[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8743989]
I am doing the event a favor by donating my time.
What I expect is a little gratitude in return. That means courteous treatment - as normally, when one does a favor, one garners a favor in return.
Jump judging doesn’t exactly engender the same “do good” feeling as say, feeding the homeless. I’m doing it because I want to help out an event or maybe get to see some riders that I wouldn’t normally see - but just as you wouldn’t want to be disrespected anywhere else, getting sent home with a bag of chips and a bottle of Gatorade while competitors are eating at a buffet and drinking their complimentary wine - well, sure makes you feel valued, doesn’t it?[/QUOTE]
I totally understand this. I volunteer when I can and every place I’ve done it has given us at bare minimum a bag lunch and drinks. Shirts are nice souvenirs but not necessary. I would take offense with the dichotomy of a huge spread for the competitors and a only bottle of water for the volunteers. Volunteers are every bit as important as competitors, more so…I think. Imagine having to pay each and every person who had a hand in making an event run. The very few events that could exist in such a world would only be available to those with very deep pockets, because the entry fees would be enormous.
That said… I recently XC jump judged at a little event I volunteer for every year. Drinks/snacks were driven around at the end of every level when score sheets were picked up, and a bag lunch was provided. It doesn’t take much to make you feel appreciated. A nice day out in the sun with friends, horses and a bag lunch makes me happy.
