Enhancing Volunteer Management: A Case Study from UAE Motorsport Events

1. VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT Sean O ‘Connor

2. This Presentation • UAE Case Study MERC to F1 • Pan Regional Training • Use of Research • Future needs from FIA

3. The Challenge • For 25 years the biggest event in our calendar was the Dubai Rally part of MERC and the Desert Challenge • We had a pool of 180 volunteers for these events • Last year saw the debut of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the need for 700 trained officials

4. Our Approach • Play safe – import 50 % from UK • Upgrade our skills of our existing team • Recruit 400 new officials and provide training • Research the motivation and demographics of our marshals. Use this data to put in place a marketing campaign in 2010 • Be self sufficient in 5 years with 1000 trained volunteers.

5. Training Summary 2009 • TOSFED Training partnership • 8 Training sessions • Target high local participation in Medical and Technical areas

6. Research Approach • Recruit leading US academic in the area of volunteer motivation to work with Abu Dhabi Higher College of Technology = knowledge transfer and public affairs benefit • Survey of volunteers at sign on • Selected interviews

7. Research Findings • 27 Nationalities • Global decline in volunteering • Motivation different by different audience • Copy of report available to other ASNs

8. The Outcome • Highly successful event • Best Grand Prix • Research data allowed us to advance plan to be self sufficient • Development of FIA regional strategy for motorsport

9. Our Plan • Is based on : • Recruitment • Training • Retention Volunteer management is equally a marketing & communications challenge as much as a training one.

10. Pan Regional Training • New FIA plan focused on a collaborative approach • Training a priority • Grassroot the focus • 1st Regional Stewards meeting held in Lebanon in June – 11 ASNs • More planned

11. 2010 Approach • Micro marketing campaign • Over subscribed allowed us to be selective • Training by former FIA Institute trainer • Arabic content and training • Ahead on 5 year plan – only 20 % non local

12. What do we plan next • Work with FIA Institute & regional training provider • Train the Trainer ( 40 ) on an annual basis to enable in house training going forward • Develop the Recruitment and Retention process • Use research to support

13. What do we need from the FIA going forward ? • Volunteer Commission welcome • More holistic approach from the FIA Institute e.g. • Grassroot training support • Recruitment and Retention support • Software

14. Thank You