Comments on: Why DO people volunteer? http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer Maine Conversations about Volunteer Management Sat, 6 Sep 2008 01:10:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Anne Schink http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer#comment-254 Anne Schink Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:14:42 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer#comment-254 Many websites provide good information about what motivates volunteers. www.energizeinc.com One of the more interesting points was made by Martin Cowling, an Australian trainer and consultant, who says that people's motivation changes over time. The link connects to a free book "Turn your Organisation into a Volunteer Magnet" http://www.pfts.com.au/training/magnet2005.htm Many websites provide good information about what motivates volunteers. http://www.energizeinc.com

One of the more interesting points was made by Martin Cowling, an Australian trainer and consultant, who says that people’s motivation changes over time. The link connects to a free book “Turn your Organisation into a Volunteer Magnet”
http://www.pfts.com.au/training/magnet2005.htm

]]> By: Joan Bailey http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer#comment-238 Joan Bailey Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:51:59 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer#comment-238 This was a great post. Our volunteer program is relatively new and still relatively small; however, we try to provide a high-quality experience for all of our volunteers no matter their age or the task at hand. We just did a survey of our volunteers, which helped us find out why they joined us for projects. Are there other ways we might find out why people volunteer with us? I talk to individuals, but I am also looking for more "scientific" or "concrete" ways to gather this information. Many thanks for another great post. This was a great post. Our volunteer program is relatively new and still relatively small; however, we try to provide a high-quality experience for all of our volunteers no matter their age or the task at hand. We just did a survey of our volunteers, which helped us find out why they joined us for projects. Are there other ways we might find out why people volunteer with us? I talk to individuals, but I am also looking for more “scientific” or “concrete” ways to gather this information.

Many thanks for another great post.

]]> By: Penny Kern http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer#comment-236 Penny Kern Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:28:40 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/why-do-people-volunteer#comment-236 This is so true, Bob. Before I retired, my job was to recruit Girl Scout leaders and other volunteers. Leaders were the hardest because it required a 3 - 5 hour a week commitment for about 32 weeks of the year. 98% of the women recruited worked outside their home and included nurses, doctors, teachers, people who had 30 and 40 mile trips to get back and forth to work, industry workers, executives, etc, etc, etc. I personally believe, if you have a good handle on your mission and what needs to happen to accomplish that mission, any job can be tweeked to fit anyone who wants to volunteer or have a volunteer position handy for anyone who's interested. It may not be the exact one you are recruiting for but one that's been in the back of your head formulating. My biggest challenges were the ladies who stopped me in the grocery store or walking down the hall of a school saying they'd like to volunteer but didn't want to be a leader (or wouldn't make a good leader). There I am, on the spot - "Great, give me a call" was usually my response. Then I'd worry for a couple of days trying to come up with something appropriate for them. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't but I had fun trying. Thank you for the topic and great article. Penny This is so true, Bob. Before I retired, my job was to recruit Girl Scout leaders and other volunteers. Leaders were the hardest because it required a 3 - 5 hour a week commitment for about 32 weeks of the year. 98% of the women recruited worked outside their home and included nurses, doctors, teachers, people who had 30 and 40 mile trips to get back and forth to work, industry workers, executives, etc, etc, etc. I personally believe, if you have a good handle on your mission and what needs to happen to accomplish that mission, any job can be tweeked to fit anyone who wants to volunteer or have a volunteer position handy for anyone who’s interested. It may not be the exact one you are recruiting for but one that’s been in the back of your head formulating.

My biggest challenges were the ladies who stopped me in the grocery store or walking down the hall of a school saying they’d like to volunteer but didn’t want to be a leader (or wouldn’t make a good leader). There I am, on the spot - “Great, give me a call” was usually my response. Then I’d worry for a couple of days trying to come up with something appropriate for them. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t but I had fun trying.

Thank you for the topic and great article.
Penny

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