SGF Volunteer Views

New Volunteer Sign Up Form

2012-01-26T18:46:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again...making plans for the upcoming season and we can't do it out without our many loyal volunteers. We have added a few competitions to our schedule this year so we're going to be in need of even more volunteers. So I'm putting my plea out early this year. ;-)

Believe it or not, I have figured out how to use Google documents to make a sign up form that you can fill out and on-line and all that information automatically goes into an Excel spreadsheet. I'm hoping to get ahead of things this season and at least build the database of volunteers. Even if you aren't sure what your availability is yet, please take a minute to fill out the Volunteer form so we can get you on the list.

Thanks for your support and we're looking forward to seeing you at one of our competitions this season.

Jackie

Volunteer Schedule

2011-09-18T08:55:00.001-04:00

Greetings SGF Volunteers,

Thank you all for volunteering at the Stone Gate Farm Horse Trials. As another way to improve communication with our volunteers during the event we are offering a text message service where you can get messages directly on your cell phone during the Stone Gate Farm Horse Trials. The messages will be specific to volunteers; for example when you can expect lunches to arrive, if there is a change in the schedule etc. This is a free service but you do have to sign up at Snap Snap Message and sign up as a volunteer. You may also sign up to receive text messages for competitors but you will have to repeat the process. Please note that you do have to have a texting plan on your cell phone or you will receive charges. Sign up today before the season gets busier. You can always opt out later if you so choose.

Below is the volunteer schedule. If you can't make it at yourscheduled time please let me know ASAP. Thank you. Please rememberto bring a chair, rain gear ( to keep any precipitation away) and what everelse you need to keep yourself comfortable. We will provide drinks, snacks and a sandwichfrom to food vendor.

We will be using HAM radio operators on cross country for the first time andwe hope this will make communication better. But we always need a plan B so you will beprovided with a list of cell phone of people who you may need to contact during the event. I would appreciate it if you could send meyour cell number.

And… so I don’t forget; we have already done the drawing for the volunteerraffle prizes. The winners are asfollows: Gia Venuto a $25 Big Dee’s gift certificate, William Milliner SGFwater bottle, Helen McCauley a SGF personal cooler, and Susan Burdick a SGF hatbag. As always, thank you very much foryour help.

