Each family is required to volunteer a mandatory amount of hours per season. The organization is built upon a family atmosphere and without this, the regattas would not run smoothly and our costs would be extremely high. Many volunteer choices are available on regatta weekends, and we encourage anyone who has scheduling conflicts with those weekends to contact our Volunteer Coordinators directly.
FOR VOLUNTEER QUESTIONS please contact the crew chiefs directly or Volunteer Coordinator Abbie Albright.
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Welcoming Committee
Our redesigned "Welcoming Committee" is responsible for welcoming guest and visitors to Saratoga, with responsibilities including parking, directing & managing guest, and ensuring a positive experience at a Saratoga Regatta!
BOATHOUSE SIDE - Keep cars from parking at Boatworks or spectators walking onto their docks. Limited parking in SRA lot, direct cars to drop kids off and park over at Lee’s Park or street parking. Bring a chair, a hat….and a book to read or a friend to chat with!
Contact: Janet Lilley
LEE'S PARKSIDE - Mark parking fields, direct traffic. Assertive personality helpful...not for the timid...many race attendees will attempt to access the dock front spaces.
Contact: David Fragomenti
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Safety Launch
We need many volunteers for 1-2 people each for ~10 boats per regatta. Safety launches are located throughout the course and follow (chase) races in the spring, prepared to rescue/assist rowers in need. Boat driving experience is valuable, but we need some riders too. We are always looking for boat owners willing to work with their boats. VERY helpful. (On water)
Contact: Dan Hegener
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Food Tent
Set up tent and equipment, prepare food and staff food tent during regattas. Shoppers needed to shop during the week. Deliver food to on-water and off-site volunteers and officials. People willing to clean up, breakdown tent and equipment and wash dishes AFTER regattas are always needed. (SRA Side)
Contact: TBD
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Registration and Information
Assist with team packet preparation, prepare bow numbers, check waivers, staff booth Friday pm and Saturday am. A couple of people staff the info table with basic information on races --event schedule, crew chiefs, diagrams of a site, Saratoga Springs, and contact numbers for key regatta staff. (Lee’s Park Side)
Contact: Jennifer Hussey
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Timing Staff
Several types of jobs within the Timing setting allow for people with different interests and skill sets. General skills should include an ability to focus despite distractions, good attention to detail and good eye, ear, hand coordination.
Contact: Susan Pruiksma
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Awards and Medals
Prepare trophies and medals in advance of races; staff awards table during races and hand out appropriate awards to winners. (Lee’s Park Side)
Contact: Michelle Young
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Green Team (Clean Up)
Our job is to encourage recycling and manage the garbage and recycling at the regatta site. We generally work in teams of two, using a motorized cart, and we are always able to stop working to watch and cheer for races. We need workers who are willing to get a little dirty and are able to communicate in a friendly but assertive way with visiting teams. (Lee’s Park Side)
Contact: TBD
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Docks
Create and manage a docking system at races, one person per dock, rotation schedule/manage traffic bullhorn to announce which races are launching. Record times of crew launch and recovery (post-race) to ensure the accuracy of crew location. (Lee’s Park Side)
Contact: Janet Enright
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Marshaling/Start Line
Staff three launches organizing rowers at the start of races. Boat driving experience is valuable but NOT necessary; we need many assistant riders for this job. Great view of the rowers as they prepare to start the race! (On water)
Contact: Bill DeVries
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Fundraising
Many volunteers needed to work on the Silent Auction held in early spring as well as smaller fundraisers throughout the year.
Contact: Katherine Smith
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Other duties as needed
Regatta operations is our biggest need for volunteers. In special circumstances, we do need volunteers for non-regatta duties, including but not limited to fundraising, landscaping, truck & boat maintenance, & building projects. There are limited non-regatta volunteer hours. Please contact a volunteer coordinator for details and approval.