Volunteer Recognition fee & SM Compliance Fee

[RX3]

Post Event Audits (Tow Fund, Excess Sanction, Compliance Fees): Attached please find the new audit form for 2008. As you will see there are two new fees this year:

1) $2 per entry for the Volunteer Recognition Program for all events (all Regionals, Nationals and Driver Schools)

2) $10 per entry (regional and national events) for the Spec Miata Compliance Fee. This includes all classes that use the core SM preparation rules as their basis, such as SMT.


Does any one know any thing about these two new fees.

[seckerich]

The $10 for spec miata is like the spec racers for checks at events by national staff. Have not caught the "special award tax" on the form. Thanks. This is BS. $2.00 per car for every entry all year is a big chunk of change for a trophy.

[Greg Amy]

$2.00 per car for every entry all year is a big chunk of change for a trophy.[/b]
"Volunteer Recognition Program". I suggest this is a worker fund for covering dinners, lunches, beer party, etc. Well worth it. In fact, it'll save me money, given that I have been voluntarily giving more than that on occasion... - GA

[seckerich]

"Volunteer Recognition Program". I suggest this is a worker fund for covering dinners, lunches, beer party, etc. Well worth it. In fact, it'll save me money, given that I have been voluntarily giving more than that on occasion... - GA
[/b]
You make some big assumptions Greg. This is on the audit sheet to send the fee to National office. How does this feed workers? We already spend way more than that on food, parties, and rooms for our workers. This just takes away from the money available to do that.

[spnkzss]

WDCR actually hit us up last year for $5 a driver. This gave some GOOD worker goodies to workers and paid for dinner for EVERYONE, not only workers. I was game for that, BUT that was an addition to teh other raises in fees. MARRS races last year went up $30 or $35 a weekend. That hurt.

If it is going toward teh REGIONAL workers then I'm all for it. We can't race without them and visa versa.

[gran racing]

Well then, if that's the case it's too bad. I already donate to the worker funds, but have a feeling this will impact the amount of money people give to the worker fund at the event. So what is this being used for? It has to be more than a trophy at the end of the year.

Maybe the worker fund(s) should be eliminated as seperate line item and just build a designated amount into the entry fee.

Sometimes I wish there was an IT compliance fee and at each event, various items were looked at more closely.

[Andy Bettencourt]

Sometimes I wish there was an IT compliance fee and at each event, various items were looked at more closely. [/b]

Work locally. I see no reason we can't, as a group, suggest to the Tech team some items we would like to be checked and have them administer it at random throughout the year. Start a new thread in the NE section. I am in!

[JohnRW]

This is just nonsense.

"Volunteer Recognition Fee" ? Just how does the SCCA in Topeka get off skimming $2 off of every entry ? That's what they're doing. The "audit" is the post-event audit that Race Chairmen complete, to forward final 'car counts' etc., and to write the final post-event check to the Topeka office.

Since WHEN are there any "volunteers" working in the Topeka HQ ? Don't think so. Just where does this money go ? What is it that the Nation office can do with $2 per entry that the local Regions just can't seem to accomplish ?

And on to this: "$10 per entry (regional and national events) for the Spec Miata Compliance Fee. This includes all classes that use the core SM preparation rules as their basis, such as SMT.

Since WHEN did the proposal for an SM compliance fee include any class that wasn't specifically "SM" ??? So, any SSM cars in the NE, or any SMT down south, or the "sealed" SSM cars out west all have to contribute a "compliance fee" for classes that aren"t recognized nationally, and that nobody in Topeka could likely even find a rules-set for ???

I predict a raft of "class name & rules changes" for Miata-based cars, simply to give the finger to this.

Blatant money-grab by Topeka.

[Greg Amy]

You make some big assumptions Greg.[/b]
Yes, I do. As do you.

I did not recognize this money was heading to the Midwest. Anyone have the Real Truth behind this? - GA

[seckerich]

Have not received response yet on when this was voted on and approved. I can not find it in any fastrack. Will report what I find.

[JohnRW]

RX3 - Do you, in fact, have a copy of the 2008 "Tow Fund, Excess Sanction, Compliance" audit form ?

It'll likely look like this: http://www.scca.com/documents/Club%20Forms/TowFund.pdf

...but it will say "2008" at the top and will have, apparently, some new "fee categories" added in.

Can you scan it and post it ? Really would like to see it.

[spnkzss]

Well then, if that's the case it's too bad. I already donate to the worker funds, but have a feeling this will impact the amount of money people give to the worker fund at the event. So what is this being used for? It has to be more than a trophy at the end of the year.

Maybe the worker fund(s) should be eliminated as seperate line item and just build a designated amount into the entry fee.

Sometimes I wish there was an IT compliance fee and at each event, various items were looked at more closely.
[/b]

I use to give $10-$20 to the worker fund each race. When our fees went up as bad as they did last year, I know quite a few people, including myself, that stopped. It's a shame in my opinion. If anything, like has been said elsewhere, wrap the cost into the event if you NEED to make it a mndatory expense and add it as a line item to the event break down.

