C4Shane]

Yep, yep, yep --- OKy Doky..so we need sum instruction cardz to hand out at registration and although I luv the appearance of the glossy plastic card stock sent out to promote the HPDE, I would luv to see a simple card to hand out at each event to provide info on the next event and to even direct participants to a "volunteer link". I will also continue to promote the website during work instructions - but someone chip in if I (or Colin) forget!

BTW - we are really blessed to have a couple of ladies, such as Sue and Sheryl, who have volunteered for a full season of putting up with all of us at Registration! And, many many thanks to soloR and Mrs. Vlad for doin the waivers - so much better than having the registration folks try to keep up with it. Tech - What can I say - you guys have really done a fantastic job every event - Many thanks to Rich (and Mike and everyone!). It has been really smooooth this year! I know I will suffer brain fade right now, and I am sure there are others who deserve thanks for taking on some tough jobs for the season. Sorry - Sorry if I forget. Anyways, all of you make it easier to arrange the other work details.

Things have improved a bunch in organization and how well the events work! The ideas shared on this forum are great and helpful. Thanks again!

Now - I just did the NCAC deal and I really liked the vests that folks wore during the work sessions on grid, crowd marshals, start, etc. Made it darn easy to tell who was in charge and to give the workers some additional measure of control on things. Anyone know where we can find some (preferably cheap - although we could use hot dawg money).

[damnyankee]

saabstory said:

Yep, yep, yep --- OKy Doky..so we need sum instruction cardz to hand out at registration and although I luv the appearance of the glossy plastic card stock sent out to promote the HPDE, I would luv to see a simple card to hand out at each event to provide info on the next event and to even direct participants to a "volunteer link". I will also continue to promote the website during work instructions - but someone chip in if I (or Colin) forget!

BTW - we are really blessed to have a couple of ladies, such as Sue and Sheryl, who have volunteered for a full season of putting up with all of us at Registration! And, many many thanks to soloR and Mrs. Vlad for doin the waivers - so much better than having the registration folks try to keep up with it. Tech - What can I say - you guys have really done a fantastic job every event - Many thanks to Rich (and Mike and everyone!). It has been really smooooth this year! I know I will suffer brain fade right now, and I am sure there are others who deserve thanks for taking on some tough jobs for the season. Sorry - Sorry if I forget. Anyways, all of you make it easier to arrange the other work details.

Things have improved a bunch in organization and how well the events work! The ideas shared on this forum are great and helpful. Thanks again!

Now - I just did the NCAC deal and I really liked the vests that folks wore during the work sessions on grid, crowd marshals, start, etc. Made it darn easy to tell who was in charge and to give the workers some additional measure of control on things. Anyone know where we can find some (preferably cheap - although we could use hot dawg money).

Someone already volunteered to get the vests. Of course, at this time I don't recall who!!!