Transcript AARP Tax-Aide Coordinators Meeting Recruiting Overview

Recruitment Overview
Al Hershey and Denise Montana
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Recruitment is an ongoing activity and requires a
significant commitment of DCs and others in all
districts.
In order to get a baseline of current activities and
needs a recruitment survey was completed this
summer
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How many hours did DCs report spending
on pro-active Recruiting Activities?
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76% of DCs responded to the survey by August 3rd (13 of 16)
All DCs proactively recruit new volunteers each year.
◦ Ads/Articles in newsletters of local organizations (92%)
◦ Ads/Articles in Newspapers (77%)
◦ Notices placed on Bulletin Boards of stores, libraries, and senior centers
(62%)
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The average number of hours DCs spend on proactive
recruitment is 61
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Participation in the program is rewarding. Once volunteers
become involved they tend to return the following year
(85% was the average return rate reported by DCs)
Recruitment efforts do pay off. Approximately 65% of
volunteers who initially express interest actually go through
the training or participate in other site activities during tax
season
Unique recruitment activities reported by DCs included:
interviews on local TV programs, working with local
government representatives and agencies, and making
presentations to local non profit groups.
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AARP Publications (AARP The Magazine) focus on
volunteering and Tax-Aide program
AARP developed new on-line volunteer application
process (improvements have been strongly suggested)
AARP is partnering with nationwide volunteer websites
including, www.volunteermatch.org and
www.serve.gov
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AARP Tax-Aide adds approximately 6,800 new volunteers/ year
◦ Estimated that 10-12K prospective volunteer apply or are considered
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Volunteer s require different skill sets
◦ E-filing technology, quality requirements need different skills, experiences
◦ Increasingly diverse communities of need
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Highly manual and labor intensive
◦ With minimal data analysis and leadership reporting available
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Indications are that the quicker information exchange, assessment is
performed with prospective volunteers, the higher the likelihood of
success
◦ Estimated delay from prospect self identification at contact center or web to
receipt by PVC and/or DC is anywhere from 5 to 30+ days
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NJ Statewide efforts include:
◦ Article on AARP NJ Website describing volunteer positions
◦ Volunteer announcement Email sent to AARP statewide
mailing list and had an impact on volunteer apps
◦ A friendly reminder email was sent to current volunteers by
the state team to help garner new recruits
◦ A home mailing to AARP members in several counties is in
process and should be out next week
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Sample communications have been developed and will
be available on the NJ website
◦ Article for newspapers/newsletters
◦ Classified ad announcement
◦ One-page color flyer for drop off at partner locations or as a
handout at informational sessions (copies available)
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Ask libraries and senior centers to include an article on AARP
Tax-Aide in their member newsletters
Order volunteer recruitment poster kits (D15925) from AARP.
This kit consists of a poster (D15187) plus a pad of postcards
(C2090).
http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/taxaide/extranet
/3_D18157.pdf.
Contact local newspapers to discuss the possibility of running an
article on the upcoming tax season and need for
volunteers. Highlight local volunteers for an interesting human
interest angle for your story
Your newspaper may be willing to include a small recruitment
announcement in the classified section under volunteer
opportunities
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Do we need more volunteer outreach now?
Can we balance an influx of new recruits with available
training and technology resources?
Should we be thinking of expanding client outreach to
match volunteer corps?
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Evaluate impact of new state volunteer outreach
Develop a library of sample communications and best
practices with easy access on the NJ website
Develop a timeline for recruiting activities and actions
for new DCs and other leaders
SMT available to work with DCs on specific recruitment
strategies (i.e. Atlanticare)
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