Forty-one years of volunteering. It is the commitment which earned Michel Maillet this year to receive a medal from the prefecture. For ten years, it is in the Alterna Stade Poitevin Volley-Ball club (SPVB) that he has pursued what has been a vocation all his life. “ I was a professional firefighter in Poitiers and president of the association for many years. We also had a volleyball club. I was already following Stade Poitevin at the time », remembers Michel Maillet.
Getting involved in the Poitiers Monte au Fillet association (Pmaf), which manages the volunteers of the Alterna SPVB, he was obviously thinking about it but was waiting for retirement to “ fully commit “. It is therefore a done deal and Michel Maillet has chaired the Pmaf since 2016. He is bringing back his taste for mutual aid and solidarity in the associative sector.
Also a way to stay very active. “ We are available to the club. This involves installing the players in their apartments where there is sometimes small work. We are also their drivers for away matches », Lists Michel Maillet. This year, he will travel to Toulouse and Plessis-Robinson (Hauts-de-Seine). “ These are nice moments where we share moments of life with the players. » It’s also the only time when he can see a match, like the big supporter that he is.
Reboost effect with Earvin Ngapeth
Match days are inevitably very intense times. For ordinary supporters, arrival is a little before 7 p.m. For Michel Maillet it is at least three hours before. “ You have to organize the volunteers’ schedule, prepare the room, install the barriers, the bar and the gadgets », he lists. He is also on the front line to set up the equipment for broadcasting matches on BeIN Sports.
« With the arrival of Earvin Ngapeth, there will be more broadcasts this year. It’s definitely a boost and above all it’s a great satisfaction to see the halls full and the supporters with a smile at the end of the matches. », is satisfied Michel Maillet even if he is still motivated.
And if retirement is also time for leisure, the president admits not having many. A bit of gardening and fishing anyway. “ But I couldn’t do just that. That would be sad. » Michel Maillet would still like to be joined at Pmaf by other volunteers: “ There are around forty volunteers. Active people and a few retirees, all in a good atmosphere. But it’s never enough. » The call is launched.
