If you're interested in serving as an Olympic volunteer before the 2002 Winter Games, now is the time to sign up with the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
Organizers are looking for about 8,000 volunteers between now and 2002 to do everything from clerical work in the SLOC offices to staffing sports events scheduled at the Olympic venues.But don't send a resume or call the organizing committee with questions. The only way to participate in the program is to submit an application - preferably via the Internet - and wait to be contacted.
That goes for everyone, even Utahns who may have volunteered for the organizing committee in the past or those who have signed up to help groups associated with the Games.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were encouraged to participate in a letter from the First Presidency read during sacrament meetings across the state on Sunday.
"The church is supportive of Utah's efforts to make the 2002 Winter Games successful and memorable - not only for the thousands of people who will come here to watch or participate in the Games but also for the citizens of the state who will work together to accomplish this historic task," stated the letter, signed by President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust.
Church members who want to volunteer were told they should work directly with Olympic organizers "by responding as private citizens to their request. Such volunteer service is a matter of individual choice," the letter said.
"The gateway to the Olympics is here, through SLOC," said Ed Eynon, the organizing committee's senior vice president for human resources who'll sift through the applications.
Application forms became available online at the organizing committee's Web site (www.slc2002.org) on Sunday and can be submitted electronically.
Anyone without access to a computer can send for a copy of the application by writing to: Volunteers for Pre-Games Activities, Salt Lake Organizing Committee, P.O. Box 11428, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0428.
The application consists of 33 questions dealing with everything from languages spoken, official sporting qualifications, medical skills and work experience to experience driving on snowy or icy roads.
Applicants must meet certain requirements. Among other things, they must be 18 years of age or older, make themselves available for at least five consecutive days for key sporting test events, have the ability to speak and read English and be a citizen of the United States or have an appropriate U.S. visa.
Depending on how many people fill out the forms, it could take as long as a month before those applicants chosen for interviews hear from the organizing committee, Eynon said.
No one knows just what kind of response to expect from what is the organizing committee's first effort at recruiting volunteers from the community.
Eynon guessed SLOC could end up interviewing anywhere from 5,000 to 60,000 applicants. And that's just for the pre-Games program that covers activities before the Olympics begin in February 2002.
So far, those are the only volunteers SLOC is seeking. Eynon said signing up now won't guarantee applicants a volunteer post during the 2002 Winter Games, but some may be asked to re-apply.
Details of the volunteer program for the Games won't be announced until fall 2000. About 18,000 volunteers are expected to be needed for the 17-day event.
And organizers say they'll have to find another 5,000 volunteers in March 2002 for the Paralympics, the sports competitions for disabled athletes from around the world.
SLOC Chief Executive Officer Frank Joklik said he expects the volunteer program will be a success, even though past Olympics have set high standards. "I think we can do even better," Joklik said, "partly because of the spirit of voluntarism that is very much a characteristic of our community.
"Another element is language ability," he said, referring to the LDS Church's worldwide missionary program.