Found a new source of volunteers (in general or for specific sorts
of skills)? Tell us all about it.
The Military
Submitted
8August2003 by Marjorie Moore, RISE Project and Volunteer Development
Coordinator, Radio Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped,
Illinois, USA
We are located near an Air Force base and I can't say enough
about the volunteers that have come from it. It may seem like these
people have plenty to do, or aren't the right age (since most military
people are between 18 and 22, not a big age for volunteers) but
they truly are great. We already had two great Air Force wives reading
for us when a middle aged major walked through our doors and developed
a quick passion for our organization. Since then, he has been on
of our biggest supporters! He brings new people on base over to
meet us and they often start volunteering with us too!
The military is really an overlooked source of volunteers. One of
our newest volunteers pulled me aside one day and thanked me for
letting him and the others volunteer with us. I told him it was
no problem at all and we were glad to have all of the good help
we could find. He then proceeded to tell me that he had been turned
down at other organizations because the nature of a military person's
job is transient. I was shocked. I suppose I could have turned away
these 10 great and dedicated volunteers because they couldn't commit
to five years of service, but I would have missed out on a diverse
and talented group.
Local College
Submitted
on 6Oct02 by Michelle Phares, Volunteer Coordinator, Desert Winds
High School CA, US
We spoke with a professor from a nearby community college about
our volunteer program's need for tutors. He struck a deal with his
class: Instead of writing a traditional term paper for his class,
they had the option to volunteer as tutors for our organization
and get the same amount of credit! Many colleges have professors
that are willing to give college credit for volunteer work that
relates to their class, community service organizations that are
willing to volunteer, and job placement centers where you can post
your volunteer opportunities.
Neighborhood Open House
(from Susan's Tip of the Month in the
Monthly
e-Mail Update)
Many of you know about my "proximity chart" recruitment
technique, in which I urge you to walk or drive in concentric circles
around your organization's site, writing down everything you see
and then determining how you can approach these "neighbors"
with a recruitment message. A related idea is to encourage your
organization to hold an open house at least once a year--or whenever
something special deserves celebration. The point, however, is to
do something especially for your "neighbors." Send invitations
that are different from any general, public announcements. Either
make it clear that this event is only for those within a two-block
radius, or explain that neighbors will be welcome an hour earlier
than the general public for special attention.
The reasons for making this effort are several. First, it has been
shown many times that people watch out for the property and visitors
of others in their neighborhood if they feel friendly towards one
another. Second, you can explain volunteer opportunities and have
"real" volunteers give tours or otherwise interact with
the visitors. This is not meant to be an actual recruitment campaign
and certainly not a hard sell. The point is to inform your neighbors,
both to sow seeds should they ever be looking for volunteer work
and also to enlist them as ambassadors, telling others about what
volunteers do. Finally, have a wish list of needed items ready.
You never know when a neighbor wants to have a garage sale and you
might get a donation off the top! (You may even how items YOU can
give away in exchange for being hauled off site.)
Give opportunities for your visitors to ask questions, not just
to be preached at. And be sure the open house allows people to meet
one another, too. After all, you're all neighbors! Who knows? You
may end up with the most popular block party or pot luck supper
of the year.
"Putting Tourists to Work!"
(from Susan's Tip of the Month in the
Monthly
e-Mail Update)
Does your community have a Convention and Visitors Bureau? Are
there conferences that come to your city or town, bringing small
and large groups of conventioneers? If you can accommodate small
or large groups to do something meaningful as volunteers, approach
your C&V Bureau with the idea of offering visitors a community
service project as an alternative conference "special event."
In recent years, it has become common for volunteer management
conferences and other socially-aware groups to sponsor a local "day
of service" while in town. There is no reason why any convention
might not be interested in this concept--but, as with any other
volunteers, they have to be asked.
Service projects give visitors a chance to get off-site (escaping
their hotel) and introduce them to neighborhoods not usually on
the tourist circuit. Special events can be boringly similar. Think
of how many boat rides, museum receptions, or other such activities
you've seen on conference schedules. Volunteering is a novel way
to meet other conferees, dress casually, learn new things, and do
something worthwhile. In groups, it is usually fun, too!
You'll be most successful if you can link the project with the
theme of the conference or the skills of attendees. Keep in mind
that a conference may already be renting buses for other activities
and may be able to transport volunteers to your site at the same
time. Finally, work with the conference organizers to arrange some
press coverage--it will be local media giving your program attention
because someone from "outside" approached them with the
news item.
"Summer Camp Fun through Service"
(from Susan's Tip of the Month in the
Monthly
e-Mail Update)
Students in the northern hemisphere are on summer break (our southern
hemisphere friends can save this tip to apply in December!) and
many of them are spending part of their summer at day or overnight
camp. Interest in youth and community service extends beyond the
classroom. Consider whether you have projects that young people
might enjoy doing as a group and recruit through nearby summer camps.
Camps are sponsored by a wide variety of organizations, urban and
rural, such as: faith communities, Ys and youth clubs, municipal
departments of recreation, Girl and Boy Scouts, and private clubs.
Contact their various activity directors about your volunteer opportunities.
Every camp program includes arts and crafts of some sort, so suggest
how campers might provide decorations or small handmade gifts for
something your facility is doing this summer--or in advance for
holidays later in the year. Offer your site as a "field trip"
for hands-on projects such as food or clothing sorting. Combine
activities you and the camp may already be planning, such as campers
accompanying your clients on to movie or museum expedition. And,
on the assumption that singing and dramatics remain a mainstay of
camp life, what about challenging the youngster to present a skit
for the enjoyment of your residents or patients. Think fun!
