(from Susan's Tip of the Month in the Monthly e-Mail Update)
Many of you know about my "proximity chart" recruitment technique, in which I urge you to walk or drive in concentric circles around your organization's site, writing down everything you see and then determining how you can approach these "neighbors" with a recruitment message. A related idea is to encourage your organization to hold an open house at least once a year--or whenever something special deserves celebration. The point, however, is to do something especially for your "neighbors." Send invitations that are different from any general, public announcements. Either make it clear that this event is only for those within a two-block radius, or explain that neighbors will be welcome an hour earlier than the general public for special attention.
The reasons for making this effort are several. First, it has been shown many times that people watch out for the property and visitors of others in their neighborhood if they feel friendly towards one another. Second, you can explain volunteer opportunities and have "real" volunteers give tours or otherwise interact with the visitors. This is not meant to be an actual recruitment campaign and certainly not a hard sell. The point is to inform your neighbors, both to sow seeds should they ever be looking for volunteer work and also to enlist them as ambassadors, telling others about what volunteers do. Finally, have a wish list of needed items ready. You never know when a neighbor wants to have a garage sale and you might get a donation off the top! (You may even how items YOU can give away in exchange for being hauled off site.)
Give opportunities for your visitors to ask questions, not just to be preached at. And be sure the open house allows people to meet one another, too. After all, you're all neighbors! Who knows? You may end up with the most popular block party or pot luck supper of the year.