Vent before I cry.

[jen0610]

I just need to get this off my chest and DH is unhappy as it is with group of people we are dealing with, so no going home a bemoaning.

I head up the committee to over see running the concession stands at our high school boys basketball games.

We have a game Sat. Have 3 parents signed up to work and 2 kids, after two weeks of asking for volunteers. We have had plans for dinner for our anniversary for a month now for Sat night.

Just got a call, that the one has to back out - death in the family. SO NOT an issue, backing out. Half hour later, the other family wants to know if they have to work both games or if they can leave before the 2nd game (varsity game) starts.

I really hope a couple of parents just show up, like they have for the last 2 games. I will be putting them to work.

I am going home, taking a hot bath, going to have a strong drink and start making some calls to see if I can round some more people up.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Good luck finding some help. I know how frustrating it is being in charge of something.

 

[mamacatnv]

I spent years running sports and high school concessions.

Sometimes you just need to close the snack bar for the evening. I know, it affects revenue etc. but you can't do everything all the time and it does send a message.

Go out for your anniversary, celebrating your marriage is way more important than slinging some nachos, soda and candy.

 

[shortbun]

If I was in town, I'd come and help. My girlfriend and her husband are the go to folks for football AND basketball concessions. It's a heady job. Good luck and here's a hug. p.s. stop making plans that coincide with games, lol! just kidding

 

[lovesmurfs]

Oh, great...now I have guilt. There's a HS basketball tournament next week that I haven't offered to help at and I've been blissfully ignoring the emails. Your vent has helped others in your shoes, if that helps at all.

Go. Tell the school that you didn't get enough help to open and relax. Two weeks from now, no one will care that they didn't get their nachos and coke.

Happy Anniversary....gotta run to send an email.....

 

[agnes!]

Close the stand. Put a big sign on the outside saying something like:

Due to the fact that there were not enough volunteers to run the stand this evening,
it is CLOSED.
If you wish that you had a delicious snack to eat & something cold to drink right now?...
BE the volunteer when you are asked and thank the volunteers you see here every week.
Add YOUR name to the Concession Stand list at: (phone number) and (e-mail).
Thanks, Concession Stand Volunteers.​

At least that's what I would do. And have a GREAT time at your anniversary dinner .
agnes!

 

[jen0610]

I spent years running sports and high school concessions.

Sometimes you just need to close the snack bar for the evening. I know, it affects revenue etc. but you can't do everything all the time and it does send a message.

Go out for your anniversary, celebrating your marriage is way more important than slinging some nachos, soda and candy.

Close the stand. Put a big sign on the outside saying something like:

Due to the fact that there were not enough volunteers to run the stand this evening,
it is CLOSED.
If you wish that you had a delicious snack to eat & something cold to drink right now?...
BE the volunteer when you are asked and thank the volunteers you see here every week.
Add YOUR name to the Concession Stand list at: (phone number) and (e-mail).
Thanks, Concession Stand Volunteers.​

At least that's what I would do. And have a GREAT time at your anniversary dinner .
agnes!

I seriously think if the concession stand would be closed, the AD would stroke out!!! I didn't get this position until the 7th of this month. And the first home game was the 7th. The stand was closed and the AD pulled a couple of cheerleaders and students outta the crowd to work it. When we got down there, we were having our monthly meeting, he was boiling. As in the one dad referred to him as "the angry guy".

If I had known earlier I was going to be asked to take this one, I would have started Mid November asking for volunteers.

I may bribe a bunch of the band kids into working. I'll buy you pizza if you show up to work.

 

[kirstenb1]

Close the stand. Put a big sign on the outside saying something like:

Due to the fact that there were not enough volunteers to run the stand this evening,
it is CLOSED.
If you wish that you had a delicious snack to eat & something cold to drink right now?...
BE the volunteer when you are asked and thank the volunteers you see here every week.
Add YOUR name to the Concession Stand list at: (phone number) and (e-mail).
Thanks, Concession Stand Volunteers.​

Thank goodness, this year has been better. OP, do what you need to do, but don't stress for one more SECOND!