[RX3]

National 0ffice final called me back and the 2 dollars is how they are going to fund the worker member ship rebate up to 30 dollars a person. (You have to work so many week ends to get it.)This came out mid year. I did not see the funding trail at that time. Still can't find it.

[seckerich]

So we now get soaked for free memberships and get to collect it for National. All these feel good programs sound so good until the cost comes straight out of the racers pocket. Anybody want to guess what percentage of this money is eaten up in "program overhead"? I hate to sound negative and I fully support workers but it is better dealt with local. Let the regions keep this money and help workers as they need to. Every $5 we raise entries makes another racer go away. We can't afford to loose any more.

[tom_sprecher]

1) $2 per entry for the Volunteer Recognition Program for all events (all Regionals, Nationals and Driver Schools)
[/b]

This is BS! As a rough calculation for the SEDiv based on 6 "events" a month, 9 months out of the year, 225 entries and $2 each is almost $25k. That should buy some hellatious Recognition from the SEDiv alone.

Would you classify this as being a tick or a leech? Before they come up with new fees you'd think they would start doing something worth what they already get paid. What do we really get from HQ? Maybe I'm just pissed at the moment but I can't think of anything besides sanction #'s, licenses and insurance.

Who voted on this, what is their phone number or where do they live?

[seckerich]

Just got off the phone with Deanna Flanagan in club racing: This program was voted in by the BOD and was posted in the July fastrack addendum. One liner that the program was approved but no fee mentioned. The fee was disclosed in the RE newsletter sent June 29th. She is checking to see if the fee was published to the membership and promised to get back with me. I will let you know what happens.

[RX3]

I did not see it in the R.E. new letter. Terry said that she would send me a copy of money trail first of next week. Yes it will be a lot of money just from this region. And worker have to back to getting there cards signed every weekend.

[seckerich]

I did not see it in the R.E. new letter. Terry said that she would send me a copy of money trail first of next week. Yes it will be a lot of money just from this region. And worker have to back to getting there cards signed every weekend.
[/b]
Add up the number of workers you had this year (not per race, just actual people) and multiply that by the max they earn for credit($30). You will see a big difference between that figure and the $2 x total entries at all races in your region. The $2 fee is being used to reimburse national for the waiver of the $30 national dues. Regions still get their portion. Numbers do not add up at this point. I was informed that the BOD can change fees without publishing them in fastrack. Don't like it, better let your BOD rep know about it. Why do I now feel like the IRS. :rolleyes:

[tom_sprecher]

Can anyone explain the justification for the following fees.

Excess Sanction
SRF Compliance
FSCCA Compliance
SCCA SR Compliance

With the costs from outside sources (track and energency rental, worker incentives, etc.) incurred by a racing region constantly going up you would think the BoD and HQ would try to do something to alleaviate the pressure of staying out of the red.

The above fees seem to do just the opposite with no Vaselene supplied.

[pballance]

Add up the number of workers you had this year (not per race, just actual people) and multiply that by the max they earn for credit($30). You will see a big difference between that figure and the $2 x total entries at all races in your region. The $2 fee is being used to reimburse national for the waiver of the $30 national dues. Regions still get their portion. Numbers do not add up at this point. I was informed that the BOD can change fees without publishing them in fastrack. Don't like it, better let your BOD rep know about it. Why do I now feel like the IRS. :rolleyes:
[/b]

This also doesn't wash. The "temporary" member program requires ALL workers/particiapants/entrants at a club racing/solo/rally/TT event to be a member. It is "recommended" that regions charge a $15.00 differential to "non-members" and then forward the required $5.00 fee to national. It is the same program to "cover" the cost of "temporary" memberships but at a greater fee.

This "temp" member stuff cost our region large $$$ to cover our single event, hillclimb ham radio volunteers. 99.7% of them will NEVER join SCCA as they only care about the radio/communications aspect iof the hillclimb. We could not hold the event without them!

I like the idea of an "audit" fee to ensure compliance and maybe that is something that can be looked at at Jekyll. I am new to all of this but I am pretty certain that my car is legal (although I need to check the engine a little more closely) and believe that the majority of my fellow racers are legal as well but a certainty of post race compliance check may nudge those on the edge back to the correct side. :)

What do you other SeDiv guys think?

[shwah]

This is BS! As a rough calculation for the SEDiv based on 6 "events" a month, 9 months out of the year, 225 entries and $2 each is almost $25k. That should buy some hellatious Recognition from the SEDiv alone.
[/b]
You are right, way over funded. Return any funds that are not directly consumed with the worker membership subsidy to the individual regions.

[JohnRW]

RX3 - sorry to be a broken record on this, but do you have an electronic version of the 2008 audit form, or can you scan a paper copy and post or email it ?

I'd REALLY like to see it. REALLY.

