At 06:35 PM 5/22/00 -0700, Jeremy Bergsman wrote:
>If members of the 10% could suggest ways outside of the work assignment to
>help out I (and I imagine others) would be happy to do so. As I've posted
>here in the past it is tough to know what to do/how to help out when you are
>new. In fact that's the point of my orientation suggestion. A few events
>back I worked set up. When I offered to work the course in addition to set
>up I was dismissed brusquely by the event chair. I'm still willing to work
>extra but such experiences reduce the incentive for discovering the best way
>to do so.
Jeremy -
I don't count myself as part of the 10%, but I try to help out whenever I
can. Here are some ways that I can think of to help out besides the bare
minimum of signing up and doing your work assignment. Maybe some of the
others out there can add their suggestions. One thing, though - for some of
these suggestions, you might want to check in with either the event chair,
or the chief of whatever that specialty is (I think there's a list in the
Wheel - putting it on our web site would be nice...). For example, if you
just plonked yourself down behind the cashbox at registration, I'd imagine
that the reg people wouldn't be too thrilled. Anyway, here goes:
1. Early morning setup - we cap the number of people doing setup in lieu
of their work assignment so that we don't end up short of workers during a
run group. If you want to do the early morning setup in lieu of your
regular work assignment, you need the OK of the event chair. However, if
you want to help setup in addition to working your shift, just show up and
pitch in.
2. Learn to tech cars, then help out in tech when the lines get really
long. Since the first run group is teched on grid, offer to help tech
these cars to get the event started on time.
3. Help direct cars onto the second grid, separating out the single driver
cars from the multiple driver cars. Problem is that we usually don't have
anyone assigned to do this, since the grid person is busy getting cars on
course, and no one is directing the second grid.
4. Help herd rookies - doesn't have to be very formal, and you don't need
a whole lot of experience to answer questions about how to get your car
through tech, what class their car is in, what they should do about
numbers, etc. etc. etc....
5. If someone's car leaks on course, help with the oil-dry and the brooms.
6. Offer to check people off when they show up for their worker
assignments. Match up the newbies with the old hands, and dispatch them to
worker stations.
7. Keep an eye out for opportunities to be a gofer - for example, if you
see that there aren't enough pens at registration, go to the trailer and
get some. If you see the timing slip person is running out of post-its, go
to the trailer and get some. I don't think it's an issue anymore with the
new generator in the motorhome, but I remember Kevin Lahey grabbing the gas
can and running out to buy gas when we were running low at an event...
8. Offer to go on a Mickey D's run for the event chairs! :-) :-) :-)
9. Stick around and help with taking apart the course, packing up the
gear, and packing the motorhome.
10. Become a Safety Steward - talk to Brian Nemy about what you have to do.
11. Chair an event! Get a cool jacket!
12. Volunteer to keep Kevin Stevens out of trouble! :-)
13. Attend the Steering Committee meetings, and decide the fate of the
Solo II program.
14. Volunteer to drive the motorhome to and from events, or to store it at
your home or business.
15. Write event writeups for the Wheel - contact Rich Urschel for info on
this.
16. Volunteer to help at the annual autox school. It takes a lot of work
to put on a school like this - besides instructors, I'd imagine that they
could use some help setting up the courses in the morning, checking in
students, checking in instructors, making nametags, setting up the spread
for lunch, picking up ice or drinks or lunch, etc., etc., etc.
17. Maybe you're a newbie autocrosser, but you're an experienced party
planner - volunteer to help with the annual awards banquet!
18. Organize an event after the event! Sherry Grantz set up a little
no-host party after the March 11 Oakland event that was a lot of fun.
19. Make some signs to mark the worker stations, so we can number them
like you suggested.
I'm sure there's more, but my brain is still baked from the heat at
yesterday's Duel...
Jim Ochi
jochi@liquidaudio.com
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