I volunteer for two functions in the local chapter of my organization, and I’ve just finished my first week of paid, part-time staff (yay job! go me!). My chapter covers a huge area of Minnesota (This map plus three more counties) and, quite frankly, we’re short on volunteers.
A lot of people volunteer because our organization has helped them or a family member. A bunch of our volunteers were talked into this ride by other volunteers. Word of mouth is good, but right now it’s not enough.
I’d really like to talk our executive director into renting space for our Emergency Response Vehicle or chapter van at every county fair and citywide party in our area, but I don’t think we have enough staff and volunteers to handle that. The few “volunteer opportunity” ads we have give us nothing but a budgetary headache (we’re on a shoestring). Cops and firefighters and EMTs like us, but that leads to a conflict of interest: when the big tornado hits southeast St. Cloud they’re going to have other things to do.
So throw me a bone. What do you think we could do to get more help? What would it take to get you to volunteer for AFES or Disaster Services?
First of all, maybe you can talk the counties into giving you space rather than renting it to you. Are you actually involved in the Red Cross? Is that what you would do – set up a first aid station and hand out brochures about your own organization?
If not, me need to know something about the nature of the volunteer work you’re trying to recruit for.
Oh, damn, sorry, I didn’t see the links way at the bottom of the OP.
I suggest trying to hook up with some youth groups, through local highschools and community colleges. Get students involved and trained before they graduate to full time jobs.
Approach employers in your area. Try and arrange programs for their employees so they don’t take a financial hit (or as much of one) if they lose work time while volunteering during local emergencies. Maybe they will also so some recruiting for you.
Do you, or can you, offer free training in exchange for a volunteer commitment? CPR, first aid, some EMT courses, things like that?
CPR and first aid used to be free. We changed over to a point system about a year ago because a lot of people were on the Disaster Team in name only. That is, they were on the roster and received free training, but never showed up for meetings or took call. :wally
The Health and Safety departments are already involved with youth groups and high schools (first aid and water safety, stuff like that). I need to find out how hard it would be to integrate Disaster Services into those programs…
The employer thing you mentioned is an interesting idea. I’ll bring that to Beth and see what she thinks. Thanks.
What would it take? Not much. I volunteered as a teenager in the Pediatrics Ward of Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia ( 3 years ).
I volunteered for my local ambulance corps (which will remain nameless of course ) for 6 years until I had to quit due to an injury.
I’m a firm believer in social service, so it’d take no donuts, cookies or anything else. It is what we should do with a portion of our time on this earth.
