Service Hours (Volunteering)

We're all in the same boat!

The GRYC is a volunteer-driven community. While we hire a small seasonal staff to support sailing programs, administration, and maintenance, members play an essential role in keeping the Club running smoothly.

To keep membership fees affordable and maintain the cooperative spirit of the Club, all members are expected to contribute service hours each season. This is not a club where members simply pay dues and leave everything to others.

Although the term "volunteering" has traditionally been used at GRYC, service hours are a membership requirement for all members except Honorary and Retaining members.

On this page

Your Service Hour Requirements

Membership Type	Annual Requirement
Adult membership	8 hours minimum
Family membership	16 hours minimum

For Family memberships, the required hours may be completed by any family member or combination of family members.

Older teens and young adults in a Family membership are encouraged to participate, provided they can complete the activity safely and independently.

How Service Hours Work

1. Join the Club and pay your membership fees.
2. Review available service opportunities.
3. Sign up through the Club's online volunteer management system, iVolunteer.
4. Complete your commitment.
5. Confirm that your hours have been recorded.

Many service hour opportunities are posted early in the season, with new opportunities added throughout the season. Members should:

1. Watch for announcements in member's update emails
2. Check the Club calendar regularly
3. Review iVolunteer frequently
4. Look 2–3 days before events for last-minute openings

Events Calendar iVolunteer

Types of Activities Available

There are many ways to complete your service hours, with opportunities for a wide range of skills, interests, and physical abilities.

Examples include:

• Social events and Club Nights
• Race committee and safety boat support
• Regattas and sailing events
• Clubhouse, dock, and island maintenance
• Administrative and off-site support
• Committee work
• Board service
• Construction and repair projects

If you have a skill, project idea, or way to contribute that is not currently listed in iVolunteer, please contact volunteer@gryc.ca, the Club Manager or a Board member.

Typical Service Hours

The following are examples of activities and their service hour contributions. Specific details for tasks, events, and hours will be communicated by email, on the calendar and/or on the iVolunteer sign up.

Approximately 2 Hours

• Assisting at a short event or program

Approximately 4 Hours (Half Day)

• Bridge Down or Bridge Up
• Sunday race support or safety boat crew
• Club Night help (BBQ, food preparation, registration, set-up, clean-up)
• Facilities projects and work parties

Approximately 8 Hours (Full Day)

• Working at a regatta for the full day
• Major maintenance, repair, or construction projects
• Opening, closing, or maintaining the Club water lines
• Full-day support for a Club event

Approximately 16 Hours (Two Days or More)

• Serving on the Board of Directors
• Serving on a committee
• Leading a major facilities project
• Providing continued IT or Web support
• Administrative support such as membership Registrar, translation and editing
• Large repair, maintenance, or planning projects

Quick Summary

Adult Members

• Must complete at least 8 service hours each season.

Family Members

• Must complete at least 16 service hours collectively each season.

Exempt Members

• Honorary and Retaining Members are exempt, however your participation and contribution are always welcome and encouraged.

Important

• Hours must be signed up for and tracked through iVolunteer.
• Only hours recorded in iVolunteer will count towards your annual membership contribution records.
• Members who do not meet the minimum requirement may be charged a non-compliance penalty.

Service Hours Fact Sheet Service Hours FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions and Detailed Policies

The detailed Service Hours Q&A includes:

• Exemptions and special circumstances
• What happens if you cannot complete your hours
• Non-compliance fees
• Multi-year non-compliance
• What activities count toward service hours
• How to request approval for a new activity

Service Hours FAQ

Using iVolunteer

All service hours are managed through the Club's online volunteer management system, iVolunteer.

How to Sign Up

1. Open the GRYC iVolunteer page.
   Note: you can easily access iVolunteer by clicking on the "Volunteer sign-up" link at the top of any page on the public GRYC website www.gryc.ca. On mobile devices, the "Volunteer sign-up" link is in the menu at the top of the page.
2. Select the event or task that interests you.
3. Enter:
   • Your name
   • Your phone number
   • Your email address
4. Submit your sign-up.
5. Watch for the confirmation email.

Important:

• Ideally, use the same name and email that appear in your GRYC membership profile.
• Always use the same email address and the same spelling of your name each time you sign up. This helps ensure your hours are tracked correctly.
• Need help using iVolunteer? Contact support@gryc.ca.

First-Time Users

The first time you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email containing a verification link.

You must click that verification link to finalize your sign-up.

If you do not verify your email:

• Your spot may reopen to another member
• Your hours may not be tracked

If you do not receive the email:

• Check your spam or junk folder
• Add ivolunteer.com to your safe sender list

Open iVolunteer

How to Cancel a Commitment

If you cannot attend, please cancel as early as possible so another member can take the opportunity.

As a courtesy, also notify the contact person listed in the iVolunteer posting.

To cancel:

1. Open your original confirmation email.
2. Click the "Manage all of your volunteering" link.
3. Click on the "My Commitments" tab.
4. Select the commitment you wish to cancel.

OR

1. Open iVolunteer.
2. Click on the "My Commitments" button.
3. Click on the "My Commitments" tab.

My Commitments (iVolunteer)

Tracking Your Service Hours

It is each member's responsibility to ensure their hours have been recorded correctly.

To review your hours:

1. Open the GRYC iVolunteer homepage.
2. Click on the "My Commitments" button.
3. Enter the email address you use to sign up.
4. A link will be sent showing all of your commitments and hours.

For more detailed instructions, view Access your iVolunteer records.

Important:

• Only hours recorded in iVolunteer will count towards your annual membership contribution records.
• If you believe hours are missing or incorrect, speak with the event lead or Club staff immediately.
• You may also contact volunteer@gryc.ca.

For Family memberships:

iVolunteer does not automatically combine hours from different family members. Each family member's records may need to be viewed separately using the email address they used when signing up.

If You Do Not Complete Your Service Hours

Members who do not fulfil their minimum required service hours may be charged a non-compliance penalty.

Repeated failure to complete service hours without reasonable explanation may result in loss of membership in accordance with GRYC By-laws Article 4.4.

Review Non-Compliance Details in the Service Hours (volunteering) FAQ.

Need Help?

Questions About a Specific Task: Contact the person listed under "Contact" in the iVolunteer posting.

Technical Questions about using iVolunteer: Contact support@gryc.ca.

Questions About iVolunteer or Service Opportunities: Contact Club Manager manager@gryc.ca

Suggest Service Hours Contributions: Contact volunteer@gryc.ca

Questions About Service Hour Policy or Membership Requirements: Contact membership@gryc.ca

Helpful Links

• Service Hours (volunteering) Fact Sheet
• Service Hours (volunteering) FAQ
• iVolunteer Sign-Up
• Events Calendar
• The Blue Book
• GRYC By-laws

Let's all pitch in and make every season a great one!