Volunteer Center

THE VOLUNTEERS... Like the Red Hills Horse Trials, the sport of eventing is made possible by a strong tradition of volunteerism. Most USEA competitions are staffed almost entirely by individuals who do not receive a pay check for their efforts. As such, the cost of running these events is greatly reduced. Lower operational costs result in higher proceeds for the event beneficiaries as well as reasonable entry fees for the competitors. Reasonable entry fees contribute to Eventing being one of the few sports where amateurs frequently compete at the same level as professionals. Without volunteerism, competitions like Red Hills would only be available to riders with deep pockets or corporate sponsorship.

The driving forces behind the Red Hills Horse Trials are the creativity and hard work of more than 600 volunteers. From the Event Organizers who spend 12 months juggling planning meetings, fundraisers, publicity events, and troubleshooting, to the Committee Chairs who spend countless hours lining up port-a-johns, water trucks, stall components, tents, generators, printers, caterers, greenery, food vendors, to the weekend Event Staff who commit one, two or three days of their lives to parking cars, directing spectators, judging cross country fences, running scores, bedding stalls, serving food or handing out programs, this horse trial is run almost entirely on the efforts of volunteer labor. The Red Hills Organizers, Competitors and Charities owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all of the individuals who selflessly devote their time, talents and efforts to the successful completion of the Red Hills Horse Trials.
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VOLUNTEER GUIDELINES
Volunteers ....the special ingredient! With your help, RHHT will continue to grow and become even more successful! We have a world class cross-country course designed by Hugh Lochore, and riders from twenty-eight states and eleven countries, but it is often the little things that make an event a success. Nothing is more important -- or makes a more lasting impression -- than a warm, happy smile. Bring one with you!
Clothing:
Khakis or jeans (pants or shorts)
Sunglassesand hat or visor
(or - alas) Waterproof jacket
Comfortable shoes
A volunteer vest will be provided at the Volunteer Check-In Area (one size fits all, can be worn over jacket - must be returned after shift)
Layers of clothing work best--mornings may be cool
Admission
You will receive a parking pass which will admit you to the park and to the Volunteer Parking area. If you bring friends or family, please honor our $15.00/day or $25.00/3 days suggested donation at Ticket Tent. Children accompanied by an adult are admitted free.
Upon arrival report immediately to Volunteer Check-In Area to pick up your name tag and vest.
Plan to leave purses and other valuables locked in your trunk.
At the Volunteer Check-In Area at Headquarters you will also receive your location assignment and any last minute instructions.
Food
You may either bring food and beverages, or purchase from our many delicious food booths.
Hospitality
Let people know how pleased we are to host an event like Red Hills. If someone asks you a question you cannot answer, try to find someone who can. Red Hills has an extensive radio communication system for contacting key people on the grounds. Last resort: direct the person with a question to Spectator Information.
In the unlikely event a competitor or a spectator has an accident, do NOT comment. Your statement must be, "I do not know." There will be only one Official Statement from one authorized Red Hills Official.
Your Specific Assignment
If you have not been contacted by your committee chair, you will be contacted shortly. Your chair will review your specific assignment with you. If no one contacts you or if you have questions/concerns, contact: 850-580-4020
Without you, there could be no Red Hills. On March 5, 6 and 7 you'll see.....
Thank you!
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HOW TO VOLUNTEER
While we enjoy having young people attend our Red Hills activities, our individual volunteers should be at least of college age.
Please email or call our office to volunteer. 850-580-4020 or info@rhht.org
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Awards Committee
Responsibilities: Selecting, ordering, organizing, displaying, and coordinating presentation of all awards. Maintaining records pertinent to perpetual trophies. Developing procedures for perpetual trophies.
Botanical Tour Committee
Responsibilities: Developing, organizing, promoting, staffing and implementing the tour of Colin Phipps' arboretum. RHHT, through the courtesy of Tall Timbers, will provide the wagons.
Banners Committee
Responsibilities: Selecting, ordering, organizing, displaying, and coordinating presentation of all banners. Pick-up and return of all privately-owned banners. Inventory, repair, and storage of banners maintained by Red Hills.
Communications Committee
Responsibilities: Providing transceivers and charging apparatus for Event personnel, training Volunteers in radio protocol, disbursing and collecting transceivers, maintaining transceivers, and providing technical support as needed.
Community Resources Committee
Responsibilities: Assessing Event needs, identifying community resources, and coordinating services and implementation.
Competitor Hospitality Committee
Responsibilities: Welcoming and assisting competitors upon arrival, providing light refreshments and water in the barn area, and assisting with communications among competitors, grooms and stable manager(s).
Competitor Information Services Committee
Responsibilities: Welcoming and checking in of Competitors, distributing competitor packets. This Committee works under the direction of the Event Secretary.
Cross Country Committee
Responsibilities: Conditioning and preparing the Cross Country Course for the competition, including flagging of the courseand decorating the obstacles, and recruiting and training volunteers to run the Cross Country phase of the event.
