Who decided to have a volunteer bond?
.This requirement was introduced by Cochrane BMX Association Board of directors in 2016.
Why is there a volunteer bond?
The volunteer bond was introduced to promote volunteerism and encourage Cochrane BMX members to get involved in the club. It requires many hands to run a successful season of riding and race nights and with the recent growth of the club, we need to ensure that we balance the increased demands with our philosophy of making BMX fun and affordable.
How much is the volunteer bond?
The volunteer bond is $250 per family.
How many hours do I need to put in?
A minimum of 20 hours of regular program volunteering plus one major event shift is required, but the board encourages families to continue past the requirement and give generously of their time to provide programming for our members.
Individuals and families that only have a 'General' membership are required to complete 10 hours of volunteering.
Individuals and families that only have a 'General' membership are required to complete 10 hours of volunteering.
I unfortunately don't have time to volunteer, do I have to?
No, you can opt out of the volunteer bond and pay the $250 fee but please remember that Cochrane BMX is run 100% by volunteers and we need everyone’s help for a successfully run season. For every person who does not volunteer, someone else has to volunteer extra.
What Volunteer roles are available?
There are numerous volunteer opportunity/roles available throughout the BMX season. Many are these are simple and don't require any special training or abilities.
Volunteer Opportunities
1. Flagger/Safety assistance 4 positions for races and open track sessions. Flag volunteers raise a flag when a rider has fallen and ensures the safety of the rider and that other riders on the track are aware of the rider down to avoid a collision. Flaggers are required anytime there are rider’s on the track.
2. Lower Stager: 2-3 positions for race nights. Positioned at the bottom of the start hill with a rider list, the lower stager is responsible for organizing the riders into their motos and lanes and sending them up the start hill as the gate drops
3. Upper Stager: 1 position for race nights. Positioned at the top of the start hill, the upper stager confirms the correct riders are lined up in the correct lane position for the gate.
4. Announcer 1 position for race nights. The announcer will relay any important information to everyone that evening and use the moto sheets provided to call the races as they happen.
5. Gate Operator 1 position for race nights. The gate operator is responsible for the safe operation of the gate for the evening. It is important to be aware of what is happening on the track in order to correctly judge when to start the next moto or hold the gate for downed riders.
6. Finish Line: 4 positions for race nights. Finish line volunteers will record the finishing position for each rider in each moto as they cross the finish line. The records are collected and scored for the registration team who enter the final results in the motoshed.
7. Work Party Throughout the season, we will have multiple work parties to assist with track maintenance. Thes:e will be called in advance and require many hands to ensure a safe and smooth track.
There are often additional volunteer opportunities that arise during the season; there may be opportunities for some carpentry or electrical work at our track for example. If you have a special skill set, please feel free to let us know.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
For those who wish to get more involved in supporting our club and riders, there are director and coordinator positions that steer the direction of our track and activities. Please talk to any of our current directors or coordinator if you are interested in helping out beyond the support we need on and around the track.
We will host a parent’s information session at the beginning of the season and explain all the different volunteer positions. Non-race related volunteer jobs sometimes come up throughout the season, so watch Facebook for additional (off track) volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunities
1. Flagger/Safety assistance 4 positions for races and open track sessions. Flag volunteers raise a flag when a rider has fallen and ensures the safety of the rider and that other riders on the track are aware of the rider down to avoid a collision. Flaggers are required anytime there are rider’s on the track.
2. Lower Stager: 2-3 positions for race nights. Positioned at the bottom of the start hill with a rider list, the lower stager is responsible for organizing the riders into their motos and lanes and sending them up the start hill as the gate drops
3. Upper Stager: 1 position for race nights. Positioned at the top of the start hill, the upper stager confirms the correct riders are lined up in the correct lane position for the gate.
4. Announcer 1 position for race nights. The announcer will relay any important information to everyone that evening and use the moto sheets provided to call the races as they happen.
5. Gate Operator 1 position for race nights. The gate operator is responsible for the safe operation of the gate for the evening. It is important to be aware of what is happening on the track in order to correctly judge when to start the next moto or hold the gate for downed riders.
6. Finish Line: 4 positions for race nights. Finish line volunteers will record the finishing position for each rider in each moto as they cross the finish line. The records are collected and scored for the registration team who enter the final results in the motoshed.
7. Work Party Throughout the season, we will have multiple work parties to assist with track maintenance. Thes:e will be called in advance and require many hands to ensure a safe and smooth track.
There are often additional volunteer opportunities that arise during the season; there may be opportunities for some carpentry or electrical work at our track for example. If you have a special skill set, please feel free to let us know.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
For those who wish to get more involved in supporting our club and riders, there are director and coordinator positions that steer the direction of our track and activities. Please talk to any of our current directors or coordinator if you are interested in helping out beyond the support we need on and around the track.
We will host a parent’s information session at the beginning of the season and explain all the different volunteer positions. Non-race related volunteer jobs sometimes come up throughout the season, so watch Facebook for additional (off track) volunteer opportunities.
If I do not COMPLETE the minimum hours, will I GET MY REFUND?
No. We are 100% dependant on volunteers and require many hands to complete the hundreds of hours of volunteering to run a successful and fun season of riding and racing at Cochrane BMX..