Frances Canonizado Outreach Manager fcanonizado@greatlakes.org

1. Volunteers: How to Recruit, Engage, and Keep ThemHow Adopt-a-Beach™ Engages Volunteers Around the BasinA presentation for the 2012 Park Advocacy Conference Frances Canonizado Outreach Manager fcanonizado@greatlakes.org

2. The Alliance at a Glance Mission To conserve and restore the world's largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife. Supporters More than 12,000 supporters throughout the region back the Alliance’s efforts in a variety of ways. Why Now? The Great Lakes contain nearly 20 percent of the earth’s surface fresh water, providing drinking water to more than 40 million people. Threats to the Great Lakes today are many, however, ranging from pollution and invasive species to wasteful water use and climate change. All demand our attention and commitment.

3. A Community that Cares for the Great Lakes Formed in 1970, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is the oldest independent Great Lakes citizens' organization in North America. Our community today includes… • Individuals • Businesses • Elected officials • Teachers and students • Environmental advocates • Policy leaders • Recreational enthusiasts • Civic organizations The Alliance is the only independent policy organization working solely to improve the Great Lakes every day.

4. Issues that Matter to the Alliance Clean water Sustainable water use Ecosystem restoration Emerging threats Civic and youth participation, e.g. Adopt-a-Beach Invasive species

5. How We Take Action Informing the Dialogue Monitoring and Enforcement Strong, fact-based advocacy that calls attention to violations and responsible parties Reports, position papers and research studies Convening Stakeholders Engaging the Public Working in collaboration with environmental groups, government and citizens groups to bring influencers to the table Outreach campaigns that use traditional and social media, as well as forums and public service announcements

6. Giving Back to the Great Lakes: Adopt-a-Beach • 1991 begun as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (now September Adopt-a-Beach™ on September 15, 2012) • 2002 year-round program launched • 2008 Adopt-a-Beach™ forms aligned with EPA Sanitary Survey

7. Giving Back to the Great Lakes: Adopt-a-Beach It is a year-round opportunity for families, schools, businesses and community-based groups to conduct litter monitoring and water quality testing along the Great Lakes shorelines.

8. Adopt-a-Beach™: Litter Monitoring Form Trash In 2011, year-round Adopt-a-Beach™ groups picked up: Cigarette filters 119,256 Caps and lids 45,645 Food wrappers and containers 33,445 Straws and stirrers 21,119 Cigar tips 20,402 Plastic bags 15,167 Plastic beverage bottles 12,739 Cups, plates, eating utensils 12,290 Beverage cans 9,779 Glass bottles 9,418

9. How to Recruit • Job Description – it’s helpful for people to know what they are volunteering for – or what the need is. • Start with the people you know – sometimes people are shy about sharing their talents until they are asked. • Put flyers up at the local coffee shops / grocery stores, etc. • If you have a webpage for your event – share it with FOTP and similar organizations so they can help spread the word. • Utilize social networks – FB/Twitter

10. How to Engage • Start with a clear agenda. Thank your volunteers for coming. • Have your volunteers sign in. (Make someone responsible for making sure everyone signs in.) • Be as specific as possible with your directions. Make sure people understand why you are doing your project. Keep it positive.

11. How to Engage • Stick to your allotted time. • Build in time for breaks and reflections to gather their thoughts immediately about their participation. • If volunteers need to have a back ground check for your project – refer them to the CPD website. (For one day events, unless they are dealing with kids that aren’t their own – they don’t need to do this.) • Thank the volunteers again.

12. How to Retain • Always follow up with an email thank you for their efforts. • Let them know about upcoming events to keep them engaged.

13. Resources • “Managing a non-profit in the 21st Century” – Thomas Wolf • Volunteer Match – Friends of the Parks has an account and will be willing to allow you to post events. • Other websites? http://www.voluntaryworks.org.uk/cvsmidandnorthbeds/documents/HowToManageVolunteers.pdf

14. Your data matters: • Educating others about beach health issues • Information shared with beach health officials and others to make changes • Working to make on the ground improvements Entering your Adopt-a-Beach™ results online Adopt-a-Beach™ Litter Results 2010 • Adopters create a username and password at www.greatlakesadopt.org. • Team leaders enter their data in the online database. • Your data helps other adopters, web visitors, YOU and the Alliance see what is happening at your beach! Go to www.greatlakes.org to enter your results! Data makes a difference! www.greatlakesadopt.org

16. Online Resources • Adopt-a-Beach™ Videos: www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeachvideos • Adopt-a-Beach™ Forms: www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeachforms • Adopt-a-Beach™ FAQs: www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeachfaqs • Adopt-a-Beach™ Training Opportunities: www.greatlakes.org/trainings

17. Joining the Adopt-a-Beach™ Program: Contact us General Adopt-a-Beach™ Email: adoptabeach@greatlakes.org State outreach staff: • Illinois and Indiana, Katie Larson at klarson@greatlakes.org • Michigan and Minnesota, Jamie Cross at jcross@greatlakes.org • New York, Nate Drag at ndrag@greatlakes.org • Ohio, Hyle Lowry at hlowry@greatlakes.org • Wisconsin, Todd Brennan at tbrennan@greatlakes.org To register for Adopt-a-Beach™ , visit www.greatlakesadopt.org. Learn more about the Alliance: www.greatlakes.org