Attracting New Marshals.

[bludvl_x19]

How is it done? Over in the Australian section of this fine board, there is a 'conversation' going on about the lack of marshals at a meeting in particular, and in general also.

So how do you attract new marshals?Getting one of the vintage that they will last a couple of years before having to throw in the towel is just a stopgap. What is needed are newbies that are (hopefully) going to be around in 20 years. By that I mean the younger generation, around the 18-25 age band. I am in this age bracket myself, and I can't manage to get any of my (3) friends to come and join me for a day.

So, any suggestions as to how we should increase the membership? I'm sure that there are many open ears!!

Mick

[AlexBlakeley]

lol, I just did my first weekend as a Marshal at the A1GP race at Brands and I'm 18 but the best bit was that I was 'recruited' by someone younger than me.

Problem is im now addicted and want to do a lot more!

Simple answer is a lot of persuasion and enthusiasm

[MattFord]

Yo Alex (Data Guru) are you coming to Thruxton the weekend after next?

As for the new marshal's you need to target fishermen who don't mind staring at the same thing for long periods of time!!!

Ps you said you were 19!!

[AlexBlakeley]

I never said I was 19, sure you didn't miss hear me?

Anyway it is unlikely I am coming to Thruxton although I would love too! transport for me is the problem......

All being well I will be at the Historics at Brands the following weekend.

Fishermen would be a good target for marshalling agreed.

[MattFord]

I'll be there too. Look forward to seeing you again - will you have probans?

[AlexBlakeley]

I hope too, don't know yet. I haven't quiet worked out the best place to get them from and what size I need! lol

If not I'll have to wear my bright orange shirt again, at least I don't stand out so much then!

[Lord Summerisle]

Originally Posted by MattFord

As for the new marshal's you need to target fishermen who don't mind staring at the same thing for long periods of time!!!

But wouldnt they have a tendancy to start casting Pork Pies into the gravel traps as bait to ensnare Driver?

[danccooke]

We told you it is addictive. as for probans, AWS or through the BMMC, or BARC sell them so a few choices available.
Get good boots mate, you looked like you were struggling a little at the end of the weekend.
Fun though wasn't it?

[AlexBlakeley]

I was struggling due to blisters from walking around London all the previous Sunday. I don't know why but my feet have always blistered very easily.

As for the probans, I will look into them, Thanks

[bludvl_x19]

Sorry to be blunt with you guys, but I started this thread in an attempt to get some ideas on how to attract young 'uns to the 'insanity.' Could we try to stay on topic please?

Cheers,

Mick

[Bodysnatcher]

Mick, a lot of progress in the UK has been made by "Team Wilson".

Working at BTCC events. So, they were being visible and approachable at a high profile meeting with large crowds (of young 'uns).

Someone needs to take a lot of time out from working on the bank and promote marshalling on the other side of the fence. I'm sure once the rest of the UK drags itself onto 10ths you'll get more opinions.

http://www.msportuk.com/news/2007/q3...c_marshals.php
http://www.msauk.org/site/wbs/news/V...ue&chapter=262

Then of course there's this place - the Australians seem to generate a lot of traffic in their touring car bit - don't many stray out to this bit (OK, maybe it's a bit too UK biased) and pick up on what we do

[bludvl_x19]

I know this part is mostly UK based, thats why I started this. I thought that because the strategies aren't working here, we could try to adapt techniques that you Brits have.

The stand idea was raised there, but who is going to sacrifice their time trackside? I would if I could go around to all the V8rounds as a CAMS employee

Mick

Mick

[MattFord]

Sorry Mick "my bad"

Volenteers in motor sport have done a good job at the british tour cars and there is 63 trainee's coming too the next meet at Thruxton.

I will go to their stand and see if I can pick up some tips for you.

[AlexBlakeley]

63!!! that's a lot, and it doesn't include me!

Word of mouth is surely the best way to pass the message on about marshalling, worked with me!

[bludvl_x19]

I have tried that amongst my friends, the best I have got is two to a training day, never to be seen again :cry:

The numbers that you guys are getting mean that you are doing something right

Mick

[Dave Brand]

There's a lot going on in the UK. ViM & Team Wilson have already been mentioned. Motorsport News seems to have got the message - most weeks there's some mention of marshalling. BMMC is doing a lot both nationally & locally, for example the recent Ginetta conflagration at Oulton raised media interest, which resulted in a small item on BBC North West (see http://www.brsccnw.com/marshalling2.htm), & there has also been a spot on Radio Manchester as part of Stuart Jones' (a NW Formula Ford competitor) weekly motoring feature. At Oulton Park there are regular 'Walkabouts', which allow prospective new marshals to get an idea of what's involved before committing themselves.

