Volunteer Management ideas in the

Ultimate Ideas Newsletter

How to lead, recruit and retain more volunteers and members!

Issue 16

Volunteer Management Newsletter Part 1 and Part 2

Saying Thanks

This might sound very simple but you might decide that at least once or twice through the year you are going to make sure that you give specific verbal recognition to each volunteer. By that, we mean you are going to make sure that you see that person and you say, 'thank you (by name) for the job that you are doing and what a difference it is making'. 

Writing Thanks

Using your volunteer recognition system, you can include written recognition for every volunteer. It might be the Thank-You card, Birthday card or Christmas card. Remember, make sure to personalize it and quotes are still one of the easiest and most powerful ways to do just that. Many of people have done exactly that with our great E-Book

'Beyond Just Words:502 Inspirational Quotes for Those Who Serve'.

Plan for Christmas Now

Here's a question? Can you give a Christmas card from you with a handwritten quote in the card to each of your 300 volunteers? Answer - Yes, easily as your volunteer management plan. But don't wait until December to get started! Divide 300 volunteers by the number of working weeks you have during the year and then write so many per week. Come December they can all be posted or given out. How organized are you in volunteer recognition plan?

The 'Mini Thank You' Card

Now here is one further great idea for your volunteer recognition program. This is one of the simplest, most inexpensive and yet most powerful appreciation and volunteer recognition techniques that the most successful leaders use. So effective is it that we have made it our 'product of the month' for you!

We call this the 'mini thank you' card. But don't be fooled by the name, they are 'mighty' powerful. They are specifically designed thank you cards, the same size as a business card. You can use them as often as you like to write quick thank you notes to your volunteers and others. Because of their small size you have room to write only a few words of appreciation, yet it can be more powerful than a full page letter. Left in the person's pigeon hole or desk it is a wonderful surprise. Or it can be handed to the person with a verbal thank you. Write many and often.

Peer-to-Peer Recognition

Here's a great idea that dramatically increased one organization's retention rates using 'mini-thank you' cards. Each volunteer was given several 'mini thank you' cards per month and was asked to write a few words when someone (volunteer or paid staff member) had achieved something or helped them or for any other reason to say thanks. They then gave them the signed 'mini thank you' card. At the end of the month, everyone handed in the cards they had received and they were placed in a draw. The first card drawn was read out and both the receiver and sender of the card went on an all-expenses paid lunch with the Chief Executive Officer and the Manager of Volunteers. Can you adapt this peer-to-peer volunteer recognition idea utilising 'mini thank you' cards for your organization?

Psst...

Just one more thing. Every idea here on volunteer recognition and retention, when adapted, works equally well for employees. Now there's something else to think about!

Adapted from the books Count Me In! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers and Count On Me! 501 Ideas on Retaining, Recognizing and Rewarding Volunteers.

Enjoy!

Judy

Dr Judy Esmond is the leading expert on how to gain, sustain and retain volunteers and members. Join up and receive FREE membership to her 'Ultimate Ideas' Mastermind Group and get the FREE E-Book and newsletter filled with 100s of ideas on volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, retention and volunteer recognition at www.morevolunteers.com

YOUR GREAT FREE BONUS GIFT!

Over the holiday season, I've taken many of the ideas from my past newsletters and combined them into a great FREE E-BOOK filled with over 100 ideas for you. To get the FREE E-Book just go to www.morevolunteers.com

This book is 35 pages and includes some of very best newsletter ideas including:

• From suspects to raving fans - 11 ideas on recruiting volunteers
• Buying the volunteering experience - 10 tips on selling to new recruits
• Bullseye recruiting - 8 ideas for great target volunteer recruitment
• Flying high - 8 ways for your flyers to stand out from the crowd
• Oh what a tangled web - 10 ideas on web presence for volunteers
• Thanking you - 20 volunteer recognition ideas to think about!

Save some time, energy and resources! Are you looking for ideas for your own newsletters or other material? Take advantage of our FREE service. You may reprint part or all of this or other newsletters for non-commercial use only. This is upon the understanding that you include a link back with the following information: Dr Judy Esmond is a leading expert on volunteering. Get her FREE E-BOOK and newsletter at www.morevolunteers.com

We also welcome links to this issue of the newsletter http://www.morevolunteers.com/newsletter16.htm and are happy for you to forward the newsletter to others involved in volunteer recruitment, volunteer recognition and volunteer management.

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