Volunteer

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Volunteering – the Life Blood of Dressage

Volunteers Make Everything Happen

Volunteers are the heart and soul of BVD and make possible everything we do.

Consider becoming a volunteer to help BVD and RMDS, to learn more about our sport, to make new friends, and to earn end-of-year rewards!

A Volunteer is somebody who does not receive monetary remuneration when volunteering at RMDS and Chapter recognized events.

Options and Job Descriptions

Work at a show or clinic – or volunteer for the board or a committee – it’s up to you. We can use you in a variety of places and ways. Below are some of the ways you can help out.

Report Your Volunteer Hours to RMDS

Report Volunteer Hours at RMDS.org

Join a Committee

From communications to shows to sponsorships, BVD committee work is vital to the health of our club. Contact a board member to volunteer in one that interests you. Committee work is also counted towards your volunteer awards!

Serve on the Board

Position:  President
Duties: Act as President, serve on the Board, and run the club Board meetings. The president also attends the RMDS monthly board meetings, and files a report every other month with RMDS. The president is the legal representative of the club, so signs all of the contracts we make and is a bridge between BVD and RMDS. 
Time Commitment: 30 to 40 hours per year for Board duties
Position:  Vice President
Duties:  Support the President, serve on the Board, and attend Board meetings. The Vice President is responsible for running the annual Awards Banquet in January. In this effort, the VP is supported by the Board in planning and acquiring silent auction items.   Due to the support of the membership, this duty is not particularly challenging.  
Time Commitment: 10 to 15 hours per year for Board duties, perhaps 30 hours total in running the banquet.
 
Position: Treasurer

Duties:

  • Receive Chapter Dues from RMDS treasurer.
  • Collect all other monies and function as custodian thereof.
  • Pay all bills authorized by the Executive Committee.
  • Keep a complete record of all financial business.
  • Maintain an active file on all members, addresses, and contact information.

The club provides a laptop using Quickbooks to maintain the club’s finances. 

Position: Secretary
Duties: Organizing and sending invites for meetings and taking meeting notes at board meetings that are held every other month. Sending emails to club members for club events. Managing storage for club documents.
 
Time Commitment: 20 hours for the year

Help at Shows

There are a number of jobs available for volunteers at all shows. Competitors, don’t be afraid to volunteer – we’ll work with you to schedule around your ride times! 

  • ​Arena crew—Sets up and takes down the arena at shows and during arena maintenance.
  • Ring steward—Minds the ring schedule, manages the warm-up, performs bit/whip checks.
  • Scribe—Transcribes for judges (great way to learn/improve tests at all levels).
  • Warm-up steward (ring steward)— Keeps track of competitors’ arrival and departure from the warm-up ring.
  • Gatekeeper— Manages the entry of riders into the competition arena at the correct time.
  • Bit checker— Ensures that all competitors’ equipment, including bits, saddlery, spurs, and whips, complies with the specific rules of the competition.
  • Runners—Transports scores from the judges stand to the office for scoring.
  • Awards Table—Signs out ribbons and awards to competitors.
  • Scorer and Scoring Assistants—Tabulates tests, posts scores, pins classes.

Help at Clinics

Clinics are more labor intensive than you might imagine, too. Volunteer at one of our clinics for the fun AND the education!​

  • Arena crew—Sets up arena when needed and helps with arena maintenance.​

  • Lunch crew—Arranges for snacks and lunch for clinician and participants when lunch is provided.​

  • Hospitality—Greets auditors and collects money when needed for those not pre-registered for the event.

You Must Volunteer AND Report Your Hours to RMDS to receive Year End Awards

  • To be eligible for BVD Year-End Awards, Members must volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours at any RMDS or BVD function and/or attend 2 BVD meetings during the awards/competition year, October 1 – September 30.

  • You need 4 hours volunteer hours minimum to be eligable for RMDS Year-End awards.

  • You need 8 volunteer hours minimum to be eligable for an RMDS Scholarship.

  • All unpaid positions working at RMDS and Chapter recognized events (scribes, runners, arena stewards, etc.) are considered volunteer time. Report your volunteer hours to RMDS. Please be sure to specify with the Volunteer Coordinator if you are volunteering for another RMDS member. Examples of non-show or clinic volunteer activities include;

    • Committee meetings for actively working on specific topics such as shows or other events are considered volunteer hours.
    • Time spent working on your position in preparing for a chapter or RMDS meeting (ie: Financial management, meeting setup and minutes, etc) are considered volunteer hours, just not the time in the actual Chapter or RMDS meeting
    • Writing articles for publication in RMDS Centaur
    • Recruiting sponsorships for RMDS and RMDS Championships
    • Participating in RMDS fundraising efforts (ex: instructors who donate lessons for RMDS fundraiser)
    • Paying a Jr/YR to fulfill your volunteer hours
Report Volunteer Hours at RMDS.org