Hello, we appreciate you volunteering for the Solano Avenue Stroll:
2 Opportunities!
#1 “No Parking” Signage Day
- 9/4 Wednesday, 5:00 pm (for 2 hours?)
#2 Solano Avenue Stroll 48
- 9/8 Sunday: two shifts
**More information below**
Feel free to call us for details: 510-527-5358 (no text).
Volunteers should be over the age of fifteen and be comfortable in a “public service” role. There are some positions that have minimal or no contact with event participants and guests. We are willing to provide a written reference of your volunteer time for public service credit. We are a 501-C6 not for profit organization.
Release for Volunteers and Staff
“No Parking” Signage Day:
9/4/2024 5:00 pm (2 hours?)
(This assignment can take as little as an hour, or up to two. Please take this into consideration when making the journey.)
We have to notify everyone within a block of Solano Avenue (houses and apartment buildings) that Solano Avenue will be closed for traffic on the day of the Solano Avenue Stroll. This notice must come 72 hours before the event, and notice must be in the form of a “leafleting” – meaning the notices cannot simply go into a mailbox. Notice must be left “on the porch”.
We use this as an opportunity to also distribute the Solano Avenue Association merchant’s directory, and current SAS postcard.
This activity – Involves physical activity; walking door-to-door and stair climbing.
- We meet at “Sichuan Style”, 1699 Solano Avenue, at 5 pm and depending on how many volunteers we have, could take one to two hours.
This job has minimal public contact. If you meet people outside of their homes you can mention “the Solano Stroll is this Sunday” as you hand them the packet. Any questions can be directed to the Association / contact information in the packet.
- Bring a jacket/sweater, even if the weather appears nice (!) we can hold it for you.
- Charge your phone, please.
Other responsibilities include hanging “no parking” signage on poles prior to 5 pm and most likely after the “leafleting” is complete.
The day of the Solano Avenue Stroll – TWO primary areas of duty:
1) Being a “block captain” in the morning (more difficult); or afternoon (more relaxed)
2) Everything else includes: Set-up; logistics/operations and end of the day activities.
1) Solano Stroll block captains:
- Shift 1: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Shift 2: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Block captains patrol the event wearing lime-green vests (for visibility). They carry a two-way radio, the SAS line-up (maps of the layout of the booths and band schedules), and have responsibilities that range from looking for missing children and telling bands to turn-down their amplifiers, to reporting unregistered commercial activity and safety violations. The good news is that the Solano Avenue Stroll is a family event with lots of law enforcement present, so block captains are typically not put into uncomfortable scenarios and the primary scope of what you will be doing is answering questions. The top four questions typically are:
- Where are the restrooms? (Every-other block)
- What time does the event end? (5 pm)
- Where are the shuttle bus stops? (On Marin, at the stop-lighted intersections)
- I’m looking for an organization/performing group can you help? (Check the line-up)
Block captains in the afternoon have it easy – the event is “launched” and the weather gets nice. The morning shift is stressful and is not for the weak…
We refer to the set-up of the event as “foaming the runway”. The vendors crash land and most have no idea where they are supposed to be and or are setting up in the wrong place causing a chain reaction in crowded areas. Everyone is nervous, in a rush and it is sheer pandemonium. For the most part we are very lucky to have consistent staff during the am shift (the vendors have relationships with some of the am block captains).
2) Solano Avenue Stroll
- Shift 1: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Shift 2: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Meet at California Bank and Trust
1451 Solano Avenue Albany, CA 94706
510-527-5358
Responsibilities can include:
- Distribute health department permits to food vendors (2 people)
- Distribute SAA red bags to vendors
- Help vendors
- Install signage in physically challenged parking area at the Alameda (1 person)
- Post event traffic control, etc. (1 person)
- Remove all no parking signage from poles / SAS posters as well (1 to 2 people)
- Sell t-shirts
- Shuttle bus-stop signage team (2 people)
- VIP area consigliere to act as host to the VIP sponsor area (1 person)
Paid Services Include:
- Facilities Maintenance position; not glamorous – however pays $100
- Performers review and “compliance” person which pays $75
- Crafter’s section “compliance” person which pays $75
- Event/non-permitted (and no parking) signage removal person which pays $75
If you have gotten this far – great!
Please contact us with your interest and commitment level: 510-527-5358 SAA[at]solanoavenueassn.org
We are a fully functional merchant’s association with year-round operations; we have other opportunities for community service as well.
Thank you for your your consideration.