VOLUNTEER OPTIONS

In order to ensure that the Wild West Relay is a quality event, over 250 volunteers are needed to act as race marshals. As the WWR travels through remote rural areas in Colorado and Wyoming, it is necessary to enlist the help of the participating teams to make the staging of the Wild West Relay possible. Therefore, all teams need to choose one of the two options to help with the staffing of volunteers:

1. to recruit friends or family to be their volunteers
2. make a tax-deductible donation to Volunteers With A Purpose (IRS 501(c)(3) status). These funds go to local non-profit organizations that volunteer during the relay as a fund-raising opportunity.

To read an opinion piece to help understand Timberline Events' volunteer model, please click here.

OPTION #1- RECRUIT YOUR VOLUNTEERS

12-person teams provide three (3) volunteers, ultra teams one (1), for the relay. These volunteers cannot be team-running members. Also, team van drivers do not count as relay volunteers. High School teams are excused from this requirement.

• Each volunteer works a shift of 4 - 6 hours in length.

• Volunteers need to be flexible. As the relay route is from Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs and takes place from early Friday morning until late Saturday afternoon, the race marshal assignments can be anywhere along the route and any time during the relay.

• The majority of assignments are at the Runner Exchanges for each leg. Responsibilities include maintaining order at the Runner Exchange, checking in each runner, calling out the race number of the incoming runner, or directing relay traffic in the Exchange areas. Go to Volunteer Duties for more information.

• Volunteers or their team captain will be able to select the location of their assignment online when the selection process opens 2 - 3 weeks before the relay.

• Any volunteer failing to show up on time for their assignment will cause their team to be penalized or disqualified.

• Absolutely no young children or pets may be brought along to the assignment! A race marshal's responsibility has to be on the safety and the smooth running of the relay.

OFFICIAL VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS:

Volunteers are required to:

• Be at least 14 years old. If under the age of 16, the volunteers MUST be accompanied by their parent or guardian.

• Sign and submit waivers together with the team waivers before race day or at the check-in the morning of the relay.

• Provide own transportation to and from their volunteer assignment location.

• Wear the provided reflective safety vests and volunteer T-shirt while at their assigned location. This is very important, as it will identify the volunteer as a "Race Official."

• Not have any physical limitations that would hinder them from performing the job assigned (approximately four to six consecutive hours in length).

• Be flexible and willing to fulfill any selected volunteer time throughout the entire 32+-hour race length. This means that many volunteers will be working between the hours of midnight and dawn.

• Be responsible for staying at their assigned location until relieved by the following shift of volunteers, or until the Zone Coordinator or WWR sweep vehicle releases them.

OPTION #2 - VOLUNTEERS WITH A PURPOSE

In lieu of supplying their own volunteers, teams may choose to make a 100% tax-deductible donation to Volunteers With A Purpose (IRS 501(c)(3) status).

The Wild West Relay passes through several small mountain and ranching communities between Fort Collins and Steamboat Springs. As a way to provide a fund-raising opportunity to deserving non-profit organizations in these areas, Timberline Events created a program called Volunteers With A Purpose. Funds donated to VWAP are then passed on to local non-profit organizations that volunteer to be race marshals during the relay as a fund-raising opportunity. The Wild West Relay has partnered with United Way 2-1-1 to coordinate these non-profit groups.

Be sure to select your preferred volunteer option when registering. The team will be billed the supplemental donation along with their registration fee. Separate payment from the registration is required.

Volunteer Option #2 donation:

*If after having submitted their registration, a team decides to change from Volunteer Option #1 to Volunteer Option #2.
**Only if non-profit volunteers are available.

If 12-person teams are having difficulty finding three (3) volunteers, there may be the opportunity to make a $180 donation to VWAP for an individual non-profit volunteer. This is only an option if we have non-profit volunteers available.

PLEASE NOTE:

Failure to fulfill either of these requirements will result either in the team being unable to participate or in its’ disqualification.

Last updated 9/26/2007