Volunteer Program Enhancement

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Volunteer Program Enhancement
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Course Objectives

• Gain greater understanding of how to enhance
  internal capacity for managing a successful
  volunteer program
• Learn about working with external partners such
  as Friends groups
• Learn how to outreach to underrepresented
  communities
• Gain skill in using the media
• Become familiar with some best practices

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Building Internal Capacity - Getting line and
staff buy-in for a great program using the
Capacity Assessment tool staffing needs and
options (such as volunteer Volunteer
coordinators) budget and WorkPlan tie-in
keeping a high profile. Building External
Capacity - Working with well-organized volunteer
groups working with 3rd parties such as National
Forest Foundation, Americorps "Friends" groups
bringing partners to the planning table.
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Engaging Underrepresented Communities - Linking
in with Civil Rights and Conservation Ed outreach
efforts going to functions targeted outreach
via the media Media Relations - Advertising your
volunteer opportunities showcasing your
volunteer program working with your Public
Affairs staff. Community Involvement - FS staff
serving on committees and councils attending
functions. Resources - online, Federal
Interagency Team on Volunteerism, etc
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How To Get People Interested in Helping Build
Your Program

• Find a champion on your leadership team
• Point out where and how volunteers could assist
  with project and mission accomplishments
• Have a volunteer talk to leadership about why and
  how theyd like to help
• Share stories of other units successes

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Exercise

• Write down the names of those staffers on your
  unit who are supporters of the volunteer program.
• Make a list of your units current and planned
  projects/programs on which volunteers could
  assist.

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Before you can build, you should assess

• What is your units current capacity for hosting
  volunteers?
• What are your units goals with the volunteer
  program? 100 more, 1000 more, different
  management?
• Assess capacity Use the Partnership Assessment
  tool on the PRC
• http//www.partnershipresourcecenter.org/resources
  /tools/index.php

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Who should be involved with planning?

• Your unit leadership team
• Program managers and project leaders who utilize
  volunteers
• Local volunteer groups
• To begin, you could pull together a team of these
  folks to help create and implement a volunteer
  program strategy

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Exercise

• 1. Make a list of the volunteer groups in your
  area.
• 2. Do you know the names of regional and
  national volunteer groups? If so, write them
  down. If not, contact your Regional Program
  Manager for them.

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Teamwork!

• Decide upon goals and objectives for the program
• What does success look like?
• What resources can you commit to creating
  success?
• What needs to be done to achieve success?
• Who else needs to be involved?
• What is your timeline?

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Sustaining Your Program

• Consider what it will take to sustain a vibrant
  program over time
• Leadership commitment
• Adequate staffing
• Adequate budget
• Staff are aware of and support the program
• Healthy partnerships with volunteer groups
• One Ranger District has the Friends group
  president on the District Leadership Team

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For more training on collaboration and
partnerships

• Take some of the training modules on the
  Partnership Resource Center website (highly
  recommended)
• http//www.partnershipresourcecenter.org/resource
  s/training/collaborative-training/

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Working with the Media

• Publish human interest stories
• Publicize volunteer opportunities
• Publicize volunteer accomplishments
• Exercise Make a list
• of the stories you could
• submit to the local paper

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Working with the Media

• Work with your Public Affairs staff
• Establish good relations with your local
  newspapers
• Invite them to any significant events
  recognition picnics, dedications, unique projects
• Provide them with interesting copy and photos

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Working with Partners Enhancing Capacity

• New or existing partners may be able to help
  administer your program
• Hosted programs such as Student Conservation
  Association, AmeriCorps programs, etc.
• Well-organized volunteer groups, Friends groups
• National Forest Foundation has Friends of the
  Forest Days, grant programs, more
• Civic organizations such as Lions, Kiwanis

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• Different organizations have different
  capacities, skills, and interests
• Program administration partnerships may require
  a
• Memorandum of Understanding
• Cost Share Agreement
• Contract
• Work with your Agreements Specialist early on and
  throughout the process
• Work closely with your Partnerships Coordinator
  share information consistently to avoid
  duplication of effort!

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Exercise

• Write down the names and contact information of
  civic organizations in your area.
• Make an entry in your planner to contact the
  National Forest Foundation about developing
  Friends of the Forest Days on your unit.

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Americorps Interns

• Americorps programs such as Northwest Service
  Academy can provide Individual Placements
  interns who can serve up to 11 months as your
  Volunteer Coordinator
• Youll need to train and supervise
• Must have a Participating Agreement in place
  before committing to a placement
• Mt Hood NF has had great success with this

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Outreaching to Underrepresented Groups

• Work with your unit Civil Rights Point of Contact
• Attend public meetings and events
• Translate your outreach recruitment materials
  into languages spoken in the local community, and
  into alternate formats for accessibility (audio,
  large fonts, Braille)
• Invite groups to participate in organized events
  such as Fishing Day, National Public Lands Day,
  Trails Day, etc
• Advertise your events in community papers and in
  community locations

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Exercise

• Make a list of groups and organizations in your
  area whom youd like to engage in volunteer
  activities.
• Tap into your Forest Service network staffers
  on your unit for existing contacts with those
  groups, and request an introduction.

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Best Practices

• Mt Hood NF has one Americorps intern on each
  District who does Community Engagement work,
  including Volunteer Program coordination
• Willamette NF, Umpqua NF, and Dunes NRA each have
  a volunteer Volunteer Coordinator
• National Forest Foundation sponsors and helps
  organize Friends of the Forest Days
  http//www.becomeafriend.org/volunteer/

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More Best Practices

• The volunteer group Friends of the Forest Sedona
  is a major partner and District Leadership Team
  member with Red Rocks Ranger District in Arizona
  http//www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org/
• The San Bernardino National Forest Association is
  an excellent example of a Friends group
• http//www.sbnfa.com/

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Program Evaluation

• Important to do periodic assessments of the
  program whats working, whats not, what more is
  needed, who else should you be engaging?
• Conduct sensing interviews, exit interviews
  with volunteers
• Keep leadership in the loop
• Adjust as needed to ensure communication,
  capacity, cooperation, and continuity

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Resources

• http//www.nps.gov/phso/rtcatoolbox/index_comtoolb
  ox.htm
• partnershipresourcecenter.org
• www.volunteer.gov/gov
• www.pointsoflight.org
• Take Pride in America Program http//www.takepride
  .gov/index.html
• National Forest Foundation http//www.natlforests.
  org/