Volunteering for Pennsylvania Randonneurs
PA Randonneurs always needs volunteers to help out with brevets. Even with minimally supported brevets volunteers are needed to staff the start/finish zone and, occasionally, staff intermediate controls along the route.
PA Randonneurs covers the expenses authorized volunteers incur when performing volunteer duties in support of an event. Examples would be general supplies food and water purchased for riders, bridge tolls, gas for travel to and from a remote intermediate control, permit fees.
Volunteers who complete their tasks and ride the brevet on the date scheduled, or who ride a pre-ride and work during the event, will be refunded the registration fee for that brevet.
Organizers
A special kind of volunteer is the organizer. A brevet organizer takes responsibility for an event from start to finish and recruits other volunteers.
Organizer Manual
Pre Rides
In order to encourage volunteering at events, pre-rides are organized so that volunteers can both support the event on brevet day, and also ride and earn credit for completing that same brevet. RUSA has rules and guidelines constraining these volunteer pre-rides. Here are some of those rules:
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Pre-rides must be held within the 15 days prior to the date of the actual brevet. (No post-brevet pre-rides.) Dates for pre-rides are at the discretion of the RBA.
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Pre-rides are held for the benefit of brevet date volunteers, not because the actual brevet date is inconvenient for some riders.
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Results from the pre-ride will be submitted as if participants rode on the scheduled day of the brevet.
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No rider can be credited for the pre ride, and a different brevet or permanent within the same time frame as the original brevet (no "double dipping" ride credits for one day).
Events In Need of Volunteers
Hope to New Hope 200K
Event Start: 2025-01-04 06:00:00
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Stillwater 200K
Event Start: 2025-02-01 07:00:00
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Covered Bridges 200K
Event Start: 2025-03-15 06:30:00
- Start Controle
- Staffed Controle
- Finish Controle
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Water and Wind 300K
Event Start: 2025-04-12 05:00:00
- Finish Controle
- Staffed Controle
- Start Controle
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Flèche
Event Start: 2025-04-24 12:00:00
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Four State 400K
Event Start: 2025-05-10 04:00:00
- Finish Controle
- Runner
- Staffed Controle
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Tscheschter Kaundi 200K
Event Start: 2025-05-10 07:00:00
- Finish Controle
- Start Controle
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Jim Thorpe 600K
Event Start: 2025-06-07 04:00:00
- Runner
- Staffed Controle
- Start Controle
- Finish Controle
- Food and Drink
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Endless Mountains Liberty Bell 1234K
Event Start: 2025-09-24 04:00:00
- Finish Controle
- Runner
- Staffed Controle
- Start Controle
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Volunteer Jobs
Finish ControleFinish volunteers are required to be present at the finish through all the hours riders are expected to arrive. The volunteers guide finishing riders through the brevet finish check in process. This includes recording the finish time on the brevet card and controle sign in sheet, helping the rider sign the back of the brevet card and sign in sheet, collecting the brevet cards, and communicating the finish times (and DNF/DNQ results) to the organizer.Start ControleThe start controle volunteers are present at the start location, typically from one hour before the event start time, till the last starting rider departs or till the start controle closes (if there are latecomers). Start volunteers are responsible for several tasks. These include welcoming riders at the start location, noting their sign-in to the rider release, collecting event fees, issuing satellite trackers, issuing brevet cards, performing bike inspection, conducting a pre-ride briefing, communicating the starting roster to the organizer, and depositing receipts in the bank.Secret ControleSecret controle volunteers are deployed onto the course at locations not designated as official controles on the brevet card. They remain at these locations for the hours riders are expected to pass by. These volunteers note the passage of riders on a controle sheet and may make a note on rider brevet cards. They can optionally provide water, food, or assistance to riders at that location. Staffed ControleStaffed controle volunteers are deployed onto the course at official controles along the course. They remain at these locations for the hours riders are expected to pass by. These volunteers perform tasks as required by that controle. Also they may note the passage of riders on a controle sheet and may make a note on rider brevet cards. They can optionally provide water, food, or assistance to riders at that location. Food and DrinkFood volunteers purchase or prepare food and drink and deliver it to riders at one or more controle locations. Utensils, cups, bowls, plates, napkins, etc... may be required along with the food/drink. Food volunteers may be responsible for initial setup and/or final clean up. Communications ContactA job you can do from the comfort of your home. All you need is a phone. Volunteers and riders alike might need to call in to relay information about DNS or DNF status or Volunteer status. A Google Voice number is printed on the brevet card. Calls and texts to that number are forwarded to you. You relay messages as appropriate. RunnerSometimes we need people to buy and deliver groceries, supplies and/or equipment. This can be on the day of the brevet or at some point both before and after the brevet.
