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Finding & Retaining Board Volunteers

Finding & Retaining Board Volunteers. Bill VanGorder, CAE MRC Associates CARP AGM -- October, 2011. Finding/Retaining Board Members In this session:. Recruiting An Effective Board Why Zoomers Volunteer – or do they?

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Finding & Retaining Board Volunteers

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  1. Finding & Retaining Board Volunteers Bill VanGorder, CAE MRC Associates CARP AGM -- October, 2011

  2. Finding/Retaining Board MembersIn this session: • Recruiting An Effective Board • Why Zoomers Volunteer – or do they? • Keeping Board Members -- Orientation, Training, Supervise, Rewards, Reassignment and Recognition • Using Committees & Job Descriptions • “Hiring & Firing” Volunteers • Making Board Meetings Work – Chairing The Meeting • What Kind of Board Should You Have? All Boards Are Not Created Equal • Who’d Want To Volunteer with CARP? • Resources MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  3. Recruiting An Effective Board • Best size for CARP Boards (12 – 15 with exceptions) • CARP Chapters Can seek the top local leaders. • Don’t accept “one trick ponies”. • Ask busy, active involved leaders. Rotary, Kiwanis etc. • Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade • Phone Co., Power, Insurance companies retired groups • Retiree organizations: business/union/professional (e.g. teachers, civil servants, Air Canada) medical society’s retired group, and businesses whose clients are seniors (e.g. Dignity and other CARP sponsors). • If individual can’t help, ask for advice on other retirees • Seek out “Zoomerangs” (retirees who returned to work) MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  4. Using a Matrix MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  5. Why Zoomers Volunteer – or do they? • Canadians who volunteer, by age group 45-54 35% 55-64 30% 65+ 23% • 75% of the total number of volunteered hours come from less than 10% of all Canadians. (the old 80/20 rule) • Why do seniors volunteer? • Smaller vs. larger communities MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  6. What Motivates Older Volunteers? 45-54 years 55-64 years 65+ years • belief in the cause 97 98 97 • He/she was asked 89 96 82 • to use skills/experience 76 75 71 • personally affected 70 70 66 • to explore own strengths 50 46 37 • to fulfil religious obligations 32 40 49 • friends volunteer 20 25 31 • to improve job skills 12 9 3 MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  7. Keeping Board Members • Recruitment • Orientation • Training • Supervision • Rewards • Reassignment • Recognition (past and present) MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  8. What Kind of Board Should You Have? All Boards Are Not Created EqualSome Types of Boards: • Advisory Board Model • Patron Model • Policy/Coordinating Model • Co-operative Model • Fundraising board • Policy governance • Management Team Model CARP Chapter best choice is #3 Policy Board with active committees MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  9. Board Member Job Descriptions • Written job descriptions for the chair, directors and committee chairs are essential. • Everyone should be aware of individual responsibilities, and the lines between the various positions should be clearly drawn to avoid confusion and differing interpretations. • The job descriptions should clarify key concerns, such as: the issues that concern and do not concern the board; the person who speaks for the board; and the person (or persons) who speak publicly for the organization on certain issues. • Job descriptions should be reviewed annually. “Sometimes it’s like ‘pushing a string’; you have to be persuasive, you have to have a passion for what’s going on,and you have to try and transmit that to other people so that they’re willing to do their best.”(Dr. James Fleck) MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  10. Four Causes of Absenteeism • Unclear expectations • Compelling personal reasons • Lack of satisfying and useful work • A bad match • Five Things You Can Do to Reduce Absenteeism • Update and clarify by-laws and policies on attendance • Make attendance as easy as possible • Carefully plan meeting agendas • Attend to board recruitment, orientation, training and evaluation • Pay attention to attendance MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  11. What leads to volunteer dismissal? Performance problems Conduct problems Quality of work Quantity of work Timeliness of the work performed Volunteer’s attendance Dependability If you have to fire a volunteer with love and support and deep, deep regret. tantamount to saying the "gift" of him/herself is not sufficient. Schedule a meeting in private Be prepared (third person present) State the reasons Focus on performance (avoid personal issues or value comments) Discuss future volunteer work . Document Exercise damage control. The Unpleasant Topic of Firing Volunteers

  12. Making Board Meetings Work – Chairing The Meeting • Carefully plan the meeting Agenda and keep to it. • Set and enforce time limits (“timed agenda”) • Think through the process for each meeting • Have a “pre-meeting” 45 min. for informal discussion. • Making everyone feel important • Bust “highjackers” • Facilitating a productive meeting process and decision-making • Parking Lots (for new business and ideas that require further research or committee work) • Learn and enforce “Rules of Order” MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  13. Resources Volunteer information: www.charityvillage.com/cvnet/volunteer.aspx www.volunteer.ca/files/boardadvocacymanual.pdf www.givingandvolunteering.ca 20 Questions Board Members Must ask: http://www.rogb.ca/npo/npo-directors-series/20-questions-series/item36444.aspx How to be a Great Chairperson - Nathan Garber http://garberconsulting.com/how_to_be_a_great_chairperson.htm Governance Models: What's Right for Your Board? garberconsulting.com/governance%20models%20what%27s%20right.htm MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  14. Who’d Want To Volunteer with CARP? • CARP is the pre-eminent voice for seniors in Canada. • CARP has a strong voice. We have quick access to top government leadership and decision makers at all gov’t levels. Our image is large/connected/powerful. • We are a strong advocate & desirable advocate partner. Therefore, we can ask the most senior, active and experienced community leaders to help us. • Leaders want to be a part of CARP because of our reputation. • CARP - 3 different age groups of stakeholders. Include all. • Appeal to retired professionals, business leaders, persons who work with or serve seniors, senior serving businesses. MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

  15. Thank youPlease contact me if you need more information Bill VanGorder President MRC Associates Halifax, Nova Scotia Bill@MRCassociates.ca 902-497-8073 MRC Associates, Halifax Nova Scotia

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