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