Recruiting Volunteers for your Event
How to get recruit effective volunteers and allow them to help
you put on a great event!
Identifying your volunteer needs
• The larger your event, the more volunteers you need
• The more your event offers, the more volunteers you need
• Create a DOR itinerary and walk through the day’s tasks to help you identify where you’ll need help
Common volunteer tasks
• Set-up• Registration/Check-in• Parking• Course Marking/Monitors• Traffic/Safety• First Aid• Aid Stations• Finish Line/Timing• Awards• Food Preparation• Tear-Down/Sweeping
Timing volunteers at the 2010 CATnip Friday 5k
Where can you find volunteers?
• People who have volunteered for your event or a nearby event in the past
• Area high schools or community centers/organizations
• Sponsors of the event
• Friends and family
• Event participants
• “Buying” volunteers
ORRC club members and a local Boy Scout Troop helped at the 2010 ORRC Summer Solstice Sundowner
Provide options and COMMUNICATE!
• Many volunteers ENJOY their work. Find out what will make someone happy and try to put them in that role.
• Explain to each volunteer what their role is and why it’s important. If they see the big picture, they’ll understand how valuable their role is!
Volunteer recognition
• Race shirts, goodies
• Discounts at other events
• On-site recognition
• Personal, heartfelt thanks
• And – take care of them! If it’s cold, make sure there are space heaters. Hot? Pop-up tents for shade and lots of water!
Volunteer Empowerment
• A volunteer that doesn’t know what to do will be an unhappy volunteer– Provide them with:
• A detailed task • An event schedule• Contact information for
key people• A definitive start and end
time – people like structure! Cascade Lakes Relay volunteers –
like these exchange volunteers - are encouraged to dress up, hand out treats, and be a huge part of the event. They know they’re important!
Solicit volunteer feedback
• After the race, get volunteer suggestions and comments – It will improve your event– It will demonstrate a volunteer’s importance– It will make your job easier!
• You will have to ASK for feedback – but it will be well worth your time
Top Related