Giving Thanks by Giving Back -- Recruiting Volunteers for your Community Association
During this Thanksgiving holiday season, I find it topical to address the subject of volunteering, particularly as it relates to community or homeowner associations. As we give thanks for those blessings which we've enjoyed throughout the year, we should turn a watchful eye towards those projects that our community may need help with. The following are some tips on getting volunteers to join in your community's service projects:
(1) Just Ask. Recruiting volunteers can be as simple as just asking them to do so. Most people will respond to an honest, direct appeal for help.
(2) Advertise. Place an ad in the community newsletter or on the marquee at the community center, post notices, and distribute flyers. "Cast a wide net" when it comes to blanketing the community for volunteers. Remember to coordinate your efforts to ensure that the recruitment effort reaches the majority, if not all, of the community membership so that all residences have the opportunity to join the effort.
(3) Write a Letter or Email. Make sure the letter clearly defines the project, the deadline, and any resources that will be provided to volunteers who choose to accept the assignment. Be sure to keep the language of the letter broad so as to not restrict any person or group from participation. Also, catch the reader's attention with a series of questions that frame the volunteer project in terms of how it will benefit the residences. Finally, follow up with prospective volunteers with a phone call or email to gauge interest.
(4) Urgency. Educate the residents on the potential ramifications if the volunteer project doesn't achieve its recruitment goals (and hence jeopardizes the success of the project itself.) Members are more likely to pitch in and solve a problem that affects a service or amenity that they use in the community. However, don't hyper-inflate or exaggerate the need for volunteers -- what you need is an environment of urgency, NOT panic.
(5) Survey says! Sometimes questionnaires or surveys can represent a coherent method for members to express their opinions on a project prior to committing.
(6) Stay Positive. When recruiting volunteers, let your energy and enthusiasm for the endeavor shine through. BE confident when approaching potential volunteers and let them know that the Board and Community support the project and are assembling a world-class team to accomplish the objective.
(1) Just Ask. Recruiting volunteers can be as simple as just asking them to do so. Most people will respond to an honest, direct appeal for help.
(2) Advertise. Place an ad in the community newsletter or on the marquee at the community center, post notices, and distribute flyers. "Cast a wide net" when it comes to blanketing the community for volunteers. Remember to coordinate your efforts to ensure that the recruitment effort reaches the majority, if not all, of the community membership so that all residences have the opportunity to join the effort.
(3) Write a Letter or Email. Make sure the letter clearly defines the project, the deadline, and any resources that will be provided to volunteers who choose to accept the assignment. Be sure to keep the language of the letter broad so as to not restrict any person or group from participation. Also, catch the reader's attention with a series of questions that frame the volunteer project in terms of how it will benefit the residences. Finally, follow up with prospective volunteers with a phone call or email to gauge interest.
(4) Urgency. Educate the residents on the potential ramifications if the volunteer project doesn't achieve its recruitment goals (and hence jeopardizes the success of the project itself.) Members are more likely to pitch in and solve a problem that affects a service or amenity that they use in the community. However, don't hyper-inflate or exaggerate the need for volunteers -- what you need is an environment of urgency, NOT panic.
(5) Survey says! Sometimes questionnaires or surveys can represent a coherent method for members to express their opinions on a project prior to committing.
(6) Stay Positive. When recruiting volunteers, let your energy and enthusiasm for the endeavor shine through. BE confident when approaching potential volunteers and let them know that the Board and Community support the project and are assembling a world-class team to accomplish the objective.
*adopted from the CAI Guide "Volunteers: How Community Associations Thrive"
posted by William G. Gammon at 9:20 AM
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William G. Gammon
