Take the Lake 2011

Vols. Needed: Open
When: June & July
Where: In your home town
Time Commitment: An hour or two

DONE 
But if you'd like to hang some more, just contact us

We need to get the word out, and you, our advance forces can help! Please help us hang posters in storefronts throughout your town, or in your workplace or worship–place, or school, etc.

In Columbus County, we need these towns covered:
- Fair Bluff
- Chadbourn
- Tabor City
- Buckhead
- Bolton
- Acme-Delco-Riegelwood

Vols. Needed: 2
When: Late August & Early September
Where: Along the state park trail
Time Commitment: About 2 hours each of 2 days

ASSIGNED: 
Boy Scout Troop 513 
& Cub Scout Pack 507

Vols. Needed: 5-10
When: August 27, all day
Where: At the Lake dam
Time Commitment: 1 hour or more

With the introduction of TTL X-TREME! where participants complete all four Personal Endurance Challenges in a single day, we have new opportunities for support volunteers. Most of the help will be needed near Dale's Restaurant, where the PECs start and finish.

We have nine participants signed up so far. We'll need to record their times, and provide meals, drinks, etc. For everything else, these athletes will pretty much be on their own.

I think we have the situation solved regarding people "attending" the Start/Finish line, as all participants may have assistants. But if you'd like to be a part of this event, just click on the right, and we'll be happy to have you!

Volunteers needed: 8
When: M-F Aug. 29 - Sept. 2
Where: Herald Office Solutions, Whiteville
Time Commitment: 4 1/2 hour shifts

ASSIGNED:RSVP

For the week prior to Take the Lake, we'll have a little party next door to The News Reporter. Take the Lake participants who preregistered will be able to come in to Herald Office Solutions and pick up their numbered bibs, and buy a t-shirt if they like! We'll need people to help out each morning and afternoon of that week. A free lunch at Sub-sational is included!

If you belong to RSVP, just contact Melody, as that proud group is taking the lead on this great time.

Volunteers needed: 2-5
When: Friday, Sept. 2
Where: All around the Lake
Time Commitment: A few hours

ASSIGNED: 
N.C. Boys & Girls Homes 
Lions Cottage

Do you remember the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon..." that brought on the tradition of hanging yellow ribbons to welcome troops home from war?

Well, we want to welcome our troops home and wish them a healthy life after their service with hundreds of yellow ribbons tied everywhere around the Lake. 

We have bought several thousand feet of ribbon, and the fine senior volunteers at the Dept. of Aging in Whiteville have made several hundred beautiful yellow bows.

We need a small crew to hang the bows around the lake, so when our military guests walk, run and bicycle, they will feel welcomed home.

UPDATE: Kelly and the Lions Cottage at the N.C. Boys & Girls Homes has taken charge of this, and we're thrilled to have them. Thanks, Kelly, & boys & girls!

Vols. Needed: 2
When: Labor Day Weekend 
Where: Around Lake Waccamaw
Time Commitment: Several hours, on & off


ASSIGNED:
HARRY FOLEY 

We have banners and signs, and directional signs, and cases of water and all kinds of odds and ends that need to taken care of, and Harry Foley is just the man to take care of things. Want to be on his crew? Check the box!

Vols. Needed: 12
When: Labor Day Weekend (see below)
Where: Lake Waccamaw State Park Visitors Center
Time Commitment: 1 hour or more

There is always a bustle of activity about a half-hour before each Personal Endurance Challenge, as hundreds of people show up and sign up and pick up their numbered bibs. 

Things should be easier on everyone this year as we are accepting online waiver "signatures," but it's usually an exciting time, so join the party!

Vols. Needed: 6-12
When: Saturday 10 a.m.
Where: State Park Visitors Center
Time Commitment: 3-4 hours

ASSIGNED: 
Edwin Russ, 
with assistance from 
the Whiteville Rotary Club

We want to celebrate our veterans and active-duty personnel in some way, so we'd like a group to serve a healthy, cool lunch for participants as they finish the Walk / Run. 

This would be free for veterans, and maybe others, but we'll work out the details. We are working on sponsors to donate food, and we just need some big-hearted GIs for a little KP duty.  

Vols. Needed: 5-10
When: Labor Day Weekend
Where: At start locations of each PEC

ASSIGNED: 
BB&T

It sounds simple, really. We use computer software to record every participant's time as they cross the finish line, but we have four PECs with hundreds of participants, and it's very important that we don't mess this up.

So, we think this will work best if a group of people would take charge of the whole timing system. The software is very easy to use, but the task is complicated a bit since we'll match up registration information for each participant. 

Any business, organization or other group that could roust about 6-12 people for that weekend would enjoy tremendous status as the Take the Lake Timing Team. 

You also get to hand out the JAMAs -– awesome little awards that everybody's collecting -– and you will see more smiles each day than you usually see all year!

Please check the box at right if you at all think this might work for you and your group, and we'll talk about it.

The fine folks at BB&T -- sticklers for details, all of 'em -- have taken this project on, and we are thrilled! 

Vols. Needed: 4 (1 at a time)
When: Labor Day Weekend
Where: At start locations of each PEC
Time Commitment: About 4 hours

ASSIGNED:
Tesa Bush

T-shirts. Everybody wants them, and we'll have hundreds of them to sell. 

