The Power of Volunteering. Give Happy Live Happy Conference - Tuesday 5 May

Arts & Festivals SIG

Facilitator: Karen Meuleman -Yarra Ranges Council

Issue / Traditional Solution / Different Solution / Radical Solution
Shared Workload / Clearly defined tasks / Cartoon strip to illustrate the task / Job/Task description
Paid Staff to steer the task / Providing exciting incentives as rewards / Volunteers lead the task as a challenge
Burnout / Need a group of people to do tasks / Team bonding exercise – regroup eg firewalking, bungy jumping / Make event biennial
Get new ones / Reviewing roles / Bribes
Do something else / food
Inconsistency and unreliability / Talk to them – communicate / Offer incentives and rewards / Hold meetings on skype
Email without face to face
Communicating & co-ordinating information / Meetings / Informal chats / Practice Run
Email / Lunch /events / Sky writer
Phonecalls / Dinner/Pub / Pay people – event co-ordinator
Invitation by mail / Community Radio, newspapers / Play it by ear
Site plans / Running sheet/written instructions / Using complaints to recruit volunteers( if someone complains, rope them into the process)
Newsletter / Dedicated co-ordinators for specific areas
Job Descriptions / Incentive for volunteers pre-planning – to attend meetings
Increase engagement of volunteers / Free tix / Opportunity to participate/perform e.g be part of drumming group, choir / Kidnap
Recognition/ Certificates of appreciation / Free workhops / Bribery
T-shirts, lanyards / Binding through Facebook/newsletter / Microchip them
Free food, drink vouchers & good cake / Competitions to recruit
Thank you event / Creation of sub-committees
Clear job description + support & training
Motivation / Guilt – making them feel irreplaceable / Flattery / Bribes
Focus on outcome- reminders of end goal / Volunteers input responsibility their motivation
Understand their motives in volunteering
What works? / What works? / Not working?
Core group of committed individuals / A clear vision / Shared workload – delegation and sub committees
Special volunteer events e.g music night / The end result / Inconsistency and unreliability
Organisation / A sense of purpose/vision leads to commitment / Lack of skills for some tasks
Attending university expos to recruit / Setting a schedule/timelines / Attracting the wrong volunteers
Face to face contact / Setting achievable goals / Vols coming aboard for the wrong reasons – pushing a personal agenda
Developing relationships / Promotion – access to social media
Seasonal- recruiting for intense lead up to event and them retaining when activity drops away until nest year / Community involvement / Matching people to taksks
Incentives e.g cinema tix / Council support / Motivation of people
Maintain contact throughout the year, keep interest / Cohesion – bringing people together making them feel needed / Not always on board for the cause
Need more volunteers & participants / Fulfilment
Social engagement and interaction / Difficult co-ordinating once a year event – communication to volunteers
Aim/Idea of the festival – the sun starts to return after the lantern parade / Getting information to everyone
Group works well together / Promotion of event
Creative ideas / People volunteering at the last minute
People are attending the festival / The weather
Lots of volunteers on the night / Time limits
One-off event – fun events / Parking restrictions/road closures
People involved in the lead up / Insurance coverage
Every volunteer has a job
Well supported by dignitaries VIP’s
Receiving grants
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Not a Radical idea – much needed:
  • Keeps people on track
  • Encourages accountability
  • Helps to manage workload
  • Identifies expectations
  • Shows that you’ve given it thought
  • Opportunity to “bite size” tasks
  • Shows respect for volunteers time
  • Validates the role
  • Encourages more respect for the organisation