Christmas Tree Lot

Volunteer Instructions

Keep for future reference

General Responsibilities

Arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your shift.

Make tree stands.

Stand trees.

Assist customers and sell trees.

Load and secure trees to vehicles.

Assist with tree deliveries.

Keep stood trees watered. Keep tree lot clean and orderly.

Stand Size* Water Bowl Tree Size Other Tree Size

18” Red or 5 Quart 2’ – 4’ small 4’ – 5’

24” 5 Quart 4’ – 5’ small 5’ – 6’

30” 5 Quart 5’ – 6’ small 6’ – 7’

36” 5 Quart 6’ – 7’ small 7’ – 8’

2 X 4 2.5 Gallon large 7’ – 8’ 8’ – 9’

* Important: matching stand size to a tree depends upon tree height, weight, and girth – your call.

Nails

To prevent the splitting of stands (creating additional expense and work), dull nail tips by first placing the nail head on the pavement and then tapping the pointed tip of the nail with the hammerhead. A dulled tip forces the nail to tear through the wood instead of splitting it. This may prevent the splitting of some tree trunks. Check to see if the nails have not been dulled beforehand. In addition, large or heavy trees may require either an extra nail or larger nails.

Tree Stands

Make and stack for future use. There are five different size stands and there are red and green water bowls. Do not place stands on bowls incorrectly or they will be ruined!

Standing Trees

v Set tree on work stand so tree trunk is horizontal to ground and straight from tip to end.

v When using the chain saw, apply only light pressure. Heavy pressure will only dull the chain. Occasionally press the black button on the saw to oil the chain to keep it sharp.

v Make a fresh, straight cut (up and down) 1 to 3 inches from the end – hardest task is an even cut!

v Choose appropriate size stand for tree. If in doubt, look at “standing trees” for appropriate size stand.

v Center and then hammer the first nail and therefore the tree stand onto the tree trunk.

v Using hammerhead, tap smaller wood slat lightly to unfold slats to form a cross (+).

v Using appropriate size nails with dulled tips, hammer two other nails to form a triangular pattern – NOT a straight line. Use additional nail for very large trees.

v Stand the tree. Do NOT bear full tree weight on only one tree stand leg; the stand may break.

v Check tree first for tilt and stability. If a tree tilts to the extent that a book placed under the stand would straighten it, then it’s okay. If not, then it’s tilting too much. If this is the case, remove the stand, trim or re-cut the end, and put on another stand. Do not try to correct a bad tilt by any other method. Other methods will result in leaking bowls. Ways to remove a stand are listed below.

v Remove twine and unfold tree limbs.

v Remove dead needles – two people hold tree trunk ends and shake.

v Tag the tree with the appropriate price tag. Match price tag with tree type and height.

v Place tree with others of the same type and height.

v Put water in the bowl immediately to keep tree fresh. Otherwise, tree sap will amass and prevent water absorption.

Three Methods to Remove a Tree Stand

1. Strike wood slats with a hammer at the base where they connect with the tree trunk.

2. Demolish slats with hammer and use claw (rock sideways) to remove nails. Use lever if necessary.

3. Someone holds the tree while another person or two twists the stand like a corkscrew.

Selling Trees

Provide prompt courteous service to customers. When they select a tree, pull off the bottom half of the price tag and send them inside the YMCA to pay at the front desk.

Payment Accepted

Cash, checks, debit cards, and credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discovery.

Cedar Garland is $1.50 per foot. Wreaths are $18 each (24”diameter) and $25 each (28” diameter). Refer those requesting free trees to Erin Ruymen the YMCA Executive Director or Tim McCoy.

Tree Lot Hours

9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily

YMCA staff and volunteers will assist customers Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Loading Trees

Pull or carry the tree to the gate or loading area. Empty the water bowl and shake out any dead needles. You may bag a tree if requested. You may also offer to bag a tree if you believe an unwrapped tree would soil or damage the upholstery in any passenger compartment. Load tree tips first when loading trees into vans, station wagons, or hatchbacks, so it will be easy to pull them out. Fold the branches carefully, so not to break them as you load the tree. Load trees on top of vehicles with the stand forward, so the wind does not catch the branches as the vehicle is driven. On a regular passenger car, the wood stand should just reach or touch the windshield. Tie down trees securely so they will not blow off the vehicle.

