Gran Fondo New York

Volunteer

Volunteering for Gran Fondo New York is a fun experience, with camaraderie, goodwill and excitement. Volunteers play a key role in creating an unforgettable Gran Fondo New York experience for athletes, spectators, journalists and special guests from all over the world. The event will draw on the help of 1000 volunteers over three days, May 18-20, 2012 in New York City, Hudson and Bergen County in NJ, Rockland County in NY and Bear Mountain State Park in NY. Volunteers who offer their time, energy, support and enthusiasm are a vital part of GFNY.

Gran Fondo New York: On May 20, 2012, thousands of cyclists from across the USA and 27 countries will ride on a challenging 105 mile course from New York City to Bear Mountain and back. You can think of it as a marathon on bicycles. On May 18-19, 2012 the GFNY two-day expo takes place in midtown Manhattan.

GFNY Athletes: The athletes competing in the event are taking on a big challenge. Many are coming from abroad and may be in New York for the first time. All athletes prepare for many hours each week in the months leading up to the event and train very hard to be able to complete in a challenging event like Gran Fondo New York. Because GFNY is an Official Qualifier for the Amateur World Championship, many athletes will also compete to place in the top 10% of their Age Group in GFNY to qualify for the World Championship.

Everyone Can Help: You can volunteer in a broad range of roles, such as registration, setup, food station, clean up, medical, motorcycle marshal and more. While there are many ways you can help, they all have one thing in common: you are part of the event. No matter if you’re young, old, love cycling or know nothing about it, if you’d like to work at the expo, an aid station or the finish line – we are looking forward to seeing you! Get involved in Gran Fondo New York to support the athletes in their quest up the challenging timed climbs and on their way to the finish line.

Head Volunteers: Are you an experienced volunteer or an athlete who is interested in volunteering? Consider singing on to become a Head Volunteer.

Volunteer T-shirt: Every volunteer receives an official Gran Fondo New York Volunteer t-shirt. This t-shirt will be exclusively for volunteers and not available for sale. The t-shirt identifies a person as an Official GFNY Volunteer. The t-shirt must be worn as the outer-most layer of your clothing - please pick the right t-shirt size!

Dates and Locations: On Friday (May 18, 2012) and Saturday (May 19, 2012), the GFNY athlete registration and vendor expo take place in midtown Manhattan at Penn Pavilion Plaza located at 401 7th Avenue (at 33rd Street).
On Sunday (May 20, 2012), Gran Fondo New York race takes place, with a staging area located on the George Washington Bridge and a race course that covers Bergen County, Rockland County and Bear Mountain. The finish will be in Palisades Interstate Park, New Jersey.

Volunteer Training: GFNY volunteers will receive a Volunteer Information Guide via email that will provide all details pertaining to volunteering at event. We will post the Volunteer Informational Video on YouTube and email you the link so you can watch it at your convenience. There will also be a Volunteer Information Session held two weeks before the designated volunteering day, which volunteers are encouraged to attend to get more information and ask any questions.

Charities, Organizations, Schools: Please reach out to us for you, your club, school or organization and we will let you know how you can help and be part of Gran Fondo New York.

Volunteer Registration Process: Volunteer registration is based on the day of availability (Fri, Sat or Sun) and the location (NYC or Race Course (Bergen County, Rockland County, Bear Mountain)).

Once you have determined the day and location that fits your schedule, select the number of volunteers or shifts that you are registering. Select a number in the Quantity field and click "Register." You will be taken to our Eventbrite page to process your registration.

Fill in your information. Then, select the time and task from the radio buttons. Volunteer registration is based on time, so select the time slot that fits into your schedule. The shifts are 2-5 hours in length, depending on the job. Check below for more details about the specific job descriptions.

Do you have questions that weren't answered here? Send us an email at info@granfondony.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Task Descriptions:

Friday, May 18, 2012 and Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Penn Plaza Pavilion, 33rd and 7th Ave

• + Head Volunteer

  Maintain volunteer attendance list, collect signed volunteer waivers, hand out tshirts/goodies/name tags to incoming volunteers, assign incoming volunteers to tasks, explain a task if a task volunteer does not have time, keep receipts for any expenses (pens, water, etc), reassign volunteers to tasks that need more helpers, work on a task that needs help.

