This is a really good topic and whenever it comes up I feel like we are opening a Pandora's box. Without volunteers, most of the races that we know and love would cease to exist. I have also wondered about creative ways to get more "paid volunteers", such as encouraging workplaces to have their employees spend a paid work day working at an event in a role that would normally require volunteers. Of course this would rely on super altruistic employers so may not be realistic, but it's one thing I've thought of when looking at the list of volunteers needed for an event I help organize.
I think the answer is probably organizing more as nonprofits that promote health and wellness, then things like workplaces putting on 5Ks or having employees volunteer (counting it as work hours) are a lot more do-able.
This is a really good topic and whenever it comes up I feel like we are opening a Pandora's box. Without volunteers, most of the races that we know and love would cease to exist. I have also wondered about creative ways to get more "paid volunteers", such as encouraging workplaces to have their employees spend a paid work day working at an event in a role that would normally require volunteers. Of course this would rely on super altruistic employers so may not be realistic, but it's one thing I've thought of when looking at the list of volunteers needed for an event I help organize.
I think the answer is probably organizing more as nonprofits that promote health and wellness, then things like workplaces putting on 5Ks or having employees volunteer (counting it as work hours) are a lot more do-able.