USDAA Hall of Famers Share Advice for Volunteering
"Meet new people. Start with something easy. Jump right in!"
This article was originally published in the August 2025 OVERview digital magazine.
With so much of the agility community relying on the hard work of its volunteers, we sat down with three recent Hall of Fame inductees to share their experiences behind the scenes. From volunteering as scribes, timers, score runners and announcers to helping coordinate other event volunteers, preparing and presenting ribbons, and even writing for USDAA’s OVERview, these amazing women have done it all.
Leslie Bickel, 2019 Meritorious Service Inductee
Longtime competitor, USDAA judge, trial secretary and volunteer, Leslie Bickel has contributed to the success of the sport for more than two decades. For the past 10 years, she has also been the volunteer coordinator at the USDAA Cynosport® World Games. As each new event approaches, the recruitment, scheduling and coordination of roles to be filled is no small feat. Leslie’s ongoing work has made her an integral part of the success of this endeavor.
Comments on juggling volunteer work while competing
“It is easiest to volunteer for a class you are not actually competing in. If you don’t need to take care of your dogs during your time off – the dogs always come first when they are there – or if you’re at a larger show with breaks between the competing groups, helping out just the tiniest bit really keeps things moving for everyone.”
Advice for someone thinking about volunteering
“Start with something easy but watch what else is going on and don’t be intimidated to try something new. If you have questions, just ask someone; most people will be glad to explain things to you! You can even ask a judge how to do a job if you’re uncertain (only before the ring starts running or during downtime).”
Chris Frado Wentworth, 2023 Volunteer of the Year
Chris Frado Wentworth has been volunteering since 1989 and is best known as the “publicizer” for everything related to the Canine Agility Training Society (CATS) Inc. As a founding member, Chris helped to write the club bylaws and has served in every capacity on the board of directors over the years. She has been elected president many times, chairs the club’s two USDAA trials each year, maintains the website and Facebook page, and helps with the seminars and groundskeeping committee. Chris has also offered “Intro to USDAA” and “Intro to Snooker” webinars to continue expanding the club’s reach.
Comments on juggling volunteer work while competing
“Don’t ignore your dog(s)! Plan your downtime and be strategic when you work. Use it to your advantage when possible; if you can time a class with challenges you’ll have in your course, you can learn by watching others. Additionally, course building can help you with spatial awareness between the obstacles, and scribing helps you learn the rules of the class.”
Advice for someone thinking about volunteering
“I always encourage newbies to come to a trial ahead of their first entry and work. Get comfortable with the environment. Meet new people. Work in the ring and watch what’s going on to get a better idea of how things run. Don’t enter too much the first time, but be sure to help where you can. It’s all part of the culture.”
Betsie Bolger, 2024 Volunteer of the Year
A longtime freelance writer for several blogs and publications, Betsie Bolger volunteered several years ago to help write for USDAA’s OVERview.
Betsie and her husband have both volunteered at various trials, with their favorite jobs including gating and timing (respectively). “I also like to volunteer for overlooked jobs, such as putting together the Easter egg hunt at the South Central Regional,” Betsie said. “Plus, I was ring steward for several trials at my home club before being promoted to trial chair. I just love seeing everybody in one place having a great time!”
Comments on juggling volunteer work while competing
“It’s hard to volunteer as much as I’d like (and feel I should) when I’m running four dogs, although it’s easier now that they aren’t running at every single level between the four of them! But I try to jump in wherever and whenever I can, whether it’s for a class I’m not in or part of a class where I go either very early or very late. I’ve been known to tell fellow handlers, ‘You’ve worked the last X number of classes. You can have the worker bucks; just let me do some of the work!’ If possible, I also stay to help clear the ring(s) and/or pitch in with set-up in the morning.”
Advice for someone thinking about volunteering
“Don’t be shy! You’re not going to get fired, so just jump right in. Most people are happy to clue you in on how to do the job at hand. Course building is an especially valuable opportunity because you get to hear the judge’s comments on the course and see it tweaked. Look for other stuff that needs doing, too: Bring the trial secretary a bottle of water, or ask her if she needs a snack. Hold a dog for somebody with a conflict. (I always, ALWAYS pay that favor back and/or forward!) Offer to video somebody’s run — people will LOVE you for doing so, and chances are they (or somebody else) will offer to video you in return. Win-win!
“Overall, volunteering is a great way to give back and play a more active role in the agility community.”