Responses to:
Volunteers Just Want to Have Fun
Submitted on 15 December 2005 by Carl Bromley,
Local4All.com
President,
Kittanning, PA USA
Hooooooeeeey! I can imagine our local nonprofit leaders running me out of town if I tried to make it more fun. But then, I think the volunteers would track me down and bring me back just for the fun of it! ;-)
Submitted on 24 October 2005 by Jim Woods,
Dublin City South Volunteer Centre,
Manager,
Dublin Ireland
Some time ago I gave a presentation to television executives on the benefits of releasing their staff for employer supported volunteering. At the end of it I asked these people in their starched collars and pin striped suits why do people volunteer. Of course all the usual good citizen, giving back to society suggestions came up. What a look of amazement on their faces when I actually suggest that it might be "FUN" for the volunteers!!
Submitted on 10 October 2005 by Lori Tsuruda,
People Making a Difference® (PMD),
Founder & Executive Director,
Boston/MA USA
If you compare volunteer recruitment to dating, then charities have been leading with their needs, only attracting a fraction of the population, versus leading with their benefits/fun. Since online databases enable people to search countless listings of needs and causes near them, I feel that existing databases serve people who seek unpaid work on issues of which they are already aware and care.
I support matching volunteers based on their passions, personalities, and skills. In this way, volunteers can enjoy the activities themselves, as well as contributing to the fulfillment of nonprofit missions. For example, if someone loves the outdoors, then s/he might like to blend being outdoors with a volunteer role that offers an opportunity for mutual benefit, like monitoring a special place for incursions of invasive species. If someone loves to cook, then s/he might like to become ServSafe® certified like people in the restaurant industry and find nonprofits that seek meals prepared for their clients. If someone likes arts and crafts, then s/he might enjoy helping clients with them. Furthermore, some people enjoy leading or belonging to social, professional, faith, etc. groups that can have beneficial impacts such as organizing and hosting specific drives for in-kind donations.
Submitted on 5 October 2005 anonymously
It's refreshing to finally hear from my peers that volunteering needs to be more FUN! We aren't competing amongst other volunteer opportunities or organizations; we're competing against time spent with loved ones, time spent on hobbies and more. By providing ways for volunteers to incorporate their own interests in our community service projects, we're creating a win-win situation for both nonprofits and volunteers.
Be eccentric and start a sing-a-long during a long painting project. Turn up a radio and dance with children while providing child care. Start a race between volunteers stuffing envelopes for a mailing. It all starts with you. They'll come back begging for more.
Submitted on 5 October 2005 by Liz Adamshick,
Adamshick Consulting,
Trainer/Consultant,
Homer OH USA
Syndicated columnist Mike Harden once said that "humor is tragedy plus time". For volunteers who give their time and talents in settings that are often "tragic" (disaster/emergency response, domestic violence, etc.) it can be difficult to give oneself permission to "lighten up" in the midst of it all. Anyone connected to emergency response, for example, knows that at times, gallows humor is a coping strategy some volunteers employ that collapses the distance between tragedy and time, but also provides the needed outlet that allows these individuals to continue in their service. Finding a brand of humor that fits with the setting is key, in my opinion. Humor is often the glue that supports team formation and effectiveness as shared experiences are discussed and retold beyond the moment of service itself. Volunteering engages everyone in experiences that are fundamentally human, and humor is part of the human experience, no matter what form it takes. We need to remember the joy that laughter can bring--psychologically, physiologically, spiritually, and emotionally. Thanks, Susan, for raising this issue!
Submitted on 3 October 2005 by Nancy Hughes,
VON Canada-Durham,
Manager, Community Support,
Oshawa, Ontario Canada
Those of us working with the lonely, frail elderly and the physically disabled can easily find ourselves feeling burdened from all of their sad stories. Humor is so important to keep our spirits up so we are happy when we see the next client and also so we maintain our own mental health. It is important to ensure your staff and volunteers are provided with some "fun" time to give them energy to tackle more of the tough tasks we deal with daily. Keep smiling!
Submitted on 3 October 2005 by Judith M. Williams,
Kalamazoo Drop-In Child Care Center,
Volunteer Coordinator,
Kalamazoo, MI USA
I really liked the fresh, fun and humor approach with regard to volunteering. I am a social worker by training and have been for 23 years. I've transitioned into a volunteer coordinator position. It is exceptionally refreshing working with relatively healthy people rather that "cases" and you are right...people need lots of opportunities to laugh (and even celebrate) or they will fade away from the volunteer experience.
Submitted on 3 October 2005 by Lynn Heyman,
Miami Children's Hospital,
Director, Community & Volunteer Resource Miami, Florida USA
At Radio Lollipop, an international volunteer program for children in hospital we call volunteering "Serious Fun".
Submitted on 6 September 2005 by Hillary Roberts,
Project Linus NJ, Inc.,
President,
Keyport/NJ USA
A new director was hired at the office. She challenged staff to rewrite the mission statement; to rethink the agency's purpose. It was fun to participate in the process and in the end the mission statement reflected a refreshed approach towards workplace attitudes. The winning mission statement read:
We will never compromise our integrity
Compassion always
Customer respect begins with self-respect We accept our responsibility to serve people in challenging times We have the moral courage to advocate for the needs of our clients Humor helps weather the tough time, encourages optimism and relieves stress
The inclusion of humor had been missing from the day to day grind. From the top down and the bottom up, staff and volunteers were recharged. The new statement gave permission for humor on the job-what a concept!
Posted on 2 September
2005 by Maria Rizzo, Florida Hospital, Manager, Altamonte Springs
Florida USA
This was a great article. I agree when you talk about incorporating
"fun" into work. With fun comes creativity and creativity
opens doors to new ideas and ways to be innovative with your volunteer
team and paid staff.
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