If you have ever ran in, or attended any type of running event, you know what
an assurance the sign is that tells you that you are heading in the right
direction for parking, or how grateful you feel when someone hands you your
race shirt and bib at an event.
What about the beautiful sight of an aid station volunteer running out to grab
your water bottle or Camelback to refill your performance sustaining fluids.
Sometimes we even forget about the behind the scenes people who cut up the
fruit, make the brownies, slice the PB&J's, divide up all the M & M's,
make the signs for the race, haul in the tables, set-up the tents/awnings.
Does anyone thank that quiet guy or girl who has given up eight to ten hours of
precious time to write down your time as you cross the finish. Don't forget the
volunteers who months before the race are out hustling up sponsors, donations
and door prizes that you may win.
It is not the sponsors, participants, or race directors an event has that makes
a good race and outing. Is is the volunteers who make everything possible. It
is sometimes thankless job, but it can be rewarding and fulfilling to give ones
time back to the sport that we or our loved ones enjoy.
The Turkey & TATURs Trail Run is in desperate need of many of these
treasured individuals. If you, or someone you know is interested in
volunteering please let us know.
Volunteer:
Pre-Race Sponsorship/Donation Recruiters
# Volunteers Needed:
Unlimited!
Volunteers Signed Up:
Diana Snyder
Hours:
As many as you can spare!
Job Description:
Go door to door to local businesses and persuade them to:
Make a donation to the race or sponsor (sponsor
info, sponsor
form) the race. The sponsorship is a good way for them to do some
targeted advertising on a targeted audience.
If they do not wish to donate or sponsor, would they be able to donate anything
to the race such as food items, or door prizes?
If none of the above and we still need items for the race, which they sell, can
we get them at a good discount?
This position could involve asking employers, friends, neighbors, or even family
members if they would like to support the race. All proceeds will go to the
Westside YMCA and TATUR.
Volunteer:
Course Marking (day before the race)
# Volunteers Needed:
5
Volunteers Signed Up:
Brian Hoover, Diana Snyder, Chris Corbin
Hours:
4 - 8
Job Description:
Set up marking ribbon, flag markers, chalk/flour lines all alone the course the
day before the race. Since we're doing the race Sunday morning, we won't start
marking the course until Saturday morning and we want to mark our 15+ miles of
course VERY WELL. Turkey Mountain is a great area to run trails but
there are so many trails that spider off of each one, we will have to use a lot
of markers to make sure that people do not get confused and hit the wrong
trail.
Volunteer:
Parking Attendants
# Volunteers Needed:
2
Volunteers Signed Up:
Hours:
4 (starting at 4am race day)
Job Description:
Guide and direct vehicles where to park. Write down license plate numbers and
driver's cell phone number when entering. The Westside YMCA has limited parking
(about 75 spots) so we will need to ensure that we are utilizing all the spots
to the maximum. This position will also entail placing signage along the
off-ramps and access road leading into the YMCA to ensure that our out-of-town
visitors do not get lost.
In case we fill up all the available parking spots we may need individuals to
shuttle participants back and forth from the Elwood lot to the YMCA.
Volunteer:
Aid Station Volunteers
# Volunteers Needed:
8
Volunteers Signed Up:
Alex Eaton, Randy Ellis, Earl Blewett, Dan Threlkeld
Hours:
10
Job Description:
We need the aid stations to be fully set up and ready to go before the race and
will need to be manned until the sweep (checking for the last runner) comes
through. We'll have 4 manned aid stations and would like to have 2 volunteers
there at all times. We will try to move the volunteers around if possible so
they don't get too stir crazy at the same location. Those manning them will
have to make sure the water and Gatorade coolers are filled, the ice is
stocked, the nuts, raisins, M&Ms, dried fruit, bananas, potato wedges (of
course!) and all other items are out and waiting for the runners. When a runner
comes near they need to ask to refill their water bottle, check to see that
they seem coherent and of course make sure they do not run off in the wrong
direction when they leave!
You would defiantly want to bring a chair. You could also bring a radio, mp3
player to have some nice trail tunes kicking while runners are refueling! We
will have tarps to set up if it is going to rain but mid-Sept. is usually not
the wettest month in Oklahoma.
Volunteer:
Gofers
# Volunteers Needed:
3
Volunteers Signed Up:
Hours:
Varied but needed throughout the race
Job Description:
Gofer ice to refill the aid stations. Gofer more hot dog buns. Gofer more
batteries. Gofer more beer. Oops! Strike that last one. We're going to be at
the YMCA. No alcohol allowed...
Volunteer:
Photographer/Videographer
# Volunteers Needed:
3
Volunteers Signed Up:
Charly Willsey
Hours:
Throughout the race
Job Description:
We really want to make this race one to remember and give people something
great to take back with them so we would like to have people who can videotape
or photograph the start, finish and anything else in between. We will likely
provide disposable cameras, film, CDs and/or video tapes for people to use.
There are a few great places along the route which would make for some nice
memories (Lip Buster for one!) so we'd like to document it well,
Volunteer:
Course Tear-Down
# Volunteers Needed:
5
Volunteers Signed Up:
Ken Childress, Dana Childress
Hours:
5
Job Description:
Obviously once the race is run, we want to tear down the course and clean up
our mess. That means that every ribbon, every flag, every sign, every cup,
every wrapper, every bowl, everything that came from our race is removed. We
would like for TATUR to earn a reputation for taking excellent care of it's
host environments (both Turkey and the YMCA) so that we are welcomed back with
open arms for the next event we put on. We'll even personally deliver a Krispy
Kreme donut (the free one they hand out while you're in line of course!) to
whoever collects the most trash after the race!
