Any suggestions on where we might hire people to do the setup/take down?
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Secondly the tariff would not be used to hire someone it would eventually go in to general revenue.
Im confused, I thought the proposal was that the $100 fee would be used to fill the missing labor gap? Dumping it into general revenue doesn't seem like it would fulfill the need of getting the work done. Which is the issue, the work has to be done.
I am hoping that we never get to the point that someone will have to pay an extra $100.
And I don't believe we will.
Then why are we even discussing this? If everyone was "motivated" to help out already, then there wouldn't be an issue?
To my mind, having a race organization is the same as having a fire department. I don't like paying for it when I am not using it but when the occasion arises I sure am glad it's there. And in just like the fire department I can't just pay for it when I need it.
So I don't feel there is a bias towards people who do more races. We all have the same access to the club and if they don't come as often it's not the clubs fault.
We pay race fees on a pay per use agreement. I dont think it would be fair to say that everyone should pay one annual fee, irregardless of how many weekends they make it out for. Besides, a person who is racing 5-6 rounds a year has more opportunity to help. An alternative here would be to charge $20 per weekend. If someone from the WMRC or wherever comes out for 1 weekend, Can we expect them to be charged an extra $100? To me this is going to just push them away..
Everyone just needs to suck it up and pitch in. I know that the drive from out of town sucks, trust me I hate the drive, especially at the end of a weekend. And ya last year sucked cause the races ran really late and made it even worse. However if everyone picks up a shift then this is a dead issue. If anyone doesn't pick up a shift your a little toad, and you should feel like $hit cause you make the rest of the racers work harder.
And this is the issue I see.. We need manpower to setup and tear down. Yes, some people are little toads and don't help, others are simply incapable. The proposed fine system doesnt seem fair to the incapable ones. I remember seeing Rob from Hardnox drop a case of "pop" off for the guys helping, this is what a club should be.
The club would post up all rounds and all duties on a spreadsheet and riders could put their name in slots to help. once they help they get signed off. Simple, and if you cannot make something then our executive might be able in certain extreme circumstances to come up with a task for a guy or two.
Yes! A signup system or designated meeting place/time is a must. I managed to help with a few tear downs however, I couldn't tell you 5 hours before if I was going to be capable, just the way my life works.
Re. member volunteering
My thoughts on fees/penalties is that what we really need is help and 'out-of-town' racers are at a disadvantage in volunteering at either end of what can already be a very long weekend.
I agree, but its not just the out of town guys. Some people have obligations, if the $100 fee is less than a days wage, guys are not going to take a day off work, pull kids out of school, forget to sweep their grandmas deck or whatever to help. They already aren't. Then as mentioned, the rest of the guys are stuck picking up the slack. All this does is make it more expensive for a guy to come out and play. Oh, and piss everyone off in the process, cause now 3 guys had to spend an extra $100 and 7 guys had to cleanup instead of the 10 who were supposed to..
As an alternative idea, How about a raffle type system? Fund the prizes with either revenue from transponder rental, or a small race fee increase. Everyone starts the year with their mandatory volunteer time and a draw entry, skip out you lose your ticket. Volunteer 2 times? Get a bonus ticket. At the end of the season a raffle is held and (5-10?) guys receive stuff like a set of tires, or hand grips, maybe free transponder rental, track night or membership etc. (whatever funding can allow) This way we are rewarding people for helping, and not pushing away the people who cant, yet still dinging the people who wont.