Queen to hold reception at Buckingham palace to honour the UK's army of Volunteers!

[Mark Mitchell]

.........however, I don't think any marshals are included on the list!

Why are we not recognised as volunteers in the same way as people who pick up litter in their local park?

[ss_collins]

For the same reason that there are no motorsport events at Crystal Palace

[Gridlock]

You dont mean to say I have got one up on Stephen.
Went last year but not as a marshal. Representing another voluntary organisation.

[Stoowert]

This year, I've been to 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, St. James'es Palace and THe Houses of Parliament - in my job as a courier! I get around!

[Ian Sowman]

Originally Posted by Mark Mitchell

.........however, I don't think any marshals are included on the list!

Why are we not recognised as volunteers in the same way as people who pick up litter in their local park?

Because people who pick up litter do a public service, whereas marshals do not.

If you had marshals there, you would have to have people who mechanic for club racing drivers on a voluntary basis, for example - where would you draw the line? Or people who edit popular websites...

[flagwaver]

Please folks let us not get upset over this. Even if there is anything to get even get upset over in the first place.
Firstly like it or not we tied up (in most peoples eyes) with big Multimillion pound companies.
Secondly when you look at ALL the different things people can & do volunteer to do what makes some of us feel we are more inportantant than any other group is.

[Russfeld]

Because the entire marshall system is volunteer.

[Shelagh]

Write to your MP to get an invite????????

[Mark Mitchell]

Would I get paid to attend???????

[Eddy V]

I don't think that would be such a good idea.
Another line in Stephen's signature then.

[flagwaver]

Not al volunteers are unpaid.
Russfeld, because most of the marshals on this forum are mainly race marshals than that may be true, but marshals in other disciplines do recieve some form of payment.

[Woolley]

It's an interesting question. I tend to think that we volunteer to be involved in something that interests us, rather than volunteering for the sake of it - in other words, we have something of an ulterior motive compared with someone who runs a fund raising effort for a hospice, for instance. However, I don't know if that is where the line is drawn. I would suspect that something along the line of charitable work would be the definition. Can anyone tell us if volunteers for other sports are involved? Wimbledon umpires, athletics judges or coaches of boys' football teams are possible examples? If they are, then I don't see that we're any different and maybe someone should drop a hint to their local MP.

[rescue dude]

Originally Posted by Mark Mitchell

Would I get paid to attend???????

[Stephen Green]

I seem to be coming in for some 'stick' in some of the replies here?

[EvilPumpkin]

awww poor Steve

[PipSqueak111]

I don't see that my marshalling is any different to my Scouting.
I get just as much back out of being a Cub leader and Vice-chair for Herts Scout Network as I do from my marshalling.
With Scouting I help young people to enjoy their chosen activities.
With marshalling I help people of all ages to enjoy their chosen activities.
Where's the difference?!
I get a kick out of both, knowing that I've helped to make it possible by volunteering.

I think it's just down to the public's common mis-perception that we are all paid employees and not volunteers. If we were to write to the Queen and tell her of the massive number of voluntary hours contributed to our sport across the UK (and the World) by marshals, then I'm sure she would consider us in future.

Phill

[PipSqueak111]

Found her address:

Her Majesty, The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

Anyone got accurate/researched figures on marshalling hours contributed each year?

[EvilPumpkin]

Sorry Phil, got completely sidetracked there by visions of you in shorts and one of those floppy hats!



[/offtopic]

I think Chris' point is the best one - what kind of volunteers is this thing aimed at.

There are many sports where volunteers are the lifeblood - are they all invited and it's just marshals that are being ignored?

From my limited experience of these things, it's generally volunteers in the "community" that get this kind of recognition. Scouting would come into that category simply because it keeps the little darlings off the street for a couple of hours and teaches them something that doesn't require a playstation or a mobile phone to achieve!

Marshalling, whilst extremely valuable to motorsport, doesn't really do a lot for the community at large.... Well, with the exception of keeping us lot off the street most weekends.....

If it was a garden party for volunteers at Bernie Ecclestone's house, then I could understand the vitriol. But since when has the Queen been a fan of/involved in motorsport? So why should she invite motorsporty people to her house?

[Red Baron]

Couldn't agree more EP.

Whilst we are all volunteers and we give up a lots of our free tine at our own expense, marshalling is ultimately a hobby, just like fishing, mountainbiking, sailing or other such pursuits. It's just that whilst we pursue our own interest we faciliate that of others i.e. drivers etc.

Why do people expect to be rewarded or recognised for participating in something that they do for their own enjoyment and of their own free will.

Beats me !

Rosie

[Tracey]

In the New Year's and Queen's Birthday honours lists, local people received awards for their services to sports, like someone who has been a local club football referee for years. There is a petition to get Professor Sid Watkins a knighthood for his services to motorsport safety, maybe we should start nominating long-serving marshals??? It would help to inform the public we do it for free.

[whatapalaver]

I'm sorry to say that I'll have a prior appointment (just in case anyone thought I should be asked to attend)...

[JohnD]

SkyRedButton,
"maybe we should start nominating long-serving marshals??? "

But you can! See: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/cere...how_to_nom.asp

And the very best of luck!

JOhn

[blue nose]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

Because people who pick up litter do a public service, whereas marshals do not.

If you had marshals there, you would have to have people who mechanic for club racing drivers on a voluntary basis, for example - where would you draw the line? Or people who edit popular websites...

Marshals do more of a service than litter pickers any one can do that.

[JohnD]

On the subject of Volunteers and Motorsport, has anyone else read the new issue of "The Marshal"? Front page article, on how the Government Motor Sports Unit is "to support the recruitment, training, grading,and retention of marshals".

How?
Quote," Five project support groups have been set up to cover REcruitmant, Retentoon, Training,Grading and Qualifications. There are 36 people [THIRTY SIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] involved ion these groups representing Bikes, Karts, Race, Speed, Off-Road and Rally disciplines."

As one who knows, this is what has already happened in the NHS. Groups, people employed to service those groups, people employed to service the servicers (I wish says a farmer). It all goes around in a circle and NOTHING or rather LESS GETS DONE!

The article gets worse:
Recruitment campaign to be launched at the Autosport show - Preaching to the converted? Always gets a good response.

"A Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is almost complete....." can't you see them, wasting time composing those three letter acronyms. "Training programmes willl be matched to the TNA.....range of programmes....focussed and enjoyable...."

"grading scheme is being examined.....streamlined....prepared for discussuion with all parties.....not fundamentally change existing good practice [tell that to the NHS!] .....framework.. cross discipline marshalling [another - CDM??]

"Qualifications for Training Instructors, Marshals and Management Leadership [that's pretty good - the language of the MBA, "management" and "leadership" didn't get in until the last para]

I think it was Kafka who said that the worst words in the world are," I am a Government Inspector and I am here to help you". Well, I'm sorry guys and girls, the Inspector has called and we are all doomed.

John

[Stoowert]

in my experience in "High Finance" if you don't want something to happen, lauch a study group to look into it. This means in the above case, you have 36 sides, all bickering and fighting their corner. S'funny how the Government has been privatising Quangoes and Quago-ing private (MSA) systems. It beats me how you can speed up recruitment and training without lowering standards. As I've just been the subject of NHS "targets" and waiting lists, I can see we could've let a very large genie out of the bottle!

AS for rewards, such as an invite to Buck House or a gong. That's so far away from why I started, and continue marshalling. I do it for the fame, the glory, the kudos and the sense of power I get, telling other marshals what to do - NOT! I happen to love motorsport, plus it's a great way to see other countries and meet other people...There, I've said it!