Greetings,
I work in the North East, primarily at Loudon, NH for the US Marshalls. We have been suffering a little bit for last year and this year from burnout of experienced workers.
What do other areas of the country do to help prevent burnout?
Also, we are going to be attending several local expos to get the word out about corner working. Do other clubs to this? Does it seem to work?
Laura
Ass't Race Control/Trainer
www.usmarshalls.org
I have been very involved with MARRC for the last 3 years. Worker retention is a very big topic with us all the time. We are always trying to keep workers once they join. We do things like worker incentives depending on how many days worked(ie a nice winter jacket embroidered with their name for working more than 12 days) and 3 or 4 race weekends we'll collect items from different vendors for a raffle on Saturday night. All the workers there put their name in a hat and then when they're called they get to pick something off the table.
We also provide lots of clothes(hats, tshirts,polo shirts) depending on how many days they've worked. for example a worker would get a new MARRC safety crew baseball cap every 8 or 12 days worked.
Meals are also a very important perk. I am the food committee chairman this year and we have a large food budget to prepare three meals a weekend. Lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. Also we provide drink/snack runs about 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to give the workers something other than water out on the turns. These are especially welcomed during extreme hot or cold race weekends.
MARRC also provides worker training on Saturday morning of each event. The new workers go to the classroom on Saturday morning, eat lunch with the crew and then get assigned to a captain to watch how it's done and then back to the classroom in the afternoon.
MARRC attends several open houses and one major convention each year. We usually do the Baltimore International Bike Show each year. This exposes us to alot of people that haven't heard of MARRC and/or Summit Point. Last year we were lucky enough to get about 10 workers from the convention and a few this year. At the very least it generates interest in track. We have also done open houses and cycle shop grand opening before. These are great if you have members who can spend a day or a couple hours at the event. For the convention we usually schedule volunteers in 2 hour shifts and get a 'hospitality room' at the adjoining hotel.
All in all MARRC has the attitude that we have to make it worthwhile for the person to come out and volunteer their time. We have to make them want to come back. Let's face it, who's going to want to come back if they arent having fun? We don't get paid enough money to "do it and hate it".
Please feel free to email me if you'd like to discuss it more offline.
Will - - Do you do outside fund raising /sponsorship to get the money for those perks? Generally the money we get in, we pay out to the workers for events. We do give jackets during the racing banquet, T-shirts for several events during the year, and we only do lunch (no Saturday dinner). We also offer training on Saturday mornings for new people and in addition we offer "advanced" courses for people with some experience but looking to become a captain on Sundays.
my email is lauracole3221@hotmail.com
I'm not sure if it's still true, but I've heard in the past that in the SW region the students at Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix received class credits for cornerworking. I believe at one time most of our cornerworkers were from MMI. You might look for something similarly creative to bring poeple out who have some vested interest in being there to receive external benefits that don't directly cost CCS any money.
Another step you can take is to make the cornerworking as bearable as possible. Many of the tracks in the SW region have no cover over the flag stations. Within the past year one of our racers took it upon himself to organize a fund raising effort to purchase a bunch of mobile tents and umbrellas that can be set up in just a few minutes. I know that had to make cornerworking a lot more bearable in the 110+ degree heat or in the cold rain. Look to the racers for help. It's in our best interest to help the cornerworkers where we can.
I've never been a cornerworker but as a racer I might be willing to pitch in to help cut my costs. How about if CCS gave discounts on race entries for people willing to do some cornerworking? For example, how about one or two free races for each half-day worked? This wouldn't really be a direct out-of-pocket expense for CCS and could help some racers keep the expenses in check.
Likewise, how many cornerworkers would actually like to be out there riding? Obviously they can't if they're stuck at the flag station all weekend. Give them the opportunity join the fun with a break on the fees for having worked the corners.
Laura,
We don't pay our cornerworkers to work. All the money collected from the sanctioning body is put towards expenses.
We also do a newsletter and I believe we do charge for advertising space(I think)..but other than that I don't believe that there's any outside sponsorship.
I would be happy to compare any notes if it would help.
I donated items from my biz to the MARRC cornerworkers raffle and I know it was greatly appreciated and I was thanked 10 times over. Those people do a great job and are always the first blamed for problems. So anytime I can help I will.
