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ASME Member Recruitment and Involvement. Objectives. Understand why people volunteer and become involved; Understand why ASME members participate and what might encourage those that don’t currently participate; Be able to use ASME’s recruitment resources; and
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Objectives • Understand why people volunteer and become involved; • Understand why ASME members participate and what might encourage those that don’t currently participate; • Be able to use ASME’s recruitment resources; and • Develop solutions or action plans that may be used to solve real membership challenges.
Outline • How Did You Get Involved? • Survey Data on ASME Members • ASME Recruiting Resources • Create Your Success Story – Group Exercise
Why do People Get Involved? Thomas W. McKee (www.volunteerpower.com): Most people respond to three levels of motivation. • Basic Level: Self-serving drive (WIIFM) - meets personal needs e.g. for business, friendship, belonging or other • Secondary Level: Relational drive - investing in relationships is one of the strongest stimulators for our inner motivations • Highest Level: Belief drive - strongest level of commitment - passion for a cause Why did you get involved in ASME?
How Did You Get Involved?(Exercise) • How were you personally recruited? • With your table, summarize the recruiting stories you have heard with short descriptions of what made the Recruitment successful. • Share two unique descriptors with the whole group.
Survey Data on ASME Members Research: • Decision to Volunteer - an Internet survey deployed Nov-Dec 2007 by ASME & 22 other orgs - 26,395. responded (725 ASME members) • What Volunteers Need -Volunteer and Retention Task Force survey, 2002.
Decision to Volunteer • How ASME Volunteers First Learned About Volunteering • Another Volunteer • Local Chapter or Section • Meeting, Conference, Other Event • Staff Member Asked • Call for Volunteers • My Employer
Decision to Volunteer • Top Five Most Important Aspects of Volunteering Among ASME Members • I feel it is important to do so • I can do something for a profession or cause that is important to me • Volunteering allows me to gain a new perspective on things • I feel compassion toward people in need • I can explore my own strengths
“I would start volunteering now if …” Top five statements of ASME members that haven’t volunteered in past 12 months • I knew the volunteer opportunity was meaningful • I knew I had the skills needed to do a good job • The location was easily accessible to me • I could be given short term assignments • I did not lose income as a result
“I do not currently volunteer because …” • Top reasons given by ASME members not currently volunteering • Not enough info on volunteer opportunities (!!) • I volunteer elsewhere • They never asked me (!!) • Don't know of volunteer activities that can be done electronically (!!) • Don't know of any short-term assignments (!!) • Location inconvenient
Why People Volunteer Findings: • A satisfied volunteer is the best recruiter • <20% of people will volunteer on their own • People like to be asked • Best Practices for creating satisfied volunteers: • Provide opportunities for achievement (manageable, defined task, necessary resources, backup help, praise for a job well-done) • Allow volunteers to make discoveries about themselves and others • Enable social bonding and relationship/community building • Provide training, feedback and recognition How could you use this information?
Implications for ASME Sections • What do we do well/what are our strengths? • Where could we improve? • Ideas for effective recruiting/motivating: • Form a team of satisfied volunteers • List specific tasks, time & skills needed • Ask people personally • Help new volunteers get started (training/mentoring) • Follow up with new volunteers (how’s it going, recognition, what else would you like to do? etc) • Others? (flip chart)
ASME Recruiting Resources Member Recruitment Kit • Leadership Volunteer Resources Unit Leadership Resource Center (scroll down to ASME Member Recruitment and Retainment Kit) • Seven steps and sample letters to help Unit Leaders with recruiting and retaining local members • http://volunteer.asme.org/unit/Member_Recruitment_Retainment.cfm • Applications and Scenarios – Recruitment Exercises for unit leaders
ASME Recruiting Resources Best Practices Webpage: • leadership volunteer resources best practices (scroll down to Members and Leaders) • Technology and Society (T&S) Division – increased involvement from 3-4 to 50 active volunteers with an additional 100 contributing, over 2-3 years. • Read about what they did at http://www.asme.org/Governance/Volunteer/Practices/Technology_Society_TS_2.cfm • Contribute your own section’s best practice!