[dickita15]

Caveat: I have no direct knowledge of this program and was not aware of it before this post, but that will not prevent me from commenting. :D

This may be a case of be careful what you ask for. I have repeatedly been at meetings where local region officials have asked national to do something about encouraging workers to participate. Usually free dues for workers is mentioned. The answer has always been the regions are free to implement these types of programs. The problem often sited with this solution is where multiple regions share tracks and workers.
While Summit or NHIS have multiple events with one region running them, in many places 4 or more regions share a track. Add to that many workers routinely work 2 or more tracks.

To me this sound like national responding to requests for support from regional officials. Now the BOD has responded and added a tax to pay for it.

Kind of like national health insurance.

[seckerich]

Thats the just of it Dick. Many regions have workers that cross over and do lots of races. Others may have workers that just do their events. I would feel much better if it was more regional. I feel the regions could do a better job getting the money where it would help. This program only helps up to $30. I have a big problem that it was sold as a "free membership" program and it is just a shell game to hide the fact they are now going to charge the regions for workers. Then they (BOD) slip it into the audit report as a new per car fee. The workers will top out at $30 long before the money is spent and then see where it goes. Add up the fees that would have been collected last year in the SE and it would cover about 500 to 700 memberships. Think we have that many RR workers in the Southeast or do you think it will just be bled over to cover "other programs"? Run the numbers and get a reality check

[dickita15]

Well for comparison I ran the numbers on the NARRC series. That is the regional series in Area 1. Last year that was 14 races and 2,333 entries so the tax to Topeka would be $4,666. That would pay for 155 $30 membership subsidies. Add in a couple of nationals and drivers schools and that sounds about right for Area 1.
500 - 700 race workers sounds like a reasonable number for SE Div.

I am not a fan of federal programs like this but some of the hysteria I am hearing would be more appropriate on the prod board.

[fastbenz]

Dick are you considered a Volunteer ?

[dickita15]

Dick are you considered a Volunteer ?
[/b]

At some events yes I am, and at some I am a competitor. Your point?

[NutDriverRighty]

As someone who volunteers at more events (F&C primarily) than he drives, I have to agree that this should be handled locally not nationally. In regard to the comment about crossing regions, etc., I have worked for CCR, SCR, NCR, PCA, BMWCCA,Atlanta Region, Road Atlanta, Mercury Vehicles, and I'm sure I've forgotten one or two. Extorting the money from all regions for a single worker is just that.........extortion. If I'm only going to get a total of $30 off of my annual membership for the events that I work, I wonder how much has been paid by all of the above FOR me (by the different regions)?! The large majority of F&C folks that I work with cross borders like this as well. Anubis, if you're following this, I'd love to hear your input.

Scott Franklin
F&C
ITA/IT7
SPU

[seckerich]

Well for comparison I ran the numbers on the NARRC series. That is the regional series in Area 1. Last year that was 14 races and 2,333 entries so the tax to Topeka would be $4,666. That would pay for 155 $30 membership subsidies. Add in a couple of nationals and drivers schools and that sounds about right for Area 1.
500 - 700 race workers sounds like a reasonable number for SE Div.

I am not a fan of federal programs like this but some of the hysteria I am hearing would be more appropriate on the prod board.
[/b]
Not hysteria Dick, just pissed off. Add up all the little fees that get slipped in to the increases we will see in insurance this year and we start loosing racers. Take these same dollars and keep them in the region and workers could get much more in the way of support. We housed our hillclimb workers in cabins with hot tubs in the deck this year.Anyone who knows me is clear about my support for workers. I work as many events as I race. This is overfunded and ripe for abuse.

[tom_sprecher]

I have to agree with Steve. Let the regions determine what needs to be done to attrach workers. This reeks of the liberal mindset that the people are incapable of solving their own problems therefore have the government do it. If National wanted to help aleviate the worker shortage let the regions give free memberships to anyone who worked a specified number of events with NO money going back to National. Don't tax us and then give some of the money back. That's not help, that's middleman BS.

[RX3]

JohnRW if you give me a email address will send the package.

Regional and National events. All fees are due within 14 days following the event.

INSTRUCTIONS:
This Audit is to be completed for EVERY sanctioned event, including Driver Schools, For Regional/National events* please fill out Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and submit Total Due in Section 5.
For Driver School events* please fill out Sections 1, 2 4 and submit Total Due in Section 5. Note: Excess Sanction and Compliance Fees are not required for Driver School events.

FEES:
1. TOW FUND is $15 per car for each National event per GCR 3.3.5.D.
2. EXCESS SANCTION is $15 per car for each entry over 150 cars, at every Regional or National event* per GCR 3.3.5.C.
3. SPEC RACER FORD (SRF)/FORMULA SCCA (FE) COMPLIANCE is $10 and is to be collected from each SRF & FE at each Regional or National event* per GCR 3.3.5.E.
4. *NEW* SPEC MIATA COMPLIANCE is $10 and is to be collected from each Spec Miata at each Regional or National event*. This includes all classes that use the core SM preparation rules as their basis, such as SMT.
5. *NEW* Volunteer Recognition Fee is $2 per entry and will be paid on every entry at Regional, National and Driver School events*.