What company Pete? I walked around with Roger Lyle a bit begging for stuff..lol...
too bad I didn't get to meet ya. I made sure I hit the spam mobile..did u? lol...
Are you coming down to Summit next weekend?
I actually donated stuff at Summit during the monsoon. They made an announcement over the Pa and I brought Bridgestone hats and stickers over. Had I known they were doing it at Pocono I would have gotten something together. Will be at Summit but most likely on the 7th and not the 8th. I've got a small internet site to pay for racing, well try to anyway. And no Spam for me I was forced enough when I was younger.
Well if you can make it up to the cafe I'll be cooking outside the cafe all day Saturday. Look for the big guy in the pepper chef's pants and chef's coat..
Sat night will be our big steak dinner. We always cook steak dinner on the last race weekend.
Will
Hmm maybe I can bring some donated food for the guys this time.
That would be cool Pete. As an example a rider donated 50.00 last race weekend so we could have ice cream sandwiches at lunch.
Another rider donated 60.00 so we could have coffee and hot chocolate one cold race weekend early in the season. Hell we needed hot chocolate on Saturday after sitting in the rain and fog all day...
of course Yuengling is always welcome...smirk..
Will
oooooooooh Yuengling :o
Ooooooh indeed...
We stopped at the brewery on the way up last Thrusday...we missed the guided tour but we were able to go to the 'bar' and have two free tastings. We then went into the gift shop and they had everything u could ever think of...my brother made his christmas list right then and there..lol..he said he'd take one of everything...including the 300.00 neon...lol
Hey Laura,
I can attest to Marrc's expetise. I have taken part in the MARRC safety program and have alsonflagged at Summit with them. I was a MARRC member when I did safety for WERA in the mid 1990's.
I have been to Summit this year 3 or 4 times and Will's cooking is great.
Marrc and the US Marshalls could get together and brainstorm. I know Laura will be at Daytona, maybe some MARRC folks will be there and I can hook you up for a conference.
Usually Egor Emery and I try to get all the regional (national) cornerworker club members together to have a brainstorm session for recruitment and training program development.
I will put it on the Daytona agenda and get it organized. We are always looking to add to the Daytona Safety crew and the FUSA National Crews.
Best
Dan
See you all there.
Dan -
That will be great. I will bring what I have for a manual with me (hardcopy). I am arriving Thursday and staying thru Monday afternoon. Look forward to catching up with you on these sort of things.
Laura
I work in the North East, primarily at Loudon, NH for the US Marshalls. We have been suffering a little bit for last year and this year from burnout of experienced workers.
What do other areas of the country do to help prevent burnout?
Ah yes, burnout... The MARRC Safety Crew dwindled down to an average of 10-15 workers per race day a few years ago (some days we had less than 10 people to man 10 turns!). Everyone kept saying that workers were just burned out and that it was normal, but a few of us begged to differ. We looked very seriously at a number of factors, most of which were identified by the workers who no longer actively participated. The top complaint by fed-up workers was, "It's not fun anymore." When asked to elaborate, we received the following:
- I'm pestered and spammed to work and made to feel guilty for not working.
- When the proverbial $%!* hits the fan on my corner, someone with a holier-than-thou attitude takes over the scene regardless of the fact that the workers on my turn are already doing the job well.
- The food sucks unless XXX or XXX are cooking.
- We're volunteering our valuable time and it's not rewarding.
- There are too many self-serving leaders who schmooze all day or sit on their @$$es while the rest of us do all the work.
- No one listens to my complaints/no one acts on my complaints.
