Volunteering

[4everHis]

If you are the leader in a position where you always have to have volunteers (church, sports, school, etc), do you take someone's volunteering 1 year to mean they are committed to following years? Do you start each new event as though it is the first time and ask for volunteers again? 

 

TIA

[Wilma]

I would check in with each volunteer. "We appreciate you so much. How has this year gone for you, what did you like about your volunteer role? Are you planning to return next year? Are you happy in this role, or is there something else you'd like to try? Is there anyone you'd like to be working with? "

 

Taking a pulse with your current volunteers helps them know they're valued and shows you where your holes are for recruiting for empty positions.

[jewellsmommy]

My experiences are through church and a co-op. In both, it was based on a year at a time. In AWANAs I approach each leader and ask if they are interested in repeating their role next year. If it seemed as though they had struggled with the position then I ask if they would like to try xyz to ease some of the burden (as opposed to losing them altogether). We always have room for more volunteers and therefore ask each year for anyone who wants to help.But, if someone held a position last year then they get first choice to stay in it.

 

There was a time that our Sunday school worked on a three month rotation (the materials followed the seasons). In that situation I asked after their rotation if they would be doing next year's spring season or whatever they had just done.

[dirty ethel rackham]

I agree you should always ask current volunteers if they plan on continuing in their role or if they had a different role in mind.  I don't think it is wise to assume anything.  Some who plan to continue and end up replaced may feel like you didn't like their performance.  Some who didn't plan to continue might feel put upon if you assume they will continue.  Going to your existing pool of volunteer positions for filling the next year's slots is usually a good idea because there may be less "training" involved.

[SKL]

Except for elected or limited-term positions, I would give first dibs to the person who did it for the prior year.

[SebastianCat]

I appreciate the requests that start with something like, "We appreciate your service but don't want to presume that everyone can continue at the same level as last year/event..."  or something like that.    

 

Except for elected or limited-term positions, I would give first dibs to the person who did it for the prior year.

 

Absolutely.   And the people who did a certain job get first dibs to switch to a different role if needed, before recruiting new volunteers.

[ccolopy]

I volunteer year-round with an organization that assumes you are still volunteering as long as you haven't informed them otherwise. Volunteers can begin at any point in the year and most continue for several years.

 

When organizing volunteers for annual events or positions that are required for only part of the year, I contact those who have volunteered in the past to ask if they are interested in volunteering again. I do not assume that they are committed just because they have volunteered before, but find that we are more likely to get repeat volunteers if we contact them directly rather than hoping they respond to a general call. 

[4everHis]

No, no, no, no

 

what works best is:

 

One thanks existing team and opens applications for next year and does due diligence in interviewing, etc

 

One thanks old team publicly

 

One introduces new team publicly

 

What you are trying to do is assemble the best team for the next year. Dibs -- no, don't set that precedent, cause that is how the people that are not a fit destroy the organization. And you don't want the child molesters etc...

I like this plan.

Edited January 18, 2018 by connib

[4everHis]

I volunteered 2 years ago for a week long event. This week I was given direction for what to do at this year's event. I was taken off guard by the assumption that they could fill in the blank with my name while never talking to me. I can miss social protocols but it felt 'wrong.'

[Bluegoat]

Yes, more or less.  I coordinate the Sunday school for our church.  I tend to assume most people who have volunteered in the past will want to again, and use the same email lists and such.

 

But as far as scheduling, what I do is a few times a year I coordinate with people and let them know what we need, and then they tell me what they can do.

 

There are times when someone isn't going to carry on or at least not in the same capacity, or they need to take a break, and they just let me know.

[wintermom]

It depends on the situation. In some cases I assume that the volunteers will be returning unless they say otherwise. I always check with them, though. In other cases I take it year by year, event by event, or project by project.  Some people prefer to volunteer with a specific event or project and then they are out.

[catz]

Well for some groups I'm involved with, having your kid in means you'll be volunteering some way or another unless your family has special circumstances. 

 

For other groups, no I wouldn't assume.  I might hope.  Heck, if I'm in for a year, that doesn't mean I'll be in for next year.  I have some longer running volunteering duties but some are more transient. 

[Bluegoat]

I guess a year seems kind of a random amount of time in a lot of contexts.  Why not 6 months, or two years?

[flyingaway]

I volunteered 2 years ago for a week long event. This week I was given direction for what to do at this year's event. I was taken off guard by the assumption that they could fill in the blank with my name while never talking to me. I can miss social protocols but it felt 'wrong.'

Definitely presumptuous. I would have no problem saying, sorry, not up for that this year.

[Bluegoat]

I don't think a year is so random. I mean, you don't want to be scrambling for new people halfway through the school year around Christmas? At least, in the context of a system where volunteers are primarily needed during a school year. My Sunday school class meets during the school year, but not summer. We started with three teachers, but are down to two. Sometimes we teach together, sometimes only one of us can make it. It took me a while to learn the students' names and get used to the role. I don't think it'd be great to start with someone new mid year if it was avoidable.

 

But maybe I'm thinking of different kinds of roles. I can see if it's hard to get a commitment out of someone for a year to ask for a lesser time frame.

 

 

If it's something that cycles for a year, sure.  But lots of things don't - they may be more of a one-off, or irregular gig, or they might be ongoing.  If I'm talking about regular food bank volunteers, who might have started any time, I'm not going to start over again once a year - I'm generally going to assume they want to keep coming until they tell me otherwise.