NORWICH – While the focus this weekend will be on the 16th annual Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament itself, it’s a force of over 500 volunteers who routinely make the event so successful year after year.
From set up to tear down, to the dozens of Gus Busters who referee each and every game, these dedicated volunteers are on hand in the days leading up to the event and throughout the weekend, making sure that everything is running smoothly.
According to Norwich Family YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen, who’s volunteered every year since Gus Macker first came to Norwich, it’s really very simple – without the volunteers, many of whom return every year to help out, the tournament and fundraiser doesn’t happen.
From garbage pick-up to basket set up, tear down to “Gus-busting,” hospitality, registration and medical, the hundreds of volunteers at Gus Macker are an invaluable resource, said Mullen.
“It’s a show of community support; it’s not just one man or one organization,” he added. “They don’t have to be here but they believe in the event and the community, so they support it.”
Mullen said that months are spent preparing for the tournament and the thousands of people it draws to the city every year. He is most proud – he added – of the community resource the tournament has become, helping numerous organizations – not just the YMCA – raise thousands of dollars in funds.
The total number of hours spent by volunteers at Gus Macker, said Mullen, is incalculable, but easily adds up to tens-of-thousands. The Gus Busters alone spend nearly 2,000 hours volunteering their time over the weekend, he calculated.
“I think I speak for all the volunteers here when I say it’s just nice to help out,” said Pro-Tel People Operating Manager Ron Annese, who was on hand Thursday to help with the set-up of the Gus Macker baskets. “It’s great to see our community come together like this every year and I’m glad I volunteered.”
Matthew Dicks – a first-time volunteer at Gus Macker – will spend some time this weekend supervising the children’s basketball court and the bounce house. Providing a positive role model for a younger generation is not only important to him, he said, but the entire community.
“It’s crazy how much work goes into [Gus Macker], but it brings some much needed money into the community, which is especially helpful with the economy the way it is,” added Dicks.
Norwich Family YMCA Membership and Billing Coordinator – and long time Macker volunteer – Julie Wallen spent Thursday morning helping a small group of fellow volunteers sort Gus Macker T-shirts at the Fire Department. According to Wallen, “many hands make light work.”
“It’s just a huge volunteer effort from everyone involved,” she added. “We’ve had many of the same volunteers who’ve been here for all 16 years, which is greatly appreciated.”
New faces and new hands, however, are always welcome, said Wallen, and those who didn’t have a chance to volunteer this year are welcome to come down and see exactly what it entails, she added.
“Without the volunteers we could not make this tournament happen; it’s that simple.”