Recruiting Volunteers: Extending Our Reach

Marilyn K. LesmeisterVolunteer Development

Oregon State University Extension 4-H

Goals: Nov. 09 Staff DevelopmentFocus on Volunteers

Participants will:

Identify at least 2 ways to involve and/or recruit volunteers in the local 4-H program.

Identify one step they can take toward involving a new volunteer (s) in the local 4-H program.

Discover more ways to support one another in professional volunteer program roles.

Setting the Stage

In the next 60 minutes, we will …• Review key concepts in groups of people

where you might do volunteer recruitment;• Consider recruiting volunteers who are not

currently 4-H volunteers…and, for 4-H roles beyond the County Fair;

• Begin plans for expanding the pool of 4-H volunteers…that could be written into our 2010 Plan of Work!

Your Dreams?

If resources were no problem, what 4-H program

would you start or expand?

Why Recruitment?

High quality volunteer partnerships, and a large quantity of diverse

volunteer partnerships, help achieve a successful

4-H program.

Recruit…a fresh supply!

Webster defines “recruit” as to:

• Obtain fresh growth…to grow• Get additional supply• Fill up, restore• Reinforce and to invigorate• Increase the health, vigor or intensity

Recruitment is the 3rd Step

1st Know what you need volunteers, to do….

2nd Design a valuable assignment.

3rd Decide when, where, how to recruit.

Susan Ellis, The Volunteer Recruitment Book, 2nd Ed. 1996

What are VALUABLE volunteer roles?

Describe what a valuable volunteer role

might look like?

Value is subjective….

The value of a volunteer roleis defined by the individual volunteer.

LISTENto each volunteer

before assigning him/her to a 4-H role.

3rd Step: Where to begin recruiting?

Among…Coffee-groups at a local congregation?Employees at the Garden Store?Residents at summer motor home park?Teen members of the DECA club?

Discussion: Add to this list. Name groups in your community who have not yet been invited to be volunteers in 4-H?

Tasks to accomplish Step 3

a) Brainstorm groups of people who may enjoy “this” volunteer role.

b) Select the most appropriate technique(s) to communicate with that/those audiences.

c) Do it!d) Be prepared to applicants to contact you, by

having time to move through application, being ready for their orientation, and having ways for them to contribute quickly.

Susan Ellis, The Volunteer Recruitment Book, 2nd Ed. 1996

Common Messages for all Volunteers

• Have some type of role description.• Communicate how their role is necessary to the 4-H

program.• Communicate ways the volunteer will benefit.• Give sufficient amounts, of appropriate, and timely

information (e.g., resources, files, deadlines) . • Communicate minimum expectations.• Allow flexibility to do job creatively. (There is usually

more than one good way to do everything.)

Let’s Expand Our Reach

• Short –Term Volunteers• Corporate (Business) Volunteers• Middle Management Volunteers• Generational Differences in Volunteers (Xer’s)• Teen Volunteers• Family Volunteers

Short-Term VolunteersKey Concepts Break big roles into smaller tasks. Think about a “team” getting the job done. Provide necessary info: files, details. A role description isn’t always necessary. An orientation is necessary.

What to do? Why to do it? What are resources?

Keep a file of short-term things to do.

Ideas? Discussion:

Corporate Volunteers

Key Concepts• Prepare. Do your homework…. Find a contact.• Understand the mission of that company.• Appeal to that mission.

What’s a example of an appeal?• Be specific. What type of vols? When?

Where?• Make it easy. Stay in touch.

Middle-Management Volunteers

Key ConceptsIdentify things you are currently doing wellDelegate Share info liberallySupport – don’t interfere

Examples?

National Resource: TAXI–Taking Anyone into eXpanded Involvement

Generation X Volunteers

Key ConceptsASK how they’d like to be involved.Be ready to answer the question, “How does

the volunteer benefit from this this role?”How much needs to be included in a role

description?

Staff representatives to share ideas?

Teen Volunteers

Key Concepts ASK what they’d like to do. Plan ways for teens to have appropriate

benefits…such as career experience, or a way to obtain a scholarship reference (by providing names and contact info for supervisors where they volunteer).

Be flexible. Provide ways for friends to volunteer together.Other ideas?

Family Volunteers

Key ConceptsFamilies participate in 4-H frequently. Are there

ways to plan “family volunteering?” Plan multi-generational roles.Provide a good orientation at beginning of day, to

outline what everyone’s role is.Make it FUN. Purchase Special Event insurance.

Example: Camp Clean-Up (together, prizes, separate , fun)

Do you see new possibilities?

How can you “extend your reach” through

new 4-H volunteers?

Sharing…Thoughts for your 2010 SOARS Plan of Work?

Everyone Ready! Seminar

November 16, a seminar “New Approaches to Recruitment” will be available through Everyone Ready!, a national resource for Extension staff sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Monsanto, Inc.

1) *Register for Everyone Ready!2) Log in at your convenience.3) Take advantage of national experts. Participate,

ask questions and share ideas from Nov. 16 – Dec. 19, 2009.

Recruiting Volunteers: Extending Our Reach

Marilyn K. LesmeisterVolunteer Development

Oregon State University Extension 4-H