Growing Your Group: Attract & Retain Volunteers Presented by YOUR NAME HERE

Growing Your Group Workshop Outline Introductions, ground rules Volunteer Challenges Preparing for Volunteers Involving Volunteers Keeping Volunteers Wrap up & Evaluation

Introductions Questions: What brought you here today? What do you want out of todays workshops? What is your favourite colour? Why?

Recruiting Volunteers Community centers, notice board Volunteer Centers Local papers Shopping malls Public Service Announcements Speaking to Community Groups Schools with mandatory service programs Job counseling office Libraries Post offices Tourist information bureau Chambers of Commerce School counselors Church bulletin boards Hospital waiting rooms

Targeted Recruiting Ideas From Conducting a Volunteer Recruitment Campaign by Steve McCurley Think about work setting, educational background, leisure time organizations and activities, publications they might read, parts of town in which they are likely to live, etc. Who currently has or does it? What jobs or occupations does it show up in? Who once did it and has now quit or retired? Who would like to be doing it, but is now in a job where it is not possible? Who was educated in this, but now has a different type of job? Who could learn to do it? Adapted from:

Targeted Recruiting Ideas From Conducting a Volunteer Recruitment Campaign (contd) by Steve McCurley Who is now learning to do it and intends to do it more in the future? What schools teach this subject? Who can get someone else who is qualified to do it? Can we find a teacher or a senior practitioner in this skill who can recommend and encourage others in their field to help us? Who has such a radically different job that this would be an exciting novelty? Adapted from:

Additional Recruiting Ideas Try to think what would interest YOU in volunteering. Use every available source - radio, television, newspapers and personal contacts. Volunteers as recruiters Get all active volunteers involved in thinking up new methods for recruiting. Pool these ideas. The best volunteer recruiters are volunteers who are happy with your organization. Have current volunteers tell their story at meetings or gatherings of membership. Involve volunteers in decision making. Make certain they feel they are an important part of the organization. Adapted from:

Additional Recruiting Ideas Your Group – are you attractive to volunteers? People are attracted to programs that utilize positive, honest, enthusiastic appeals. Offer stimulating, in-depth orientation sessions. Be interested in your members, not only as volunteers but as individuals. Don't over-recruit. Volunteers will lose interest if they have signed up to help and there isn't a job for them. Recognize their efforts. Saying "thanks" goes a long way. Adapted from:

Thank you! For information on other workshops: NORTHWATCH Box 282 North Bay, ON P1B 8H2 Tel: (705) Fax: (705)