At least that's what I would do. And have a GREAT time at your anniversary dinner .
agnes!

I couldn't agree more!!!

OP, I am chair of the middle school dance committee. We make a huge effort to have lots of "non-dance" activities that night, so all kids feel included. Therefore I need 30-40 volunteers each dance.

After stressing myself to the point of being sick with trying to find enough volunteers for a dance last year, I decided we will just offer whatever activities I have willing volunteers for. If I need to close off certain activities, I will not hesitate to. If I can't find the 3 (yes three!!!) volunteers to sell tickets at lunches, I will cancel the dance. Honestly, finding people to help out during the day is the hardest part.

 

[Pakey]

I was president of a youth soccer league with 700 kids for 7 years. I volunteered at least 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year. I learned how hard volunteers work and how the majority of parents have no clue what it takes to run sports programs (or any non profit). They aren't bad people; they are just uninformed and personal experience is the only way they will become enlightened.

After 7 years, I just couldn't do it anymore. I wanted out at 5 but couldn't get any of the other board members to step up or find anyone else. So I did the extra 2 years out of guilt. I walked away and realized that sometimes you can only do so much.

You are not the only person responsible for this program. If no one volunteers, just close it down.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I seriously think if the concession stand would be closed, the AD would stroke out!!! I didn't get this position until the 7th of this month. And the first home game was the 7th. The stand was closed and the AD pulled a couple of cheerleaders and students outta the crowd to work it. When we got down there, we were having our monthly meeting, he was boiling. As in the one dad referred to him as "the angry guy".

If I had known earlier I was going to be asked to take this one, I would have started Mid November asking for volunteers.

I may bribe a bunch of the band kids into working. I'll buy you pizza if you show up to work.

You should not have to bribe anyone to do this. You would be spending your money. Your marriage comes first. If the league does not like it they can come out and do it themselves. Volunteering is something you do because you want to do it not because your bribed and there is no heart in doing the job.

 

[diznygirl]

I seriously think if the concession stand would be closed, the AD would stroke out!!! I didn't get this position until the 7th of this month. And the first home game was the 7th. The stand was closed and the AD pulled a couple of cheerleaders and students outta the crowd to work it. When we got down there, we were having our monthly meeting, he was boiling. As in the one dad referred to him as "the angry guy".

If I had known earlier I was going to be asked to take this one, I would have started Mid November asking for volunteers.

I may bribe a bunch of the band kids into working. I'll buy you pizza if you show up to work.

If he's going to have a stroke that the stand will be closed, then he needs to hire people NOT depend on volunteers.

Volunteers are notoriously undependable.

 

[mamacatnv]

I seriously think if the concession stand would be closed, the AD would stroke out!!! I didn't get this position until the 7th of this month. And the first home game was the 7th. The stand was closed and the AD pulled a couple of cheerleaders and students outta the crowd to work it. When we got down there, we were having our monthly meeting, he was boiling. As in the one dad referred to him as "the angry guy".

If I had known earlier I was going to be asked to take this one, I would have started Mid November asking for volunteers.

I may bribe a bunch of the band kids into working. I'll buy you pizza if you show up to work.

Then let the AD sort it out. Seriously, being a jerk to VOLUNTEERS is no way to get people to help out. He is acting childish, that is uncalled for.
I would have told him where to put it, but then again I can be a bit nasty when snarled at while I am willingly GIVING up my FREE time for the common good.
I have my limits and family events, B-Days, Anniversaries etc. are more important than the common good.

PS I really like Agnes's sign, I have been known to post something similar, on my sign I usually added a few lines for names and numbers.........
What your AD should be doing is letting his participating parents know that with a spot on the team comes a parental obligation of an hour or 2 a season in the snack bar.

