Most of my adult life has been about volunteering. I have been
the lady who can’t say no (one thing that attracted my husband).
Before any organizer had even finished describing what needed
doing, my hand was up and my mind was thinking,
”
I can do that, and probably better than all of these other
schmucks in the room.
”
That’s what volunteer recruiters look for, the busiest person in
the room who knows how to juggle tasks (with a little ego thrown
in).
Most of my adult life has been about volunteering. I have been the lady who can’t say no (one thing that attracted my husband). Before any organizer had even finished describing what needed doing, my hand was up and my mind was thinking, “I can do that, and probably better than all of these other schmucks in the room.” That’s what volunteer recruiters look for, the busiest person in the room who knows how to juggle tasks (with a little ego thrown in).
The time is ripe for volunteer recruiters and coordinators during the rush to raise funds for the struggling school system, girls’ and boys’ clubs, and political campaigns. Varying reasons for volunteering surface but to most, the work must be worthwhile, fun, and appreciated. To all of you looking for volunteers, take heed and study the following lesson carefully.
While hosting an eastern European exchange student several years ago I was heavy into raising my volunteer’s arm and busy working for the satisfaction of doing work better than those other schmucks. My exchange student, Sonja, could not fathom why I would want to work for free. Volunteerism was a foreign concept to her. (Literally. She was on a Rotary exchange program but lacked a Rotary Club in her native country.) Sonja just shook her head when I went racing out the door for another board meeting or charity event, or sat chained to the computer typing lists of names into a database. I couldn’t imagine life without volunteering. When it became clear that communism was dead in Eastern Europe, their societies were not ready to provide the safety nets created by the volunteer service organizations we have, such as Rotary, Lions and the Red Cross. Sonja was raised with the idea that the government would provide. I was raised thinking that any extra time you had was to be spent volunteering for your community.
Not all of my volunteering experiences have been good ones; hence, the reason I offer a few points to recruiters. While working on one local fundraiser my husband and I volunteered to help on a run for charity. We saw the benefit to one of our favorite organizations and cheerfully offered assistance.
Rule No. 1: Be nice to your volunteers. As soon as we arrived at the event we were informed there was a shortage of volunteers and for the next few minutes we got to hear how much work they had done and why couldn’t they get more people?! Is a “Hi, we’re glad you’re here!” to much to ask?
Rule No. 2: Make it fun. They call it “work” and you have to pay people to do it if it isn’t fun. As a volunteer, I’m attracted to fun. All the time, fun, fun, fun. If the work is tedious, find a way to make it fun.
Rule No. 3: Make the volunteers feel appreciated. I taught Sunday school for many years and loved getting the bookmark and lovely note saying what a good person I was for giving them my time. Simple but effective. I don’t recall getting a thank-you note from the organizers of the charity run. I know we didn’t volunteer again.
Last rule: If you used to be a hard-nosed manager and are used to bullying or bossing people during a project, rethink your strategy for volunteers. Forget what you learned in that MBA program. They don’t have fun.
Successful events always involve many hands pitching in, such as the outstanding fundraiser staged by the always volunteering parents of Morgan Hill’s Charter School. Last week, the school held a dinner/auction at Clos LaChance Winery and raised an amazing $69,000! Congratulations to Charter School and can we get some tips from your organizers?
One worthwhile project I’m currently recruiting for involves someone with an eye for color. Could you please volunteer to help the Morgan Hill Country Inn with a decent color selection? Are you all with me on this?
Ciao for now.
