Événement

Art and Science of Volunteer Management workshop

* Please note: Actual workshop location and directions will be emailed to those who register. This event's proceeds benefit Friends of Occupy Portland, an Oregon non-profit corporation. *

This 2.5-hour, participatory workshop equips volunteer coordinators, community organizers, neighborhood leaders, event organizers, and activist leaders in the art and science of volunteer engagement and volunteer management, born of 15 years of extensive experiences as a volunteer and organizational leader in very diverse settings.

1. Who will benefit mainly from this workshop? What is the intended audience?

If you are taking this workshop, obviously you are in a position of engaging volunteers in some capacity. I am mostly addressing this workshop's contents to any or all of the following:
* You are starting a volunteer-driven community project or organization.
* You serve in a board of directors of a small to mid-sized non-profit organization.
* You are an organizer in your neighborhood or business district association, that require volunteers for events or ongoing projects such as street clean-up.
* You are in a position of training, recruiting or coordinating volunteers within an organization.
* You are a grassroots activist or community organizer.
* You are in a leadership role within a small to mid-sized church or religious community.

In other words, I am mostly thinking of those who are not typical career non-profit professionals. Most of this workshop is based on my many years of volunteering and leadership in non-profit sector. It is born out of actual, lived experiences, rather than from academic theories and researches.

2. Why is this workshop important to you?

Have you ever had these experiences?
* It's been difficult to recruit volunteers.
* Volunteers flake out in the last minute when it's so busy.
* Volunteers suddenly drop out of sight.
* Volunteers seem demoralized, and they are rude to clients.
* Some over-eager volunteers do things their way.
* Volunteers try to insert themselves into administration or leadership.
* Volunteers attempt to recruit other volunteers to a religious sect, multi-level marketing, etc.
* A certain volunteer begs money from employees and other volunteers.
* A volunteer steals our supplies, equipment, services, etc.
* There are conflicts between new volunteers and established ones, and/or regular volunteers and infrequent occasional volunteers.
* Conflicts between volunteers and employees or board members are frequent.
* Some know-it-all-volunteers mess up things, or alienate long-time volunteers.
* Some volunteers seem to give certain clients a favor.
* Careless words or deeds of a volunteer hurt publicity, or worse, led to lawsuit threat.
* It's been a challenge to address certain behaviors and attitudes of a "difficult volunteer."
* Volunteers show up late, and leave early (and leave all the mess behind).

3. What is this workshop like?

It will be in a small group setting (maximum 12 per session) and very "low-tech." There will be no elaborate slideshows, video clips, or other distractions. It is highly recommended that you bring a notebook and a pen, rather than a laptop or tablet. (Audio or video recording is not permitted both out of concern for privacy of attendees as well as copyright protection, unless it is necessary for your personal use because of disabilities.)