1. Unleashing Volunteer Leadership to Strengthen Community

2. TRANSFORM OUR THINKING…
What are you passionate about?
When are you available?
What does our community need?
Here’s what we have…do you want to do it?
What should we do next?
Do you want to do it again next year?
Let’s plan it together.
This is how we need you to do it.
Let’s invite others to serve.
Sign up today
The purpose of this session today is to expand our thinking regarding the role that volunteers play in the creation and execution of service projects and volunteer opportunities.
Please help to tell the impact story.
CELEBRATE!
Thank you for your time.
Please send us your photos. 22

3. this is a powerful Approach Because…
Creates a sustainable Volunteer Model
Not dependent on Staff for success
Builds Leadership Competencies within Volunteers
Millennial Friendly
Enhances the personal benefits of volunteering
Elevates organizational Impact
We are not yet experts - but have learned some things along the way that may be helpful…
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

4. Promotes personal growth/ self esteem
Reduces Stress
Promotes personal growth/ self esteem
Helps us live longer
Brings people together
Strengthens the community

5. WHEN VOLUNTEERS MAKE A FRIEND, THEY STAY
ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT
RETENTION
CULTIVATES PHILANTHROPY
DEVELOPS
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
VOLUNTEERS BECOME AN EXTENSION OF THE ORGANIZATION
INCREASES CAPACITY TO IMPACT
COMMUNITY
WHEN VOLUNTEERS MAKE A FRIEND, THEY STAY
SAY: There are many organizational benefits for volunteering as well. Research on the Togetherhood program identified many benefits to the organization. We believe the research is just as relevant as a result of all types of volunteering in a Y. Let’s take a look at a few of these benefits:
RETAINS MEMBERS: Volunteering provides members with the opportunity to make new and meaningful friendships by working together to improve their communities. And we know that when members make a friend, they stay.
CULTIVATES PHILANTHROPY: Research shows that volunteers give 10X as much as people who don’t volunteer. We also know that 2/3 of volunteers give money to the same places where they give their time.
DEVELOPS NE PARTNERSHIPS: Members reach out to offer support to other community-based organizations and businesses, which builds goodwill and opens doors for future partnerships.
CONNECTS MEMBERS TO OUR CASUSE: As members are out serving the community, they become ambassadors and advocates of the Y and demonstrate how the Y benefits communities.
ELEVATES VISIBILTY AND DEMONSTRATES COMMUNITY BENEFIT: A large body of evidence demonstrates that volunteering positively impacts physical and mental health and reduces risky behavior among adolescents. (Sample sources: Journal of Social Science Medicine, Journal of Community Psychology,
This is a quote from Edison Blanco, a Y member in Rye, NY who came to the Y for a swimming lesson and was asked to join the Togetherhood service committee:
“I now see the Y as an institution which is the house of the community, where people gather to collectively make a better society.”

6. TOGETHERHOOD® Transforming Communities
The Ys Signature Program for Social Responsibility
Talk about model – why it’s a powerful approach. Elevate creative ideas. Increase capacity of organization. Why this has been a culture change for our organization – getting back to our roots. Diversity of projects/impact:
Selfie testimonials
Edward Blanco, Waukesha
Brandywine Valley:
Hartford, CT: trail water stations
Breast cancer screening

7. VOLUNTEER’S PASSIONS SERVICE PROJECTS BUILD FRIENDSHIPS
MEMBER-LED VOLUNTEERISM
Through Togetherhood, Y members from all backgrounds work with their neighbors and community partners to plan and lead volunteer service projects to benefit the communities where they live. The program also aims to deliver lasting social change by counteracting the social isolation, disconnectedness and lack of civic engagement found in communities across the U.S.
SAY: Togetherhood invites members to share their passions and purpose, leading and participating service projects that benefit the community. They invite other members from all people reached by the Y in strengthening community through convenient, fun and rewarding service projects. This becomes part of the Y member experience – working together and becoming more connected to each other and the community.
What the program is:
It was designed to address social isolation and disconnection where we live by:
Asking members to be partners in our cause by sharing their passion and purpose with us.
They lead service projects that benefit the community directly – and in doing so:
Develop friendships with others whom they may not usually interact with
Renew purpose in their own lives
Connect with issues in their communities.
Why it matters to the Y:
Togetherhood provides members with the opportunity to make new and meaningful friendships by working together to improve their communities. And we know that when members make a friend, they stay.
Research shows that volunteers give 10X as much as people who don’t volunteer. We also know that 2/3 of volunteers give money to the same places where they give their time.
Members reach out to offer support to other community-based organizations and businesses, which builds goodwill and opens doors for future partnerships.
As members are out serving the community, they become ambassadors and advocates of the Y and demonstrate how the Y benefits communities.
A large body of evidence demonstrates that volunteering positively impacts physical and mental health and reduces risky behavior among adolescents. (Sample sources: Journal of Social Science Medicine, Journal of Community Psychology,
VOLUNTEER’S PASSIONS
SERVICE PROJECTS
BUILD FRIENDSHIPS
STRONGER COMMUNITY
GREATER VISIBILITY & PARTNERSHIPS
VOLUNTEERS ARE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE Y’S CAUSE

8. VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA
How it Works
HOW IT WORKS
TRAINER NOTE: Use the people in the room as an example to illustrate how the program works. (e.g. “I would recruit Joe, who I know cares a lot about the Y and the community, to chair our Togetherhood Service Committee.” Then, together, we would think about other members we know who are similarly committed to the Y… “)
Here are the implementation steps:
Step 1 - Prepare: Y leadership (branch or association level) decides to implement the program. At the branch level they select a Y Staff Advisor to be the staff liaison to the committee and member to become the volunteer Committee Chair. The Y team shares the strategic priorities they have identified through their strategic plans and/or community needs assessments that can guide the Togetherhood Service Committee to identify projects with community impact. The program model is shared with the ensure branch team and that team helps to recommend a diverse group of 6-12 members to service on the Togetherhood committee that is in charge of planning and executing at least 4 service projects in a 12 month period.
Step 2 – Plan the Year of Service: The Service Committee meets to consider project ideas, and, using the Togetherhood toolkit, plans the year’s calendar and select project leaders from within the committee additional spaces on the Service Committee can be given to key community partners that may not yet be members of the Y…but 90% of this decision making body should be Y members. Staff, PT or FT are not allowed to sit on the committee. The Y Staff Advisor serves very simply as an advisor to this team and should not dictate project ideas to take on large parts of the project implementation work.
Step 3 – Plan and Run Projects: Project leaders follow the tools in the Togetherhood toolkit to plan the details of each project, promote the projects and make sure volunteers have safe, high quality service experiences. The committee intentionally reaches out to the greater membership base to recruit them to volunteer for each of the projects. It is an intentional effort to recruit from the membership base, however on event days anyone (staff, community at large) is welcome to participate.
Step 4 – Report and Celebrate: Reporting the results of each project is required and a national tally of volunteer participation will be available on YMCA.net. Stories of Togetherhood projects will be collected to showcase and promote the benefits of Togetherhood, both locally and nationally.
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

9. VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA
PROGRAM FIDELITY
COMMUNITY IS THE BENEFICIARY
Neighbors and community organizations, not Y programs, are the recipients of the service projects.
2. Members & The COMMUNITY lead the projects
Members & community partners develop project ideas, lead and run projects and own the Togetherhood program The Y Staff Advisor role facilitates connections to Y resources, strategic direction, and safety.
3. COMMITTEE REPORTS on THEIR PROJECTS
At least 4 projects per 12 month period are reported via an online system to demonstrate nationwide impact
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

10. Resources: Online Toolkit
SAY: A comprehensive online toolkit has been created to help Y staff and volunteers launch the program from start to finish. Everything from volunteer recruitment scripts to project safety and planning checklists are available to help the program implementation to be plug and play. The toolkit is available on ymca.net so members can access it easily on their own, - the toolkit is available in both english and spanish.

11. MEASURING IMPACT
SAY: One very cool thing that we are able to do with this program is showcase it’s national impact via the online public facing dashboard. (access the live version here )

12. WATCH THE IMPACT:
Inserted Miller Family YMCA, (CA)

13. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO the overall concept of VOLUNTEER-led community service?
What do you think PREVENTS US FROM REGULARLY ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS IN THIS WAY?
What POTENTIAL DO YOU SEE WITHIN this type of volunteer engagement?
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

14. Volunteer Voices – Virtual Panel
Its important to hear how this actually feels from a volunteer perspective – so we assembled a virtual panel of volunteers to join the conversation.
ASK the panel: Share a bit about your current volunteer experience, what it means to you personally and why you have chosen to do it. What are the benefits to having control over your own service project opportunities? What are the challenges? What advice do you have to organizations that might be looking to create opportunities that are volunteer led – what would be important for them to know?
Allow the audience to ask questions.
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

15. VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA
What we have learned
Fully Commit to the concept
Create a framework for implementation
Train staff on their new role & Hold them accountable
Give Full Ownership to the volunteers from The start
Have tools and resources accessible
Become okay with imperfection
We are not yet experts - but have learned some things along the way that may be helpful…
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

16. VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA
Bringing it home
What have you heard today that could be actionable for you?
What resonated with you?
Fill out A Card and have a neighbor take your photo and Tweet it to #(insert Location)
VOLUNTEERISM | ©2015YMCA of the USA

17. Thank You! Andrea Lee & Emily Holthaus Membership & Programs
YMCA of the USA
@myungjoo @emilyholthaus1