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parkrun thread

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sallykate Oct 2021 9:08pm, 30 Oct 2021 8,389 posts	Quote Pin sallykate It is supposed to be 1:50. So we now have five scanner roles to fill on our volunteer template, and that would be seven if we were up to our pre-Covid numbers. Today I went ahead with two non-running scanners and a fast runner stepping in post-run, because I didn't have enough marshals and a couple of other crucial roles had dropped out at the very last minute so I had to re-jig things on the morning. Numbers were below 150 anyway - probably a combination of half-term and heavy rain. It's in no way guilt-tripping to point out that the run can't go ahead without the required volunteers.
Hunkyteddy Oct 2021 9:15pm, 30 Oct 2021 1,453 posts	Quote Pin Hunkyteddy Interesting, thanks. I'm not singling out Bushy, I was just interested to see what the biggest one does. I've never done it but would think that 20 scanners to be a bit ridiculous.
sallykate Oct 2021 9:18pm, 30 Oct 2021 8,390 posts	Quote Pin sallykate Pre-app, they only supplied one scanner device per 250 runners I think? Or was it two but you had to be above 250 regular attendance to get a third?
chunkywizard Oct 2021 9:19pm, 30 Oct 2021 12,876 posts	Quote Pin chunkywizard 2 with a third at 250 I believe.
Craigellachie Oct 2021 10:00pm, 30 Oct 2021 73 posts	Quote Pin Craigellachie There’s a bit of misunderstanding about how many volunteers are necessary. The minimum specified by HQ is not the real minimum: most events will have additional roles deemed essential under their own local risk assessment. It may say for example that the event is to be cancelled if certain locations can’t be marshalled. Then beyond that there’s what you need for a satisfactory event: the celebrated ‘full roster’. One high profile cancellation not long ago was one volunteer short of a full roster but the full roster had two timekeepers: they could have gone ahead with one timekeeper but other factors were at play. That’s not a criticism: event teams don’t cancel for fun, they wouldn’t be in the team if they didn’t want it to go ahead. But there’s a human factor involved. These people are human beings and if the same people are being called in at the last minute every Friday night to save the event they’re going to have to manage their stress levels eventually. parkrun is famously good for mental health: the people who deliver it should not be expected to sacrifice theirs.
BaronessBL Oct 2021 10:11pm, 30 Oct 2021 9,057 posts	Quote Pin BaronessBL Good point Craigellachie. Our core team for a not yet started parkrun have been having exactly these conversations about filling the roster and whether the core team should just be expected to step in and fill the gaps if there are any on a Friday night. Possibly OK if planning to run it anyway but if planning to do something completely different on a Saturday I don't think core team members not expecting to be at that parkrun should suddenly change their plans. I personally would redeploy tokens and time keepers and deliver a safe run but with no times than call in all my core team to do roles when they may have other things planned for their Saturday - but at the moment I don't know how many of the core team agree with me. Just because I might be able to practically see the course from my back bedroom window doesn't mean I want to be there every single Saturday morning because nobody else has volunteered.
LindsD Oct 2021 10:13pm, 30 Oct 2021 50,514 posts	Quote Pin LindsD I would never expect anyone to change their plans to facilitate a run.
bonners Oct 2021 10:58pm, 30 Oct 2021 2,197 posts	Quote Pin bonners As someone who works a lot of Saturdays at short notice now, I have to admit to volunteering less than when I used to have most Saturdays free. As I'm not prepared to give up my time in advance I have absolutely no objections to core teams putting a post up in a Thursday and if the core posts aren't filled then cancel at that point on a Thursday. I don't want people stressing to get last minute volunteers just so I can enjoy a Saturday morning run. I realise there are exceptions, where volunteers drop out at short notice, but I'd make it a general rule if it were me that if rosters aren't filled by 5pm on a Thursday that the teams would be able to cancel. I'm sure that might focus a few minds I get that volunteering is a very positive thing for some people and do understand that parkrun promote it as that. But I do wonder if the emphasis has shifted a little too much and it has stopped some people from thinking about volunteering.
GeneHunt59 Oct 2021 7:30am, 31 Oct 2021 2,032 posts	Quote Pin GeneHunt59 We rarely fill our roster before the Friday. To fill it sometime during the Thursday if we are lucky. That said last week I think it was filled on Wednesday.
Old Croc Nov 2021 9:31am, 1 Nov 2021 33,884 posts	Quote Pin Old Croc We have gone for the full roster by Thurs evening or we cancel stance. We had a close call a few weeks ago when were chasing right up until Fri afternoon. As EDs we also have a life and jobs to do so seeking volunteers all week isn't as fun as it sounds. The mere threat of cancellation seems to have worked as we have been okay for volunteers last few weeks - then again its a bit quiet this week so far........