THE RECRUITMENT PLAN Part I

TRAINING OBJECTIVE To provide you with the tools to begin to develop a recruitment plan for your program Part I

Campaigns Plan ahead Plan ahead What will we do? What will we do? When can we start? When can we start? What is it going to cost? What is it going to cost?

When Can We Start? When will the members start? When will the members start? How long will interviewing take? How long will interviewing take? When will orientation begin? When will orientation begin? When do we need to notify the state office of our new recruit? When do we need to notify the state office of our new recruit?

SPECIAL EVENTS Your Event Or Existing Event

OUTREACH EFFORTS Information Sessions Special Events Gatekeeper Meetings Media

GATEKEEPERS Community Leaders Clergy Youth workers Board members of community orgs Elected Officials

GATEKEEPERS Community Organizations Diverse focused Disability focused Employment Neighborhood Associations Faith-based

MEDIA Member Feature Stories Paid Ads Public Service Announcements Internet Resources

EXAMPLES OF RECRUTIMENT ACTIVITIES Open house/office information session Open house/office information session Career fairs (community and local colleges) Career fairs (community and local colleges) Table on college campus Table on college campus Leave bookmarks at bookstores (i.e. Barnes and Noble or Borders) Leave bookmarks at bookstores (i.e. Barnes and Noble or Borders) Brown Bag lunch information session Brown Bag lunch information session Residence Halls Residence Halls

EXAMPLES OF RECRUTIMENT ACTIVITIES Office of Volunteerism – Habitat for Humanity chapter, Circle K, etc. Office of Volunteerism – Habitat for Humanity chapter, Circle K, etc. Fraternities & Sororities (Alpha Phi Omega and Gamma Gamma Sigma are service fraternity and sorority) Fraternities & Sororities (Alpha Phi Omega and Gamma Gamma Sigma are service fraternity and sorority) Career office Career office Financial Aid Office Financial Aid Office Place posters in coffee shops, supermarkets, laundromats, etc. Place posters in coffee shops, supermarkets, laundromats, etc.

INFORMATION SESSIONS Regularity Location, Location, Location Members and/or Alums Joint Sessions

Information Sessions Attach credibility to session Attach credibility to session Post announcements, advertise in local publications, mail invitations Post announcements, advertise in local publications, mail invitations Make presentation short – 20 minutes Make presentation short – 20 minutes Q and A Q and A Stay afterward for one on one time Stay afterward for one on one time Have current or former members participate Have current or former members participate If you can, serve a snack If you can, serve a snack

Follow UP Use a sign in sheet at every event to collect contact information of potential members Use a sign in sheet at every event to collect contact information of potential members Create a special group Create a special group Mail information promptly Mail information promptly Invite potential applicants to follow-up events Invite potential applicants to follow-up events Ask current members to call potential applicants Ask current members to call potential applicants

Follow UP Create a Recruitment Phone log Create a Recruitment Phone log Establish out-going voice mail message geared to collecting applicant contact information Establish out-going voice mail message geared to collecting applicant contact information Encourage potential applicants to visit your agency or participate in a short term project Encourage potential applicants to visit your agency or participate in a short term project Always return calls or s from potential applicants Always return calls or s from potential applicants

DEVELOP AN ELEVATOR SPEECH What is your agencys name? Where is your program located? What do you do? Whom are you trying to help? How are you planning to do this? How does someone get involved? Remember you are in an elevator, check-out line or waiting for the bus. You have only a few seconds to encourage someone to join your AmeriCorps program.

SOURCES OF POTENTIAL MEMBERS Suggestions: Career counseling and planning centers Career counseling and planning centers Other AmeriCorps programs Other AmeriCorps programs Local non-profits Local non-profits Places of worship Places of worship College/high school career fairs College/high school career fairs People in transition People in transition People who are already active in the community People who are already active in the community

Recruitment Challenges Recruiting in small communities and rural areas Get the help of influential town members Contact national and regional clubs like 4-H, Rotary Speak at club meetings, use newsletters Place fliers around town Hold informational events at local libraries, town meetings, fairs Use local media creatively

THE 7 RECUITMENT COMMANDMENTS 1. Set Realistic Goals 2. Develop a meaningful plan and budget 3. Assemble necessary materials 4. Identify likely members 5. Find and encourage applicants 6. Follow up and evaluate 7. Retain your members

Any Questions