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Rural Volunteerism Strategies District Council Input Spring 2019

Published on 12/5/2019

In the spring of 2019 the six District Councils were asked several questions on Rural Volunteerism Strategies that they have used or will be using in the coming months. This document is a highlight of what we heard during these discussions. Your input and participation in the six District Councils would be welcome. Please contact Julie Vreeland – jvreeland@mavanetwork.org for more information and upcoming meeting dates.

Be ready with short term projects, one time events and projects that are specific and manageable.
Find ways that volunteers can serve from home or within their own community and use technology to facilitate remote service, communication and education.
Utilize community connections (churches, schools, friends and family) to spread the word about the work of the organization and how the volunteer has an impact on important community issues.
Emphasize the benefits of volunteering, such as better health, meeting potential friends or people with common interests; remind people what great new contacts they'll make.
Be flexible to work around their scheduling needs, such as offering longer volunteer shifts left often so the drive is worthwhile.
Place volunteers in situations that are rewarding to them. Monitoring the placement to ensure the placement is successful and highlight the important work through community recognition.
Provide assistance in transportation, such as resources for public transit, car pools, driving buddies. Look for funds to cover travel stipends or mileage reimbursement.

Short term/episodic
Be ready with short term projects, onetime events and projects that are specific and manageable.

Begin with "gateway" projects that are measurable.
Be ready with short term detailed volunteer opportunities.
Have one time events that they can manage and that they feel a vital part in making it happen.
Small, planned projects of a very specific scope that can be of a limited time.

Serve Remotely
Find ways that volunteers can serve from home or within their own community and use technology to facilitate remote service, communication and education.

Find ways that volunteers can serve remotely, from home or within their own community.
Figure out ways to be in touch with volunteers that reduce their travel times (training and continuing education offered through online instruction for example.)

Social / community aspect
Utilize community connections (churches, schools, friends and family) to spread the word about the work of the organization and how the volunteer has an impact on important community issues. Emphasize the benefits of volunteering, such as better health, meeting potential friends or people with common interests; remind people what great new contacts they'll make.

The social aspect of the volunteer experience is very important. As is the ability to put together teams that work well together.
Know the community. Find out where the people are and go to them with your volunteer opportunities.
Making it simple, and utilize word of mouth...by telling the story of what our organization is doing to impact OUR community, it is really powerful how people want to be a part of what is happening.
Ask friends and acquaintances.
Communication and finding the key person or place that is the connection to the volunteers. Some of these older adults are extremely set in their ways. You have to find the right connection to even get a chance to speak with them. Usually word of mouth from another volunteer works best. You need to know your networks and communicate with other organizations. Collaboration is key. Not only does it help off set funding issues but it allows you to connect with another group of individuals who may be looking for more or new volunteer opportunities.
Continue to promote the benefit it can be to their communities to volunteer. Most people will do what it takes to support a smaller rural community.
Talk about the advantage to the community, community pride.
Word of mouth goes a long way, if they hear good things about volunteering for you they want to be part it to by volunteering.
Getting greater awareness and advertising of volunteer opportunities within our agency.
Network, Have volunteers ask their friends.
Word of mouth is key. Have a strong program and word will get out and current volunteers will bring their friends and family.
Emphasize the secret values of volunteering: better health, meeting potential friends or people with common interests, use "the nicest people on the Range volunteer" angle to remind people what great new contacts they'll make.
Recruiting through word of mouth and requests to service and other organizations in the community.
Collaborating with existing volunteers such as partnering with churches and schools.
Personal invites, encouragement, and they have to get some benefit from volunteering whether they are spending time supporting their kids or doing something they enjoy.
I think relating to the community of volunteer’s works best. Being seen as a 'local' entity appeals to rural volunteers.
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. Get involved in the activities, the life of the community.
Going to as many community events as possible to recruit and inform the community about your organization. Also, tap into the business world! There are a lot of businesses out there who are willing to pay their employees to volunteer during the work day.
Look for a variety of partners (faith groups are essential, as well as businesses, local chambers, local government, school districts, and libraries.)
Offering some kind of training to educate the public about your organization and what you do and also what your needs are.
I find that I need to work closely with local churches.
Develop relationships.
Post volunteer opportunities at community center, gas stations, restaurants, etc.
Educate what our facility is about and the need for volunteers.
Be more personable, allowing time to get to know your volunteers on a more personal level if appropriate.
Friends working with friends.

Flexibility in Scheduling
Be flexible to work around their scheduling needs, such as offering longer volunteer shifts left often so the drive is worthwhile.

Come less often for longer time.
Flexibility in hours necessary.
Being flexible to work around their time needs. Offering longer volunteer shifts so the drive is worthwhile.

Impact
Place volunteers in situations that are rewarding to them. Monitoring the placement to ensure the placement is successful and highlight the important work through community recognition.

Make the volunteer experience meaningful.
Advertise all you do in local papers so others see how much they contribute to the community.
Placing volunteers in situations rewarding to them. Monitoring the placement to ensure the placement is successful.
Show them how important they are to your organization.
Ensuring we are providing meaningful and gratifying work to our volunteers.

Changing Management techniques

I have been able to increase my service to outlying areas by combining many meetings in one trip so mileage costs are less. I offer the chance for volunteers to arrange to meet me in a coffee shop for training and set up a route with multiple stops in a day.
In my experience, where I am located in Northern Minnesota I have divided the territory we cover and recruit in each separate area. I also travel to those areas to do quarterly education and biannual trainings.

Provide transportation resources
Provide assistance in transportation, such as resources for public transit, car pools, driving buddies. Look for funds to cover travel stipends or mileage reimbursement.

Find ways to involve the rural volunteers. Perhaps offer more public transit when available, encourage car pools, buddies to volunteer with that can and will drive.
Obtain funds for gas money stipends or mileage reimbursement Targeted recruitment.

Targeting all ages and some family groups

Need to recruit volunteers for a very specific issue in a very specific location that is compelling and directly affects their friends and neighbors rather than using a blanketed appeal for volunteers in general.

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