Volunteers

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Volunteers
A Good Volunteer Program WE WANT YOU!

• How do we get them?

How do we keep them?
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Program outline
Should Communicate History of the School
School Vision Statement
School Mission Statement
Development Office
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
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Program outline
Volunteer Program
Vision Statement
Through our committed and caring volunteer team,
we will be the foremost leader in providing
innovative, effective volunteer support services
dedicated to improving the education and quality
of school life for the students
Goal 1
We will recruit and retain volunteers with
diverse backgrounds and skills that are committed
and motivated to making a difference and are
fulfilled by their opportunity to volunteer.
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Program outline
Volunteer Program
Goal 2
We will provide programs that are defined by
quality and are effective in meeting the needs of
the constituents served.
Goal 3
We will provide leadership that supports teamwork
and effective communications and promotes the
spirit of care, integrity and compassion
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Volunteers
Overcoming Obstacles

• Lack of volunteers

• Same volunteers

• Active volunteers that are overburdened
  Burnout!

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Why do we need volunteers?




Too much work for staff alone
More involvement equals more investment
Great ambassadors for the Institution
Networking with other parents and alumni
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Advantages
Can broaden outreach
Develop visibility
Help to accomplish goal / to do more
Develop a core group of well-educated ambassadors
Can influence others / entrée to people, places
Source of information / skills / advice
/enthusiasm
Volunteers donors Diverse perspectives To
motivate others
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Disadvantages
Staff time
Volunteers are not employees
Competing / changing demands on their time
Different agenda
Hands off / Hands on
Can be unreliable
False expectations
Turnover high
Possessive / demanding
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What are you looking for?




Energetic
Articulate
Commitment to the School
Time availability
What are volunteers looking for?
A suitable assignment
Knowledge of the school
Training for the job
A variety of experiences
To be heard
Recognition
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Volunteer Coordinator

• The Principal

NO
Should always stay connected

• Development Director

Should always stay connected

• Might detract from other duties

• Should be a resource for volunteers

• Volunteer Position called
  Volunteer Coordinator

• Time commitment

• Possible Service-in-lieu-of-tuition or
  percent thereof

• Lead to a paid position

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Volunteer Coordinator

• The Coordinators Role

• Attract volunteers

• Training volunteers

• Assigning volunteers

• Appreciating volunteers

• The Coordinators Needs

• Work area (volunteer center)

• Computer

• Worktable

• Library of Communication

• Library of Minutes

• Copier

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What a school needs to know about the Volunteer

• Know who is raising the child
• Single parent
• Ages of other children

• Occupational titles and employment

• Volunteer experience

• Research should focus on the time demand, family
  responsibilities, job and volunteer experience,
  and availability

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When and how to ask
Registration

• 9 weeks before registration have committee
  chairs provide job
  descriptions

• 7 weeks first draft of booklet for volunteers
  based on chairs information

• 4 weeks out proofed and printed

• 1 week out circulate to families for
  consideration and at the same time ads should
  appear in bulletins and newsletters

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When and how to ask
At Registration

• Sign-up sheets corresponding with job
  opportunities listed in the booklet

• Allow volunteers (even for schools requiring
  hours) to choose what they would like to do.

• Follow-up is essential.
• Committee chairs should call the volunteers,
  thank them, confirm their commitment, and answer
  any questions

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When and how to ask
After Registration

• A couple of weeks later have a grandparents day
  for a special appreciation ceremony for past
  support and an invitation to be involved in the
  upcoming year.

• New Families
• A personal invitation

• Parents of Graduates
• To stay involved

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When and how to ask

• Parents
• Parent / teacher conferences

• Grandparents Day

• Open House

• Parish Ministry Day

• Parish Bulletin

• Newsletter and alumni newsletter

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When and how to ask

• Follow-up is essential.

• Have a letter sent from the Principal, Pastor and
  Chair thanking a volunteer for signing up.
• Committee chairs should call the volunteers,
  thank them , confirm their commitment, and answer
  any questions

• Volunteers should be placed in a data base

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Recruiting volunteers

Attend events and meetings
Send mailings
Networking
OK to say no
General call
Specific invitations
Method of invitation should match target audience
Effectiveness chart! Mail 10 to 15 Phone
25 to 35 Person to Person 45 to 60
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Volunteer Committee Structure

• Committee Chair
• Divide the committee into job descriptions
• Each job description becomes a subcommittee
• Each subcommittee has a Chair

• Subcommittee Chair
• Recruit 2 3 additional people on their
  subcommittee
• In charge of their particular projects

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Committee Chair

• Fill in as a subcommittee member whenever needed
• Oversee the entire committee and keep the
  subcommittee chairs, the board, development
  director, etc. informed
• Keep everyone involved and interested in the
  committee
• Help brainstorm any problems, give support
• Schedule and plan committee meetings
• Maintain the committee notebook

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Notebook

• A how-to manual
• Description of committee responsibilities
• A calendar for the jobs and routine procedures,
  and projected costs
• An inventory of equipment
• List of members, positions, addresses and phone
  numbers
• Record of expenditures and donated items
• Committee minutes
• Copies of correspondence
• A year-end evaluation and financial report

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Sample Committee Structure

• A successful committee
• Dedicated members willing to work
• Communicate among themselves between meetings
• Have some expertise in the committees field

• Committee chair retires
• Chair prospects come from the subcommittee chairs
• The subcommittee chair has one of their committee
  members trained and ready to take over their
  duties

