Volunteer Bartender
Policy Adopted February 13th, 2020
Revised January 21, 2023
Important Links
Qualifications
A.1 All bartenders must successfully complete at their own expense one of the following:
(a) the “Serve Right - It’s Good Business” certification offered by the N.S. Tourism Human Resource Council; or
(b) a similar program from a different Canadian province with board approval.
A.2 (Rescinded, May 11, 2022)
A.3 A volunteer bartender must have had a Full or Associate membership for at least one contiguous year immediately prior to becoming a volunteer bartender.
A.4 A bartender must remain in good standing with SMSC.
A.5 A bartender must be willing to submit to a criminal record check upon request.
A.6 The bartender candidates must be approved by the board.
Termination and Retirement
B.1 Volunteer bartender privileges will be reviewed by March 1st annually.
B.2 A member may have their “volunteer bartender” status suspended for up to 30 days by the Director of Social Activities, Commodore or Rear-Commodore.
B.3 The board may revoke the “volunteer bartender” status from a member at the request of the Director of Social Activities, Commodore or Rear-Commodore.
B.4. A member must return all keys to the Director of Social Activities, Commodore or Rear-Commodore when they are no longer a volunteer bartender.
Security
C.1 The bar doors must remain closed when the bartender opens the bar for serving drinks.
C.2 Only the bartender(s) may be present behind the bar, unless staff, a board member or a vendor are providing technical assistance at the bartender’s request.
C.3 Only the bartender(s) scheduled to be on duty are permitted to operate the bar; all other individuals are not permitted to operate the bar and point-of-sales equipment, regardless of their qualification.
C.4 All volunteer bartenders will be issued necessary keys and codes to open the club and operate the bar.
C.5 The bar area will be continuously recorded by a video surveillance system.
Safety
D.1 If bartender suspects a member or guest is unable to get home safely as a result of consuming alcohol, the bartender should make an attempt to find the patron a safe way home. If the bartender is unable to find the patron a safe way home, then the bartender should call the Commodore, and then the Rear Commodore for further direction.
Club Availability and Notice
E.1 Either:
(a) With the exception of scheduled meetings and events, a minimum of 24 hours notice will be given to all members via e-mail and Facebook that the club will be open to members and their accompanied guests; or
(b) In lieu of notice, a sidewalk sign will indicate the bar is open to members and their accompanied guests outside the main club entrance.
E.2 The Club Manager must confirm that the opening will not conflict with any other scheduled events.
E.3 The confirmed events are subject to cancellation at anytime.
E.4 A volunteer bartender must open the bar to all members and their guests without fee.
E.5 A volunteer bartender may open the bar at their discretion, if it does not conflict with other scheduled events, and they have met the requirements for giving notice to members.
E.6 Liquor may only be dispensed between 10:00am to 12:00am.
E.7 All members must leave the club by 12:30am.
Staffing Prioritization
D.1 Paid bar staff must be used for all paid events.
D.2 Paid bar staff must be used for all rentals.
D.3 A volunteer bartender may be used in lieu of paid bar staff if:
1. A reasonable attempt to find paid bar staff fails; and
2. A request to use a volunteer bartender in lieu of paid staff is approved by the Director of Social Activities.
Tips
G.1 Volunteer bartenders must not accept tips. Tips will be allocated for a specific SMSC fundraising purpose, which the volunteer bartender must choose from a list that is maintained and approved by the Board.
Operations
H.1 Bartenders must follow the current procedures for opening, operating and closing the bar, and clubhouse.
H.2 Bartenders must follow the current procedures for reconciling the point of sales system upon closing the bar.
H.3 Bartenders must enter the opening and closing time of the bar into a ledger.
H.4 Bartenders must abide by the Nova Scotia Liquor Control Act.
H.5 A current list of members will be kept with the binder containing the bar opening/closing procedures.
Reimbursement
I.1 If a member volunteering to become a volunteer bartender successfully completes their Serve Right Bartender certification on behalf of SMSC, they will be reimbursed the full expense of the certificate.
Current Roster
J.1 As of March 27, 2024, the following members have been approved to operate the bar as volunteers in accordance to this policy and have expressed interest in continuing to volunteer for the club in this capacity:
Renny Leskiw
Terri Mann
Sara Moffatt
Sarah Dyack
Matt Gregoire
Anson Lee-Pearn
Leigh Downey