It turns out that very few workers were actually getting burned out. Most workers who weren't showing up anymore were basically disgruntled with the leadership. The few gluttons who were coming out to work were getting burned out only because participation dwindled to the point where an individual worker had too much responsibility. Here's what we learned and the changes we've made this year:
- Never pester people to work. In the long run this will only turn currently happy workers off and away. When announcing an upcoming event, take extra caution to word it in such a way as to not make those who wish to do something else feel guilty. Go out of the way to make workers who choose to spectate instead of working feel welcome and ensure that they know that you're not mad at them for not working even if you have a skeleton crew that day. Whenever possible, don't assign people to turns. Rather, ask what each individual wants to do that day. We frequently have workers who cornerwork in the morning and spectate in the afternoon. Some workers want to work one turn in the morning and a different turn in the afternoon. Some workers want to party Saturday night until they puke. We tell them to sign up if they feel like it whenever they wake up on Sunday. We accommodate many racers who cornerwork between practice sessions and races. God bless them! We go out of our way to accommodate everyone's wishes whenever possible. Instead of yelling at spectators who encroach on hot zones, ask them if they'd mind coming out a little further and help you pick up the bikes when they crash. You'd be amazed at how many spectators take this offer up and become cornerworkers! Expect and plan for a very small crew on miserable days. Ensure that 2-3 people will be available to dedicate the day to pampering the miserable cornerworkers (details below). Start keeping statistics (who works, how often, what turns, in what capacity, etc.) and use this information for logistical planning, i.e., based on last season's statistics, how many events can we adequately staff next season and how often?
- Let trained workers do their jobs, even if it means allowing them to make mistakes because that's the only way some people learn. Ensure that cornercaptains manage their own turns and not their neighbor's. If someone not assigned to a turn with an incident jumps in to take charge, that person just stole satisfaction from every cornerworker on the turn. Make sure your radio controller keeps all chatter to a minimum and all calls short and to the point. Ensure that all administrative and non-cornerworker conversations are carried out on an alternate frequency. When a cornercaptain can't get a crucial call through the banter, it ruins everyone's day. Choose your controller carefully, one with a positive, encouraging tone of voice and attitude, because your controller sets the tone for every worker for the entire weekend.
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- Make sure your workers get breaks and are well fed with great food. Bologna sandwiches and tap water for lunch and tuna casserole for dinner doesn't cut it. Heck, our Food Services Director, Will "Emerwill" Astle even wakes up at 5am to serve pancakes and sausage for breakfast every now and then. A well-fed and hydrated worker is a happy, enthusiastic, productive worker. Plan worker breaks to coincide with the sanctioning body's schedule. Eating lunch at your cornerstation really sucks. Plan for the unexpected with regards to race schedule and weather. Don't leave workers standing in adverse weather any longer than necessary. If the sanctioning body has a stand-down for more than 15 minutes for whatever reason, get on the radio and tell people to take shelter, get food, drink or whatever for xxx minutes and standby the radio for further guidance. Make plans with the sanctioning body to allow a short break in the middle of the afternoon to accommodate an on-track distribution of food/drinks/snacks to the cornerworkers. Give them a variety of good stuff from which to choose like cold watermelon, bananas, apples, sports drinks, popsicles, munchies, candy bars, leftovers from lunch or the previous day's dinner, etc.
- Establish an awards/rewards committee. Initial, tangible benefits attract workers. Having a constant goal (benefit) to work towards promotes self-esteem and helps to keep workers coming back. We have 1, 4, 6 and 12+ day, Cornerworker of the Year, MARRC Cup and President's awards. We give an award for workers who work all ten turns at Summit Point Raceway. We have a Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) where we hold drawings to give away items donated by the roadracing community on Saturdays after dinner. We've given away everything from a Dremmel kit to open-ended round trip airline tickets to local hotel accommodations to custom helmets to race apparel, parts and gear. We make sure everyone gets something. Sometimes we do it twice in the same evening. Thank everyone often and then thank them some more without making yourself seem more important. Take notice of workers who do an exceptional job and personally thank them. We provide a Video Night (November 9th, 2002) where we offer all the free pizza, beer, benchracing and racing videos our members can stand. We host a MARRC Track Day at Summit Point for licensed MARRC racers. We also host an annual banquet where we recognize and award just about everything significant from the previous MARRC season.
