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WMSC Volunteer Commitment

At WMSC, we take great pride in being a strong community where members care for each other and work together to create high quality races and events. Volunteering with the Club can be a highly rewarding and fun experience and many of our families have become life-long friends while working on races or on Club committees.  Although the fees for ski racing are significant they do not cover all the costs of running a first-class ski program.  The role of parent/guardian volunteers supplements our program costs and contributes to the Club’s ability to deliver a high quality program.  When families do not meet the minimum volunteering commitments, they are asking other families to subsidize their athlete’s participation.  The added benefit of hosting events in Whistler means less time and money spent by families travelling to races at other mountains.

Volunteering Expectations

The Club’s minimum volunteer commitment per family per season by age group is as follows:

  • U14, U16 & FIS - eight (8) days of volunteering  

  • U12 - six (6) days of volunteering 

  • U10 - four (4) days of volunteering 

  • Fast Fridays: one (1) day of volunteering 

For families with multiple athletes, volunteer commitments will be calculated for the oldest athlete, plus 50% for the next oldest athlete (to a maximum of two athletes).  For example:

Example 1:
Child one: FIS = eight (8) days required
Child two: U14 = eight (8) days / 50% required number of days = 4 days
Total Volunteer days required: 12 days

Example 2:
Child one: U14 = eight (8) days required
Child two: U12 = six (6) days / 50% required number of days = 3 days
Child three: U10 =  four (4) days, but is not included = 0 days 
Total Volunteer days required:  11 days 

 

In meeting your family’s volunteer commitment keep in mind that in addition to the minimum number of days noted above, there is a requirement to participate in certain Club events: 

  • At least one parent/guardian is expected to volunteer each day your family has an athlete in a race at Whistler Blackcomb (ie. Zone and Provincial races, FIS Races, Parsons, Janyk Cup) – full days on or off hill count towards the minimum day volunteer commitment.

  • Parents/guardians are expected to volunteer a minimum of three (3) days at the Whistler Cup, regardless of whether they have an athlete participating in the competition – full days on or off hill count towards the minimum day volunteer commitment.

  • Parents/guardians and U16/FIS athletes are expected to volunteer at the Ski Swap – full day counts towards the minimum day volunteer commitment.

  • Athletes may also be asked by their coaches from time-to-time to volunteer their time for Club and community activities - does not count towards the minimum day volunteer commitment.

  • Volunteering at away races, although strongly encouraged, does not count towards the minimum day volunteer commitment.

     

If something happens that causes you to be unable to fulfill your family’s volunteer commitment, please contact the ED or the Board Chair sooner rather than later. 

Non-Volunteer Payment

Should any family fail to meet the volunteer commitment set out above over the course of the season as determined by the ED and the Board, WMSC will charge a “non-volunteer fee” at the end of the season as follows:

  • U14, U16 & FIS - $1000

  • U12 - $800
  • U10 - $500

 

This non-volunteer fee is intended to cover expenses for additional staff support necessary when families do not meet their volunteer responsibilities.  The amount will be determined by the age of your oldest athlete in a WMSC program (not cumulative).   The Board retains discretion to decide whether this payment will be charged in full or in part for any family that does not meet the minimum volunteer commitment. 

 

Homestay/Foreign Athletes 

The Club also recognizes that a few families are legitimately unable to meet the volunteer commitment, such as athletes living in Whistler on a homestay without the support of their parents.  To ensure that all families are treated fairly, the Club is asking that parents who cannot meet our minimum volunteer expectations donate $1,500 per athlete to the Club.   The $1500 in lieu payment is not available as an alternative to volunteering: it is only for parents who cannot volunteer.  

 

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Parents/Guardians and athletes must follow the WMSC Code of Conduct, WMSC Teamship Values and  the BC Alpine Code of Conduct.  As a volunteer, the following code of conduct has been developed to ensure that each of us supports the mission, vision and values of the Whistler Mountain Ski Club. 

  • Be courteous and helpful - regardless of the circumstances. Remember, we are all volunteers. If you do not know what to do, just ask a more experienced volunteer.

  • Represent our Club well to others on the mountain and follow all rules and regulations.

  • Be sure to thank other volunteers for their contribution.

  • Ensure both you and others have a good time and meet new people.

  • Show up on time for your scheduled shift, dressed appropriately and ready to work.

  • Commit to a shift and avoid last minute cancellations. Races and events cannot proceed without a certain number of volunteers and last minute replacements are challenging to find for the volunteers coordinating events.

  • Do not abandon your duties without first talking to the person in charge of the event or function.

  • All on-mountain volunteers are subject to Whistler Blackcomb’s Site Safety Policy including the requirement to wear a helmet when on skis.

All volunteers must be members of WMSC, or another ski club that is a member of BC Alpine (or equivalent in other Provinces) or Alpine Canada.  A WMSC volunteer membership is free. 

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