*For Double events fees are to be paid for each Sanction number per GCR 3.3.5.C. Please complete the total number of cars entered, per Sanction number below.*

**An entry is classified as anyone who has turned a wheel on the racing surface and is not eligible to receive a refund of their entry fee.

[fastbenz]

At some events yes I am, and at some I am a competitor. Your point?
[/b]

No point Dick just wondering what you did.

[lateapex911]

Simply put, he does, or has done ....everything, on both sides of the car and track. (Except being a steward)

[seckerich]

When I pay my entry for a race I understand what I get for that money. I do not expect workers. I pay for track rental,insurance,associated sanction fees, and a reasonable amount of profit so the region can afford to replace equipment so they can stay in business. What I get is a staff of volunteers that love racing and give their time to support what we all love. Most regions already spend a large chunk of their race budget on food,lodging,and worker perks. Why is it now necessary to force regions to let national handle this. I got a pm that suggested we needed this because regions were complaining that they needed perks to attract workers. What did you provide before? How does this "shell game" change the money you already had to support workers? A good portion of our workers are already doing other things inside the club that require membership and will see little benefit. Give me that money to help offset their travel cost instead of this $30 limit per worker. Use some common sense people.

[dickita15]

Steve and Tom,
I could not agree with you more that all programs work better at a regional level. As racers we get a lot more from the regions putting on races than we will ever get form national. That’s okay that is how it should work. There is a very limited number of things that should be handled by national.
What I pointed out was I believe this is a direct result of regional officials asking for something from national and not being savvy enough to know they would have to pay for it with a tax and that the number of the tax do not seem like a disproportionate money grab to me. If you are going to implement such a program, I do not think they should, the ratio of $2 per entry to the number of workers does not seem like it is padded.

Never attribute to evil what can easily be explained by stupidity.

[seckerich]

I am sure you are correct Dick. Some thought it would be a free lunch. It is not. I am sure it has good intentions and should have been sold as such. Tell me you are going to take $2 per car to help regions pay worker memberships. Tell me you are doing this because they are unwilling to help their workers without being forced. Now tell me the money from our races will benefit our workers. Tell me 100% of this money will be in an account for this only with no new "staff" to administer said program. I might support it. Selling it as free memberships is a joke. Define "free". I get tired of having to justify these costs to our customer (the racers) after the BOD passes this down to us. Gets old. :bash_1_:

[JohnRW]

In a lot of Regions, the corner workers at "Pro" events are actually an SCCA organized and directed group. It happens at Sebring, LRP, blah blah blah. In a pre-$2 fee world, it's OK that these folks are the core that is called on to work the big show events. But...many Regions grant "worker points" to the folks who work these events.

Does this new program differentiate between an SCCA Regional or National race, and a "Pro" event, in allocating "worker credits" (or whatever they'll be called) ?

If not, then SCCA racers, National and Regional, will be subsidizing "Pro" racing organizations. I would be very pissed if this was the case.

Have the details of the "volunteer worker incentive" program been released ? Does anyone know how it will work ? How much does Topeka skim off for "admistrative" reasons ?

[RX3]

John I have sent you an email with the information you wanted and the info is also attached to my post ( 6 up from this one) Let me know if you want any more info

[jjjanos]

In a lot of Regions, the corner workers at "Pro" events are actually an SCCA organized and directed group. It happens at Sebring, LRP, blah blah blah. In a pre-$2 fee world, it's OK that these folks are the core that is called on to work the big show events. But...many Regions grant "worker points" to the folks who work these events. [/b]

Most Regions, if not all, get a big fat check or reduced rental rates in exchange for providing the staff for these events.


Does this new program differentiate between an SCCA Regional or National race, and a "Pro" event, in allocating "worker credits" (or whatever they'll be called) ?

If not, then SCCA racers, National and Regional, will be subsidizing "Pro" racing organizations. I would be very pissed if this was the case. [/b]

:rolleyes:

Why? Depending on how the fund is administered, a Crash&Burn school might get credit and there isn't even a single car on track for these events. It is simply training. Flagging at a pro event is simply more of the same, but with cars on the track. Same/same for other specialties. In fact, the best way to create a more experienced volunteer is for them to get... surprise! More experience.

To keep a National or Divisional license, you need to volunteer something like 8 days each year. For nearly 100% of the volunteers, those days come from Club Racing events. Very few people get to satisfy their license requirements via nothing but pro events and NONE gain a license doing only pro events because flag chiefs generally won't let newbies staff such an event. The majority of the people who staff the pro event are the same people who staff your local events.

Moreover, if it gets a trained and experienced volunteer you wouldn't have had at your club event otherwise, exactly how are YOU subsidizing pro racing? You got a volunteer out of it.

