Growing Your Group: Attract & Retain Volunteers

Presented byYOUR NAME HERE

Growing Your Group

Workshop Outline Introductions, ground rulesVolunteer ChallengesPreparing for Volunteers Involving VolunteersKeeping VolunteersWrap up & Evaluation

Introductions

Questions:What brought you here today?What do you want out of today’s

workshops?What is your favourite colour? Why?

Recruiting Volunteers

Community centers, notice board Volunteer Centers Local papers Shopping malls Public Service Announcements Speaking to Community Groups Schools with mandatory service programs Job counseling office Libraries Post offices Tourist information bureau Chambers of Commerce School counselors Church bulletin boards Hospital waiting rooms

Targeted Recruiting Ideas

From Conducting a Volunteer Recruitment Campaign by Steve McCurley

Think about work setting, educational background, leisure time organizations and activities, publications they might read, parts of town in which they are likely to live, etc.

Who currently has or does it?

What jobs or occupations does it show up in?

Who once did it and has now quit or retired?

Who would like to be doing it, but is now in a job where it is not possible? Who was educated in this, but now has a different type of job?

Who could learn to do it?

Adapted from: http://www.kab.org/uploadedFiles/KAB_Affiliates.org/Conducting%20Volunteer%20Recruitment%20Campaign.doc

Targeted Recruiting Ideas

From Conducting a Volunteer Recruitment Campaign (cont’d)

by Steve McCurley

Who is now learning to do it and intends to do it more in the future?

What schools teach this subject?

Who can get someone else who is qualified to do it? Can we find a teacher or a senior practitioner in this skill who can recommend and encourage others in their field to help us?

Who has such a radically different job that this would be an exciting novelty?

Adapted from: http://www.kab.org/uploadedFiles/KAB_Affiliates.org/Conducting%20Volunteer%20Recruitment%20Campaign.doc

Additional Recruiting Ideas

Try to think what would interest YOU in volunteering. Use every available source - radio, television,

newspapers and personal contacts.

Volunteers as recruiters Get all active volunteers involved in thinking up new

methods for recruiting. Pool these ideas. The best volunteer recruiters are volunteers who are

happy with your organization. Have current volunteers tell their story at meetings or

gatherings of membership. Involve volunteers in decision making. Make certain they

feel they are an important part of the organization.

Adapted from:http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/96-005.htm#add

Additional Recruiting Ideas

Your Group – are you attractive to volunteers?

People are attracted to programs that utilize positive, honest, enthusiastic appeals.

Offer stimulating, in-depth orientation sessions. Be interested in your members, not only as volunteers

but as individuals. Don't over-recruit. Volunteers will lose interest if they

have signed up to help and there isn't a job for them. Recognize their efforts. Saying "thanks" goes a long

way.

Adapted from:http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/96-005.htm#add

Thank you!

For information on other workshops:

NORTHWATCHBox 282 North Bay, ON P1B 8H2

Tel: (705) 497-0373 Fax: (705) 476-7060

northwatch@onlink.net www.northwatch.org

www.northeastforest.net