1. Making the Most of the Volunteer Experience
Ask crowd to recall their first volunteer experience.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - Who had a… Share a negative experience and share a positive experience.
2016 IMBA World Summit
Bentonville, AR

2. Why volunteer? To give back To have new/better trails
Believe in the mission
To be social
To help build a community
And more…
Why do people volunteer? *Take suggestions from the crowd*
Understanding the ‘why’ helps us shape the experience. A positive experience will lead to great things for volunteers and for your chapter

3. By the Numbers Chapters contributed 700,000 hours of volunteer service
53% volunteered in the last 12 months
Of the 43% who hadn’t volunteered
49% didn’t have the time
27% didn’t know about volunteer opportunities
15% hadn’t been asked
According to the recent IMBA Chapter Member Survey…
Volunteer hours included attending public meetings, coordinating events, trail building, additional skills training and others
All of these will be addressed today:
Be mindful of volunteers’ time
Make sure we’re providing info on volunteer opps
How are we relaying the message?

4. Leadership Responsibility
Volunteers are the lifeblood of your chapter and directly contribute to your mission.
Enable
Support
Integrate
Celebrate
Volunteers are the lifeblood…
Your responsibility as leaders is to enable....

5. Enable volunteers Starts with leadership Listen Make it easy
Preparation and clear direction
Volunteers know their roles and they are clearly communicated
Expectations are clearly defined
Model behavior
Enabling volunteers starts with effective leadership. Competency and a well-run volunteer event is one way to ensure volunteer retention and create a positive experience

6. Enable Volunteers To… Lead Take ownership of OUR mission/vision
Work on their own or in groups
Promote teams
Mentor others
Coping is the best flattery
To..
Lead – identify your experienced volunteers to help with day-of organization
Ownership generates passion if supported with action.
Enjoy contributing. Make it fun! ….
Lead. Eventually these volunteers will become chapter leaders. A positive volunteer experience is the best succession plan

7. Support volunteers Resources Training Network
Communications ( , social media access)
Tools (books, trail tools)
Budget
SWAG
Training
Show them the ropes
Introduce them to contacts
Attend meetings with them
Network
Social opportunities
Mentorship
Directory of support
DEFINITELY AN ERNIE SLIDE!

8. Integrate Public and timely recognition for work
Recognize volunteer work into public relations
Into other roles
Newsletters, communications
Membership, drives and benefits
Fundraising planning and communications
etc
Positive experiences create return volunteers, influence others and sets the stage for future chapter leadership. Volunteers are your succession plan.

9. Celebrate Social media, Facebook, Webpage, emails Rides Meetings
Special events
Nominations and Awards
Your volunteers gave some of themselves to make things happen and they need to be recognized to fan the flames of passion and ownership.
You don’t have to be extravagant, just sincere. Volunteers really are the center of the universe and are the one who actually get things done.

10. Questions?
Share an experience?