Jackie

*First*	*Last*	*Phase*	*Job*	*Day*	*Time*	*Comments*
Rene	Alexander	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Alicia	Ann	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Susan	Burdick	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Joy	Campbell	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Christy	Cottrell	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Rick	Cottrell	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Carlyn	Crowl	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Carroll	Crowl		Scorer	Sat	9:00 - 5:20
Carroll	Crowl	Cross Country	Scorer	Sun	8:45 - 2:45	house
Jan	Douglas	All	Shuttle / Score runner	Sat	all day
Megan	Douglas	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Dona	Ferraro	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Pam	Helbling		Scorer	Sat	9:00 - 5:20
Pam	Helbling	Cross Country	Scorer	Sun	8:45 - 2:45	house
Stephani	Kame	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Chris	Kennedy	Cross Country	Starters / Timers	Sun	8:45 - 2:45
George	Korell	Cross Country	Starters / Timers	Sun	8:45 - 2:45
Laura	Kosiorek	Stadium	Scribe	Sat	10:15 - 5:15
Laura	Kosiorek	Cross Country	Score Collector	Sun
Kacey	Locke	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Helen	McCauley	Stadium	Paddock	Sat	10:15 - 5:15	May drive down, park by Porta Jon
Jill	McNicol	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Lori	Miller		packets	Fri		Metal Shelter near stabling
Jennifer	Milliner	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
William	Milliner	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Lori	Moore	Dressage	Paddock - Ring 1	Sat	8:15 - 4:00	Dressage Warm Up
Shannon	Morrow		Floater	Sat
Charles	Pinnell	Cross Country	Announcer	Sun	8:30 - 2:45
Lana	Prochiro	Stadium	Jump Crew	Sat	10:15 - 5:15	May drive down, park by Porta Jon
Lana	Prochiro	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Tim	Reeser	Stadium	Scorer	Sat	10:15 - 5:15
Tim	Reeser	Cross Country	Scorer / Times	Sun	8:45 - 2:45	with timers
Leah	Rohan	Stadium	Jump crew	Sat	10:15 - 5:15	may need vehicles to sit in
Jen	Ruberto	Dressage	Scribe - Ring 1	Sat	8:15 - 12:30
Holly	Sell	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Kristen	Semegen	Dressage	Scribe - Ring 1	Sat	1:00 - 4:00	Tent near stabling
Kristin	Semegen	Cross Country	Paddock	Sun	8:45 - 2:45	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Kevin	Smith	Stadium	Jump Crew	Sat	10:15 - 5:15	may need vehicles to sit in
Kevin	Smith	Cross Country	Score Collector	Sun
Kevin	Smith	Cross Country	Score collector	Sun
Kyle	Smith	Cross Country	Safety Coordinator	Sun	8:45 - 2:45	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Tori	Swejk	Dressage	Scribe - Ring 2	Sat	8:15 - 4:00
Dawn	Tomei	Dressage	Announcer	Sat	8:15 - 4:00	Announcer's Tower
Molly	Tubbs	Stadium	In Gate - Announcer	Sat	10:15 - 5:15	May drive down
Molly	Tubbs		secretary assistant	Sat	morning
Molly	Tubbs	Cross Country	Control	Sun	8:30 - 2:45
Drew	Van Scoy	Grounds	parking, footing	Sat	8:15	Be available near the house
Randy	Van Scoy	Grounds	parking, footing	Sat	8:15	Be available near the house
Annette	Venuto		Hospitality / floater	Sat
Annette	Venuto		Hospitality / help Gia	Sun
Annette	Venuto	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Gia	Venuto	Stadium	Jump Crew	Sat	10:15 - 5:15
Gia	Venuto	Cross Country	End of XC	Sun	8:30 - 2:45
Taylor	Walton	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Cathy	Whitehouse	Cross Country	Jump Judge	Sun	8:00 briefing	ck Jump Judge's Info on website
Terri	Willard	Dressage	Paddock - Ring 2	Sat	8:15 - 4:00	Dressage Warm Up

Jackie

It's That Time of Year Again

2011-03-28T11:03:00.004-04:00

With the Dressage Show and Test Clinic just around the corner and the Winona Horse Trials just a few weeks later I'm starting to get the volunteers lined up. Check out the Volunteer Calendar and Job Descriptions or e-mail me and start earning those SGF bucks that can be redeemed on activities @ SGF or the upcoming logo-wear and sign up now to volunteer.

Don't forget the Stone Gate Farm 25th Birthday Celebration! Every time you volunteer you will receive a raffle ticket for prizes at each competition and a grand prize drawing at the end of the year. Any volunteer who brings a new volunteer will also receive an additional raffle ticket. We're also are having a Volunteer Views contest for the best story from a volunteer at any of our competitions in the last 25 years. The stories will be posted on this blog and some will be printed in the newsletter. E-mail your stories or new threads so I can get them posted.

Thanks and as always, thank you for being a volunteer.

Jackie

Text Messaging Service during the Winona Horse Trials

2011-03-11T12:12:00.000-05:00

As another way to improve communication with our volunteers we are offering a text message service where you can get messages directly on your cell phone during the Winona Horse Trials. The messages will specific to volunteers; for example when you can expect lunches to arrive, if there is a change in the schedule etc. This is a free service but you do have to sign up at Snap Snap Message and sign up as a volunteer. You may also sign up to receive text messages for competitors but you will have to repeat the process. Please note that you do have to have a texting plan on your cell phone or you will receive charges.

Sign up today before the season gets busier. You can always opt out later if you so choose.