Tree Delivery Daily Delivery Fee

By YMCA staff 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. $20

YMCA staff and tree lot volunteers will deliver trees. If necessary, driver will phone the buyer to arrange or confirm delivery day and time. Volunteers may also deliver trees during their shifts in their vehicles.

For delivery, first tear off the bottom half of the price tag and have the buyer pay for the tree and delivery charge. Next, fully complete a Red Sold Tag and then secure it onto the tree. Make sure to write buyer’s daytime phone number on the tag. Finally, place the tree in the Will Call/Delivery Area. If the tree is not moved to the Will Call/Delivery Area, then it will not be delivered.

Will Call Trees

Some will buy trees and pick them up later. In each case, first tear off the bottom half of the price tag and have the buyer pay for the tree. Next, fully complete a Red Sold Tag and mark Will Call on it. Be sure to write the buyer’s name on the bottom half of the tag and give it to him/her, and then secure the upper half onto the tree. Finally, place the tree in the Will Call/Delivery Area.

Fire Retarding Trees

By law, all trees over four feet tall must be fire-retarded if placed inside a commercial building. For commercial sales of trees, we must add the cost of fire retarding to the price of the tree. The prices of fire-retarded Noble trees are listed on the commercial tree flyer. If requested, we will fire retard other types of trees – for work or home – for $2.00 per foot of tree height.

Only those certified by the Fire Marshal can legally fire retard trees. Once sprayed, trees need 24 hours to dry before pick-up or delivery. Move all trees to be fire retarded to Will Call/Delivery Area. Label them “Fire Retard” and fully complete a Red Sold Tag. Be sure to mark Delivery or Will Call with the delivery or pick-up date. Leave note for Tim McCoy YMCA Director, informing him that fire retarding is needed.

Contact Daytime Evening Cell or Pager

Supply Shortages Lance Kenyon (562) 985-3200 (562) 597-7707 (562) 964-7972

Or Problems Erin Ruymen (562) 596-3394 (310) 541-3746 (310) 413-0795

Tim McCoy (562) 596-3394 (562) 597-2745 None

YMCA Staff and Service Club rosters are available inside the YMCA. Refer to them via the front desk staff if you need assistance and cannot reach those listed above.

In case of Fire or Emergency, phone 911.

Christmas Tree Lot

Lot Manager Instructions

Keep for future reference

LOT MANAGER

Lot manager opens and closes the lot – plus trains, directs, and supervises tree lot volunteers, and handles special requests.

OPENING CHECKLIST

ü Get the lot keys from Y staff and unlock the gates and shed.

ü Walk the lot to check appearance. Pick-up litter.

ü Rearrange trees as needed to align by tree type and height. Fill open spaces.

ü Inventory standing trees; determine how many trees of which type and height should be stood.

ü Bring out chain saws, hammers, and nail trays to the workbench to make stands and to stand trees. These items are stored in the shed. Extra nails are stored under the workbench. Extra water bowls and plastic bags are stored on the lot or in the shed.

ü Turn on lights.

Ø To turn on roof and patio lights, flip all red switches in breaker box near basketball stand.

Ø To turn on roller hockey rink lights, flip the two double switches (large ones) in breaker box facing the north side of the shed.

Ø To turn on Christmas trim lights, plug in extension cords found near the electrical outlets.

Ø The floodlights and trim lights on the top and front of the building are on a timer and will light automatically and remain lit overnight. If these lights are not working, check the breaker box for a thrown switch. The box is located under the fire bell switch near the front desk entryway.

ü Bring out stereo and play Christmas music.

ü Unlock and open lot gate(s).

ü Water all standing trees.

CLOSING CHECKLIST

ü Arrange trees by type and height. Sweep the lot and pick up litter.

ü Check water bowls and fill if low. Do not water trees that are not standing; mildew will result.

ü Store chain saws, hammers, and nail trays in the shed.

ü Turn off stereo and store it in the shed.

ü Lock gate(s).

ü Lock the shed and give the lot keys to Y staff.

ü Turn off lights.

Ø To turn off roof and patio lights, flip all red switches in breaker box near basketball stand.

Ø To turn off roller hockey rink lights, flip the two double switches (large ones) in breaker box facing the north side of the shed.

Ø To turn off Christmas trim lights, unplug extension cords.

ü Exit the YMCA through the front doors. Y staff will lock the doors.