we are in the un-enviable position where most of our on-stage performers simply do not want to be "backstage" ie: lights, sound, set, etc.

This has started us on a very dangerous path, where we don't have light board operators for some shows (since we have relied on high school students for the last 3-4 years and one just went to college).

How do you drum up interest either from your regular volunteers to your on-stage people?  Or do you just lay it on the line and tell them if nobody volunteers to run lights, then there won't be a show.

And running the light board is entirely different than learning lighting design, which is another problem.

Where have all the techies gone? :/

I have the same problem at the HS I work at. Always short of Techies, and hardly any guys! Right now I have a crew of all girls. The director always mentions to everyone at auditions that if they don't get a part they can work tech. I'm not sure I like that because it says to me (and teh students to) that working backstage is only OK  if you didn't get a part, not just because you want to.  Kind of  seems a backhanded slap in a round about sort of way to me. I agree where DID all the Techies go?

My suggestion is to start talking it up early. Talk to everyone you know  to see if they'd be interested in helping out or if they know someone who is.

 I imagine you've tried this but...Actors who might "want a break" from acting but still want to be part of the show can work backstage.  And Yes, if there are no lights, there is no show works too.

When I was wee bloke, many eaons ago.
There was always a good pool of about 10% of the membership who worked backstage. Now it is more like 0.01%.
That was in ameatre & even in proeatre on most of the theatre circuits. A great precentage of most crews, were also performers. Earning a crust during lay overs & between performing in shows.
One week they would be a mechanist working on the fly floor, the next oerforming a lead in a show.
There was no stigma, only with the TNS [tofee nosed set] Those actors & wot 'ave you that would not be seen dead, wotking backstage or in TV commercials!
When I came out here, back in the 60's, most theatre groups were loaded down with the Kensington pohmy refuges, who did it to bring a little bit of Britain inti thier lives & were the orginal winge'n pohmy bath plugs.
Although we had a great cross polination of theatre pro techies, working along side amatuers.
I actualy blame for the reversal one thing Rock'nRoll, while it did a lot of good with the technoligy it broughy into theatre, it also started the rot backstage. Now they had the idea fame was in reach of everyone.
It was not TV as such, however this fueled the movement away from theatre, later on though.
When the conservative radio & tv mogals began to realise there was big money to be made exploiting it. - it ain't been the same since!
Wohat you do - I have no idea?
As all that has been increased is the barrier between FOH & backstage, which is prominent in a lot of groups.
They exspend thier resource on trivial things in the foyer, without turning a hair. Yet argue woffle on about chucking a few vrumbs, to feed backstage facilities - being out opf sight & mind.
Anything is never enough to make the FOH work easier, but to make behind the pro easier to work, they have two changes - none & buckleys,
What jacks off prospective techies & scares them away, is because they have to push IT up hill, to mount every show & nothing varies - it is still the same.  It falls on deaf ears with the powers that be, to make improvements in working resources & conditions.
Of course on the other side there a brigade of auld farts, who are not prepared to let anyone venture into thier inner purple circle. For fear of becoming redundant & dbsolete, resisting any thought of change thier work practices, they have enjoyed for firty five years & more!
However this is a rarety as thier numbers are deminishing. But the loss of knowledge & emperical skils goes down the tiolet, because no one insisted they share with younger ones coming thru.
Well after my pathetic stagecraft workshop & defunked 'Stagecraft Guild' idea. I should just slash my wrists, except the batteies are flat in my electric shaver-!
I'm sure it will turn around, as everthing goes in cycles. But i feel I have burst my poopah valve & can't peddle any longer!