Developing Volunteer Orientation Programs

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Developing Volunteer Orientation Programs
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Orientation should communicate

• The organization ways,
• Your attitudes,
• Your seriousness,
• Your sense of humor, and
• Your general expectations.

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Why should you have orientation programs?

• To impart knowledge.
• To increase confidence.
• To increase enthusiasm.
• To avoid future problems.

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Consider

• The number of people who need to be orientated.
• The number of people available to orient.
• The complexity of the job.
• The volunteers' prior experience.
• The existence of an orientation program.

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Ask yourself

• What do you want to do?
• How large and formal?
• Who will orient?
• Did you get the word out?
• Did you consider logistics?
• Did you consider physical comfort?

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Set people at ease
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Items to discuss

• Organization's description
• Organization's structure
• Expectations for volunteers
• Organization's history
• Policies, rules, procedures
• A tour of the facilities

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Items to discuss

• Training schedule
• The volunteer evaluation and performance review
  system
• Volunteer benefits
• Emergency procedures