Dear fellow youth,
We are complex. We are unpredictable. We are smarter. We are faster. We are ‘always on’. We are the most powerful generation since the creation of time and we are the youth of today.
Above all, we like a challenge. And there’s a rather large one needing our assistance - Harness Racing.
The aging fan base of our sports audience is carried down the line into the councils and organizations that currently help shape the future of our sport. Our presence and our voice in the decision making department is essentially non-existent.
That changes starting now.
Standardbred Canada recently announced the creation of the Harness Racing Youth Council to help marry youth involvement with promoting the sport to younger generations across Canada.
The group of 8-10 passionate Harness Racing fans, between the ages of 18-25, will help build a stronger sport for everyone. The aim is to generate passion and a connection between the racing industry and those fans and could-be fans under the age of 25.
The volunteer based SC Youth council will work together and with Standardbred Canada‘s marketing department to generate ideas for campaigns, events, and other promotional items to enhance the racing experience for young fans and soon-to-be racing fans alike.
What We Are Looking For:
We are looking for young, passionate, creative individuals involved in the harness racing industry in one way or another across the country who are interested in contributing some of their time to volunteer in a marketing capacity with Standardbred Canada’s industry marketing department and the developing council to promote the industry to Canada’s under 25 population. If you are between the ages of 18 and 25, you’re already eligible!
Volunteer Vision:
• To use your passion, connections, skills, and ideas to endorse Standardbred racing to youth and young adults and engage them in the racing community in your local area and at your local tracks.
Goals & Responsibilities:
• Minimum 1 year commitment to the council
• Identify unique opportunities to get youth involved in track initiatives and to undertake projects and campaigns to support your vision for the future of youth involvement in Standardbred racing in your region.
• The planning and execution of youth-focused events and initiatives at your local track
• Recruitment of volunteers to assist with initiatives and events
• Regular correspondence/brainstorming sessions between members and SC industry marketing department
The SC Youth Council is one of a kind. It’s the worlds first racing council to bring young adults to the table to help shape the future of Harness Racing. It’s a game changer.
To all the young adults out there reading this, please take a few minutes and apply to become a part of this wonderful initiative. It’s a perfect opportunity to boost your resume, gain some great connections and experience Harness Racing from a different side of the fence.
We are the future of this awesome sport. Together, let’s make it even better!
Sincerely,
Kyle Burton
Acting President
SC Youth Council
To apply, click here. For more info, contact me @ [email protected]
I think this is a great
I think this is a great initiative thank you SBC, there is no industry without the young filling your shoes and participating down the road. Giving youth a say in their future is a win win for all!
On the note of youth, The future of Harness racing is already way ahead of us when it comes to technology. Kids these days are tweeting, and updating their Facebook while brushing their teeth and so I think to honestly engage this techno savvy age group this site which has wonderful writers, stories and much needed data needs to allow this site to move towards allowing users to share stories through social media sites, I would just as soon want to see a FB post about "Entries drawn for Gold Cup n Saucer" than "Bombings in Libya Kill ...."
The exposure for ad revenue would be large, hopefully the new youth movement Kyle is heading will be the spark needed to move SBC into the future.
Kyle its great that you send
Kyle its great that you send out the note to all - unfortunately 18-25 year olds want to know "Whats in it for me". If you are offering them part of this council, with no form of compensation, not even mentioning reimbursement, you are probably not going to get the response you want.
Lastly, may I humbly suggest you get a member on the team who actually doesnt have a relative in the sport. A completely fresh outlook cant hurt. The question becomes how many 18-25 year olds without a relative in the sport are there, and can you get them to join the council without their benefitting somehow from the experience (and volunteer hours or a note on a resume is not what most of them have in mind).
I wish I was 25 again; good luck to you - this council is needed as we need this generation, (since we missed at least one already) to embrace standardbreds.
In reply to Kyle its great that you send by john jackson
I agree John with getting
I agree John with getting some people not connected to the sport for an outside view. I disagree, however, with your first statement - all 18-25 year olds aren't like that and many seek community service on their own without compensation.
Would there be any interest
Would there be any interest in expanding the age bracket for this initiative? I'm turning 27 this month, and this is something I would love to be involved in!
What will they do show them
What will they do show them the way to the mutuel windows so they can participate in one of the lowest return gambling options in the World??
So good to see we still have
So good to see we still have some young people who care about our great game - and it IS a great game. The very best of luck to all involved.