May 2014
TOPIC: Me? A Volunteer?
8 Ways to Build Your “Special Teams”: Best Practices on Building a Volunteer Infrastructure
The ASCE Membership Champions Program
w w w . a s c e . o r g / C h am p i o n s
Today’s Format
Mix of training, polling, open forum,and workbook examples
Workbook with examples can bedownloaded atwww.asce.org/champions
Questions: Nicole Carpenter, Aff.M.ASCE, Champions Administrator at [email protected] 703-295-6152
Please be considerate of fellow participants and:
Do NOT place this conferencecall on hold. We can all hear thehold music.
MUTE your phone if you are notasking or answering a questionor sharing information.
The HUDDLE-May 2014 ASCE Membership Champions Program
Game Plan for Today
Part One: The Three “R’s” to
make it easy for volunteers to
get, and stay involved
Part Two: 8 Ways to Build Your
“Special Teams”: Best Practices on
Building a Volunteer Infrastructure
With polling, interactive
questions, sharing throughout
verbally and via chat room
SEE WORKBOOK EXAMPLES
The HUDDLE-May 2014 ASCE Membership Champions Program
Volunteer Management is as crucial to the success of your Section/Branch as planning a monthly meeting, having a website, or producing a newsletter
Building an infrastructure takes time, planning, management, and SOPs
The Three R’s for Volunteer Management Success
The Three “R’s” to make it easy for volunteers to get, and stay involved
Requires a conscious, targeted
approach to volunteer management at
every stage, from recruitment to
retention to recognition
e c r u i t m e n t
e t e n t i o n
e c o g n i t i o n
Key element in attracting
volunteers: Understanding their
motivations creates a “win-win”
proposition
RECRUITMENT —Attracting and Securing
Volunteers are attracted to ASCE’s needs, impact, and outcome
A potential volunteer displaying
interest should be treated with:
Promptness
Clarity
Respect
Genuine kindness
Their consideration for volunteering is a
heartfelt expression of their commitment to
ASCE’s cause
Initially, minimize processes and procedures
that impede the emotional connection to
ASCE
SEE WORKBOOK EXAMPLES
Questions to ask that can uncover why a
person wants to volunteer/their passion
Questions to gauge a volunteer’s potential
Questions to gauge volunteer commitment
Questions to gauge volunteer performance
RETENTION —Engagement
Member Volunteer Leader
Provide positive volunteer experiences
Educate them about the cause
Invite them to programs and events
Find out why they want to volunteer and
match the volunteer experience with their
passion
Build Leaders
RECOGNITION —Stewarding
Treat volunteers
like donors
It’s the little things
that count
SEE WORKBOOK EXAMPLES
RECOGNITION —Stewarding Ideas
8 Ways to Build Your “Special Teams”
Best Practices on Building a Volunteer Infrastructure
Include the full volunteer team as membership specialists
Include the full volunteer team as membership specialists
Remember your Section or Branch has one mission to serve members
Make it easy to volunteer
Make it easy to volunteer
Have an easy-to-understand form that outlines skills, time, and expertiseneeded
Respond and complete the appointment quickly to provide instantgratification
Create five-minute, one-hour, and one-week opportunities
Create five-minute, one-hour, and
one-week opportunities
Help fill in the gaps when longer-term opportunities are filled
Help members dip their toes in the volunteer water
These short-term opportunities can lead to long-term commitments inthe future
Look for people on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms
Look for people on Facebook, LinkedIn,
and other social media platforms
Ask them to write posts, articles, blog, or volunteer elsewhere
Don't be limited to active posters
Lure the silent members of social media by offering freebies toresponders
Play up ASCE’s clout
Play up ASCE’s clout
It’s part of what you have to offer volunteers in return
ASCE exposes its volunteer members to an international network
It’s a great way to build your career skills in leadership, networking,presentation, etc.
Reward volunteers
Reward volunteers
Consider awarding points that qualify members for rewards such asfree dinners at monthly meetings or free registration at your annualevent
Give an unexpected gift to shining star volunteers
Develop a leadership mentor program
Develop a leadership mentor program
Identify potential leaders and pair them with past presidents and formerleaders to provide strategic and big-picture training, rather thanfocusing on the tasks of leadership positions
Bonus: This keeps former leaders engaged
Be innovative with recognition
Be innovative with recognition
Plaques and awards are not the only wayto recognize a volunteer’s efforts
Recognition among peers and sharingexpertise means a lot to volunteers
Have them be authors and speakers. Usetheir images online, on posters, and inbrochures
SEE WORKBOOK
EXAMPLES
RECOGNITION — Stewarding Treat volunteers like donors
Sources
Excerpts were integrated from the following sources
From American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Best Practices: Better Volunteering Structure, More Engaged Volunteers
• Anthony Sudler, chief philanthropy officer, Children’s Home Society of Florida• Article in Associations Now called Keep It Simple
8 Easy Volunteer Victories • Component Relations Roundtable in 2012, Caryl Tynan, CAE, director of membership services at the
American College of Phlebology.The Inner Game of Volunteer Motivation
• Component Relations, August 2000, Debra Evans, Director of training and development for MS2000+,Inc.
Keep It Simple • Maureen E. Thompson, director of association governance operations and volunteer manager, American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association• Article in Association Now, April 2008
A Path to Passionate Volunteers • Kristin Clarke, books editor, Associations Now• Article in Associations Now, June 2013
Mitch Ditkoff is the Co-Founder and President of Idea Champions • Huffington Post article, April 8, 2013
From ASCE Staff: 2011 Webinar: From Prospect to President
• Curtis Nunley, CAE, Director of Membership Services and Becky Waldrup, P.E., Professional Activities
Thank you for your time!