Read it and weep

[blackx]

Just had a letter drop through my door from the VSCC...
It was a typed letter with the recipients name handwritten,
and personally signed by the sender,namely Julian Ghosh..
It was to thank everyone who officiated at the VSCC event this year at Prescott..
The letter went as follows......

Dear Stephen,

It was no secret that we all operated at a higher level this year than before.

The club was on show at its very best and it is quite something that such an impressive event can be orchestrated by volunteers.

Although the weather helped, there wasn't an unhappy face to be seen which I am sure was a reflection on the willingness and enthusiasm of all those who helped out.

Thankyou for doing a great job,albeit somewhat lenghty and congratulations on contributing to such a success.



Having just returned from another seccessful lenghty event I wonder if we all will receive a similar form of written thanks....

I sit and wait in anticipation...

[Stephen Green]

You might be pushing up daisies before that happens

[blackx]

Thats very cynical of you Mr Priest Catcher Sir....

Hahahahaha

[Richard Sneader]

Fairs fair, 750 always send thank you letters after every meeting and BARC have done this in the past too.

[blackx]

Never done a 750 meet so cant comment on that one....

Done many BARC meetings and never had a formal letter of thanks from them.....

[Stephen Green]

Whilst it is nice to be appreciated in such a manner, do we really 'require' a letter from the club offering their thanks. I say this bearing in mind the constant need to keep costs down in all organisations, especially in the current economic climate. If I volunteer to offer my services to a club I don't expect a latter of thanks for doing so.

[theracegypsy]

I agree with you there Stephen, I have had letters from BARC before now, but usually when somweting has gone wrong and the marshals have had to do more or work longer than expected.

[Stephen Green]

Then under those circumstances Bob a letter is welcome, but under normal circumstances it's an expence the club could do with not incurring.

[Barny]

There was an open letter of thanks to Marshals printed in Autosport following the Grand Prix.

[Stephen Green]

The MSA send that letter to all the motoring press with a personal copy to each marshal via post each year.

[blackx]

We had a long day on the Sunday and I believe this to be the main reason behind the letter........
As for expenses..........I doubt it cost more than £50 or £60 to send the letters.............Not a huge expense really......

[Logrence]

I'd rather they gave me the 27p from the stamp.

[Stephen Green]

Sorry, the point I was making was that if say the BRSCC and BARC did this for every meeting, over the course of the year it represents a significant outlay, unneccesary for the most part (IMHO)

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by Stephen Green
Sorry, the point I was making was that if say the BRSCC and BARC did this for every meeting, over the course of the year it represents a significant outlay, unneccesary for the most part (IMHO)

BRSCC NW & BARC NW always provide drinks for the marshals after meetings at Oulton & Anglesey; better than a letter!

[QuickBrownFox]

Is it the exception that you have received a letter that makes it so special? If more clubs sent out thank you letters, would this devalue their worth? I get a sincere "thanks for attending" whenever I sign on, whenever a chief / deputy chief marshal or their representitives visit on post during the day, and at any end of day raffle. I personally value this more than any letter (and agree with Stephen on the cost issue).

[Stuart Hill]

I won't dare to speak for ALL marshals but.........

a thank-you at sign-on is normally sufficient (as long as it's meant)

any freebies are greatly received;

if the meeting runs late, a letter to explain why is most appreciated;

anything extra is just that....... something extra and thank-you very much.

so, if you marshal, and I aim this at NO-ONE in particular, then you accept what you get! Yes, some clubs/circuits/venues offer more than others, this is a fact. If you don't like how you are received/accepted as a marshal, then don't go. No-one is forcing you to attend, YOU have chosen to.

If you are just in it for the gratitude then maybe you need to reevaluate your reasons for marshalling. :confused:

Those of you that know me are aware that I recently "took some time out" and gave-up marshalling. There were many reasons for my quitting but only one for my choosing to return;

I missed it!!

I am fully aware of the fact that sometimes I will have a day, but I choose to believe that, in most instances, it is because of mistakes and not people abusing me. If I find out otherwise then it will be much better to protest/argue from a position of having-been-there rather than not having-been-there!!!

I've just come off a great 3 days of motorsport, both on and off the Hill. Superb cars, mostly good weather, great company both on post and off, and yet there were still some faults.

so, what do I do???
Leave and say "Stuff It" ??
or stay and try to improve things?

The easy way is to leave (as I did), but I now feel that if you really care about something, the only way to truly get your point over is to do it "from within"

don't just "knock" people, how about offering a different way?
if you see a problem, then how about describing a solution?
(that is, if you have one!!)

Anyone can find faults but how many of us know the answers??

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by crazystu
I won't dare to speak for ALL marshals but.........

.......I, for one, agree with everything you said. Thanks, Stu.

[Stephen Green]

Me too...well said Stu

[blackx]

Personally I did not feel there was that much wrong with the day in question....Sunday of the VSCC meeting....

So from my perspective to receive a letter from the organisers shows that they are thinking of the guys and gals out "on the bank" and my personal view is this is a good thing..

Many of us see our chief marshal during the day on hills and sprints.....cant speak for circuits cause I dont do very many of them.....And un-doubtedly they will convey thanks from the organisers.....Which is also nice....

But.....

I do attend venues....both speed venues and circuits.....where every meeting you get the "Thanks for yesterday" and "circumstances beyond our control" and yet virtually every meeting goes the same way.....

This is NOT an assult on any one venue but more an indication of where one of the possible reasons for dwindling numbers origionates...

I have bounced one or two pm's around ,obviously I will not reveal who to or the contents, but that person is drawing the same conclusions as I.....

I do not do it for the glory or the gratitude.....
My biggest buzz i get from the many drivers that just give us a little wave or the thumbs up on the way down the hill after their last run.....

Thanks enough for most I would say....

The main purpose behind starting this thread was to highlight how a club who,I am sure you will mostly agree with me on this, have been knocked in the past but now have turned the corner and are looking after their volunteers...