SCCA has the best corps of volunteers out there and keeping them fat and happy is certainly worth more than any minimal credit they receive by virtue of staffing a pro event. I've flagged with other race organizations and gawd help us if the quality and quantity of our volunteers falls to those groups. Not only wouldn't I feel safe on the track with these organizations, I really don't get a warm and fuzzy safe feeling as a flagger at these events.

Gawd help us when we too have to resort to hiring the yokels to staff our events.

[KelleyHux]

I originally posted most of this on the ProdCar board (yes, I lurk there as well...) but I think it's appropriate here too.

As a long-time volunteer, I'm really sorry to see the drivers assessed another fee by the National Office. And, I'm also very sad to see it called the "Volunteer Recognition Fee". :( That name doesn't reflect what it really is. It should be called the "Volunteer Membership Reimbursement Fee".

As a life member (yes, I was young enough that it made fiscal sense to me when it was offered in the early 90's), my yearly membership renewal to the National Office is only the cost of my regional dues. So, I fail to see how this new "Volunteer Recognition Fee" will recognize me - not that I'm in the club for recognition (and those of you who know me personally understand that). I enjoy what I do for the club and the many, many wonderful friends I've made over the last 30+ years. I even found my spouse through SCCA.

Someone said: "... dialing back or eliminating donations to the regions worker fund."

I understand that this new assessment by National may have an adverse impact on the local region programs, but I encourage you to continue to contribute locally. The new Volunteer Membership Reimbursement program puts the responsibility on the volunteer to turn in their paperwork to SCCA National Office to receive the reimbursement. It may help us to recruit/retain some younger folks who are struggling with their financial situation, but in general, if the process to submit for reimbursement isn't very simple - many folks won't hassle with it. Much like drivers, the membership fee is but a very small portion of what is spent on a volunteer's race season. Heck, right now, a regular membership fee won't even fill the gas tank on a motorhome once!

At least with MVRG, the dollars contributed by our drivers go directly to our volunteers/workers. We distribute half of what we receive for an event as reimbursement dollars to some workers (chosen by random draw) each weekend, and the remaining dollars are used to fund awards for our 100% club members at the end of season. Not one penny of those "Worker Fund" dollars is used in either region's general fund. I'm sure many other successful region programs are run in a very similar fashion.

I'm sure I've already said too much, so I'll return to lurking mode ...

Kelley Huxtable
DMVR
"PLAY SAFE"
F&C/T&S
MVRG Chief Registrar

[RX3]

Here is what we missed and Kelley you are wrong about the tracking of the workers the responsibility to track the workers falls on the region.




Volunteer Incentive and Recognition Program
A couple of weeks ago Regional Executives, and Divisional Administrators should have received an announcement about the new Volunteer Incentive and Recognition program approved by the SCCA Board of Directors in May. In case you might not have seen or heard about the program most of the original announcement follows along with more details.
.
Many of you saw this program at the 2007 SCCA National Convention and we thank you for your valuable input and support. It provides incentives and lower dues for new volunteers while rewarding and recognizing current volunteers for their contributions. Implemented in two phases, the first begun on June 8 and is aimed the new volunteer. The second phase is directed at current and established volunteers and begins with the start of the 2008 race season.
New volunteers can participate as a volunteer for one weekend, and then join the SCCA for $30. The new volunteer will be able to renew membership for a second and third year at the reduced rate by working four days each year prior.
For established volunteers the program, depending upon the number of days worked, will provide dues discounts up to $30, offers special membership cards, and will recognize their efforts in SportsCar. Volunteers working four or five days receive a $15 discount, six or seven days worked earns a $22 discount, and working eight or more days earns a $30 discount along with the SportsCar feature and the special membership card and credentials. This phase of the program begins with the 2008 race season with 2008 participation automatically applied to membership renewals starting in November 2008.
Many are asking about tracking participation and if this means returning to volunteer log cards We can definitely say there are no plans to use volunteer logs cards. While the specifics are still being worked on, race organizers will be asked to report volunteer participation electronically by uploading an Excel spreadsheet or a comma delimited file (csv). Also available will be a web-form for entering the information online for those not wanting to upload a file. National Convention attendees have made it clear that race operations vary across the country. Therefore, the format for collecting participation information is specified, and not the method. While there is no intent to specify how to collect the information, for those that might want to track participation by scanning membership cards with optical character readers, please contact us. We have tested a number of rather easy and inexpensive options and want to make you aware of those tools.
Probably the second most often asked question about the program is why are the membership discounts limited to $30? Feedback from a number of Regions and other sources said that higher discounts would have a negative impact upon existing Region and Division incentive programs. By limiting discounts, Regions and Divisions will retain the ability to reward volunteers under their own established programs in conjunction with this new incentive.
This program is funded through a $2 per entry fee assessed to all Club Racing Driver Schools, Regionals and National Events beginning November 1.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call either of us.
Colan Arnold

[RacerBill]

...New volunteers can participate as a volunteer for one weekend, and then join the SCCA for $30...[/b]

Correct me if I am wrong, but for insurance purposes, aren't all volunteers who work in 'hot' areas required to be members?

