The 3 R

1
The 3 Rs of Managing Chapter Volunteers

• Grant Martin, CFRE
• Catherine Wemette, CAE

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
2
What are the 3 Rs?

• Recruitment harness the motivation and
  enthusiasm your volunteers bring to the chapter
• Retention keep your volunteers engaged, focused
  and happy
• Recognition thank and recognize your volunteers
  in meaningful ways

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
3
Your Own Volunteer Roots

• Why did you get involved with AFP?
• Why do you stay?
• What was positive about your first volunteer
  experience with AFP?
• What did you learn from that experience?

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
4
Volunteer Leaders

• Are your reasons for getting involved in
  leadership different?
• Why did you get involved in leadership in your
  chapter?
• Why do you stay involved?

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
5
Your Jobs as a Volunteer Leader
2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
6
Recruitment Motivation

• Understanding volunteer motivations
• Opportunities to learn new skills
• Meet other professionals
• Finding a job or making a career change
• Help people
• Do something useful give back to the profession

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
7
Recruitment Opportunities

• Time commitment
• Specific duties
• Available resources
• In person or remotely
• Direct service vs. administrative

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
8
Recruitment Alignment

• Volunteer motivation and interest
• Your own knowledge of the volunteer
• Time
• Skills
• Comfort level
• Scholarship recipients

9
Recruitment Ask!

• 71 of volunteers serve when asked
• Only 29 volunteer without being asked
• Only 50 of adults were asked to volunteer
• If the other 50 were asked, as many as 71 may
  volunteer
• 58 of AFP leaders volunteered because another
  board member asked

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
10
Recruitment Chapter Efforts
Please tell us how you recruit new volunteers
2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
11
2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
12
Retention Expectations

• Standardized chapter bylaws and policies
• Positions
• Terms of service
• Requirements
• Committee/chair descriptions
• Requirements
• Goals

13
Retention Alignment, Part II

• Matching volunteers interests and skills with the
  appropriate task
• Volunteer motivation and interest
• Your own knowledge of the volunteer
• Time
• Skills
• Comfort level
• Re-evaluate assignments at regular and
  appropriate intervals

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
14
Retention Training

• Keep records and pass materials on from volunteer
  to volunteer
• Provide ample opportunities to learn on the job
• Encourage committees and task forces to work
  together and cross-train
• Board or committee retreats

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
15
Retention Evaluation

• Dont wonderask
• Provide clear feedback
• Look for increased involvement and leadership
  opportunities
• Balancing governance vs. operations

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
16
Recognition Its Personal

• What is your most memorable thank you for
  volunteering?
• What made it so special?

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
17
Recognition Motivations

• Opportunities to learn new skills
• Meet other professionals
• Finding a job or making a career change
• Help people
• Do something useful give back to the profession

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
18
Recognition Opportunities

• Level of commitment vs. level of recognition
• Public recognition
• Personal thanks
• Acknowledgement of achievement
• Boss, family, friends
• What story will it tell?

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
19
The 3 Rs Full Circle

• Appropriately recruiting can set you up well to
  retrain and recognize
• Where does your chapter do well?
• Where can you improve?
• What are your goals as a volunteer leader leading
  your chapter volunteers?

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
20
Questions and Open Discussion
2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
21
Final Thoughts

• Know your volunteers
• Keep an open dialog to understand motivations,
  skills and interests and how they all change
• Look for ways to make personal connections
• Have fun!

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
22
Thank you for all your do for AFP!
2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org
23
Contact Info

• Grant Martin, CFRE
• VP for Advancement
• Tampa Bay History Center
• e gmartin_at_tampabayhistorycenter.org
• Catherine Wemette, CAE
• Director, Chapter Administration
• AFP
• e cwemette_at_afpnet.org

2009 Leadership Academy
www.afpnet.org