GENERAL VOLUNTEER QUESTIONS

Is volunteering required to ride with the SLB Cycling Club?

• Yes, we require you to volunteer at least once yearly to ride in the Texas MS150 as part of the SLB Cycling Club Team. SLB Cycling Club’s success directly results from the volunteer efforts of our members, family members, and friends. As a member, you agree to help by volunteering in some capacity during the year.

What volunteering opportunities are available?

• Volunteering opportunities are listed inside an event on the Ride/Event Calendar. Be sure to click forward to future months as well. Our typical training ride requires 8 to 12 volunteers. We also need volunteers for club events like the Pasta Dinner, Clothing Distribution Events, Adopt-A-Highway track pickups, and more.  Stay tuned to Facebook and our newsletter for volunteer opportunities.

How do I volunteer?

• Open an event and scroll to the bottom. Click on the green "Volunteers" tab for available volunteer positions. Click the radio button next to the volunteer position you wish to sign up for. Note that the person receiving volunteer points is currently logged onto the website. If you clicked on too many radio buttons, use the gray "Deselect" button at the bottom to de-select yourself from a volunteer position. Finally, when you are happy with your selection, click the "Participate" button.  When you visit your My Membership page, your volunteer job is listed under Upcoming Volunteering.

What if I need to cancel my volunteer job?

• If you need to cancel, you are responsible for finding a replacement. Please email the Volunteer Coordinator ASAP to cancel and notify them of your replacement.

What are the volunteer job descriptions?

• When you attend one of our events, you will find the description of each role under the volunteer position. Clicking on the description will give you the job description and the number of points awarded.

How do I sign up a friend or family member to volunteer?

• Your friends and/or family members can volunteer on your behalf! When registering, fill out the proxy's contact information instead of yours. We need their name, phone number, and email (proxy email). You can refer to this guide as well. You will get credit for the points, and your friend will get a fun and rewarding opportunity to help.

VOLUNTEERING FOR TRAINING RIDES

Will I get details about my volunteering?

• Yes, the Volunteer Coordinator will email you before the event (usually 2-5 days before) with a detailed job description and the information you need to volunteer.

What time do I need to arrive to volunteer for a training ride?

• Typically, you will need to arrive 45 minutes before the start of the ride.

What are the typical volunteer jobs at a training ride?

• Three SAG drivers, one Equipment Manager, three Rest Stop Hosts, one Registration Host, one Food Purchaser, and sometimes three Early Season Coaches. We also can use No-Drop Group Leaders.

What about the Officer in Charge position?

• A club officer fills this position.

When will volunteer points be awarded?

• Volunteer points will be awarded within a week after a ride.

How long will I be volunteering?

• It depends on your volunteer position. We have cutoff times to respect our volunteers’ time. Most rides require all riders to complete their designated distance no later than 2:00 p.m.
• Food Purchasers are done after they deliver the food to the ride start.
• The Registration Host is finished after the last rider takes off from the start. The Registration Host is not required to wait for riders who arrive late to the ride.
• Rest Stop Hosts are finished when all riders have passed your rest stop. Depending on which rest stop you have will depend on when you can leave. Rest stop picks are decided by which volunteer arrives first.
• SAG Drivers support our weekly rides. The Lead SAG Driver is the last to leave after all riders have finished. Depending on how many riders remain on the route, the lead SAG driver dismisses each SAG driver.
• The Equipment Manager stays until the ride finishes, and all equipment is back at the trailer to load up. The Equipment Manager is responsible for taking inventory of snacks and water to determine what our Food Purchaser must buy the following week.

VOLUNTEER POINTS AND INCENTIVES

What are volunteer points, and how do they work?

• Volunteer points are awarded for each volunteer job you complete. The Volunteer Coordinator determines points generally based on the time spent volunteering and how easy the job might be. Points are subject to change and are always subject to review by the Volunteer Coordinator. Points accumulate during our season year with each job you complete, and your points earn your incentives.

How many points do I need to get free clothing?

• See the Incentives page to learn how to earn clothing. Check your “My Membership” page for your earned or claimed incentives. Earning clothing is based on the total number of points you have accumulated.

How do I claim club clothing?

• Clothing distribution events are typically held between January and April, with the most popular event being the Pasta Dinner the Thursday before the Texas MS150. When you pick up clothing, it will be marked on your “My Membership” page as claimed. You can still accumulate points and ascend to higher incentive levels!

When do my volunteer points expire?

• Our season year is from September 1^st to August 31^st. Volunteer points accumulate during this time frame for the year. Your clothing must be earned and picked up by the end of the year on August 31^st. At the start of the next SLB Cycling Club year, your volunteer points expire, and everyone starts again with zero points. This allows you to accumulate points once again - and earn incentives!