[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by EricH

So let me rephrase that:

You've got volunteers doing 2, 3, and 4 events, with all associated driving, vacation days, and hotel stays, and there still aren't enough in key areas. Now you want to tell me that there isn't a problem?

Let me be clear: I don't have a problem doing that. I have a problem that not enough people are stepping up to do those jobs, which makes it necessary for those volunteers to do 2, 3, and 4 events as volunteers. And if CA goes district, those same volunteers will probably now be asked to do 5 or 6 or even 7 events.

This is coming from a fairly ignorant ole east coaster, who has a ton of cali friends, but obviously am not as intimate with the area as I am my homelands of NE and MAR...

Have you considered perhaps that potentially people aren't 'stepping up' simply because they do not know how to? This was something I've seen and still am approached about at almost any competition I attend in NE. Volunteers in a role are too shy or simply unaware of how to 'step up'.

There is also the Field of Dreams situation that I think is inherent to any region jumping into Districts - "If you build it, they will come". You may not know who or where these people are coming from, but without the open opportunity, you'll never find them.

Eric- You've been around for a long time, you know how the system works. I'm in the same boat. I find it hard to put myself back into the shoes of a new volunteer who is filled with ambition, but nervous to 'mess something up' or even ask how to take on more responsibility.

California FIRST is filled with awesome people, that I've gotten to know and interact with for a long time now. These concerns are extremely VALID, but are they insurmountable? Absolutely not, and I've seen numerous useful suggestions in this thread already to start moving the needle.

The hardest part is rallying the massive group to make it happen.

-Brando