- Let the cornerworkers choose the core group of leaders from the best of the cornerworkers by voting each year. Allow these chosen leaders to do all the administrative work at the track. Have these leaders fetch fresh batteries for scanners, provide relief so workers can go to the bathroom, take an AC break on a hot day, bring a fresh jug of ice water to a pickup person, etc., etc. Being the best of your cornerworkers, these leaders are also available to answer obtuse questions when asked, provide constructive criticism to captains when applicable and make command decisions when critical. Make an assignment of leaders schedule prior to the start of the season and rotate leaders from event to event. On days when not assigned as a leader, ensure that these workers get dirty and work a turn with the rest of the workers to avoid animosity. The leaders should be everywhere they are needed and equally important... nowhere they aren't needed, yet always available. They should be capable of resolving all personnel conflicts, problems and mistakes while keeping any necessary "corrections" off the radio net and on a personal basis with a cornercaptain. They should unobtrusively observe while letting cornerworkers run their own turn, stepping in to make a command decision only when safety is a critical issue. For each race weekend on a rotating basis, MARRC assigns one leader to act as Safety Director and two leaders to act as Associates. All three are at the beck and call of the sanctioning body, cornercaptains and track management. It's not an easy job, but it sure helps keep the guys and gals on the turns happier. It's always good to know that a cornercaptain can get on the radio, ask for help and someone will be there.
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- Whomever is ultimately in charge has to have a touchy-feel-good attitude, really listen to the workers, make sense of what's being said and act on what's heard in a timely manner. When workers complain, the leadership should point fingers at themselves, apologize and fix the problem. If the leadership can't recognize problems, the wrong people are at the helm. Value even your worst cornerworker and act on even the most mundane whining, because you'll wish he/she was there to help on that cold, rainy day when no one else showed up to help. And that worst cornerworker may just bring their friends next race weekend that turn out to be your best cornerworkers!
Well... that's what we've learned and done this season past. With a change in leadership, procedures and attitudes this season, our worker count has increased to 25-40 per day. Last weekend we had 46 workers on Saturday and 41 on Sunday. We're seeing formerly disgruntled old-timers returning. We're seeing lots of happy faces. Lots of camaraderie at lunch and dinner. Racers and sanctioning body personnel going out of their way to give us sincere thanks for our participation and a job well done... mutual satisfaction! I personally feel that the best way to attract new workers is word of mouth testimonials from happy workers and the best way to retain workers is to make sure that people with the right attitude who really care about worker welfare are available to support the workers at each event. Recruiting and retention are two separate animals. Attrition is enivitable. But, when retention rates consistently fall, your workers are telling you that "other problems" outweigh the benefits of working.
Also, we are going to be attending several local expos to get the word out about corner working. Do other clubs to this? Does it seem to work?
Absolutely! In the past, most of our new workers were recruited from bike shows and open house events. We still do this occasionally, but most of our new workers are attracted by word-of-mouth from the existing workers, our web-site (http://www.marrc.org (http://www.marrc.org)), our training director and our roadracing school program (we offer roadracing school discounts to cornerworkers).
Glen Ouye
MARRC Safety Crew Chairman
Wow - now that's a lot of info. I think I'll have to read that a couple times. It all makes perfect sense and I'll be working on that for next season.
Will you be in Daytona?
Laura Cole
USMarshalls
Dave Alexander:
We offer free gate fee for anyone who cornerworks, which helps with rider expenses. In addition, we are very flexible with corner assignments and allowing our racers to work and our workers to race!! Our workers get paid for each day (not much, but it could be gas money or something). In addition, we offer advancement points to any Amatuers who work because we know it will benefit them tremendously to actually work for a day. Most riders drop 1 -2 seconds a lap after a half day working. Then they come back and request what ever turn they are having trouble with - watch the experts all day and drop another couple seconds...
Will:
What do I have to do to get on your mailing list for your newsletter? How often does it come out?
QuoteThen they come back and request what ever turn they are having trouble with - watch the experts all day
You know, that thought didn't even occur to me! I often try to watch other riders take a particular corner but on most tracks it's impossible to see many of them as a spectator. Cornerworking is the perfect way to get close enough to study the lines. (while performing your duties of course!)
What would everyone think about planning a weekend where we could get together and have a little corner worker summit. Maybe in a central location like Washington, DC or Baltimore?
I think it would be good to get reps together from some of the east coast flagging groups to see if we can set some training standards so there aren't so many issues when we go to other tracks..
What do you think? Who else could we contact besides MARRC, PA Posse, US Marshalls?
Will:
Are you going to be in Daytona? Dan Lance is going to work on a meeting for anyone there that weekend. My big problem would be expenses - I would love to do it, but I've have to see if the USM would at least cover my travel because I can't afford any more than I'm doing.
