The Field Party.......Volunteers,or Pressed Men

mediumtab

Member
AIUK Saviour
Just wondering how other Clubs organise their field party for open shoots - do you have a rota for members,or just rely on the right number of volunteers?
We know that most club members just want to turn up (not particularly early)and just shoot. Are Club members allowed to shoot provided they assist on the day,or are they allowed to please themselves ???

We rely on volunteers ,and have not come unstuck yet - but should field duty be a condition of membership,depending on age/ability?
 

english_archer

New member
Ironman
At my club it tends to be the same people that turn up early to set up on club nights who also seem to be the ones that set out the field for comps and do every other blooming thing around the club we always encourage others to help but some people do seem very shy to help out :(
 

Darth Tom

Member
There are several issues to consider before "press-ganging" your archers:

1) A volunteer field party is motivated, friendly and provides a good ambience. Archers who have been told to turn up or lose membership can be surly and spoil the atmosphere for everyone

2) Where I've seen rotas used, they've been a massive flop - whether for field parties or for beginner sessions, your club has archers who are there for the social element and hardcore competitors, who (even if they're really engaged in the club) sometimes need to get on with training and your competitions should be to help them get good scores.

3) It's too easy to go "I'm sorry, I can't help out that day". If pressed further the message will become clear: "---- off".

4) It's also too easy for your serious archers to leave the club if they don't feel welcome - that's the last thing we want.

There are others, but these certainly spring to mind.

Instead, consider why you have always the same few archers. This can require asking some pretty unpleasant questions...

1) Is the "field party" element of the club a bit of a clique? Are they all from a certain background, age group, locality, do they all socialise together when at archery, go to the pub together afterwards...? If so, this must be dealt with before anyone will help out.

2) This is easy if you don't actually want a clique running your club - most don't but given the time most club committees have been running them it's all too easy a habit to slip into.

3) Celebrate the people who help with the field party, encourage them to share their enthusiasm with other members and make it clear that anyone else coming along will be regarded as a hero rather than an interloper or making up the numbers. Make sure it doesn't look like a "long-term members only" thing - talk to the parents of juniors for example - they can become very keen on making sure the club is well run.

Generally, when people don't want to help out it's either because they have other commitments or (more usually) because they don't feel that wanted, because they see the core of the club as a tight-knit group that would prefer to be left alone to do the running. Same reason AGMs and committee positions can be tricky to fill. Sad thing is, it's a vicious circle of self-fulfilling prophecy.

The good news is that it's easy to break by stepping outside your past behaviours - even just a little way.
 
D

Deleted member 7654

Guest
Good Post Darth Tom.
There are also some people who revel in a little authority and like to boss people about whilst neglecting the basics of effective communication.
A while back I felt pressed into turning up to help set out for the following days shoot. I turned up earlier than the normal opening time to find i was all but finished! A total waste of my time and petrol.
Often too many cooks spoil the broth and it just ends to endless quibbling about peg placement and the job takes longer.
It was suggested that our next shoot be cancelled because the committee members wouldn't be there! It was soon pointed out that the job will get done fine without them. (By setting up a short course early on the day rather than the day before. I'd rather turn up early than do 2 days with double the travelling)
It's a bit like those people who complain that you havn't done the washing up... when you couldn't because they'd alread done it.
Don't get me wrong, the time and effort put in by committee members and those able and willing to help is hugely appreciated, but a club also needs people who will pay their subs and just turn up too.
You need the doers, and the regular members... what you don't want is the people who do now't and moan.
Some people have other commitments, some contribute in other ways.
Del
 
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