Please Volunteer for the TCC Playground
Committee
The new Topanga Community Club
Playground is an exciting project with great potential, but we need your help
to make it a reality. Part of the idea behind the community
built playground is that it is managed and organized by us, the caring
and concerned members of the community, not by someone who is
simply hired to assemble a pre-fabricated playground. This means we need a
great deal of support and involvement from everyone leading up to the week when
we'll come together and build our dream playground. Many hands make light
work!
PLEASE consider volunteering to be a
chairperson in one of the following areas for the committee. If you and a
friend want to share the responsibilities, co-chairs are also welcome. Time
commitment depends on each position, but would generally be a few hours a week
to start and possibly more as we get closer to our build week, which we hope
will be in late April or early May. We need chairs for the following positions:
Volunteers: Primarily responsible for recruiting individuals and group
commitments to provide the labor to construct the project over a 5- or 6-day
period. Based on our final design, Play by Design will specify details for work
schedules and number of volunteers required. This is also a position that is
better shared by two people.
Public
relations: This coordinator has
the very important task of building the community support that is vital to a
successful project. It is also necessary to thank volunteers and supporters
before, during and after construction, and generally give correct information
about the project. Many projects have a website that is continuously updated
with current information. For Topanga, we already have a BLOG that
would simply require updating every week and more often if there's news!
Fundraising:
Fundraising requires a dedicated team
approach and a sensible action plan that combines grassroots fundraising,
business donations, and possibly some grants. Play
by Design will help assist this coordinator or team with
sample forms and ideas that have been successful for hundreds of other
communities just like ours.
Tools: Play by Design will provide a
list of the tools we’ll need to complete the playground. This coordinator
gathers the necessary tools, typically loaned by individuals, rental shops, and
occasionally tool manufacturers. This person or people will be
responsible for distribution of equipment in safe working condition during the
build and arranges for owners to pick up their tools in “check-in”
condition at the end of the project.
Food: This coordinator secures donations from local restaurants and
caterers, organizations, etc. to feed volunteers during construction. Play
by Design provides an outline that includes the
suggested number of meals to provide per shift each day of Build Week.
Materials: Ideally, this is someone who is willing to dig in with a
creative approach and willingness to seek material donations regardless of the
value of the items (not necessarily a person in the trades or even familiar
with materials). The success of this individual’s efforts will have a
direct impact on the project budget. Lesser-value items will increase
the network and base of support throughout the community. This person or team
will also need to develop a budget and purchase materials based on Play
by Design's specifications two months before the
build. If you consider shopping a competitive sport or love to bargain hunt,
this may be for you!
Childcare: Creates a structured program to provide supervision of
children while parents are working on the playground site. Typically, this is a
team of individuals, and experienced childcare providers are very helpful.
Design and
Special Needs: This person, who may be
the parent of a special-needs child, gathers input on the community’s
accessibility needs if any. Also in charge of gathering the artists in
town to be available for the build.
