Taking Advantage of Opportunities
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By Kris Weeks Oliveri
When someone walks through your door, are you open and ready to recruit a potential volunteer? Sometimes spontaneity can be the spark that starts a new volunteer on a road to service. Recently I was staffing the front desk here at the Maine State Museum and a gentleman came in with his membership card. He asked whom he should speak with about volunteering since he had been deliberating about it for a while. I immediately smiled and welcomed him, explaining our needs and how he could get on board. He made it easy to recruit because he had already thought about helping but other people can be enlisted if the recruiter shows an “on the spot” passion for the project or program. It isn’t necessary to be frantic or try to “hard sell” someone, just be aware of times when a few well-chosen words could make an impact.
Look for times such as standing in grocery lines to strike up a brief conversation, “I’d much rather spend my time helping at the hospital/museum/animal shelter (or wherever).” You might not get any response or you might get a negative one but there’s a chance you might catch someone’s interest. It’s a risk but if you bring in a potential volunteer for your organization or program, it’s time well spent. You would have spent the time standing in line anyway. When I am walking through the galleries I will often mention to visitors that we couldn’t accomplish what we do without the help of volunteers. This has a dual result – it gives credit to the current volunteers and also helps others think about being part of what we do. Don’t be afraid to talk up your program, you never know who might be listening – it could be your next best volunteer!
Kris Weeks Oliveri is a guest blogger and the Coordinator of Volunteers at the Maine State Museum in Augusta.