Handling Volunteers Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jamie Downton

   

   0 posts
   
   1/26/2015 11:01 AM

   Hello,
   
   I have been approached several times to support several members in their desires' to aid and assist the Turf crew on the golf course. I have experienced volunteer help from members groups in the past with some success, but this was many years ago, when their were much fewer laws and regulations in place....
   
   Today, these people simply want to come and aid in projects, or clean up efforts which they feel have been left behind in the last few years as our budgets have decreased.
   
   My question is, how many of you accept volunteer help from your membership, and how do you coordinate it? Are there certain tasks you allow or do not? How many hours a week do you work with them? How much of your time, or that of your staff do you allot to these groups? Do they sign waivers? etc.
   
   Thanks!
   
   Jamie

   
   
   
   
2. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   1/26/2015 1:01 PM

   I do not accept volunteer labor from anyone, especially members. We tried this one time after a hurricane, they all wanted to come out and help clean up.....I bought about a hundred leaf rakes, passed them out and sent them to work. They lasted about 40 minutes and I only got about 10 of my leaf rakes back.
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
3. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   1/27/2015 1:01 PM

   Good luck Jamie...
   I'm with Steven on this one
   If you think you waste a lot of time explaining things over & over to your crew, wait 'til you start getting that 'volunteer' help.
   Oh, and if you're thinking about having them fill divots...just go ahead and have the fairway unit mow the inside of a bunker. Same effect...

   
   
   
   
4. Kirby Keltner

   

   0 posts
   
   8/12/2015 12:08 PM

   I actually have decent success with volunteers. I have a core group of 4-5 depending on the time of year that come out to help regularly. I think the small core group is the key. If you can get just a few regulars and get them on the same page, anyone else that comes out to help with projects looks to them. As long you take some time and fully explain the entire project and why you want it done a specific way, it usually gets done well enough. Sometimes I have to go back and tweak their work but it saves me a ton of time.
   When I first came to my course I had people going everywhere, doing whatever they thought needed done. I made it very clear within the first month I was here that nothing happens without my blessing. I lost a number of volunteers but I kept the good ones and that has made all the difference. Things still happen occasionally that frustrate me but all in all it works out well and saves my labor budget from blowing up.

   
   
   
   
5. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   8/12/2015 8:08 PM

   Volunteer help is worth almost what you pay for it.

   
   
   
   
6. Mowrey Mark S

   
   8/12/2015 8:08 PM

   I have used volunteers for the last 2 yrs. mowing greens, tees/collars and rough on the executive course. They mow the course for me, greens everyday except for Sun. Never a problem and I would be in a world of hurt if it wasn't for them. I wrote a disclaimer for ins. purposes, and also a training form to sign off on. However, they are only as good as the paper they are written on.

   
   
   
   
7. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   8/13/2015 8:08 AM

   Jamie,
   
   Is every ball mark repaired, every divot filled, is every candy wrapper, soda cup, beer can picked up, do carts drive where they are not supposed to? This is the type of work members are supposed to do.
   
   If they are truly volunteering (not trading for free carts, meals, reduced fees) there is no labor law violation but i would have a lawyer draw up a volunteer agreement that they sign. We do this when we have employees volunteer to work events at the resort. Employees like to volunteer driving golf carts for celebrities, passing out candy at parades, or to see a concert or fight for free.
   
   Watch out with this type of work detail. It can lead to staff resentment, and your own burnout as you will now be supervising 2 crews.
   
   Good Luck

   
   
   
   
8. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/13/2015 9:08 AM

   I've always been told that if a person "works"(volunteer or not) for a privately owned corporation, then they have to be paid for such work and any work performed falls under the wage and labor laws of the United States. Compensation in other forms(i.e. golf) is required to be documented and taxed on an annual basis. The "compensation" has to be equal to or greater than what a typical monetary payment for the work performed would be and meet state and federal minimum wage guidelines. The business would then be responsible for injury while the "volunteer" is performing their duty.
   
   There are other rules specific to organizations that are non-profit, charity or otherwise. If your club is a non-profit organization, then it's members(owners) can work without following the guidelines of the law, but would still be inclusive of the clubs workman's comp and insurance policy while performing the "work".

   
   
   
   
9. Kenneth Ingram

   

   18 posts
   
   8/13/2015 9:08 AM

   This is something we should really look into as an association. My opinion was very much like Steve's above (gosh I love the guy) when I was a Supt but has really changed recently. I teach Hort and Landscape now. You would not believe the volunteer staffing at major gardens and arboretums, Smithsonian, etc. They literally increase their staff size 3-4x on a daily basis. Visited a hort intern at Monticello last week - 4 FT gardeners, 2 interns, 10 volunteers that day. People just want to work outside. Usually great, very professional folks. I have hooked a few as students, they like it so much they want to change careers. These SSL hours (student service learning) are a huge deal for high school kids also. My son had to complete 225, heck our golf turf internship requirement is only 320. Give them exposure to golf and it might sway a college major decision. Here at UMD we are encouraged to include campus service hours in our syllabus. I mean we get a few free shirts and meals volunteering at a golf tournament but these folks receive nothing. Just read Deane Beman's book Golf's Driving Force. In the preface he credits volunteers for the success of the PGA Tour. Anyway, something to explore. Living in DC I also know the IRS doesn't like the idea. They want income taxes. And the liability issues as Sean said is huge. Kenneth Ingram, UMD