AARP Eye Center
The 360-Degree Volunteer Engagement Idea Exchange is an optional, monthly sharing call focused on volunteer engagement. It was launched in February 2019 in response to state staff and volunteer requests for easy ways to share information and creative ideas for engaging volunteers.
While OVE staff and volunteers help host the calls, the monthly meetings belong to the participants. Below please find a schedule of meetings and topics, some of which may change. Join all meetings here. Contact your OVE Advisor with any changes.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND TOPICS
FEBRUARY – 02/13/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Inviting Volunteers
QUESTIONS:
How do you encourage potential volunteers to become involved?
What methods do you use to target recruitment of needed volunteers?
What easy entry roles have you identified that work?
MARCH – 03/13/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Volunteer Orientation/Onboarding – Note: This is not recruitment!
QUESTIONS:
What materials and methods are used to facilitate volunteer orientation?
In what tasks are existing volunteers handling in the onboarding process with new volunteers?
How much time/$ do you spend on this effort?
How do you deliver the consistent message – especially in a large area?
APRIL – 04/10/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Volunteer Leadership
QUESTIONS:
What steps do you take to identify volunteers who can be/desire to be leaders?
Are there activities or events that have been highlights for your volunteer
leaders?
MAY – 05/08/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Volunteer Re-assignment or Separation
QUESTIONS:
How do you know when a volunteer is no longer a good fit within the organization, structure, and/or team?
What suggestions do you have for ways to involve volunteers if you need to help them step down or move to other areas more suitable? (because of health, ability to get around, etc.)
JUNE – 06/12/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Volunteer Team Professional Development
QUESTIONS:
What role does your volunteer team play in your work or office?
What is on your agenda that is helpful and informative for the development of volunteers?
What is a reasonable team meeting agenda? How frequently do team meetings occur?
What presentations have been most helpful in growing team member skills?
JULY – 07/10/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Volunteer Leaders
QUESTIONS:
What meetings and/or events have been held successfully by your volunteers?
How have you tackled “getting supplies/information/flyers etc.” to events for volunteers when the event is strictly led by them?
AUGUST – 08/14/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Community Engagement with Volunteers
QUESTIONS:
What community roles are being successfully handled by volunteers?
How have your volunteers involved the larger community in achieving the mission of the organization?
What suggestions do you have for enhancing community engagement with your volunteers?
SEPTEMBER – September 18th (Third Wednesday) 2:05pm
THEME: Engaging Volunteers in Planning
QUESTIONS:
What are the most successful ways to involve volunteers in annual planning? Which volunteers are involved? Only EC and lead vols or others?
Do you hold a volunteer “convening” to plan the year or goals? What has worked especially thinking of budgets?
What sources provide the most reliable information on accomplishments and/or missed targets?
How does one use the Life Cycle planning document most advantageously?
OCTOBER – 10/09/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Volunteer Retention
QUESTIONS:
What do you recommend as a Best Practice or workable strategy for retaining volunteers?
Have you seen successful methods of communicating and re-invigorating existing volunteers that you might suggest?
What are the best practices for communicating with volunteers when they have many different staff partners?
NOVEMBER – 11/13/2019 2:05pm
THEME: Year-End Planning with Volunteers
QUESTIONS:
What is a reasonable way to present the budget to the volunteer team?
How does one determine the possible places for greatest impact in use of volunteers within budget/policy constraints?
DECEMBER – 12/11/2019 2:05pm
THEME: 360 o Volunteer Engagement Year-End Review
QUESTIONS:
What topics do you wish had been addressed/discussed by the Exchange?
What changes in format/guidelines/practices do you want to see in the Exchange next year?
How can this OVE/State office partnership better facilitate your positive accomplishments and make your job easier?
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