The effective operation of the club depends almost exclusively on volunteers. The good news is that there are numerous opportunities to contribute depending on your talents, interests and the time you have available. Most members help out in some capacity and you’ll find it’s a good way to get the most out of your club. This page describes the main areas in which voluntary effort is required.
Management Board
We might as well start at the ‘top’. AGMs typically rubber stamp the appointment of the sufficient number of members who are willing to stand for the Board, although sometimes meaningful votes do take place. Neither the President nor any Board Member receives any remuneration. We have to pay the auditors but our Treasurer receives no remuneration. We have to pay for stationery but the Secretary receives no remuneration. These volunteers perform many of the roles that are essential to ensure that the Club is well managed.
Greenskeeper and Team
Just as essential to our bowling enjoyment is the maintenance of our green and associated facilities. The Greenskeeper is one of those key volunteer roles but weekly greenskeeping cannot happen without a willing band of assistants. Other practical tasks such as clubhouse maintenance are also typically undertaken by these hands on volunteers.
Selection Committees and Tournament Director
Surely, you say, these folks should get paid for performing such a thankless task! But no, the Selectors are volunteers too. The nature of the job very much depends on player availability. Selectors may have to scramble to find players when too many members have taken a mid season break. On better days, however, they will be fine tuning those rink combinations in the hope that sides will pull off memorable wins. Club Championships also fall under the purview of the Weekend Match Committee. However, it is more usual that another member will volunteer as Tournament Director to oversee their smooth running. For other tournaments held throughout the year a willing organizer will often be much appreciated.
Functions Manager and Assistants
Our club facilities offer the perfect venue for corporate or other groups to let their hair down during an end of year function with the novelty of a little lawn bowling thrown in. These functions are an important source of revenue for the club but managing bookings and overseeing the events is no small task. And yet, our Functions Manager is not a paid employee but a stalwart volunteer whose work would not be possible without the assistance of several other volunteers. On function days these important assistants can help with setup, clearup and bartending but perhaps most importantly they can assist guests as they delivery their very first bowls. It’s a rewarding opportunity to share the joy of bowling in a relaxed party atmosphere and it goes a long way to providing an enjoyable experience for what we hope will be repeat customers. Look out for function volunteer opportunities as the festive season approaches.
Match Setup
Match day ‘Inside’ and ‘Outside’ duties are roles allocated by the Selectors, so perhaps ‘semi-voluntary’ but each typically benefits from a few enthusiasts who help out and make sure all tasks are completed regardless of whether they are assigned that duty or not. The link takes you to a handy checklist of the tasks involved.
Other Responsibilities
The examples above are just some of the activities that rely on member volunteerism but there are numerous others. The management of bar and kitchen supplies, especially drinks is another critical role and there’s often something that needs doing in the kitchen or bar, such as preparing snacks after weekend pennant matches or emptying bins full of bottles. Then there’s the Parkers newsletter that members receive on a regular basis – there’s a volunteer behind that. Furthermore there’s a volunteer behind this website, a webmaster if you will. This list is by no means comprehensive but gives a fair idea of how much voluntary contributions by club members are necessary and appreciated.