Transcript Overview

Volunteer Recruitment
"Recruitment is a constant, year-round process of keeping
your organization's name and its available volunteer
opportunities in front of people."
The Volunteer Recruitment Book, Susan Ellis
Why People Volunteer
 Number one reason people
volunteer is because
someone asked them to
volunteer.
 Second reason was
volunteering through an
organization.
Independent Sector
Trends in Volunteering
 Teens and college students;
 Corporations, especially if family volunteering is
promoted;
 Church members;
 Seniors
 Virtual volunteering, posting on the Internet and by
e-mail
 Episodic or short-term volunteering is a favorite
method to getting involved but not making a longterm commitment.
Making a Difference
for a Volunteer










Smile
Plan ceremonial occasions
Recognize personal needs and problems
Be pleasant
Keep challenging them
Send a thank-you card to the volunteer’s family
Give additional responsibility
Take time to talk
Write them thank you notes
Nominate for volunteer awards
Making a Difference
for a Volunteer









Offer incentives
Promote a “Volunteer-of-the-Month” program
Send letter of appreciation to employer
Send commendatory letters to prominent public
figures
Say “we missed you”
Promote smiles
Award special citations for extraordinary
achievements
Say “Thank you”
Smile
Volunteer Gift Bag
"Thank You Kit" - The items listed below were placed
in a zip-lock baggie along with a copy of the card.
 A TEA BAG because you are so "tea-riffic"!
 AN ERASER to let you know that your caring
cannot be undone!
 A MINT to thank you for your "commit-mint"!
 A PUZZLE PIECE to remind you that we are not
complete without you!
 A SUGAR PACKET to remind you that we think
you're "sweet"!
 A CRAYON to remind you that you have left a mark!
 A KISS to share with someone else!
 RAISINS because you're 'raisin' awareness!
Caring Kit
In a bag place the following items along with a card detailing the contents:
 Paper Clips: Paper clips have many uses, just like each volunteer has
many talents. Paper clips are also used to hold the program together and
provide guidance.
 Rubber Bands: Rubber bands represent the flexibility that all volunteers
need to have. You can adapt to any different situation. As volunteers, you
can also stretch your own abilities to have new opportunities.
 Band Aids: Band aids help others and are sensitive to others feelings, just
as volunteers have to be keyed-in to the feelings of those they work with.
 Coin: This coin represents a quarter to call and ask for help and to remind
you that you are not alone.
 Paper Bill: This money calculates the contribution that volunteers make to
the program through their donation of time.
 Balloon: This balloon expands and grows as you learn from others.
 Heart Sticker: This heart represents the ability to reach out.
 Mint: This mint represents the fact that each of you is worth a mint. You
are very special and really make a difference.
 Lifesavers: Lifesavers represent the special contribution to the program
that each of you makes and emphasized that each of us are unique and
different just like the rainbow color of lifesavers and that there is a place
for everyone.
 Hershey Kiss: This kiss represents a big thank-you from the many kids
whose lives you have touched over the years.
Spirit Kit
In a Zip-Lock Bag place all the items and the card with the details:
1. A soft fuzzy cotton ball to rub when you need to remember the gentleness
of the human heart.
2. A rubber band to remind you that you are flexible and can stretch to fit just
about any demand or challenge.
3. A band-aid to remind you that, even though there may be times when you
feel hurt for what you are trying to do, you will heal and be even stronger.
4. Two tissues, one for you and one for a colleague when you have faced a
tough time together and need some mutual support.
5. A safety pin to remind you that you are bright and sharp and utterly
indispensable.
6. Five pennies to remind you of the song by Danny Kaye called "Five Little
Pennies". If you know the song, you will remember that one penny was to
dream on, one was to wish on, one was for dancing, one was to love on.
The song ends with these words, "There's just five little pennies, but with
these five pennies you'll be a millionaire". How very true!
7. A balloon to celebrate your accomplishments!
8. And last but not least, Hershey's Hugs and Kisses - for when you need
them!
Submitted by Elliott Pitts, Coordinator of Wish Granting and Volunteers , Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine
Volunteers, You Rock!
 Host a 50's themed Rockin' Volunteer Bash
 Wear 50's style clothing.
 Staff on roller skates with record-style trays full
of bazooka gum and red licorice.
 Music from the 50's played behind an inflatable
juke box.
