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Recruiting Volunteers for your Event. How to get recruit effective volunteers and allow them to help you put on a great event!. Identifying your volunteer needs. The larger your event, the more volunteers you need The more your event offers, the more volunteers you need
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Recruiting Volunteers for your Event How to get recruit effective volunteers and allow them to help you put on a great event!
Identifying your volunteer needs • The larger your event, the more volunteers you need • The more your event offers, the more volunteers you need • Create a DOR itinerary and walk through the day’s tasks to help you identify where you’ll need help
Common volunteer tasks • Set-up • Registration/Check-in • Parking • Course Marking/Monitors • Traffic/Safety • First Aid • Aid Stations • Finish Line/Timing • Awards • Food Preparation • Tear-Down/Sweeping Timing volunteers at the 2010 CATnip Friday 5k
Where can you find volunteers? • People who have volunteered for your event or a nearby event in the past • Area high schools or community centers/organizations • Sponsors of the event • Friends and family • Event participants • “Buying” volunteers ORRC club members and a local Boy Scout Troop helped at the 2010 ORRC Summer Solstice Sundowner
Provide options and COMMUNICATE! • Many volunteers ENJOY their work. Find out what will make someone happy and try to put them in that role. • Explain to each volunteer what their role is and why it’s important. If they see the big picture, they’ll understand how valuable their role is!
Volunteer recognition • Race shirts, goodies • Discounts at other events • On-site recognition • Personal, heartfelt thanks • And – take care of them! If it’s cold, make sure there are space heaters. Hot? Pop-up tents for shade and lots of water!
Volunteer Empowerment • A volunteer that doesn’t know what to do will be an unhappy volunteer • Provide them with: • A detailed task • An event schedule • Contact information for key people • A definitive start and end time – people like structure! Cascade Lakes Relay volunteers – like these exchange volunteers - are encouraged to dress up, hand out treats, and be a huge part of the event. They know they’re important!
Solicit volunteer feedback • After the race, get volunteer suggestions and comments • It will improve your event • It will demonstrate a volunteer’s importance • It will make your job easier! • You will have to ASK for feedback – but it will be well worth your time