We are fortunate to have Tesa Bush volunteer to head our "wardrobe department," but she sure could use some help now and then. She is great fun to work with, and everyone around her has a lot of fun. How about you?
 

Vols. Needed: You, your fam & your buds
When: All weekend
Where: Any house along the TTL route
Time: A few hours

ASSIGNED: 
You!

We want you to enjoy yourself at one of the 500 homes around Lake Waccamaw Labor Day weekend. Let's look at this party in three parts:

1. The Street - As walkers pass by Saturday morning, or cyclists Sunday afternoon, hand them some water or light snacks or something. It's fun!

2. Front Yard - Make up cheer signs to encourage participants. Or promote your church, school organization or even business –- the more, the merrier, and, heck, tacky isn't so bad either! We believe these signs will distract our participants and help them achieve their goals.

3. Back Yard - This is where you throw the party. Invite your family, friends or coworkers -- it's a great time for reunions of family, college, military friends or any group. The bigger your party, the more participants for us, so think big!

And don't forget about this year's military theme, so spread the red, white and blue throughout your yard to celebrate beautiful America, and a few yellow ribbons to welcome our troops, too. 

If you have a veteran family member, friend or coworker you would like to honor, hang a photograph or other tribute for everyone to see.

No need to sign up for this one; just rally your fam, buds & coworks, and party!

Vols. Needed: 2-5 over two days
When: Saturday morning & Sunday afternoon
Where: Along south shore of Lake Waccamaw
Time Commitment: About 6 hours
ASSIGNED: 
Boy Scout Troop 500

We need more water support along the state park trail, and we figure the best way to get heavy cases of water miles into the woods, is just to bring it in by boat. We'll designate a few points along the trail that are near the water, and give you cases of water. 

You'll need a boat, of course, and we'll need to find a short pier close to the road to make getting the water to the boat easy.

Doug Sasser, leader of Boy Scout Troop 500 in Hallsboro has offered to help organize this effort, but if you have a boat, that will surely help. Check a box and we'll keep in touch.

Vols. Needed: 2-4 over two days
When: Saturday morning & Sunday afternoon
Where: The dam
Time Commitment: About 2 hours

ASSIGNED: 
Steve Smith

The dam crossing the Waccamaw River wasn't built for bicyclists (or even walkers) to easily cross it, so we build a simple ramp and "bridge" for our Bike & Hikers and Run / Walkers. 

But it's still tricky, so they can use a little guidance and helping hands. We have been fortunate to have a dedicated crew here, but even they can use a little help. 


On Saturday, we just need people to say "watch your step," and to help anyone who needs it. But Sunday is a little more of a challenge
Steve Smith did this last year and said. "I've never been thanked so much!" 

Steve will head this up this year, but anyone is welcome to stop by and lend a hand.

Vols. Needed: Open
When: Sunday & Monday mornings
Where: On Lake WaccamawTime Commitment: About 4-5 hours
Leader: Charles King

During the Paddle and Swim Personal Endurance Challenges, we really like to have as many "friendly" boats on the lake as we can. So sign up to spend a nice day on the water. 

We rarely have trouble, but if we do, you'll be there to help, or to make a quick phone call and get help! 


Contact Charles King for more information, at: 653-5161

Vols. Needed: 2-4 (plus more, for fun!)
When: Late Sunday & Monday mornings
Where: Dale's Sunday & Dale's or the Dam Monday
Time Commitment: About 3-4 hours
ASSIGNED: 
- Powell & Powell Attorneys: Walk / Run Sat. morning
- BB&T: Paddle Sun. morning
- Interim Healthcare: Bike & Hike Sun. afternoon

This will be great fun, as you will be the person people see after completing their Personal Endurance Challenges, and you'll give them water, snacks and a big smile! 

This is both a volunteer and a sponsorship opportunity, as we need businesses or organizations that will "take over" this important part of Take the Lake for us. We figure you will need to spend about $200 on drinks, snacks, fruit, etc., and for that you will receive sponsorship status and the media exposure that goes with it. 

We do have a need for someone who would be interested in catering to the 30 or so swimmers. Maybe a light lunch. Sounds like something a veteran of the Labor Day Swim might like to do.

Vols. Needed: 3-5 
When: Late Sunday 
Where: Public roads around Lake
Time Commitment: About 2 hours

ASSIGNED: 
Boy Scout Troop 500

We have been struggling to avoid the massive waste of single-use water bottles since we began Take the Lake. We tried offering refilling stations, but we have given in to modern-day practicality (and sanitation.)

We have at least 100 cases of water ready and we expect more. But the Lake has no recycling program, so how to recycle all those bottles? Easy, and in just three steps!

1. We will communicate to all homeowners on the route, asking them to place boxes at their curbs Labor Day weekend with the word "Bottles" on them.

2. Participants Saturday and Sunday will drop their empty plastic bottles in these containers.

3. Volunteers will drive a truck with a small trailer around the lake and collect the bottles.

We imagine the trailer might have some kind of chicken-wire sides on it, or something, and the people who grab the boxes and toss the bottles into the trailer might actually ride on a golf cart, or something. The route to cover is 10 miles. 

Doug Sasser, leader of Boy Scout Troop 500 in Hallsboro has offered to help organize this effort. Thanks Judge!