National Volunteer Week runs from 19 -25 May, a good time to reflect on how much our club relies on the services of volunteers with a variety of skills and experience. Some volunteers are here almost every day, some are here each week, and some are called on for specific expertise at critical times. All club members are grateful for their services, and those of us volunteering ourselves are grateful for the camaraderie of like-minded people. As a reminder…
- There is yacht racing four days a week during summer and at least twice a week during winter. Each of these race days require experienced race management teams to run the racing and provide rescue services.
- Our Working Group meets once a week and helps provide essential maintenance of club assets including rescue boats, the Race Tower, handstand and marina.
- Our Commodore, Flag Officers, General Committee and subcommittees provide their time and varied professional input to governance of the club.
- Our Club Captain and Sailing Committee have oversight of our Sailing Calendar and sailing season.
- The Social Committee helps drive social events for our members.
- Volunteers representing several cohorts of members organise and promote regular activities and events; including the Cruising Group, Icebergers and one design classes.
- Specialist legal advice is called on periodically and we are so fortunate to have this expertise to call on
- The club is full of engineers and specialist trades people who are very generous with their time when called on to advise us
- Other members provide sponsorship, time and materials for specific marketing initiatives – this is out of love of the club rather than for any other benefit
- There are others who have spontaneously provided help and advice for projects and to help resolve specific issues.
Many of these volunteers enjoy working quietly behind the scenes and are not looking for compensation or recognition. For some the club is a lifeline providing social connection and sense of purpose. For many of us it was impossible to find time for volunteering during our working lives, but we now enjoy being involved.
Over our 150 years, the nature of volunteering has changed as members experience increasingly busy lives. What hasn’t changed is how much we value this aspect of club life.