[jjjanos]

Correct me if I am wrong, but for insurance purposes, aren't all volunteers who work in 'hot' areas required to be members?
[/b]

You are wrong. :P ALL volunteers working SCCA events must be members, AFAIK.

[RacerBill]

You are wrong. :P ALL volunteers working SCCA events must be members, AFAIK.
[/b]

That's even worse! So, how can you volunteer for one weekend (as a non-member) and then decide to join? Is there a fee that the regions are paying to National to cover that one weekend long membership?

I believe that there was a post a while ago in this thread that stated that a region spent a bunch of money on memberships for local amateur radio operators to run communications for a hill climb - memberships for only one weekend only!

So now, in addition to adding temp membership costs to the regions, National is taking more money based on the number of registered drivers - costs that will be passed on to the drivers!

Please don't get me wrong. As a driver, I would like to see one whole heck of a lot MORE volunteers at the tracks. But what National is saying does not make sense.

Also, if you read the memo carefully, National is adding to the paperwork for the VOLUNTEERS who organize the races by requiring them to provide the participation information. This seems to have many opportunities for abuse.

As a specialty chief, I have seen many instances of members signing in at registration to work my specialty and never actually showing up or maybe to work only one session. Truth was, they signed in as a 'worker' in order that some driver did not have to pay an overcrew fee. I can see this carrying over to members who can now get credit towards their membership as well as getting in free.

BTW, on my watch, if someone only worked an hour, they did not get their logbooks signed off as having worked one or worse yet, two days. No way! Sorry, chief! They may have gotten in free, but no credit or lunch, if one was provided.

Anyway, I see it as being more work for the race organizers as well as more expense to the racers and the regions.

[jjjanos]

That's even worse! So, how can you volunteer for one weekend (as a non-member) and then decide to join? Is there a fee that the regions are paying to National to cover that one weekend long membership?[/b]

I believe this is the way it works:

Old world: Buy multiple temporary memberships and never become a permanent member. This is gone.

New world: You can get a weekend membership once (lifetime? each year? dunno) and, if you go permanent, your get a one-time credit for the temp you purchased, bringing your cost of membership to $30 for the year. I believe the weekend membership must be purchased - whether by you, a region or someone else. I'm guessing that's where the $30 is from.


So now, in addition to adding temp membership costs to the regions, National is taking more money based on the number of registered drivers - costs that will be passed on to the drivers![/b]

Depends. If they add the funds to the general account, then yes. One would hope, however, that the funds would go into a "lock box" that wouldn't be used by the general account. Yes the drivers pay for it, but then again, the cost of attracting volunteer officials always is paid by the drivers - either implicitely (reduced track time because days are 'too long' or reduced quality of staffing) or explicitely (higher entry fees) or both (i.e. higher entry fees to pay salaries of local track crew combined with the efficiency..)


Also, if you read the memo carefully, National is adding to the paperwork for the VOLUNTEERS who organize the races by requiring them to provide the participation information. This seems to have many opportunities for abuse.[/b]

Someone has to administer it, regardless of whether it is set-up by a region or by national. The only people who getting extra work are those in regions who don't track worker days.


As a specialty chief, I have seen many instances of members signing in at registration to work my specialty and never actually showing up or maybe to work only one session. Truth was, they signed in as a 'worker' in order that some driver did not have to pay an overcrew fee. I can see this carrying over to members who can now get credit towards their membership as well as getting in free.[/b]

Which already is abuse of the system and might encourage regions to crack down on such behavior since it already increases costs to drivers. The no-show worker is stealing the overcrew fee from someone.


Anyway, I see it as being more work for the race organizers as well as more expense to the racers and the regions.[/b]

For regions not already doing this, it's more expense and more work.

Frankly, I don't understand why National is involved with this at all as it is a region-specific problem. Regions having problems getting vols can provide credits to the vols that are used to defer their expenses. For example, NCR had (has?) a program giving $25/credit towards expenses per day. Work a weekend, your membership is almost paid.

[seckerich]

Just for discussion purposes: How many workers do you have at an average race weekend? Like to see the numbers for other regions so we get a handle on what could be done to help the workers. Lets get some real numbers to crunch.

[jjjanos]

Just for discussion purposes: How many workers do you have at an average race weekend? Like to see the numbers for other regions so we get a handle on what could be done to help the workers. Lets get some real numbers to crunch.
[/b]

WDCR 100+

[dickita15]

It is over 100 at an average event in NER as well.

[RX3]

I never have more that 150 or less that 85 at the events I hold.

I thought you guys where up to date on weekend membership Here are the rules

Weekend Membership Program - June 25 , 2 007
With a new look to recruiting SCCA members, a new Weekend Membership program for Club Racing events will launch August 1, 2007. Details of the program for Solo, RallyCross, and RoadRally are currently under review and should be ready by the start of the 2008 competition season for those venues. The existing Temporary Membership program will still be effective for only those programs until then.

