Here's an interesting study that talks about the volunteering rates by city. I'd say there's a reasonable correlation between places where volunteering is high and the level of disc golf activity. Here are the top 12 cities for volunteering and their volunteer rates:

1 Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 40.5%
2 Salt Lake City, UT 38.4%
3 Austin, TX 38.1%
4 Omaha, NE 37.8%
5 Seattle, WA 36.3%
6 Portland, OR 35.8%
7 Kansas City, MO 34.9%
8 Milwaukee, WI 34.4%
9 Charlotte, NC 34.3%
10 Tulsa, OK 33.7%
11 Cincinnati, OH 33.4%
12 Columbus, OH 33.3%

Since 1997, 7 of these 12 have hosted or will be hosting Worlds.
www.nationalservice.org/pdf/VIA_CITIES/VIA_cities_summary.pdf (http://www.nationalservice.org/pdf/VIA_CITIES/VIA_cities_summary.pdf)
The full list of cities is on page 14 of this PDF file.

It goes on to talk about regional volunteering with the midwest and west have higher rates than the south or northeast. Suburban and rural areas have higher rates than inner city areas. Baby boomers who are now over age 45 have always had higher rates of volunteering than any age group older or younger than them since this data was tracked. Not surprising our TDs and leaders have been predominantly baby boomers and still are.

The following quote from the report really grabbed my attention:

"Our failure to retain volunteers from one year to the next is cause for concern and should serve as a wake-up call to all those individuals, groups, and organizations that care deeply about addressing the nation's most pressing needs through volunteering."

Take care,
Harold

On the other hand, I see that the next-to-the-last city in volunteerism also hosted a Worlds. Or maybe you're right---I wasn't there, but heard that they were a little shorthanded on volunteers to staff those Worlds.

All interesting, but I'd guess the number of volunteers for disc golf to be so small, in relation to total volunteers in a metropolitan area, as to be statistically insignificant. By which I think I mean that a city with low average volunteerism could easily have high disc golf volunteerism with relatively few volunteers---or vice versa.

Miami had imported super volunteer Keith Johnson who did the lion's share of the heavy lifting for the Miami Worlds. He's now in Georgia and still going strong. They also needed at least two maybe three temp courses out of four to pull it off so the base of permanent courses wasn't strong.

Miami had imported super volunteer Keith Johnson who did the lion's share of the heavy lifting for the Miami Worlds. He's now in Georgia and still going strong. They also needed at least two maybe three temp courses out of four to pull it off so the base of permanent courses wasn't strong.



To clarify, I was not really imported, just came back from AZ where I moved in April 2001 to finish what I started in 1998. Was originally supposed to be the 2001 Am Worlds, until the PDGA combined AM & PRO Worlds in 2000 (which wasn't on the table when my bid was accepted in 1998) which pushed Tennessee and Miami back a year. I had lived in Miami my whole life, and was planning on moving in the summer of 2001 after Worlds to raise Lorelei elsewhere. I had set everything up with the Parks and Hotel, before moving from Miami, and kept in constant touch with the Course Directors, Hotel, and Parks Dept. by phone and E-mail until I came back in July to spend 18 days there.

There was only 1 temp course and 3 perm courses(2nd Kendall course had a few temp holes due to Park issues)

There were 2 PAID Course Directors at EACH course, but some earned their pay more than others, which is human nature (note was made to self to pay AFTER next time :p)

So the volunteerism really boiled down to myself, several locals and out-of-town players who helped on a daily basis to set up and tear down Amelia Earhart's temp course.

Keith Johnson
super volunteer according to Chuck :D

keith- every time i've ever been to a tourney where you were in attendance from virginia to nevada you have been found helping out with scores, etc. - you are truly a super volunteer.
(and i will own you for a dollar once again pre-tourney in vegas!- can't speak for HH as i will be distracted.:) )

keith- every time i've ever been to a tourney where you were in attendance from virginia to nevada you have been found helping out with scores, etc. - you are truly a super volunteer.




agreed