Aside from that - I would be very much in favor of such a thing. I think we could put together a great list of safety director types, corner worker reps to really start making a difference.
Laura
Laura,
Sorry, I didn't see your post about the newsletter. I am sure that if you gave me your address we could add you to the newsletter mail list.
Unfortunatly, I won't be at Daytona...I was planning on going down for Bike Week next year tho...that's in February right??
Will
We also try to push the racers to cornerwork at least one day. It gives them a different perspective on the track and especially lets them see the turn from inside the fenceline.
Plus you'd be suprised how much more that rider that worked a day with us appreciates what we do. Alot of times those racers will also push a little bit harder because they know what the corner workers do.
Will
Will:
For some possessed reason my email program didn't save your address. Can you resend me an email and I'll provide my address. I don't want to risk the likes of Dan Lance stalking me...
Also, if you want to include a write of topics that we haven't already started to discusss - I will mention them on your behalf. If the Daytona thing doesn't happen, I'll be in touch with you to try to coordinate something.
Laura
QuoteWow - now that's a lot of info. I think I'll have to read that a couple times. It all makes perfect sense and I'll be working on that for next season.
Will you be in Daytona?
Laura Cole
USMarshalls
Unfortunately, no. But, our Training Director (Roger Bacon), President (Wendy Leland), and I will be at the FUSA/CCS Safety Summit in January (in Fort Worth?), where we'll all be putting our collective heads together to address safety issues. Will you be attending this event in January?
Glen
MARRC Safety Crew Chairman
Laura..If you click on the little envelope under my name on this post (left side) you'll get my email address...
will
This is the first I've heard about the safety summit - who is organizing it? Is it an invitational thing or open for anyone willing to travel to it?
Laura
QuoteThis is the first I've heard about the safety summit - who is organizing it? Is it an invitational thing or open for anyone willing to travel to it?
Laura
I'd venture to say that FUSA/CCS is organizing the event. I don't have any details as of yet. I've heard about this event in the past, but wasn't in a leadership position to speak for MARRC at the time. Dan, Egor and/or Sandy may have attended prior events... or you may want to speak to Kevin Elliott.
SeaPup,
I spoke with Don and Jerry who go to this from NHIS/LRRS and they will be going again this year.
Thanks,
Laura
Reduc makes new members work corners before they can join. Nice idea and it provides an opportunity to learn what corner working is all about and get some good riding tips.
I have spoken with our Race Director about this, and we did do it for advancement purposes for a little while. However the issue we came accross was "forcing" people to be out there. We didn't want people out there who were not comfortable and who may make a situation more dangerous by freaking out. So we dropped it.
Maybe we should make sure to announce at rider's meetings when we have had a new racer/worker and how much there lap times have dropped since they started working.
I'm sorry, I should have clarified that. They don't "make" you work corners to join, it is one of three options to join. I am back from the event, and found it VERY informative and quite satisfying. I enjoyed it and learned from it, and would probably do it again.
PA Posse was there, BeaveRun staff and volunteers all worked side by side for a smooth event. Rookies were teamed with experienced cornerworkers and it went well.
I actually probably will NOT join the organization that sponsored the event, but due to my proximity to the track will work again if needed. For any organization, for that matter.
So, I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression about forcing anyone to work.
Sincerely, Doug
Now I'm interested in what the other two options are. That is something we could start doing. Make it part of a multiple choice thing...
Here's part one of the "enticement":
http://www.reduc.com/newsarticle.asp?ID=44
And here's the second:
https://www.reduc.com/secure/memberapp.asp
Sincerely, Doug
PS: You should be able to "cut & paste" these; if not I'll make them links :)
I think this applys here...
My wife said that she needed to hear three words before she would sleep with me...
And I thought for a moment and said..."I'll pay you!"
But seriously, I pay my cornerworkers at my school and give them lunch. Why doesn't CCS, WERA, AHRMA or AMA etc do this? Or do they? A pat on the back is nice, but being treated as a professional by being paid...that's priceless.
A lot of times the AMA and CCS pay the "group" that works the events. That is why joining the safety workers group is beneficial - because that is sort of how you get paid. The groups then take the money from working the event and use it for meals, shirts, prizes and other such things. They also sometimes need to use it for equipment.