Although the former Temporary Membership program was created to generate new members, it did not produce the expected results. Of over 12,000 forms issued to regions during the three years of the program, about half of those were issued to prospective members and a little less than 3% of those converted to a regular SCCA membership for any kind. Though many were issued to entice prospective members to join, many others were issued simply as easy giveaways for crew members and event staff support with no real recruiting plan or follow up from region membership programs.

Each Weekend Member will pay $15.00, which is good for any weekend event that will span up to four days from Friday to Monday. Prospective members will be encouraged to join the SCCA on-site, at which time the Weekend Member can take an immediate $15.00 discount off their national dues. If the Weekend Member joins later, the $15.00 discount still applies and is taken when the regular Member Application is sent to the Membership Department. If joining on-line, the member simply needs to use the Weekend Membership form Serial Number as the promotional discount code. The discount can be applied to any form of SCCA membership.

The Weekend Membership is good only for the weekend noted on the form and a Weekend Member can purchase as many during the course of the year as they wish. Further, the first Weekend Membership is free if used in conjunction with the Club Racing Volunteer Incentive Program announced on June 1. Competitors entering any level of Performance Driving Experience (PDX) events are also entitled to use the Weekend Membership plan.

Regions retain $10.00 of the $15.00 fee. The remaining $5.00 and the top (white) copy of the form is returned along with event audit fees and is used to underwrite the production and mailing of the prospect information package. The pink copy is retained by the Weekend Member. An image of the new form can be seen elsewhere in this issue.

To support the program and to outreach to the Weekend Member in every way possible, regions are encouraged to establish an active recruiting and follow-up program. Monthly electronic region files provide Weekend Member identification that should be used to support their local recruiting programs.

For questions, please contact the Region Development Department at [email protected] or Membership Department at [email protected]. As always, a call to the SCCA Office at 800.770.2055 will also get you to those departments.

The Fast Lane

[RX3]

Bil it will be more work for us. But you are wrong about the rest if a person can only give a hour of his time on a weekend I will take it.
Can you do justice to the 4 license you hold every weekend? I think not but I am sure that any Chief will glad to have you help when you can. Do not run off help just because they can not help the whole weekend. Take what you can get. Remember two workers that can give you one day each is better that no workers. Take what they can give and reward them for the time they can give.





BTW, on my watch, if someone only worked an hour, they did not get their logbooks signed off as having worked one or worse yet, two days. No way! Sorry, chief! They may have gotten in free, but no credit or lunch, if one was provided.

Anyway, I see it as being more work for the race organizers as well as more expense to the racers and the regions.
[/b]

[dickita15]

Bil it will be more work for us. But you are wrong about the rest if a person can only give a hour of his time on a weekend I will take it.
Can you do justice to the 4 license you hold every weekend? I think not but I am sure that any Chief will glad to have you help when you can. Do not run off help just because they can not help the whole weekend. Take what you can get. Remember two workers that can give you one day each is better that no workers. Take what they can give and reward them for the time they can give.
[/b]
On weekends I am racing in a later race group I often work tech for the morning rush but I do not sign in as a worker at registration for those events and never would have the nerve to claim that as a day on my license.

[pballance]

I thought you guys where up to date on weekend membership Here are the rules
>Snip..
Regions retain $10.00 of the $15.00 fee. The remaining $5.00 and the top (white) copy of the form is returned along with event audit fees and is used to underwrite the production and mailing of the prospect information package. The pink copy is retained by the Weekend Member. An image of the new form can be seen elsewhere in this issue.

<Snip
The Fast Lane
[/b]

This is the part that gets me. If we have 120+ volunteers that are not SCCA members (which we do at our hillclimb) then we are required to submit temporary membership forms and $5.00/form to National. In short we are asking volunteers to PAY to volunteer. That is just not right. Now we are being asked to submit an additonal $2/driver as well. In our region, we absorbed the cost of the temp memberships and did not raise entry fees. We considered it a cost of doing business. BTW I also work events, 2 race weekends, test day, and day 2 of a hillclimb (no runs that day).

Bottom line, workers are needed in club racing events and we should do everything we can to thank/recognize them but I am not sure that the "club" as a whole should be involved in this program. It should be left to the organizers of the events (ie regions) to determine what is appropriate. IMHO, The temporary member program, as currently written, appears to be a "tax" on the regions to provide funding for headquartes to administer the program.

THANKS WORKERS

[CaptainWho]

[...] I am not sure that the "club" as a whole should be involved in this program. It should be left to the organizers of the events (ie regions) to determine what is appropriate.
[/b]

I also both work and drive. Actually, I work more weekends than I drive most years, but that&#39;s not saying much as I usually only drive two to four events a year.

I agree that National shouldn&#39;t be involved in the decisions about a program like this, and it should be left to the Regions. That said, there may be enabling things that National could do to make life easier on the Regions.

