Volunteer & Member Engagement: Harnessing Power, Passion & Purpose

1. Volunteer & Member Engagement:Harnessing Power, Passion & Purpose Learning, Leveraging and Leading

2. Welcome to Texas 2

3. Session Roadmap • Explore the “brain” of engagement • Review 10 tips for harnessing the power, passion and purpose of volunteers and members • Share simple, practical tools and techniques

4. Agreements • Be introspective • Practice curiosity • Balance advocacy with inquiry • Actively participate

5. Agreements • Be introspective • Practice curiosity • Balance advocacy with inquiry • Actively participate • Blessed are the flexible, • for they shall not be bent out of shape. 5

6. When you hear AARP, what comes to mind?

7. AARP is National in Structure… 53 State Offices including Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

8. …with a Local Feel AARP’s 1500 Chapters are non-profit, non-partisan, and independently incorporated. AARP creates the good across the country. Check out createthegood.org.

10. Life Reimagined Institute Purpose The Life Reimagined Institute is a “think + do” tank dedicated to helping people live their lives more fully and to promoting “real possibilities” at any age. 

13. Life Reimagined for Work

14. What you rarely hear is… AARP is a leader in volunteerism.

15. VOLUNTEERS AT AARP AARP Board of Directors23 National Policy Council25 CEO’S OFFICE STATE & NATIONAL GROUP AARP FOUNDATION Create the Good Network324,000 State-managed Volunteers12,600 FDN Board of Directors10 Tax-Aide35,300 AARP Chapters146,000 Driver Safety6,700 WorkSearch300 Money Management3,300 NRTA523,000 Activists904,000 Experience Corps 480 AARP Managed 1,100 Not AARP Managed -- AARP Managed -- Not AARP Managed

16. AARP Volunteers in Action Storming the state legislature

17. Advocating on issues important to the community.

18. AARP Volunteers in Action Builders and rebuilders

19. We’re Dreamers

20. Attracting Incredible Volunteers David Crippens Retired public television exec Successful consultant Non-profit founder Former Chamber Chair

21. AARP Volunteers in Action Gloria & Alex Davila

22. Basic Research • Community members expect trusted organizations/individuals to: • Fight for them • Support them • Mobilize them • Inform them • Community members crave/do not get enough of organizations/individuals that: • Celebrate them • Connect them • Inspire them • Listen to them

23. 10 Top Tips • Engage the Whole Brain • Commit CRMinal acts • Know who oughta be in pictures • Impersonate Diana Ross • Hear voices • Pay attention to the big MO • Cycle for your health • Give to receive • Innovate or perish

24. Engage the Whole Brain - HBDI Hermmann Brain Dominance Inventory

25. Summary thinkers A D Analyzes Quantifies Is logical Is critical Is realistic Likes numbers Knows about money Knows how things work Infers Imagines Speculates Takes risks Is Impetuous Breaks rules Likes surprises Is curious / Plays Logical/Rational Spatial/Visual Takes preventive action Establishes procedures Gets things done Is reliable Organizes Is neat Timely Plans Is sensitive to others Likes to teach Touches a lot Is supportive Is expressive Is emotional Talks a lot Feels C B Slow paced thinkers Hermmann International – www.hbdi.com

26. Commit CRMinal acts • Use Customer Relationship Management tools and techniques • Clear vision of who is missing from your organization/your specific targets • Full fledged “campaigns” and tracking • Multiple communications channels including earned media • Communications cadence/planned regularity • Relevance testing and cross-promotions • Data driven/evidence-based decision-making and strategic planning • Old fashioned “gut check” • and a compelling value proposition

27. “Campaigns” that engage the head and the heart

28. Know who ought a be in pictures • Audience segments • How would you describe the different audiences you’re looking for as volunteers and members? What data do you have about each audience? • What is relevant to each of those audiences? What is the value proposition for them? What would they look to your chapter for? • What is the primary message you need to telegraph to each of those audiences about your Chapter? • What are the best channels to deliver those messages?

29. Impersonate Diana Ross • Reach out and touch • Establish ways to make it easy for people to volunteer and to join • Implement a new volunteer or new member “onboarding” process • Assign a welcome buddy • Connect newbies to internal mentors • Allow “job” sharing and episodic volunteering

30. Hear Voices

31. 6 Tests of Turning Outward • Turn Outward: Am I turned toward the community? • Aspirations: Are my actions rooted in people’s shared aspirations? • Authority: Could I stand up on a table & talk to people about their community, their aspirations & concerns – would they believe me? • Authenticity: Do I reflect the reality of people’s lives & do they believe I have their best interests at heart, even when we disagree? • Accountability: Am I living up to the pledges & promises I have made? • Urge Within: Am I staying true to my urge within? Harwood Institute for Public Innovation 31

32. Pay Attention to the Big MO • Motivators • Issues of concern • Aspirations • Sense of place • Trusted sources • People • Civic connections

34. Cycle for Your Health Determining Your Volunteer Needs Evaluating & Fine Tuning Efforts Designing Work for Volunteer Involvement Recognizing & Retaining Marketing & Recruiting VEC Achieving Volunteer Performance Matching Volunteers With Opportunities Volunteer Engagement Cycle Providing Orientation & Training

35. Give to Receive • Fortify your internal culture of volunteering • Encourage your members and volunteers to give their time elsewhere • Help create opportunities with sister organizations • Partner with unlikely bedfellows • Provide recognition for service

36. Innovate or Perish

37. Innovate or Perish • Dare to be radical and revolutionary • Question the unquestionable • Look for the intersection of trends to find opportunities • Jettison the incumbent mentality • Look beyond customer satisfaction to the next big thing • Look for breakthroughs beyond your industry • Let limitations drive creativity vs. complacency • Accept nothing short of elegance • Risk more to gain more • Invite people to change the world From Dr. Kevin Freiberg to the AARP Volunteer Leadership Institute

38. AARP Philosophy of Volunteerism • AARP believes • that volunteer service is a unique and valuable contribution that benefits both the volunteer and society. • that AARP volunteers, working in partnership with paid staff and community colleagues, are a necessary and vital force in achieving the Association’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. • that volunteers contribute to the Association’s goal of attracting, developing, and maintaining the diversity of people and programs that reflect our communities and their needs. • that it is crucial to match the skills, abilities, interest, and availability of volunteers to the tasks and opportunities that advance the Association goals. • that volunteering for AARP is one of many paths by which members can become connected, involved, and engaged with their Association. • that a strong commitment to supporting and recognizing volunteers is essential in helping them reach their potential for service.

39. Most of us want to… • Respond to a need or gap • Honor the urge within to serve • Leave a positive legacy 39

40. Thank You