Volunteer Management Ideas in the
Ultimate Ideas Newsletter
How to lead, recruit and retain more volunteers and members!
Issue 3
From Volunteer Management Newsletter Part 1 to Part 2 Continued...
More to Think About - 7 Trends Affecting Volunteer Recruitment and Recognition!
Let's Begin
Be aware of societal trends and how they can impact upon your current and future volunteers. The greater your responsiveness to these trends and the needs of different volunteers, the more successful your long-term volunteer recruitment, retention and volunteer recognition program. In our recent workshop tour, participants identified over 100+ trends affecting volunteering now and in the future. Let's look at 7 of those important trends.
Changing Social Structures
The traditional definition of a family is undergoing rapid transformation.There are now more single parent families, blended and step families, and family units with same-sex parents. Many couples are delaying childbirth or deciding not to have children, and more people are choosing to remain single and live alone. Ask yourself how you can adapt your recruitment strategies to benefit from these trends.
Changing Work Patterns
Did you know that only one-third of the workforce still work “standard” hours of 9 to 5, Monday to Friday? There are more women working, more casual and part-time workers, and more home-based businesses than ever before. Fewer people now hold a job for life, and most people now change careers several times during their working lives. Get your creative juices flowing and explore ways to make these trends work for you.
Changing Business Relationships
Have you heard the latest buzz words in the corporate world – “triple bottom line”? Companies are now reviewing their performances not only in terms of profits, but also by their environmental record and their contribution to the community. Consumers are choosing to support businesses that are both environmentally and socially responsible. This trend has created exciting possibilities to form community based business partnerships between business and the voluntary sector.
Changing Lifestyles of The Baby Boomers
Remember the Baby Boomers because of their sheer size and numbers are a very formidable force and will continue to reshape and redefine volunteering and volunteer recruitment. They will lead the changes in volunteering worldwide.
Changing Litigious Concerns
In our increasingly litigious society, the threat of litigation may deter some volunteers, as nobody likes the idea of being sued. Maintain adequate insurance cover and reassure potential volunteers that they are covered under your motor vehicle, professional indemnity, personal accident and public liability policies.
Changing Technology
More and more people are using the internet to search for volunteering opportunities. If your message isn't there, potential volunteers will be slipping through the net. As well as searching for volunteer roles, people are also using technology to carry out volunteer work online. The range of online volunteering assignments is only limited by your imagination.
Changing Concept of Time
Technology promised us increased leisure time, a more relaxed lifestyle and less stress. We may have got just the opposite! Mobile phones and email have made us continuously contactable. People have become 'time-strapped', feeling they have no time for their families, let alone for voluntary work. Be aware of these factors and focus on providing volunteering projects that allow people to feel 'time enriched' rather than 'time poor'.
Adapted from the 'Ultimate Ideas Workshop Tour' and the books Count Me In! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers by Dr Judy Esmond and Count On Me! 501 Ideas on Retaining, Recognizing & Rewarding Volunteers by Dr Judy Esmond
How to Recruit Those 'Time Poor' Volunteers - A Great Volunteer Recruitment Tip!
In volunteer management, you want to keep volunteers who are feeling time poor coming back again and again? You have to be very creative in finding ways to give them back time - here is 1 idea for you. In 1 organization, in exchange for 3 hours of volunteer work each week, another 'fruit and vege' volunteer takes orders each week and buys fresh fruit and vegetables in bulk for all the other volunteers at the local markets. Buying in bulk means that all the volunteers save money and volunteers know that they don't have to worry about finding additional time to shop.
Enjoy!
Judy
Dr Judy Esmond is the leading expert on how to gain, sustain and retain volunteers and members. Join up and receive your FREE Book with 100s of ideas on volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, retention and volunteer recognition at www.morevolunteers.com
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