They seem to have started doing some of them, too. For example, we went round and round about this stuff in Atlanta Region a couple of years ago when the Labor Day event at AMS was cancelled due in part to lack of volunteers.

I did some research with other regions and workers and some interesting things came up. For example, one region (can&#39;t recall which) rewarded workers with "Worker Bux". These were (effectively) vouchers that could be used to "buy" various stuff, lots of it specific to volunteering at races, like good, white rain suits with the region or SCCA logo or discounts at the local "molded earplug" vendor. The kicker was that some of these items, like the rain suit, were basically only available this way, unless you have quite a bit of finesse with Google. :D So there was some exclusivity to having them. Personally, the utility outweights the exclusivity, but I can see both working for different people. :D

Enabling that sort of thing is one of the places that I see National being able to help. Another is something they already do: the discount agreements with different hotel chains. I take advantage of those discounts regularly, especially when we&#39;re working. If they could work out something for gasoline and diesel fuel discounts, we&#39;d be jammin&#39;. Even working an out-of-town weekend can get expensive quickly.



THANKS WORKERS
[/b]

[ddewhurst]

One comment for each sur-charge.

1st comment with respect to the $2.00 hand over to the workers. I figure my cost for each race to be at least 10 to 20 times the workers expense for a weekend at the track. How about the workers hand over the approate amount to the drivers for defering race related costs so that they the workers may continue having their fun at the race track.

Hey, I&#39;ll get trained in some race track/corner work activites & work rather than paying for the workers play time. Make it mandatory for drivers to work..................................

2nd comment is screw the Spec Miata Regional sur-charge when National is going to check 15 Spec Miata races per year. You all know dam well the 15 checks will be National races & there will be NO TRICKLE down to Regional races. If race cars are going to be checked they need to be checked at each race at each track.

Rather than all this blow hart crap about the sur-charge fee for checking Spec Miata how about the Tech Inspectors start doing a REAL roll cage anual check of Spec Miata&#39;s & declare illegal roll cages ILLEGAL. There are so many ILLEGAL Spec Miata roll cages it ain&#39;t even funny. For any of you Tech Inspectors that think I&#39;m blowing hot air please pm me for some pictures of ILLEGAL roll cages.

Continue your Fun ;)
David

ps: While all you do gooders are in a semi hate mood why don&#39;t you go after the BoD member who ran his/her mouth to Tim Buck. That person needs to be ousted from all SCCA positions. A message needs to be sent from we the paying customer to those that believe they are un-touchable.

Off to decorate the christmas tree, Merry Christmas to all......... :snow_cool: :114:

[lateapex911]

ps: While all you do gooders are in a semi hate mood why don&#39;t you go after the BoD member who ran his/her mouth to Tim Buck. That person needs to be ousted from all SCCA positions. A message needs to be sent from we the paying customer to those that believe they are un-touchable.

Off to decorate the christmas tree, Merry Christmas to all......... :snow_cool: :114:

[/b]

While you&#39;re on a roll............

what would you suggest?? What did YOU do about it?

[ddewhurst]

I wrote an e-mail & sent it indivadually to each BoD member & to the President of the SCCA along with bitching on this site & on the Production site. As usual a lot of people RUNNING THEIR MOUTHS on these two sites along with on the Spec Miata site & that&#39;s where it all stops if we believe the President about the SCCA receiving 35 letters. I question the 35 count just as I question other counts that come out of headquaters. I received comments from 5 BoD members, a comment from the President & the famous KP Jone&#39;s mail box was full. I also wrote a e-mail to Peter Zekert who has been known to get into it with the BoD & CRB. Peter followed up with a very mellow note as to the minimal value of KP Jones. I have talked to other long standing members about the issue & it&#39;s mostly the same answer, you can&#39;t fight city hall. & I can believe you can&#39;t fight city hall because a person can&#39;t even get these thick heads (I make that coment with respect to them ousting one of their own.) to see beyond themselves about tech issues. The past chairman of the BoD from out your way is no better than the current crop on tech issues.

It&#39;s my understanding that a BoD member has never been ousted by the other BoD members. In most corporations the BoD answers to the stock holders. < Ain&#39;t that, we the SCCA members.

What have you done Jake? Or do you think everything is ok with the BoD member engaging mouth to an SCCA member while his/her brain is turned OFF.




Marry Christmas Jake :114:
David

[lateapex911]

Good job, David- I think that you&#39;re right, it&#39;s tough to turn the ship on things like this. I too made some phone calls.

You refered to the past BoD chairman from back here? Introne is listed as current for 08, ...who were you referring to?

[ddewhurst]

Jake, you have a pm.

[dickita15]

RJ Gordy from SFR is Chairman for 08.

John Sheridan in in charge of vice.

[lateapex911]

Ahhh...correct. I re-read the Sportscar where i saw that, and Introne was at the top of the list, but because he is area 1. There was no lisitng of the chairman. my bad.