Hello everyone…. My name is Capt Sandra Potocki and I have been appointed the new recruiting and retention officer for the Missouri Wing. My assistant is 2Lt. Matthew Copple.
Listed below is some information that I hope will be helpful in recruiting and retention of volunteers for your squadrons.
The most important thing is to keep volunteers updated and that is to COMMUNICATE.
Keep Volunteers in the Know Volunteering styles are changing. Some volunteers are anxious to make change and get results; others are happy to help, but with their own agenda and frequently their own timetable. And the traditional volunteer wants the things the organization has been doing for years and years. This challenge leaves the manager of volunteers wondering what will motivate everyone. The answer is no one thing appeals to everyone, but it is clear that today's volunteer is more interested in tangible results than ever before. Here are some tips to keep people in the "know" and enhance motivation for many.
Have a purpose or strategy for the team of volunteers and make it known publicly. A poster would be nice and make the purpose measurable.
Tell volunteers how the work they do impacts the mission or "big picture" of the organization.
Help volunteers understand each working unit in the organization. This can head off misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
Explain the decision-making processes of management to volunteers.
Report frequently on hard and soft measures of results or activities for the organization.
Explain reasons for changes in policies and procedures, even when it does not directly impact volunteers, but might impact the area of service for the organization.
Have a clear method for volunteers to make suggestions for improvements. But be sure to inform them that the final decision is up to the commander.
Be transparent with volunteers about how the work they do is utilized by other departments or areas of the organization.
Keep volunteers at the front edge of knowledge about how changes in the environment will impact the organization and its constituencies.
Be clear and honest (tactful) about the performance of individual volunteers. Most people volunteer to do a good job and expect some type of feedback.
Say thank you and remember names.
Please return to this page for more information and please share some of your success stories with me so that I can pass them on to all squadrons in their effort to recruit and retain members.
You can contact me at s.potocki@att.net. It may take me a day or two to get back to you but…I will answer any and all questions….
Remember: There isn’t anything you can’t do when you work together as a team…..