Jackie

Help Wanted

2011-02-25T14:12:00.000-05:00

Several positions open; the candidate(s) must be able to work weekends, be able to sit for hours on end (often in inclement weather beginning at the crack of dawn) and must be level headed, Candidates may have to touch slimy surfaces, lift and move heavy objects, be a traffic cop and more. Legible handwriting is essential for some positions whereas a good set of lungs and good eyesight are helpful for others. Workers are compensated with snacks, a sandwich & drinks along with a personal size cooler to keep the drinks cold, SGF Bucks and of course the undying gratitude of the person in charge. No experience necessary, training will be provided. Finally a love of horses and the sport of Eventing with a good sense of humor are a MUST for candidates to get the most out of the job! All interested candidates should check out the volunteer page for more information: http://www.stonegatefarm.org/volunteers.htm or e-mail volunteer@stonegatefarm.org

Carroll Crowl shares some of her experiences as a longtime volunteer @ SGF

2011-02-25T08:41:00.000-05:00

Our first “Volunteers Views” contributor is from good friend and long time volunteer Carroll Crowl. She started out as a jump judge, served as secretary, course decorator extraordinaire for many years and finally scorer. But in between all of that she made airport runs, ran to the store for me, bought food and socks. Yes socks. I didn’t have time to do laundry or search for socks so Carroll brought me socks which in turned helped me to keep my sanity. She has been invaluable and I am so grateful for her help and friendship. Enjoy…

As one of Stone Gate Farm's oldest (years and longevity) volunteers Jackie asked me to jot down a few reminisces while I still am able to remember them! (Carroll’s words not mine)

· I began volunteering at Jackie's first horse trial as a jump judge. That was the year dressage was down near the track at the Canfield Fairgrounds. The sulkies going past the ring above the horses eye level was pretty exciting but nothing compared to the rush they got when the drivers discovered they could really liven things up if the applied the whip strategically as they went past.

· I remember one of our Pony Club members getting eliminated because she between two different level fences and the POG could believe someone could fit through that tight space.

· I remember the year I judged under a cooler with a 102 fever in a downpour. That was the year I decided to find an inside job

· I remember the year I signed up to assist the experienced scorer Jackie had lined up and the scorer didn't show. I really had no clue how to do the job and Jackie's instructions were delivered on the fly and in less than 60 seconds.

· I remember a pregnant Jackie on a four wheeler on two wheels

· I remember unloading straw in Lisbon with two hungry babies (Kev and Laura) and no bottle

· I remember the year the tornado went through north of Salem and there was no route to the farm from the north for about an hour.

· I remember cooking soggy dressage tests in the oven, 10 min @200' did the trick

· I remember telling a young lady she wasn't getting a refund because her mom "had to get married" (yeah had) wasn't an emergency.

· I remember telling a mom her daughter wasn't getting a refund because the daughter spent her rent money on an entry.

· I remember asking a wife if her husband wanted off site stabling with his traveling partner or to be split up. The wife was unaware of the traveling partner and I'm pretty sure a different sort of split occurred!

· I remember keeping the kitchen island between me and a large irate father.

· I remember Jackie in meltdown mode. (age has definitely mellowed me some

· I remember Jackie telling me that she gave my 10 year old daughter Jenny & her friend a very easy fence to judge and they wound up holding a very large Preliminary horse after a crash on said easy Training level fence.

· I remember the same daughter being upheld on an elimination her first year of jump judging (8 maybe) when someone jumped the wrong fence. The competitor still didn’t believe her until shown the photographer’s picture of said person jumping the wrong fence

· I remember Laura's first Prelim on the course where she first rode in the open

· I remember the year Jenny scored and was secretary. She's much better than her mom.

· I remember waking up early on cross country day to an inch of snow thinking "well we'll cancel". Jackie didn't and I had the XC sheets. I broke a few speed limits. (Carroll exaggerates…about the weather not the speeding)

· I remember the year Kevin came off Mercedes in the xc warm up and ended up being life-flighted to Akron Children’s Hospital.

· I remember the first time we used Start Box scoring system. Jackie learned you can't just change the schedule like she was accustomed to and I learned..... well a lot. (Can’t live without Start Box now)

I remember the year Jackie and I didn't talk to each other for several months after an event and we both learned that shared history and friendship is more important than being right. (it only felt like a couple of month’s and I had almost forgotten about all that) I've moved to the wonderful state of Kentucky but I remember my friends up north and that is why God willing I'll be back scoring at the Winona Horse trial this spring.