• + Expo/Registration

  Possible areas, depending on preference, availability and time of day: Set up, Greeting, Registration packed pickup, Jersey distribution, Goodie bag distribution, Merchandise sales, Clean up, Inventory.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 at uptown Manhattan or along the course in Bergen County, Rockland County or Bear Mountain

• + NYC: Volunteer HQ

  The check-in point for all volunteers. Give out official volunteer t-shirts, instruct that they must be worn as the outer-most layer of clothing, give out name tag stickers, give brief welcome, thanks and intro, have everyone’s contact info and assignment.

• + NYC: Head Volunteer

  Oversight of the staging area: monitor tasks, contact volunteers from one task to another and reassign if there is an area of need elsewhere (congestion). Help in any area that is short-staffed.

• + NYC: Assistant Head Volunteer

  Help Head Expo/Registration Volunteer. Walk around the expo and work with Head Volunteer to manage and communicate anything that’s happening. Help in any area or task that is short-staffed.

• + NYC: Set up

  This is a physical task. Help with receiving rental equipment, unfolding tables and chairs and tents, garbage bins, setting up tables in their designated places, posting expo signage for each vendor on their tables, help with placing balloons, corrals, unlock portapottys, help vendors setting up their booths.

• + NYC: Greeter+Problem Solver

  Stand near entrance of expo, greet athletes, point athletes to mechanics, toilets, start area, water stations, have Athlete Guidebook in hand in case of any questions.

• + NYC: Corral Signage

  Hold "Expected Finishing Time" signs to divide the starting area. This helps organize the start line of Gran Fondo New York.

• + NYC: Athlete Catcher+Problem Solver

  Stand near entrance of staging area, greet athletes, make sure they are ok. If they are not, help them to the medical area. If they are ok, explain to athletes they are encouraged to walk their bicycles for safety while in the staging area (although this is not required). Show the athlete where are the toilets, post-race athlete meal, awards ceremony, water stations, and vendor expo. Help an athlete in any way you can. Have Athlete Guidebook in hand in case of any questions.

• + NYC: Athlete Meal

  Assist in serving food to athletes after they finish the event.

• + NYC: Green Team / Clean up

  Do you love recycling and keeping order? As part of the Green Team, volunteers walk around and continuously monitor any garbage, make sure trash gets placed in appropriate trash or recycling bins. Assist with any larger trash item handling. Pick up cups and any other items from the ground. Keep the staging area clean. Athletes will be instructed to clean up after themselves and place trash items in their proper receptacles.

• + NYC: Bike Check

  Carefully receive and return checked bicycles. Will be instructed how to hang bicycles to ensure bike safety. We will have a security service watching the entire bike check area. Volunteer will ask athlete for last name and code word, write this on a numbered ticket, place ticket on bike and give number to athlete. Upon return, athlete must present ticket, name and codeword.

• + NYC: Bag Check

  Receive and organize bags for bag check. Athletes will be instructed not to leave valuables in the bags. Athletes will drop bags according to their bib number. After the end of the event, assist in retrieving checked bags for athletes.

• + NYC: Medical Tent

  Medical experience required. Address any athlete ailments in the Medical Area of the staging area. After athletes complete the event, Catchers will greet athletes back to the finish area. Any athletes in need will be assisted to the Medical Area by a Catcher.

• + NYC: Break Down

  This is a physical task. Assist with the break-down of tables, chairs, tents and any other rental equipment. Organize garbage/recycling bags for pickup, collect vendor signage.

• + COURSE: Aid Station Volunteers

  Set up folding tables, unload and remove food and beverages from their packages, set up the food on the tables, fill cups with beverages. Keep the aid station and nearby area clean. Do a clean sweep after the last athlete has passed the area and organize any remaining food and beverages for donation. Medical volunteers are required to have medical experience and are available to help with any medical problems or to contact EMS.

• + COURSE: Motorcycle Volunteer

  Motorcycle Volunteers ride the course, monitor the course and provide assistance to athletes. Each Motorcycle Volunteer has emergency contact phone number to reach medical or technical assistance. Some Motorcycle Volunteers will help with media coverage and will ride with a journalist. Please let us know if you have any preference.

• + COURSE: Directional Volunteer

  Volunteers will (1) pointing cyclists in the correct direction at various turns on the course or (2) stand at areas where cyclists will need to take caution and shout to cyclists to slow down.