Beer City Open 2026

Event Chair: Grand Rapids Pickleball Club; Nichole Miller

DETAILS:

 

The Grand Rapids Pickleball Club thanks you for volunteering for the Beer City Open at Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI.  With your help, the BCO will be a successful tournament for the players and spectators.  We hope you enjoy the experience. 

Volunteer Descriptions 

After Tournament Cleanup - Paul Richards/Volunteer (Captain)   This will take place on Modnday following the completion of the tournamnet. Clean up all GRPC items and put them back in place. Move Picnic Tables, Medal stands, and Banners/signs. Pack up rental items. Move bleachers back to where they belong. Lifting is involved.

Announcers - Lori Mann/Volunteer (Captain)   Announce winners, awards, sponsors, and any other requested announcements. Help with medal presentation if needed.

Bathroom/Fan Zone Maintenance - Jason Meadows, and Jeff Trimble,  Check Porta-Jon for cleanliness, you will be supplied with gloves and all nessacry cleaning supplies as well as a wagon to transport them, restock bathroom supplies. Fan zone maintenance will include, making sure the area stays tidy, wiping tables, or any trash left behind, checking in with vendors to make sure their needs are met.

BCO Apparel Tent - Susan Richards/Volunteer (Captain)    ALL SHIFTS: Must be comfortable processing Digital Square transactions or be able to learn it quickly. First shift; set up apparel and make sales. Mid-day shift; restock apparel and make sales. Closing shift; make sales and tear down for overnight,

Beer Garden Servers - Gavin Fullerton, Alex Jandernoa/Volunteer (Co/Captains)     Volunteers will be responsible for serving and selling Beer in the Beer Garden (must be 21+).  This includes checking IDs, collecting payment, restocking beer throughout the event, as well as setup (1st  am shift) or teardown (last pm shift). Open & Closing shifts must be able to move/lift large heavy coolers. Volunteers will be on their feet for a large portion of their shifts.

Beer Garden Monitors - Gavin Fullerton, Alex Jandernoa/Volunteer (Co/Captains)     Volunteers will be responsible for keeping those that are consuming alcohol from leaving the premises with alcohol. Volunteers will be on their feet for a large portion of their shifts.

Event Entrances- Ronette Smith/Volunteer (Captian)  Volunteers will be stationed at one of the 3 entrances to the venue and will be responsible for checking for proper credentials before granting access.

First Aid - Nikki Hoort, JC Sicard and Deb Bates (Volunteer Co/Captains)     Requirements; Medical background, CPR certification, and knowing how to use an AED. Assist injured players and administer first aid during the tournament.  This position will be paid $80 per shift.

First Aid Medical Assistant - Nikki Hoort, JC Sicard and Deb Still (Volunteer Co/Captains)   No medical background is needed. Will assist the medical worker at the first aid tent: bring supplies to court, pass out band-aids/water, may help with minor cuts/scratches, etc.

Information Desk - Ben and Kathryn Breuninger/ Volunteer (Co/Captains)    Help people navigate the park, find courts, and share daily schedules.  Answer questions about the GR area, and make suggestions for dining, hotels, modes of transportation, etc. Lost and Found will also be located at the information desk. The last shift of the volunteers will make sure the lost items collected throughout the day are stored away each night.

Medal and Prize Presentations - Pati Sheldon, Cindy Rosema, Suzanne Schmieder, Beth Andringa (Volunteer Co/Captains)    Check the brackets online to see if any divisions have ended or are close to wrapping up. Listen for winner announcements and meet medal winners at the podium with their medals. Hand out medals with a smile and plenty of enthusiasm, and offer to take photos for players using their phones if needed.

MLP/PRO Command Center- Paul and Susan Richards, Nichole Miller/Volunteer (Captains)  You will resposible for monitoring the entrance, keeping the lounge area tidy, laying out/cleaning up meals, and keeping snacks/drinks stocked. This building is located arcoss the street from the park.

National Anthem - Kristen Resler/Volunteer (Captain)   Sing the National Anthem at the beginning of each day.

Parking Lot - Jerry Phillips, Keane Fuller/Volunteer (Co/Captains)     Direct players, volunteers, and guests to designated parking areas with a pleasant and helpful attitude. 

Pre-Tournament Setup - Paul Richards, Tim Maczinski, Mark Kopcynski Volunteer (Co/Captains)      Help set up the following; chairs, medal stands, vendor area, tournament desk, player check-in desk, tents, stantions etc. Also, help with hanging banners and moving picnic tables. 

Referee Assistance and Tournament Desk Assistants - Bob Trout/Volunteer and Rachel Lee/Captains   Assist the referees and help the tournament desk as needed. Run score sheets to and from courts/tournament desk. Keep referee tent and their food table clean, organized, and available to refs. Required for both outdoors and if we move indoors.
* Help keep the Referee tent food/water organized/supplied/cooled/etc.
* Other tasks as needed/appropriate.

Registration Desk - Carla Walker and Cari Brooks/Volunteer Co-captains      Help the athletes check in on a laptop and/or hand out gift bags, answer general questions, and answer questions regarding how the tournament is going to run.

Reserved Seating Monitors-  Chris Killman/Captain    You will be responsible for checking credentials of those entering the MLP reserved seating area. You will let  credentialed players in and out during time outs or intermissions only.

Runners- Nichole Miller - If needed, you may be called on to help out in various ways, like blowing off a court, delivering ice, emptying trash cans, or relaying messages. You’ll be asked to carry a walkie-talkie and return it to its charging station at the end of your shift. Volunteers will spend much of their shift on their feet, making this a great fit for someone who knows the park layout, has good physical abilities and enjoys being on the go.

Set-up Crew (Mornings during the tournament) - Tom Miller/Volunteer Captain    Clean courts that need it. If you have a gas blower bring it along. Help set up tents, distribute ice, fill water coolers and place them in proper locations, pick up trash and lost and found items from the day before, wipe down bleachers and vip chairs if wet or dirty, set up tables and chairs, measure net heights, and make sure new balls are on each court.

Tear-down Crew (Evenings during the tournament) Nate Seaman (Volunteer Captain)   Help put away everything that can not be left out overnight. Clean up the area, and take out trash at the end of the night. On the last day of the tournament take down everything and help with clean-up.

Trash/Recycle  John Chronowski, Connie Brooks - Empty trash cans and recycle bins throughout the park when full, occasionally check composting bins to make sure no improper items are put in it.

Water Coolers and Court Cleaning - Todd Emery, Rich Abel, Greg Mutch, Tom Reilly (Volunteer Co/Captains)    Keep courts clean and refill 5-gallon containers with ice and water throughout the facility. You may also have to change out water jugs in the VIP and Owner deck areas.

Volunteer Check-In Tent - Nikki Hoort, Nichole Miller (Volunteer Captains)    Check-in volunteers, set up and restock refreshments for volunteers. Distribute T-shirts to volunteers. Explain to volunteers their duties (a written explanation will be provided to you for each task.) Pack up shirts and information for storage overnight.

****New for 20226!! Please note: All volunteers will be asked to wear their volunteer shirt during their shift. When you have completed your shift we ask that you please change back out of you volunteer shirt. We do not want anyone not on duty wearing a volunteer shirt. Thank you for you cooperation.*****

 

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