Area II, in conjunction with Waredaca Horse Trials, Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials and the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, is pleased to announce an exciting new program to promote and recognize the heart and soul of eventing: volunteers.
From volunteer check-in on your smartphone to an online source for organizers to coordinate volunteers, this new pilot program, the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) kicks off with big plans to streamline the volunteer experience. Area II will launch and test this idea before expanding across the country.
The cornerstone of VIP, through the generous contribution of Area II, is the website, eventingvolunteers.com. This site is poised to be the go-to place for volunteers and organizers alike. Participants can sign up for volunteer shifts at participating events directly through the site, and organizers can also use the page as a point of communication with volunteers. Eventually, this site will also feature any resource a volunteer could need including summaries of volunteer jobs, tips on what to bring for the day and information on getting more involved in the sport.
Volunteers receive a custom lanyard and neck wallet similar to those we've used at convention, recognizing them as VIP Program participants. Over time, volunteers can decorate the lanyards with incentive pins and other recognition markers as they complete volunteer time. Once at an event, volunteers will "check in" and “out” to the time-keeping system using their smartphones or manually; organizers can also check volunteers in and out.
The program will track a leaderboard for volunteers, based on the hours volunteers contribute, with bonuses for volunteers who go to events at different locations or hit hourly milestones. Volunteers will be recognized with awards at our area meeting, and nationally as the program is expanded.
You can take the new VIP website for a test drive here.
This month we’re going to wrap-up our discussion on mindsets and how they can point us in the direction of growth, grit, and gratitude—or in the direction of disappointment, defeat, and dejection.
As spring and summer competitions approach, competitors, secretaries, course designers, volunteers, and so many more are preparing for the busy season ahead. Eventers can help to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved through a few simple steps.
Thanks to the generous donations of the Waredaca Eventing Education Foundation (WEEF) supporters as well as several organizers of Classic Three-Day Events across the country, WEEF is pleased to announce that this year, the Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund Scholarship will once again be a nation-wide scholarship opportunity.
The second edition of the USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships is anticipated to have record participation, and anyone who has attended the event in the past knows that the camaraderie is unbeatable. From the endless decorations to the team chants heard around the grounds, the Collegiate and IEL competitors know how to show their spirit, and their extra pep will again be accessed in the race for the coveted Spirit Awards.