HFC United

HFC United has been organized to provide your children with a fun, but educational soccer program.  The club is made up of 100% volunteers and needs every family’s support and help to make sure it is a successful program. 

This page has the current 2012 Volunteer forms available to print and a Question and Answer section that will hopefully answer most of your questions.  A few key items and dates to remember in regards to HFC Volunteering:

·        All HFC families are required to provide four (4) hours of volunteer service

o   If you choose not to volunteer, a $100 non-volunteer fee is assessed

·        March 15, 2012 - 2012 Volunteer forms due

o   Volunteer deposit check for $100 needs to be included with form

o   If not volunteering, the form must be marked accordingly and $100 non-volunteer fee must be included

o   Must be submitted through the U.S. mail

·        August 1, 2012 – volunteer hours must be complete

·        August 15, 2012 – 2012 Volunteer Tracking forms due

o   May be submitted through the U.S. mail or online

Volunteer opportunities from the HFC Club will be distributed through email.  “HFC Soccer” will always be in the subject line.  However, remember your volunteer activities do NOT have to be at the Club level.  A lot of the volunteer opportunities available will come at the Team level so be sure to check with your child’s team to see how you can help.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding anything ‘volunteer’, please contact me.

Q: What exactly is the HFCvolunteer requirement?

A: Each family is asked to give four (4) hours of time to HFC and a $100 deposit in which a check made payable to the HFC will be held until a family’s four hours of service is complete.   It is four (4) hours per family - not per participant.  So a family with three kids registered with the HFC is asked to volunteer for only four (4) hours. 

If a family chooses not to volunteer a $100 non-volunteer fee will be assessed at the beginning of the season.

Q: Why has HFC implemented this requirement?

A: HFC is an all-volunteer organization that requires an enormous amount of time and effort to be successful.  It is unfair to ask all the heavy lifting be done by only a few people. The $100.00 check and four (4) hour requirement will hopefully encourage more volunteer participation.  It is HFC’s goal to not cash a single one of those $100 checks – we would much rather have the help.

Q: As my teams volunteer coordinator will this meet my 4 hour requirement?

A: Yes - all 4 hours

Q: What is the deadline for volunteer hours?

A: Hours must be completed by 8/1/2012 to avoid the $100 volunteer deposit check being deposited in the HFC United scholarship / financial assistance account.

Q: How and when are hours submitted to have check returned?

A: Via the 2012 HFC United Volunteer Tracking form by 8/15/12.  Blank forms can be found on www.HFCsoccer.org under the “Volunteers” link in the Information tab.  Completed forms can be mailed to PO BOX 596, Hastings, MN 55033 or emailed to michelle.youngstrom@comcast.net, the club volunteer coordinator.  (Online submission forthcoming)

Q: Does each team’s volunteer coordinator have to collect these forms?

A: Each team’s volunteer coordinator can collect all of the Volunteer Tracking forms for their team, but the forms can also be sent in directly from each family as well.

Q: The 2012 Volunteer Tracking form states the completed volunteer hours must be confirmed or verified --- who can do this?

A: The form states the following may confirm hours: HFC Board Member, Volunteer Coordinator, Committee Chair, Tournament Director or Coach.

Signatures of these individuals are not required - but a printed name is asked to confirm the hours served, if necessary.

Q: How will volunteer opportunities be distributed?

A: Communication will follow this model: Volunteer Request from HFC committee/board -> club volunteer coordinator -> team volunteer coordinator -> team parents.

The information will then most likely be emailed as it is the most efficient way to communicate. The email will contain specifics on the task - # of people needed, what, when, where, and contact info for the interested person(s) to get in contact with.

The HFC Board and committees will present many opportunities for service, but should not be the only source for volunteer hours. Teams should create their own opportunities - some of which can include calling trees, shared administrative duties, assisting at practices, uniform coordination.

Community volunteering is also highly recommended at such places as the YMCA, Senior Center, United Way, Scouts ....be creative but be honest.

Q: As the team’s Volunteer Coordinator, do I have to track the hours?

A: Yes and No --- No, you do not have to track the individual hours of each family on your team, but, yes, you should have a basic track of who has and has not completed their volunteer requirement. When distributing tasks at a club or team level try to offer to families that have not completed their requirement over ones that have....hopefully this will minimize the "well no one asked me to help" excuse come 8/1/2012 when hours are due.

Q: What are my, as a Team Volunteer Coordinator, next steps?

A:

1) Create an email group or distribution list --- most email programs allow you to do so --- with all of your team’s parent and player emails. This will help you quickly and easily forward requests onto your team. The first email HFC suggests you send about volunteer opportunities would include this Question and Answer document.  It may clarify the HFC volunteer requirements and expectations and minimize the questions you have to try and answer or research.

2) Create a tracking list to narrow down which families have and have not completed their requirements.

3) Ask all families that do have their requirements done to send in their completed forms so we can get their check returned to them.

4) Start thinking of team level volunteer opportunities

5) Check email often to make sure requests are distributed to your team ASAP.  Many of the tasks we have available only require 3-4 individuals...early bird gets the worm, but again by filtering out the families that have completed their requirement we give everyone the chance to help out.

6) Relay any further questions or concerns you have to HFC’s Volunteer Coordinator – Michelle Youngstrom.  She will do her best to get you an answer as quickly as possible.