The volunteer year is well underway. Chapter leaders are hard at work planning their fall meetings; securing meeting space and vendors, vetting speakers, planning social or special events, marketing the meeting, and taking care of all the important details that go into making a meeting successful. While planning chapter meetings is a shared responsibility among the board, it’s also an opportunity to engage members and recruit new volunteers.
Micro-Volunteer Opportunities – One of the easiest ways to involve members is through small, one-time volunteer tasks/jobs. Opportunities such as creating the meeting flyer/marketing materials, researching speakers and venues, networking with vendors to secure sponsorships or exhibits, or helping with on-site tasks such as room monitors and registration support. Not only does this help ease some of the workload for you and your chapter leaders, but it also gets members involved and interested in volunteering. Be sure to acknowledge and thank them and follow up with them after your meeting to keep them engaged.
Overview of Available Roles/Q&A Session – Dedicate some time during your meeting to talk about volunteering, including the benefits, roles, and opportunities available, and what can be learned or gained. Give attendees the opportunity to ask questions.
Share Your Experiences – Perhaps the best recruitment tool is your own experience. How has volunteering benefited you? How have you grown personally and/or professionally? What have you learned during your time as a volunteer? Learning from our peers can be a powerful motivator and allows us to lead by example for those who may be hesitant or indifferent about getting involved.
Ask Them to Be the Change – Many times, attendees will provide feedback on ways to improve meetings. Ask them to be a part of those improvements by volunteering with the chapter. Encourage them to volunteer with a program committee or step up as the program chairperson to help implement those changes and improve the meeting experience.