You can not mandate volunteerism. Either people want to participate in our great sport, or they do not. Drivers, marshals, or administrative personnel at these events bring their skills and talents to lend to their personal enjoyment of these activities. That personal enjoyment may include one specialty, or multiple specialties depending on the club, track or event.
Ever since the first ever racing event, the need for 'officiating' was recognized. Even if it was simply one body with a green flag to start 'em and whatever they used for a 'checkered' flag to finish. The only scoring was whoever made it across the line. Ever since the first racing itself brought spectators, if mainly family and friends. We have evolved.
But the basic concept is the same. We (I) participate because it's a personal choice. We (I) may, and do volunteer for one club in one specialty and another club in an entirely different specialty. Why? Because I like it. I find the fun and I put in the time necessary to become proficient at those specialties. Today, as I think about it, driving is just one more specialty/craft associated with our sport. No more, or less important to the ultimate survival of the club or sanction.
Some of us want to concentrate on only one aspect while others will volunteer to do more for the sport/clubs/events. You cannot tell people how to use their talents. You can only sell them on the positive aspects and appreciate the level and value of their commitment.
I have had the pleasure of serving as Chief of Flagging & Communication with ORSCCA for 8 years (so I know a bit about the anxious contemplation of filling the position around the track as I waited until the morning meeting to fill the list). I had served with CSCC as a Safety Marshal and then the position of Chief Safety Marshal for 16 years. A position that is not recognized within the regulations, but certainly recognized, and unquestionable necessity for any racing event with any sanction but ours. I've worked with Team Continental and NWMS in the same capacity at more than a couple of their events also. Now I may well jump into the Novice program and work/participate/endeavor to earn an ICSCC race license.
No one told me that's what I have to do. I decided 30 years ago that those were the things that I wanted to do. That is how I apply myself to our great sport.
To keep the past in perspective, the ROD had patches given to members way back in the 80s through the early 90s. But for one reason or another, they were dropped as a part of ROD membership fee (budgetary I assume). It was time to bolster the image of the ICSCC ROD and no doubt with the help of some generously volunteered donations to a cause, the ROD was able to re-institute that old tradition.
What's wrong with the image of the ROD, you may ask? Try this sometime. At your next Gen. Membership meeting, or even right now where you sit, with Section 21 of the PPM at the ready, ask the room, or youself what the purpose of the ICSCC ROD is. Why was it was formed? And how does it apply to our operations today? Listen to the answers before you read the text out loud. It's not a recruitment facilitation. It's a training facilitation. Much like the Novice Drivers' program is set up to be. But without the supportive infrastructure. Essentially that means what we've said all along.
Training, training, training. Practice, practice, practice. No different today, as then. Regardless of how many remember or were there back 'in the day'.
Sports car racing is my passion, not my job. My accepted responsibility is to make sure that those drivers that are in my charge, whether it be from a flagging, communication or safety response perspective, are as safe and compliant to the relevant sanctions' regulations as I can possibly make them.
Many share that commitment. But you can't make them. You can't make them.
It's negative enforcement. Much like sentencing a driver to a turn station, not really for exposure and training, but for punishment. It accomplishes very little. The morning meetings are still sparse and the team that they are assigned to may recieve more of a liability than an asset.
Hiring a body of "track workers" is not a preference if a club can't budget for the overhead. And it's an unfortunate fact that abilities are limited to exposure to training and practice. Track days and driver trainings do not a well rounded race marshal make. No matter how much they get paid, it's 'apples and oranges' compared to the commitment that we see at every event, whether SCCA, CASC, ICSCC and up to the professional ranks.
Each club must commit itself to recruitment and retention. Family, friends, and those that are willing to wear more than one hat. So that some of those with more than one hat can enjoy their passion too.