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Originally Posted by Tanis
Though I won't say that the volunteer acted appropriately on any level, I will say this-
FIRST cannot really screen for this type of thing. They do ask for references when a volunteer signs up in VIMS, and they do have the right to refuse to allow someone to volunteer if there are complaints, but they cannot give interviews or re-screen every volunteer every year. That would be a herculean task.
Second, as Libby informed the OP, there are appropriate channels to address these concerns. Any of the light blue shirted people at champs are the volunteer coordinators (at regionals, not sure of their champs title), and can assist you. If you can't find one of them, the pit admin staff should be more than willing to help.
I have seen one or two volunteers who act inappropriately, whether it is because they are just having a bad day, or whether they simply don't respect a certain person for some reason. The volunteer coordinators are always just as disappointed with these situations as you are, and will most certainly sit down with the volunteer to discuss the situation.
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Great advice.
There were HUNDREDS of volunteers at the Championship who worked hard and did a good job. Each team member probably came in contact with at least 100 volunteers in the course of their time at the Championship.
At any FIRST event, the way to deal with a volunteer who is acting inappropriately is to contact the volunteer coordinator. There is a chain of command for dealing with issues. You can locate the volunteer coordinator assigned (usually only one at a regional, but numerous ones divided by area at the Championship) by starting at pit admin.
98% of the event volunteers, if properly trained, do a great job. There will always be exceptions because dealing with people can be messy. They come in with various baggage including not understanding what the job actually is, or could just be having a really bad day. Sometimes people want to volunteer, but they are not right for the job they are assigned. Sometimes volunteers are reassigned to a job they would prefer not to be doing.