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Training volunteers

• Written job description
• A school will appear professional in its
  expectations and support
• A person is more likely to accept a position
  if the job is spelled out

• Timetable
• Volunteer Weekend

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Managing Volunteers

• Competition
• Rewarding success
• The art of nudging
• Firing volunteers
• Fundraising as a business
• Burnout

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In A Nutshell

Analyze the volunteer job Seek the right
people Offer recognition and challenging
work Avoid those with too many other
commitments Conduct an orientation Provide
frequent updates Hold good meetings Speak with
those who are not working out Survey your
volunteers Groom your volunteers for leadership
roles
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In A Nutshell


Recruit the best. Dont wait for volunteers to
volunteer. Go after the one who will be the best
and design a job description just for them
Keep track of responses Acknowledge every
response Maintain good volunteer records Have
current volunteer help follow-up serve as a
buddy to a new volunteer
Make an effort to make all volunteers feel
welcome and appreciated Communicate
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In A Nutshell

Give them a chance to make a difference Start
small but have a long-range plan You set the
tone be organized Involve volunteers dont
use them Dont get discouraged when people
dont work out LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN
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In A Nutshell

Provide them with facts. Give a written job
description to each volunteer. Include the nature
of the task, the time period during which it
should be done, and the approximate amount of
time it will take. We are here to assist you
dont hesitate to ask. Hope they derive great
enjoyment from the association and friendships
through their dedication to the school. Please
drop by my office to say hello when you are
here next
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Tips
Respect their time. Be organized and responsive.
Provide agendas for and minutes of meetings.
Schedule group meetings only when there is clear
purpose and need. Send discussion materials in
advance.   Train even the pros. Understand that
even the most experienced volunteers need
training. They may be the top fundraiser at their
school and church, but they must learn about past
history and current needs to of your school. They
must be well informed about the prospect to be
seen as the kind of fundraiser you consider
appropriate, and the kinds of gift you will
accept.
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Tips
Ask for feedback. Ask volunteers to evaluate
their work as well as the nature and timing of
services you provide. If they prefer to meet for
breakfast, accommodate them.   Thank and thank
some more. Express appreciation for the effort as
well as the result. Be certain your volunteers
understand that every face-to-face solicitation
is by definition a success, regardless of the
outcome. A no today often becomes a yes
several years hence.
Get your target group involved in recruitment
ask them to design flyers, write bulletin
announcements, talk about it at meetings, etc.
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Tips
What does the job really involve? Responsibility,
commitment, training, support, booklet,
Not every job is right for every volunteer.
Reflection When have I felt really good about a
volunteer activity that I have done? What was it
that made the activity enjoyable? How can I help
people feel good about their volunteer work?
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Volunteer Lists
Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
Committee Description
Altar Society Assist Campus
Minister with
school liturgies, make and maintain altar
cloths, banners and decorations. Art A
La Carte Coordinate volunteers to teach
or assist with prepared art
appreciation lessons in the
classroom. Auction Gala Coordinates the
auction gala fundraiser for the
school
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Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
Birthday Recognition Distribute
birthday T-shirts. Box Tops for Education
Assist with collection of box top coupons
from General Mills food products.
Community Garden Oversee planting
and maintenance of vegetable garden
by students, organize distribution of food
to local food pantry
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Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
Fun in the Sun Day Coordinate volunteers in all
aspects of FITSD  Library Aides
Coordinate volunteers to assist
school librarian with circulation,
shelving and light clerical duties.  Lunch
Bunch Coordinate volunteers for lunch
monitor for each class on
Fridays. PTO Service Project Assist
with collection of donations by grade
level, distribute items to designated
charity.  
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Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
Room Mothers Coordinate with Room Parents in
regards to class parties, field trips,
phone calls for school closings and
emergencies, auction projects and
various other needs as determined by
the PTO and the Principal. Marquee
Mom Coordinate marquee sign in front of
school to have it updated with
birthdays and school news.
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Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
Gala Volunteers Publicity Chair, Event
program, Advertising, Invitation, Raffle
Tickets, Thank you Writers Sponsorship Auction
Chair, (Class Projects, Live Silent
Auction) Facilities Chair (Event
Coordination, Decorations, Event Volunteers,
Volunteer Dinner) Accounting Chair, Coordinator
of Guest Speakers
Remember! A write-up for each position should be
provided. Have volunteers discuss their
experiences.
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Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
Library Volunteers, Math tutors, Field Trip
drivers, assist in morning school supervision,
Home and School (General Chair, Secretary,
Finance Chair, Hospitality Chair, Fundraising
Chair, Teacher Appreciation Chair, Communications
Chair, Spirituality Chair, and Student Activities
Chair), lunchroom volunteers, office volunteers,
Registration volunteers - they show potential
families around the school, answer questions and
help register the children. Volunteers to help
with school pictures and health screenings,
Classroom volunteers to listen to the students
read, Classroom volunteers to read to the class
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Make your list out according to the amount of
contact with the children.
lunch room duty etc. Grand Pals volunteers,
Crossing Guard, Teacher Aide, Maintenance Aide,
Kitchen Aide, Cheerleader Sponsor, Office Aide,
Science Fair Judge, Room Mom / Dad, Clinic Help,
Bazaar Booth, Book Fair, Halloween Carnival
(set-up/tear-down), Catholic Schools Week tour
guide, Senior Citizen Soup Luncheon, Auction
Dinner, Field Day, Golf Tournament, Office Help
copying, special projects, Gala Volunteers
(Publicity Chair, Event program, Advertising,
Invitation, Raffle Tickets, Thank you Writers),