 Records hung from ceiling, tables covered with
black and white checkered tablecloths,
centerpiece of a cut-out couple dancing on
records.
 Served In-N-Out Burgers, fruit salad, macaroni
and cheese, chips and brownies.
 Soda shop served rootbeer floats and
refreshments.
Submitted by Jessica Richter,www.nclifeline.org
Hats off to Volunteers
 Staff came wearing outrageous hats of all kinds
 Potted plants as centerpieces were in hats.
 Everyone made newspaper hats – designed by a
group. Volunteers met and worked with all sorts
of new people, decorated the hats with flowers
and balloons and whatever else they could find
and had so much fun.
Submitted by Catherine Graham, Volunteer Services Manager, IHS, The Institute for Human Services
Volunteer Christmas Tree
We took a picture of each one of our 200 volunteers
and scrapbooked the pictures onto a 3" x 6" strip of
stiff paper. We punched holes at the top for string and
hung them on the tree.
The tree was displayed in the main lobby of our
facility for the Christmas season. It drew a LOT of
attention and was quite the conversation piece.
Take pictures all year so you are ready.
Submitted by Nita Dueck
Chocolate Bars
I sent all our volunteers a chocolate bar in
the mail during April Volunteer Appreciation
week with a special card telling them all the
scientific reasons why chocolate is good for
you, plus a funny list all about chocolate I
found on the Internet. This way even the
volunteers who never come to events
received a treat, and they were surprised
and thrilled.
Submitted by Linda Sunderland, Coordinator of Volunteers and Education, Hospice
Peterborough
Chocolate Good For You
 Contains several nutrients, including potassium, iron and calcium and
vitamins A1, B1, B2, C, D, and E.
 Contains magnesium and magnesium deficiency has been linked to
heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and joint problems.
 Cocoa contains antibacterial agents that, believe it or not, fight tooth
decay.
 Contains tryptophan, an amino acid that raises the serotonin levels in
the brain, a natural stress reliever and anti-depressant. Serotonin can
also help decrease your appetite, lessoning your cravings for sweet
and starchy foods.
 Endorphins, a natural pain reducer and mood elevator, are released by
the brain to help you deal with pain.
 The cocoa butter in chocolate contains a mono-unsaturated fat called
oleic acid, which could help to raise your "good cholesterol" levels and
has been found to have no effect on "bad cholesterol," meaning it will
neither increase nor decrease it.
 Could help increase antioxidant levels in your blood. Antioxidants help
prevent heart disease, and help fight against cancer-causing cells.
 Plain dark chocolate contains 70% cocoa solids has the most health
benefits.
A Penny Saved
Present your winning volunteer with a clear
flower vase or clear container tied with a
ribbon and containing 1 penny for each hour
volunteers. It's amazing how much longer
1000 hours seems when you look at it this
way. If the volunteer doesn't want to keep the
pennies, it might be a nice gesture to donate
that amount of money to a charity of the
volunteer's choosing in his or her name.
Submitted by Jessica Brown, Tourism Sales Manager, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau
Gift Ideas
 Candle - Present a candle with a card saying "you
light the way" or " no one can hold a candle to you"
 Ruler/Tape measure - It's easy to measure the
difference you've made in our group- you're amazing!
 Clock - Thanks for the time you've given to our group!
 Group's logo Hat - Our hats are off to you! Thanks for
all you do!
 Shirt- We know you'd give the shirt off you back... so
here's an extra one for the next time you give your all.
 Toaster - A Toast to a super volunteer! Whenever you
use this toaster, remember to toast yourself, too!
 Plant - We grow luckier every day you're with us.
Gift Ideas
 Light bulbs - You light the way, thanks for your
glowing enthusiasm
 Permanent marker - You've made a lasting and
permanent contribution to you group
 Lucky Charm cereal - We're so LUCKY to have you!
 100 Grand candy bars - Volunteers are priceless.
 Payday candy bar - "Volunteers don't receive a salary
b/c they're worthless... it's b/c they're priceless!"
 Gold chocolate coins- Volunteers are worth their
weight in gold.
 Andes mints/ peppermint patties - Your service is
worth a mint to us!
V aluable is the work you do.
O utstanding is how you always come through.
L oyal, sincere and full of good cheer,
U ntiring in your efforts throughout the year.
N otable are the contributions you make.
T rustworthy in every project you take.
E ager to reach your every goal.
E ffective in the way you fulfill your role.
R eady with a smile like a shining star,
S pecial and wonderful—that’s what you are.