TargetTalk

In recent months I’ve had conversations with several folks about staffing at tournaments. (primarily rifle but this could easily apply to other disciplines) I’d like to quantify the different opinions I’ve heard expressed, in the interest of exploring whether changes to the guidelines for putting on tournaments should be proposed.

I am polling two related questions, please look at the question for part II as well

All comments on this topic are appreciated.

Sincerely,
'Dude

Here in the UK the volunteers (range staff, EC, classification, catering, etc etc) at virtually all of our large domestic matches are able to claim some form of expenses.

Some will take it, others will ask for it to be treated as a donation to the organising body.

The organisers need to include the likely costs in their match entry fee calculations.

I volunteer lots I don't worry about small expenses but for larger ones I do expect reimbursement.

see my answer to part II - it's pretty much what David said though.

Rob.

I tend to volunteer when it's not going to be a huge expense anyway - for instance, if I was already driving my daughter there. I'd rather help out than go shopping or sightseeing.

I've never done any volunteering and claimed expenses. I don't think it's wrong, I just don't do volunteering on the sort of scale that I'd be out of pocket by hotel bills.

I volunteer an average of 30 hrs. per week all year long. I have been retired for 10+ years and I am 63 yrs. old. I coach 4H Shooting Sports, JO shooters, community ed and state gun classes and hunter ed.

Everything I do with this comes out of my pocket including the guns that 4H shooters use. Most of the 140,000+ pellets and 22 ammo is not paid for by me. My travel to Colorado Springs, 4H National events and others like Ft. Benning, state qualifiers all come out of my pocket.

This is my hobby. I have had and still have other hobbies and they all cost money. I don't buy pull tabs or lotto tickets. Nobody is twisting my arm to do what I do. This is my way of giving back. It also gives me a excuse to buy a new quality rifle or pistol quite often.

The smiles make it all worth while.

Yeah, depends on the nature of the volunteering. I coach at least one night a week which probably burns up a good couple of quid of petrol each week (aside from the fact I am freely giving my time and paid for my coaching courses out of my own pocket).
I don't expect reimbursement for that, or attending work parties at my club or instructing/Range Officering on guest days or fulfilling duties as a committee member.

One the other hand if I was asked to volunteer for something down at Bisley that's going to involve a tank of fuel, an overnight stay and some food, then I'd be looking for some free food or accommodation, even if I don't get the petrol money back. Again, depends what it is. Stuff for my club is fine because if people don't volunteer for work parties then you have to pay contractors (or have the range fall into disrepair around you).

My club also has a fairly pragmatic view on work parties and the like - if you're running a work party then you unlock the canteen/tuck cupboard and leave it open. If someone fancies a chocolate bar or a snack then they're free and the Burco is kept on all day for people to dip into for tea/coffee. £10 in tea and chocolate is not a great expense to show some goodwill to the volunteers (we did an autumn maintenance day the other day and the man-hours were probably worth £500 if we'd paid labourers at minimum wage).

Just kicking this back to the top.

Thank you all for the insights and comments.

'Dude

back to top

We volunteer where we can and when we can. We freely give our time and money if needed. I have helped out kids who were not part of our team with pellets and small bore ammo that I have purchased out of my own pocket. I did not ask that they pay me back for them but to help out someone else who may need these items in another match. This is all part of me giving back to my community.

What I don't like about volunteering at some matches is the abuse that is heaped on to us at times. I have seen this happen several times at matches and not from parents or the majority of coaches. Little do the offender realize that they loose their help real quick when they do that but also a lot of respect not just from me but from the kids and parents as well. I have seen volunteers walk out after being yelled at for trying their best to do the work or they stop caring about the job they are doing. Mind you I have quit myself and would have walked out if I did not think that the kids would be the one who suffer from that. So I stayed. Call me a glutten for punishment. Keep in mind this is at a local level and not national.

Like I posted in Part II the greatest compensation is the kid that comes up to me to thank me and shake my hand. I had a shooter who went into the Army come by this weekend and visit with me. You know he thanked me for still be a part of shooting and for all the help I gave him in the past. That right there makes it all worthwhile to me.

Sid.