Volunteers

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY, AS THE VOLUNTEER PROCEDURE HAS CHANGED!!!  The key to a successful swim program is the parent volunteer. Without each volunteer, the program does not exist. It takes over a hundred volunteers to host a home swim meet. Each family is expected to volunteer at the meets.  If your child swims in prelims or finals, you will need to volunteer for an additional shift at those meets.  It is very important that you meet your volunteer obligations.  All positions are essential, whether you are handing out cards to swimmers or feeding people at concessions.  If you cannot make a shift, it is your responsibility to find a replacement several days in advance and notify that meet’s volunteer coordinator or, in some cases, the coordinator of your area (listed with the volunteer positions).  You must also be sure that you have a shift at another meet if you can’t make it or switch and inform the meet’s coordinator.  NOTE:  Some of the other teams merely assign parents their jobs with very little choice (yes, it’s true), so we are giving you the opportunity to be in control of your volunteering!!!!
 
Your swim team registration will not be accepted without your volunteer signup.
A $300 deposit per family is required, to be returned when volunteer requirements have been met. If you have not met your volunteer assignments, you DO NOT get your money back. There are NO partial refunds. You must submit a self-addressed, stamped envelope to get your check back. Otherwise, it will be shredded if you complete your volunteer assignments.
Mail check (made to Boulder Elks) to: Jenny Askey, 4503 Wellington Rd, Boulder, CO  80301-3155

 The new computerized registration includes computerized volunteer sign-up.  This allows each volunteer to sign up for a specific job for a specific shift on a specific date.  Once the spot is filled with a volunteer’s name, it is taken. 

Important: While the website requires a time length for each job, the number of hours you are required to work is not the issue. “Shifts” refer to meet jobs. Each home meet has two shifts split into first half and second half. Meets don’t have a set length of time, but generally lasts a total of 6 to 7 hours. It is the total of 4 credits that you must fulfill. Each job specifies the number of credits. Please be sure you know when you are supposed to report to each job.

We suggest you read each position’s commitments carefully and note the specifics for that position.  Some positions require previous knowledge and cannot be signed up for unless you are approved by the appropriate person (example – don’t sign up for stroke judge if you have not been to a clinic and have no clue!!)  We are also trying to mix experienced volunteers with those who have never done certain jobs as a way of mentoring, so you will notice some positions marked as preferring experience and others not (i.e., open to anyone). Please help by signing up for at least two things you have done in the past with which you feel comfortable and then try something new!  This is based on the honor system, so think of the team as a whole and how we all can help each other out.

Volunteer jobs are divided into those which are necessary to run every meet (such as concessions or timing) and those that are one-time events (banquet, slide show, etc).   The descriptions below are fairly detailed to give you an idea of the work involved.  More detailed descriptions with specific steps will be available from the volunteer coordinator on the day of the meet or in advance from Siga Andrew at siga@d-rive.com.