 

[mousey]

I know how you feel! I ran the snack stand for my childrens sports teams. I could write a book on the excuses that people use to get out of working the stand. I can't tell you the number of people who signed up and never showed and me or a close friend worked to keep it open.
All I can say is "Thank You" for helping out your kids teams and when they are done with sports and are grown you can attend your grandchildrens events and laugh a little when you see "the stand". Hang in there!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Just curious-- what would the AD do if YOU had an emergency that night like a death in the family? You are a volunteer and while you are doing a valuable job, it is a volunteer position that is second to the well being of your family and your marriage.

If he was able to round up people that night to do it then he should be able to this time also. Let him know tomorrow that your volunteers have canceled and you are unable to be there. If the revenue means that much to them then they need to already have back up plans in place. Things happen and you can't just expect one or two people to always be there to do all the work.

It sounds like the AD is the person that getting paid to be ultimately responsible for the concession stand. Let him deal with it. What is the worst that will happen? You will be fired from a volunteer position that sounds like a burden anyway?

 

[cm8]

I spent years running sports and high school concessions.

Sometimes you just need to close the snack bar for the evening. I know, it affects revenue etc. but you can't do everything all the time and it does send a message.

Go out for your anniversary, celebrating your marriage is way more important than slinging some nachos, soda and candy.

I really agree! Next time someone will have no issue with volunteering when they have no or . That 'll teach them not to volunteer

 

[Micca]

Jen- kudos to you for having that rare attribute: Being accountable
However, when you are being taken advantage of because of that accountability, it's appropriate to excuse yourself. Do what YOU want to do.
You're a volunteer, not a servant.

 

[pearlieq]

Just curious-- what would the AD do if YOU had an emergency that night like a death in the family? You are a volunteer and while you are doing a valuable job, it is a volunteer position that is second to the well being of your family and your marriage.

If he was able to round up people that night to do it then he should be able to this time also. Let him know tomorrow that your volunteers have canceled and you are unable to be there. If the revenue means that much to them then they need to already have back up plans in place. Things happen and you can't just expect one or two people to always be there to do all the work.

It sounds like the AD is the person that getting paid to be ultimately responsible for the concession stand. Let him deal with it. What is the worst that will happen? You will be fired from a volunteer position that sounds like a burden anyway?

Agreed.

And now I really, really want some nachos.

 

[RitaE]

To tell you the truth I've never understood why the concession stands aren't run by the kids to begin with.

Same way at our school. Parents in the concession stand doing the work while the kids are sitting out in the bleachers having a blast. I've mentioned it a couple of times that the kids should be working but I mostly get blank looks.

It sure wasn't that way when I was in High School.

I'd close it too though. Go on your date and who gives a flip if the AD gets angry or pulls a couple of cheerleaders or band members out of the crowd to work? That's not your fault.

 

[LoveKermit]

I am a HS teacher. Our Boosters run the concession stand, supply it, etc. But our other sports teams and clubs can choose games to "run" the stand as a fundraiser for their own group. This is how our teams buy new uniforms, pay for transportation, etc. And while it's still technically the Boosters paying for it, at least the kids worked for the money. I do not know what percent the club gets. They may get the whole profit for the night.

Just a thought for the future. You'd at least have the coach as another adult in the stand and workers. However, there is always at least one Booster parent in the stand each night as well (mostly to open and close, I guess).

Good luck.

I'm all for closing the stand. Call or email the AD asap about the situation and tell him that this is the deal. You might be surprised who he can find (is he married?) to work the stand last minute.

 

[quentina]

I couldn't agree more!!!

OP, I am chair of the middle school dance committee. We make a huge effort to have lots of "non-dance" activities that night, so all kids feel included. Therefore I need 30-40 volunteers each dance.

After stressing myself to the point of being sick with trying to find enough volunteers for a dance last year, I decided we will just offer whatever activities I have willing volunteers for. If I need to close off certain activities, I will not hesitate to. If I can't find the 3 (yes three!!!) volunteers to sell tickets at lunches, I will cancel the dance. Honestly, finding people to help out during the day is the hardest part.

We cancelled a holiday shop after begging for help.......the moms who stand buy and complain about the poor job we do all year, were FURIOUS. Oh well, next up is festival, you best sign up otherwise, it will be cancelled also.