We pay our workers for club events, but when F-USA comes in for the national, we put that money into the bank.
Dave...you said the following:
A pat on the back is nice, but being treated as a professional by being paid
I have a little issue with that...What about volunteer firefighters? Do you also feel that a firefighter has to be paid to be professional? Why does someone have to be paid to be "professional"?
Thats what's wrong with this world right now. Everyone wants to be paid. People want to be paid for burning their tongues after drinking hot coffee from McDonalds...People want to get paid because they said cigarette companies forced them to smoke...People want to get paid for doing something they want to be doing anyway?
Sometimes people do things for the fun of it...Sometimes people do things because they want to be there. Sometimes people even do things for the benefit of others.
Thank God I volunteer with MARRC and I'm damn proud of doing it for free.
Ok, now I have issues on this subject. I am a 13 year veteran of corner working and not just motorcycles. I have seen and heard it all...
To be honest to the best of my knowledge....this is how I see it....
WERA brings in people from military bases and by flyers, who some have no knowledge or concern for the riders safety....they were told lunch and a good time when I was with them. I saw beer cans on the stations and alot of "other left overs" while they conducted a "professional" event. The only training recieved for them was a 10 minute worker meeting in the morning and placed alone on corners with no experienced "marshalls" . This is why I quit for 8 yrs. I had no want or desire to be in an event where the people I have grown up with were in danger.
CCS, on the other hand, will bring you in and make you train with another experienced worker for at least one yr. I'll be honest.....I'm tired of training!
I want to be on my corner with experienced workers and know that whatever happens, I have the edge to make what has to happen ...happen!
The issue for getting paid, however, it has it's own deal going. I will volunteer in a second to do this anywhere in the country...however my income is limited. I can't just pick up and leave when I get the call. Nor can most in our business without at least expense pay.
The price may be high in some instances . I work for the best crew in the southeast. Most of us have been together without fail for 10 years. But, we have never failed to deliver the best to our riders or ourselves.
Whether you work for free or you get paid expenses........who are you really there for???
Okie, I left the other response open mostly because I was on someone elses puter and had to leave in a hurry. I wanted to originally speak on burn-out. I have faced it with a lot of other people. Come on it happens!! But the best relief I have found for me was simply getting out and meeting the riders and their families. Sooner or later you all become a family and share each others interests. Then, on top of that, the staff and cornerworkers go eat dinner and party on Saturday nights. It all eventually becomes a way of life. Not a job.
As far as my association between WERA and CCS, I apologize if I offend anyone. Just back when I was working both at the same time, safety was my main issue. This had then became my family that was on the track.
I worked WERA for the first time in 8 yrs at the GNF'S this year and found a brand new bunch. Faynicia is an awesome race control. I have to say that I would be more than happy to work with her again.
CCS, well my mom and Allan run the show and they are great. I am no member of any " corner marshall ' group, but we do the job. And we go all over the place.
The issue on getting paid for it.............well I do. And I will never be ashamed of it. I would be more than happy to be a volunteer if my own finances could afford it. However, I don't make enough during the week to pay for what I have as it is. Getting paid should not be compared to others stupidity by any means, especially coffee being spilt in McDonalds. We do this by choice.
I love the sport and will do it till I can't do it anymore. What is the price for experience? Can anyone name it?? Experience comes in many forms. 90% of the people brought in new are more likely to have more incentive to be better workers being paid than those who aren't. Sad fact, but, it's true. Volunteers are the best!!!!!!!! I'd just love to have the means to be one constantly.
See you guys at the track!
I have a found rasing idea.
What if at each track, twice per race season, CCS and other sanssions make a donation (entry fee) of one race to the corner workers and safty crews Piggy bank. Even if just for those two races the an additional $5 is added to each riders entrie fee. I would not mind paying it
Kevin AM # 508
what ways do you use to keep workers loose and happy during the day?
Hey Rabbit!!! I am not sure how we do it, but we just get along well on the corner. I know we need more volonteers out there, but that will happen in due time.. We take our job seriously, and safe, but that does not mean a squirt gun is out of the question.... or a grill!!!