Developing Volunteer Orientation Programs

Orientation should communicate: The organization ways, Your attitudes, Your seriousness, Your sense of humor, and Your general expectations.

Why should you have orientation programs? To impart knowledge. To increase confidence. To increase enthusiasm. To avoid future problems.

Consider: The number of people who need to be orientated. The number of people available to orient. The complexity of the job. The volunteers' prior experience. The existence of an orientation program.

Ask yourself: What do you want to do? How large and formal? Who will orient? Did you get the word out? Did you consider logistics? Did you consider physical comfort?

Set people at ease

Items to discuss: Organization's description. Organization's structure. Expectations for volunteers. Organization's history. Policies, rules, procedures. A tour of the facilities.

Items to discuss Training schedule. The volunteer evaluation and performance review system. Volunteer benefits. Emergency procedures.