Dressage Committee
Responsibilities: Recruiting Committee members, preparing the dressage site, setting up and breaking down arenas, preparing Scribes' boxes, equipping Judges' shelter, and running the Dressage phase.
Education Committee
Responsibilities: Researching and developing content for shuttle docents, tour guides, and Spectator Information Booth ; recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers. Educational materials to include Combined Training Facts, Botanical Tour Information, and Northwest Florida Water Management District information, safety procedures, and other relevant material.
Fence Judge Committee
Responsibilities: Overseeing / supervising the operation of the Cross Country phase, including recruiting, training, equipping, and assigning all fence judges, as well as attending to the need of Cross Country personnel during the Cross Country phase.
Fundraising Committee
Responsibilities: Developing and implementing a fund raising plan, tracking of monies received, preparation of tax letters, working in conjunction with Sponsor Coordinator regarding benefits for Underwriters / Sponsors
Grant Development Committee
Responsibilities: Researching of possible grants and preparing grant applications applications.
Grounds Committee
Responsibilities: Presenting the Event in a well prepared, organized and hospitable atmosphere, including arranging for parking, traffic, and movement of people and equipment.
Grounds Operations / Shuttles
Responsibilities: Assisting the Grounds Committee with all the logistics of running the event, specifically, planning traffic routes for shuttles, scheduling drivers, and procuring of trucks/vans/wagons.
Handicap Services Committee
Responsibilities: Cataloging all handicap requests which may be phoned in to the Event Chairman, requesting necessary equipment (hearing devices, etc.) from City, assisting, as needed, handicapped spectators during the Event.
Hospitality Committee
Responsibilities: Planning and hosting all social functions surrounding the Event, including housing, feeding, and entertaining Officials and VIP's; assessing and procuring all rental items, e. g., portolets, tents, tables, chairs, linens.
Information Technology Committee
Responsibilities: Developing and implementing software to meet Event needs, inputting and exporting data throughout the year, and providing on-site support during Event.
Program Committee
Responsibilities: Designing, compiling, and publishing the official program; recruiting volunteers for advertising sales if needed; arranging for delivery and distribution of programs to Event site.
Public Relations / Promotion / Marketing
Responsibilities: RHHT becoming an annual Event through development and implementation of successful Public Relations and Marketing strategies which will attract quality competitors and thousands of enthusiastic spectators.
RHHT Sales Committee
Responsibilities: Research, design and procurement of RHHT items for sale at Event, organizing and staffing RHHT sales booth during Event.
Safety Coordination Committee
Responsibilities: Planning and coordinating all accident assistance, both medical and veterinary with full knowledge and understanding of the needs and risks posed by stabling/parking and exercising/competition venues, terrain, over-lapping phases and spectator numbers expected. Development of Safety Plan for review by Technical Delegate. Works with and under supervision of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Inc. staff.
Scoring Committee
Responsibilities: Receiving, computing, accurately recording and posting all competitors' scores.
Signage Committee
Responsibilities: Accessing needs and preparation of all signage, procurement of banners for underwriters/sponsors. Installation, removal, inventory, maintenance and storage of all signage.
Spectator Information Committee
Responsibilities: Development, organization, implementation and staffing of the Spectator Information area. In addition responsible for development of spectator information staff manual, etc.
Sponsor Coordination Committee
Responsibilities: (In conjunction with Secretary / Treasurer:) Development and dissemination of all underwriter/sponsor communications, e. g., acknowledgement letters, tax letters, and invoicing. Preparation and delivery of underwriter/sponsor benefit package, assignment of underwriter/sponsor contact person and response to underwriter/sponsor needs. Contact with UW/Sponsors re advertising specs, copy deadlines, etc.
Stabling Committee
Responsibilities: Diagramming, assigning, marking, of stalls, assessing condition of stalls, confirming garbage and manure disposal systems, developing systems for distribution of feed, hay and bedding and assembling a stabling bulletin board .
Stadium Jumping Committee
Responsibilities: Procurement of fences, set-up, decoration of Stadium Jumping course; recruitment, training and assignments of jump crew.
Ticket Sales Committee
Responsibilities: Staffing of ticket sales personnel at designated location, receiving proceeds, record keeping and bank deposit of collections.
Timing Committee
Responsibilities: Procurement of necessary equipment, timing, and recording of all competitors times for Cross Country and Stadium Jumping phases; recruitment and training of crew.
Titivation Committee
Responsibilities: Enhancing the visual effect of the grounds and public areas through the use of plants, flowers and other decorations.
UW / Sponsor Tent Committee
Responsibilities: Coordinating the decorations, refreshments, maintenance, scheduling of hosts for the Sponsor Tent. Works in conjuction with Sponsor Coordination Committee.
Vending Committee
Responsibilities: Identifying, soliciting, and selecting concessionaires/vendors; allocating vendor locations; contract negotiation; and assisting with set-up and staffing of area throughout Event.
Volunteer Coordination Committee
Responsibilities: Recruiting and assigning of volunteers for Event activities; maintaining of volunteer records, including addresses, phone numbers, committee assignments; and staffing of Volunteer Tent.