Archive for July, 2009

Volunteer management and volunteer recruitment forms

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009


Volunteer management, volunteer recruitment and volunteer recogition more ideas for you!



Hi All,

Here’s another idea for you on:



VOLUNTEERING BARRIERS AND FORM FILLERS


Last week I talked about using forms to select volunteers and how you might just be choosing the best form fillers as volunteers. If you missed this volunteer recruitment idea you can read it on this blog.


This week I promised to give a very interesting way to find out whether you are only choosing the best FORM
FILLERS as your volunteers.


Here’s my bright idea – TEST IT. Yes, TEST IT!


DON’T ASSUME – FIND OUT BY TESTING THIS VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT METHOD



volunteer management testing ideasIf you use forms as your main selection process, then test whether they are a useful selection tool. For the next six months have half of the volunteer applicants fill out your forms. Then for the other half of volunteer applicants do NOT have them fill out your forms (other than basic demographic information and legal forms).


Then compare how the form fillers and non-form fillers go as volunteers. Which group contributes the most? Which group is retained the longest? As a volunteer manager, you can add more of your own comparison questions for this volunteer recruitment.


WHAT IF THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE?


If you find there is no difference, over time, between the two groups, then why would you continue to use forms as your main selection process?


Next week I’ll share an idea with you about interviews and volunteer recruitment and selection.


You can get hundreds more ideas on volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention and volunteer recognition in my books right now.


Enjoy!

Judy

Dr Judy Esmond
An International Expert on Volunteering


P.S. Do let others know that they can also get these quick tips by signing up either at my website or on this blog.

Volunteer management and volunteer form fillers

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Ideas on Volunteer Management, Volunteer Recruitment and Volunteer Recognition


Hi Everyone


Here’s another idea for you on:


VOLUNTEERING BARRIERS AND FORMS


Last post I talked about forms being barriers to volunteering.  If you missed the idea you can read it on my previous blog post.

I’ve now received lots of emails from subscribers explaining how important these forms are in their own volunteer selection process. Here’s part of an email from Helen (name changed):

“We have a selection form with lots of questions that prospective volunteers have to answer.  This form helps us decide if people are suitable to then become volunteers”.


DO THE BEST FORM FILLERS WIN?


volunteers-paperwork

Great Idea Helen!  But I have two questions to consider.   When we use forms as our only selection process are we just selecting those people that are better at filling out the forms?

Are we creating barriers for potential volunteers who aren’t good at filling out forms?

Now because this is a quick read tip I’ll leave you to ponder these two questions. And next week I’ll give you a very interesting way to find out whether you are only choosing the best FORM FILLERS as your volunteers.

You can get hundreds more ideas on volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention and volunteer recognition in my books at
http://www.morevolunteers.com/products.htm


ONE QUOTE FOR YOU


Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions – Oliver Wendell Holmes

From the book Count Me in! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers.


Enjoy!


Judy


Dr Judy Esmond
An International Expert on Volunteering


P.S. Do let others know that they can also get these quick tips by signing up either at my website or subscribing to this blog.

Volunteer management and more forms

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009



Hi Everyone,


For those in volunteer management, volunteer recruitment and volunteer retention, here’s another idea for you on:



BARRIERS TO VOLUNTEERING – FORMS AND MORE FORMS



FORMS can be a big barrier to volunteering.



volunteer-management-formsYes there are forms that all potential volunteers need to complete for legal reasons. But many organizations and groups have their own internal forms that could do with a makeover and are an added barrier to volunteering.


CHECK OUT YOUR FORMS CLOSELY


So critically check the forms that you ask people to complete. Are all the forms necessary? Are they too complex? Do they make cultural assumptions? Do they in fact create a barrier for people from different cultural or educational backgrounds? Simplify your forms or get rid of them! Make the process of joining up as easy as possible. Do not let a form alone become the reason someone could not become a volunteer for you.



Forms should be useful tools for volunteer recruitment and volunteer attraction not tools of volunteer de-traction.


This idea is adapted are from the best selling book Count Me in! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers. You can get your own copy today.


ONE QUOTE


Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify – Henry David Thoreau



Also from the book Count Me in! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers.



Enjoy!



Judy



Dr Judy Esmond
An International Expert on Volunteering



P.S. Make sure to let others know that they can also get these quick tips by signing up either at my website www.morevolunteers.com or this blog


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