Volunteer Management ideas in the

Ultimate Ideas Newsletter

How to lead, recruit and retain more volunteers and members!

Issue 16

Any time we affirm what someone has done, we not only validate their existence on this earth, but we are also recognizing that they are making a positive difference in the world

                                                                                                        Barbara Glanz  

Now on with the ideas for you...

Hands up if one of your volunteer management goals is to retain more of your volunteers or members? Then get ready, we are going to reveal more of the secrets of retention through volunteer recognition.

I Did Not Feel Appreciated In Volunteer Recognition

In our research and in conducting phone exit interviews for specific organizations, the number one reason why people are not retained as volunteers, and I'll quote it directly is...'I did not feel appreciated'. 

And once volunteers start to say that, they begin to look for things to reinforce it. Really, what is the point of giving your all when nobody acknowledges what you have given? True volunteer appreciation and volunteer recognition involves a whole range of things from a great working environment, clear understanding of your role and duties, etc. But amongst all this, the power of saying thankyou is often the least explored and the first to be overlooked.

Thank Me

It has been said that volunteers do not want to be thanked. Rubbish! Be clear that it’s not that volunteers don’t want thanks, it’s how each individual volunteer wants to be thanked that is the key. It’s different strokes for different folks! For some, it is a public display of volunteer recognition at an event, for others it is a private moment of thanks. For most volunteers, it’s a combination of both public and private volunteer recognition.

Once A Year Thanks

It’s not enough to have ‘warm and fuzzy’ feelings inside about your volunteers and feel grateful to them without expressing it. You can think that they’re wonderful but if it’s never communicated it means 'zilch'. Volunteer Recognition is so important as part of volunteer management. You know that you can recognize your volunteers once a year at the annual volunteer recognition event but if that is all, then throughout the year they can begin to think that 'I am not really appreciated'. It is time to go beyond the once a year thanks.

The System

So here is a great retention and recognition goal for you in 2007. Establish a volunteer recognition and volunteer appreciation system or program that will ensure you show your appreciation to all your volunteers and retain them longer. A system will assist you in volunteer management to recognize everyone, whether you have 7 or 700 volunteers. It will make informal volunteer recognition look spontaneous, and formal recognition even more memorable.

With your volunteer recognition and appreciation system or program - here’s a very simple aim. Make sure that four or five times a year you find a way to appreciate each and every volunteer. Now, if you have a small number of volunteers that’s easier. But if you have a large number you are going to have to think in terms of a system. The reason I suggest a system is because otherwise people 'fall through the cracks'.  

The Annual Event

So you've decided that you are going to recognize each and every volunteer four or five times during the year, here are examples of how to do that. The annual volunteer recognition event is still a great idea. Be sure to make it a special and memorable event, and then build on it throughout the year by adding other forms of volunteer recognition.

More ideas on volunteer management, volunteer recruitment and volunteer recognition continued next page...

We also welcome links to this issue of the newsletter http://www.morevolunteers.com/newsletter16.htm and are happy for you to forward the newsletter to others involved in volunteer recogntion, volunteer recruitment and volunteer management.