How do you build an infrastructure that will support a youth program!

 Young Adult – (21-35/40) YP Groups  Collegiate – (18-22)  High School – (14-18)  Middle & Grade School (14 and under)

 What does your current volunteer database look like? › Age Groups › Diversity › Skills Sets  Figure out your gaps and focus on those areas.

› Are they flexible? › Are they age appropriate? › Are they creating leadership opportunities? › Are volunteers learning a new skill? › Are they long term or short term? › What type of training involved?

› Are they flexible? SOME › Are they age appropriate? Most are 18 years of age or older › Are they creating leadership opportunities? YES › Are volunteers learning a new skill? YES › Are they long term or short term? Most are long term › What type of training involved? Most have extensive training

Our opportunities did not match with the lifestyles of the missing demographics within our volunteer base.

 I discovered we had a gap in the year old age group.  We were missing out by not engaging this skilled volunteer pool.  We also had a gap in 18 & under but I felt our return on investment was greater if I put my energy in recruiting the age group.

› Fresh energy & ideas › Create future leaders › Tap into their talent & need for experience › Become lifelong supporters

 Get buy-in from management  Buy-in from your Board  Look at your programs to see how you can engage youth/young adults in them.  Look at your volunteer base – Do you have a few key volunteers in the age group you are recruiting to lead?

 Talk to your CEO and Board  Show them the results of your volunteer database scrub.  Explain the benefits engaging this age group can have on your organization.  Explain why you need their support and the benefits to them.

 You don’t want to create more work for departments.  Look at the opportunities & how can these groups support their program.  Benefits to the program and clients you serve.

 Work with those key volunteers you have identified  Have them recruit a few friends  Work with your program directors to think of ways to engage youth to support their program.  Work with your youth leaders to develop the club, create a plan, & implement that plan.

 Started in September 2014  20 active members  Governed by a leadership team › President, Membership, Events, Communications, Fundraising.  Give – Guide – Provide  Support core mission and programs of the American Red Cross.

Club Red of Northeast Wisconsin is a young professional group that provides you with an opportunity to network with other socially-conscious professionals and help our community. Our mission is to Give, Guide, Provide. Whether planning social fundraising events or participating in community service projects (Give), you can support events that can help save lives. Club Red Members will also have mentoring opportunities with our youth volunteers (Guide) and leadership development through opportunities available within the group (Provide).

5 Ways Young Professionals Want to Be Led 1. Empower us; don’t micromanage our talent 2. Sponsor us; serve as role models 3. Allow us to manage our own brand; don’t define us 4. Trust us; don’t question our intentions 5. Challenge us; don’t marginalize us

 Started with two  Created framework with guidance from myself and our executive director.  Brought in additional YP leadership from current database.  Developed leadership structure › President, Membership, Events, Communications, Fundraising.  Kick off Party  Monthly meetings/engagement opportunities.

 Co-Presidents are members of the Board of Directors for NE WI  A board member comes to monthly meetings to mentor and network with club.  Program leads provide activities members can get involved in.

 UW Oshkosh Red Cross Club (2 years)  UW Green Bay Red Cross Club (7 years)

 Follow the guidelines of the College/University to start a campus service group.  Create a leadership team.  Develop a calendar and make sure to work around campus events (spring break, exams, summer break).  Pair-up club program chairs with your direct organization chairs or key volunteers.

 UWO Club SAF Club Chair – Kaitlyn  Red Cross Program Director – John Kost  SAF Veterans Home Lead Volunteer – Chuck Patzer - Connect to discuss club opportunities. - Work with UWO Student SAF chair to organize. - UWO Rep Kaitlyn, lined up the volunteers from the UWO Red Cross Club. - Implemented a each semester opportunity of playing bingo and bowling with at the King Veterans home. - Wrote a story about it for our blog.

We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. ~Franklin Delano Roosevelt

 Opportunities have to be flexible.  Be able to lead or follow.  Talk their language (social media, texting, etc…  Fun.  Social – be able to meet people.  Ask for their opinion.  Don’t micro manage.  Create a calendar – More success if younger volunteers can know in advance.

 Utilize the power of your YP & College Clubs the engage the younger generation.  Teaching programs to HS or Middle/grade school.  Engaging young youth in volunteer projects if right fit.  Teaching the YP/College Clubs how THEY can be mentors.

 CEO/ED  Board  Program Leads  Community Members  YP  College  HS  Middle School & Grade School

Red Cross YP Toolkit: Red Cross clubs What Young Volunteers Want from Your Non profit Volunteers-Want-From-Your-Nonprofit.htm Do Something

Jody Weyers, CVA Phone: Twitter: jweyers2 Facebook: search for Jody Weyers