EASTERN GREAT LAKES REGIONALS 2004 VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

 Eastern Great Lakes (EGL) Regionals consists of two events. The Non-Qualifying Event runs from October 9-12, 2003, and consists of Preliminary Free Skating, Pre-Juvenile Free Skating, Open Pre-Juvenile Free Skating and Open Juvenile Free Skating. The Qualifying Event runs from October 13-18, 2003, and consists of events for Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior and Senior level skaters in all disciplines (Ladies’ Freestyle, Men’s Freestyle, Pairs and Ice Dancing).

 Both events are sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA). The top four places in the Juvenile and Intermediate levels advance on to the U.S. Junior Championships in Scottsdale, AZ, December 2-6, 2003. The top four places in the Novice, Junior and Senior levels advance on to the Midwestern Sectional Championships in Dallas, TX, November 20-24, 2003. This year’s EGL Regionals are hosted by the Nashville Figure Skating Club (NFSC) and will be held at Southern Ice Arena in Franklin, TN (Cool Springs Area).

 The USFSA divides the country into nine regions and three sections. The EGL Region begins in the north in Michigan and extends down through Alabama. We are anticipating over 600 competitors and about 50 national and international judges. Factor in all of the competitors’ coaches and chaperones and skating fans and the number reaches well over 1,500 people. The entire event stretches over 10 days, and most days will run from early morning to late in the evening.  In order for this event to be successful, we need many volunteers and hundreds of hours of assistance.

 Following is a brief description of the different areas where volunteers are needed:

 Announcers/Music-Anyone who enjoys public speaking will have a great time with this. Announcers are needed for every event on both rinks. The USFSA supplies us with a script that can be used as a reference guide. Both rinks will also need a person to play the skater’s music for each event. (Recommend skater’s use cassette tapes, but will also accept compact discs) For practice ice, there is not as much to announce, so we will need one person on each rink to run music and announce. Announcers and music volunteers will get to watch the skaters practice and compete from rink side.

 Awards-There will be a short awards ceremony after the final event for each level. We will need volunteers to help gather the skaters, set up for the ceremony and present awards.

 Hospitality-There will be a hospitality room set up for each of the following areas: Officials, Coaches and Volunteers. We will need people to set up these areas for breakfast, lunch and dinner and to monitor during the day to make sure the rooms are stocked and cleaned. At the end of each day, we will need people to close down the rooms. The volunteer hospitality room will be stocked with drinks and light snacks.

 Ice Monitors-Each rink will need a person rink-side at all times to check in skaters for each event and each practice, answer questions and keep in contact with the judges’/announcers’ stand. Practices will begin each day early morning and go late into the evening. Competitions will tentatively run from 9:00am to 10:00pm each day. The Chief Referee has asked that the Ice Monitors for the Competition be adults. Ice Monitors for Practice Ice should be 15 and above. Ice Monitors will have a great seat to watch the skaters practice and compete.

 Officials’ Transportation-Volunteers will drive vans to get officials to and from the airport/hotel upon their arrival and departure from Nashville. Drivers will also be needed each day to get the Officials to and from the hotel/rink. Drivers will need to have a valid driver’s license. We will be renting the vans.

 Practice Ice Desk-People to sell practice ice and assist skaters and coaches with questions about practice ice. The practice ice room will be equipped with a computer, and all of the skaters’ information can be accessed by name of competitor.

 Registration Desk-People to check-in skaters as they first arrive, hand out gift packs and answer questions. The registration room will be equipped with a computer, and all of the skaters’ information can be accessed by name of competitor.

 Music Registration-Additional volunteers will be needed to collect the skaters’ competition music when they check-in. This music is then placed in bins according to event. During the competitions, the music person will be in charge of running the music to the rinks before the start of each event, and collect the music at the end of the events. The music for the top six finishers in each event (the top four move on to the next level of competition and two are alternates) is handed on to the Sectionals Registration (see below).

 Runners-We will need a minimum of two volunteers per rink, per event to pick up the results from the judges’ tables as the event is finished, take these results to the accounting room and then take final results from the accounting room and post them on the results wall. The Chief Referee has asked that the runners be 15 and older. Runners may be younger if accompanied by an adult. Runners will be seated next to the judges’ stands during the event, which will provide a great view of the skaters competing.

 Sectionals Registration-As soon as the final results are posted for each event, the top six competitors’ (the first four places move on with two alternates) in the Qualifying division will be registered to move on to the next level of competition. (Juvenile and Intermediate skaters advance to U. S. Junior Championships; Novice, Junior and Senior skaters advance to the Midwestern Sectionals’ Championships) Registration packets will be sent to us from the USFSA, and each skater will need to complete a packet. The registrar will include in the packet the competitor’s music and headshot.

 Set Up/Tear Down-Prior to the start of the event, we will need volunteers to help get the rink ready to host the competition. This involves setting up tables and chairs for all the different areas, and setting up the Officials’ stands and Trial Judges’ stands in each rink. At the conclusion of the event, we will need volunteers to help us return Southern Ice to its pre-event stage.

 Welcome Desk/Ticket Sales-Volunteers will be needed to man the Welcome Desk each day with a smile. They will serve as host/hostesses for the event, answer questions, check credentials (each competitor, coach, chaperone and volunteer will need to wear their credentials each day for entrance into building), sell admission tickets and sell programs.

 Let’s show the USFSA and the Eastern Great Lakes Region that Tennessee can host a world-class skating event. The best part of volunteering for an event like this is the chance to watch the stars of tomorrow skate. Each volunteer will receive an all-event pass for just a minimum of four volunteer hours allowing you to come back when not volunteering to watch the skating.

 Please complete your volunteer form today and return it as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for any time that you are able to give. If you are unable to volunteer during the October 9-18 timeline, give us a call or drop us an e-mail as there are jobs not listed above that we may be able to use you for prior to the start of the actual event.