United States Eventing Association

For a VIP: The App that Does it All

We’ve all heard over the loudspeaker “we need more volunteers!” Instead of frantically rushing to find last minute volunteers, now there’s an app for that.

Rocking Horse, Galway Downs, Great Meadow, Carolina International, The Fork at Tryon, Plantation Field, MDHT, and Jersey Fresh International: what do these shows have in common? They all use the online management portal, EventingVolunteers.com (also available as an app for iOS and Android) to organize volunteer participation and ensure volunteer happiness. Happy volunteers equate to happy show organizers which results in happy competitors, happy judges, happy coaches, happy spectators, and so on and so forth.

The USEA Volunteer Incentive Program’s (VIP) Committee has set up incentives like national recognition, cash prizes, a chance to appear on the official USEA Volunteer leaderboard, and a “Volunteer of the Year” award, proving it should be a no brainer to sign up with EventingVolunteers.com. Not only does it offer incentives to our generous service providers, VIP Presenting Sponsor, Sunsprite Warmbloods has made it possible for all USEA recognized events to use the platform free of charge! Therefore, it’s free, your volunteers can set future goals, your shows will run smoother, and everyone will be happier.

This application is designed to help the volunteer who might be unwilling, unqualified, unexperienced, or is a friend of a friend who got suckered into volunteering for an hour (which can easily turn into four). The difference between one to four hours is significant for someone who is volunteering their time. This application tracks these extra hours down to the very last second.

Bonnie Kibbie is a dedicated volunteer, passionate vet, loving wife and mother, avid eventer, and in her free time she serves as Chair of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program Committee. Kibbie has several thoughts on the online management system, “I can’t stress enough how user-friendly we have tried to make this program. In the last year we have had everything from small schooling shows of less than 100 entries to huge venues like the AEC using the app, it is that easy to tailor to your event’s specific needs!” To learn more about the use of this app (that was created by another dedicated volunteer, Nicolas Hinze) please read: Getting Started with Eventing Volunteers.

Regarding the application’s unique features, Kibbie states, “I love that the app sends me reminders about volunteer opportunities in my area, and I love being able to check the leaderboard and see familiar names of fellow volunteers.”

Whether your preference is to learn about dressage through the judge’s eyes (dressage scribe), enjoy the thrill of cross-country from the comfort of your seat (jump judge), or improve volunteer satisfaction, you can pick your preference on EventingVolunteers.com. All you need is an email address to sign up!

About USEA Volunteer Incentive Program

Volunteers are the lifeline of our sport, the unsung heroes, and the people who make it possible to keep the sport alive. In efforts to recognize the dedication, commitment, and hard work that volunteers put into eventing, USEA formed the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) in 2015. In 2017, an online management portal was designed for volunteers, organizers, and coordinators at EventingVolunteers.com (available as an app for iOS and Android.)

Volunteer incentives include national and area recognition, year-end awards with ribbons, cash prizes, trophies, a top ten USEA Volunteer leaderboard, and a “Volunteer of the Year” award which is given to the volunteer who tops the leaderboard by accumulating the most volunteer hours over the USEA competition year. Click here to learn more about the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP).

The USEA would like to thank Sunsprite Warmbloods for sponsoring the Volunteer Incentive Program.