[Chigley]

I have written an article that was published in the last Rockingham programme and this months BARC Startline magazine, if anyone can direct me on how to insert a Word document then if anyone wishes to use it be my guest.

[gravel_monkey]

dont know if this point needs a seperate thread or if i should just throw it on here.
in regards to new marshals there was an interesting point raised by one of the guys at the a1 gp in regards to the new upgrade system we have! its was about observers (or i think post cheifs as they are now) what he was saying is that most obs at the moment are (no offence intended) are older guys who dont wish to be on the bank anymore, with a few of these guys each deciding they have had enough and they leave do we have enough people to take over and how would they do it on the new system. most people i run into on the bank have no interest in that role and still love being on the bank or flagging. are we going to end up with a shortage of obs?

[Bodysnatcher]

Originally Posted by gravel_monkey

its was about observers (or i think post chiefs as they are now) what he was saying is that most obs at the moment are (no offence intended) are older guys who dont wish to be on the bank anymore, ?

wrong..on so many levels.
cheeky young monkey.
Actually last weekend on post I had a crew of 8. A rough guess would have 4 of them under 21.
2 were sons of a CoC, 1 was their pal. the other was the son of a marshal. So to me it seems the solution is obvious. Get breeding...

[gravel_monkey]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

wrong..on so many levels.
cheeky young monkey.
Actually last weekend on post I had a crew of 8. A rough guess would have 4 of them under 21.
2 were sons of a CoC, 1 was their pal. the other was the son of a marshal. So to me it seems the solution is obvious. Get breeding...

body, the query was not about young bods coming into the sport but exisiting bods moving from the bank on either flag or incident duty to post cheif/obs!

[gravel_monkey]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

wrong..on so many levels.
cheeky young monkey.
Actually last weekend on post I had a crew of 8. A rough guess would have 4 of them under 21.
2 were sons of a CoC, 1 was their pal. the other was the son of a marshal. So to me it seems the solution is obvious. Get breeding...

sorry body, i may have been misunderstood here, the point was not about new bods joining. it was about the lack of exisiting flag/incident guys going on to be obs/post chiefs. most peeps are happy on the bank and dont want the other duty and we are losing chiefs/obs!

[Bodysnatcher]

Originally Posted by gravel_monkey

sorry body, i may have been misunderstood here, the point was not about new bods joining. it was about the lack of exisiting flag/incident guys going on to be obs/post chiefs. most peeps are happy on the bank and dont want the other duty and we are losing chiefs/obs!

No, I don't think I did misunderstand you.

You equated Observer with not being on the bank.
You said we were the older guys that did'nt want to be on the bank.
You said the people you talk to are not interested in being Obs.

I enjoyed my time as an IO and the responsibility that came with that role. However, we need Observers, and if my peer group thinks me capable of doing it, then I willingly accept further responsibility. I still regard it as a job "on the bank".

There have always been team members that are less willing to take on that role, but they're no lesser members of the team for that. There's probably more advantage to the team to keep them on as good flaggies/IOs/whatevers.

You're young (I looked it up) and (maybe) new to marshalling , then your "group" the people you relate most to will be the younger (& perhaps by association the less experienced) members of the team. No offence, pal, but your view of how it all works may be different from mine.

I can remember (stop sniggering) when all I wanted to do was "watch the cars go by" and react as required. I was not interested in climbing the slippery slope to the leaky hut, the pad of reportage and the phone of muted trill. Times change.

now, what was your question again?

Whatever, recruitment of young 'uns, I think we're doing OK right now, certainly it feels better than 5 years ago.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by gravel_monkey

it was about the lack of exisiting flag/incident guys going on to be obs/post chiefs. most peeps are happy on the bank and dont want the other duty and we are losing chiefs/obs!

I think you're making a good point here. Part of the problem seems to be that we just don't have the experienced marshals who are going to be tomorrow's observers. It's quite normal now for me, with seven years' experience, to be the most experienced person on post apart from the post chief. I can think of quite a few people who will, eventually, make very good observers, but very few who are yet ready to make the step up.

It's a job which, in my opinion, needs a lot of experience & a modicum of wisdom - the former comes with time, some never achieve the latter!

In your original post on the subject you mentioned the question of how you go about it under the new grading system. I suspect that, in reality, it's not much different, easier if anything; I think it's more a problem of finding the right people.

[marshal_man]

Well i am young myself as most of you know, i got Alex marshalling and now he is looking for probans, when there is people asking how to get into it, you just need to say how and try get them on the bank.

The only way they will know if they will enjoy it is after doing 2 to 3 meetings.

No offence to all you old gits (laugh out loud), but i agree we need to get the younger generation in doing it.

P.S. Thanks for the KFC, Matt.

[bludvl_x19]

'We' do need young newbies, because in 20 years time, how many of the people on the banks will realistically be there? I'm guessing not many.

Mick