Public Opinion on Work Days.

DRaider90

DRaider90

Uwharrie Off-Road Volunteering
Joined
Oct 23, 2007
Location
Weddington, NC
At first I dismissed this as just "people outside of the wheeling crowd" that just don't understand. But more and more people I tell about the work days I hear the same things.

"You mean they don't pay you guys?"

"The least they could do is feed you guys?"

"You do it for free?"

But the more I thought about it, I wonder if some of those people riding by while we work think the same thing about volunteering for the work days. That maybe it isn't just people outside the wheeling crowd, but people inside it also.

I highly doubt they understand the hours we volunteer go to help the Forest Service get more funding each year. And the work we do out there is vital to keeping our trails open.

I know we have another thread about raising awareness while we are on the trails of what is going on, but what about outside the trails (beyond the Stickers on Stickers Program)?

Maybe we could have a Trail Work Awareness day or something similar outside of the regular work days. Set up a stand with some signs, maybe do something similar to the meeting held a week or two back with free coffee/doughnuts. Could even have an RTI ramp or something to draw people in. Make it more appealing to wheelers to stop in and see whats up, and while they are there get them involved/informed about the work days.

What do you guys think?
 
Why not set up a booth in the double parking lot on the work days to start? I've got a canopy that we can set up next to Terry. I'm sure he won't mind the company. A nice big sign, some easy to read literature and a couple guys sitting there talking to people as they come up and inquire. Talk to Shawn, maybe he'd be willing to allow an nc4x4.com logo on the sign to help draw some attention.
 
IMHO every day you go to URE should be a work day. not necessarily building fences and burms. I'm talking about stopping and picking up the trash that we see on the trail when we ride. I have seen a lot of people waste time complaining rather than take the time fixing the problem. people are too fast to pass the buck, and say it's not my job... Give a hoot and don't pollute. We all need to do our part and give a fart!
 
The problem is no one here I don't think. The problem is people who just don't give a damn. Drinking beer and tossing all their crap out, knowing "someone else will clean it all up". These are most likely the same people going off trail and tear assing anywhere they can.

I think setting up the tent on the work day is an awesome idea. RTI ramp even better. We could do some sort of raffle for stickers or a coupon for a free/reduced(something) or something like that.

The flyer I was working on is date specific. I'm gonna mod it to just cover work days in general, with basic info on it and the forum address possibly, this way it can be posted all around and people would know every third Saturday was a volunteer workday.
 
We could turn this into dual pronged attack. Have an event outside of the FS Workdays with an RTI Ramp etc, and then have a canopy set up in double parking lot during the FS work days themselves.

The question is do we want to start the canopy setup at the July work day? And what kind of incentive do we want to offer to get people to come up? I was thinking a water cooler with disposable cups for free water. But that might take away customers from Terry for drinks etc. Anything else easy/cheap we could offer to draw people in? Or maybe just run the canopy without any incentives are see how it goes?

TSM_88YJ said:
The flyer I was working on is date specific. I'm gonna mod it to just cover work days in general, with basic info on it and the forum address possibly, this way it can be posted all around and people would know every third Saturday was a volunteer workday.
Click to expand...

Here is an old flyer I worked up for one of the Tellico fundraiser(s) to give you some ideas:

springfling.jpg
 
Bobby D. said:
IMHO every day you go to URE should be a work day. not necessarily building fences and burms. I'm talking about stopping and picking up the trash that we see on the trail when we ride. I have seen a lot of people waste time complaining rather than take the time fixing the problem. people are too fast to pass the buck, and say it's not my job... Give a hoot and don't pollute. We all need to do our part and give a fart!
Click to expand...
*thumbs up*
Exactly my opinion Bobby
 
I'm all for it!
 
I think you have some GREAT ideas DRaider :beer:

what about setting up a stand at the Outpost? I think a lot more people would see the stand there then at the double parking lot. Would be good to set up the stand and have the cones and signs there to help draw people over.
 
tkob1060 said:
I think you have some GREAT ideas DRaider :beer:
what about setting up a stand at the Outpost? I think a lot more people would see the stand there then at the double parking lot. Would be good to set up the stand and have the cones and signs there to help draw people over.
Click to expand...

This was actually where I was thinking about holding the event outside of the Workdays. I didn't mention the Outpost directly because I didn't want to indirectly volunteer Chris for this. The gravel parking lot they have would be perfect for setting up a canopy, RTI Ramp, etc.

As far as during the work days we could include that canopy setup with the 8AM breakfast at the Outpost. Have the canopy set up with the cones/signs during breakfast while we are the 8AM-9AM when most people are showing up. Keep it set up till 10AM, then move it to the double parking lot. Because most people show up between 8AM-10AM that are hitting the trails, then you catch the people hitting the trails and the lunch crowd from 10AM and beyond in the double parking lot.

The only other thing we will really need besides the canopy, is a fold out table of some sort. And I think like you mentioned with using the cones etc to draw people in it would work well.

Any thoughts?
 
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